NEWS
EVENTS
An interview with Mungo's Hifi and Charlie P
Reggae | Friday 31st October 2014 |
Since Mungo's Hifi started all the way back in 2000, they've become something of an instituion: the legendary Scottish sound system outfit has acquired new members, new collaborators, started a record label, and has played huge shows and stages across the globe. They're arguably perhaps one of the most well-known and best-loved reggae acts in Europe. We caught up with James and regular Mungo's MC Charlie P backstage at their massive show at the Forum to talk about shows, material, cocktails and keeping it real.
Hi guys, thank you for talking to us today! Just to start us off, can you describe what your sound is all about?
James: Mungo’s Hifi is a sound system operating out of Glasgow and Scotland. We play reggae music, operating in the same way as the Jamaican sound systems from back in the day We try to push old styles of reggae along with more up to date styles of music.
Charlie: I’d say pretty much the same thing, we’re not trying to follow no fashion, we’re doing our ting, we’re coming with conscious music. That’s what we’re trying to push, real music.
Well it seems to be working, 'cause from what I’ve seen the sound system culture seems to really be booming right now, particularly in the UK. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on why that is?
James: My personal opinion on it is that times are hard right now for people. Its not easy to get a job, its not easy to live, people are getting taxed on everything and in Scotland we just lost the referendum. Things are hard, but sound system music gives people a release and a hope that if people come together they can create something amongst themselves that can help them get away from that. It’s something else to believe in and invest your hope in, when things don’t seem too hopeful at the moment.
If someone out there wanted to learn a bit more about you, which tune would you direct them to first?
Charlie: I think the tune that I would play would be that Errol Dunkley song, “Little Way Different”, because everyone does do their thing a little bit different! I think that people connect with us well because we’re young, the lyrics I chat and the music they play… people relate to it. Like I’m not a rasta, no disrespect to that scene but when I chat lyrics people here can relate it. It’s real.
James: Pure reality.The Little Way Different tune is one you can relate to everyday life. There’s another tune we did on on an album with Kenny Knots last year called One Life To Live. If there was one tune I’d advise anyone to listen to it’s that, even if you don’t like reggae music. It’s about how you only get one shot at this thing so don’t get ramped up in bad stuff: live a good life and do good things.
Ok that’s cool, well speaking of being a bit different… you guys originate from Glasgow right? So what inspired you to set up a sound sytem, as Scotland isn’t exactly traditionally associated with reggae!
James: Yeah in Glasgow it’s not like in London where there’s a huge West Indian population, I never heard reggae music in the house or anything like that. But Mungo’s actually started before I was involved, I’ve been playing in Mungo’s for 3 years now. Tom and Doug originally started Mungo’s in 2000. They just got into dub music and got hooked like so many people. They were playing gigs as the Dub Dentists, so they’d be wearing a full dentist suits and that’s why we still call one of the record boxes the doctor’s box. Because there were no sound systems in Glasgow at the time, they got tired of going to gigs where the sound just wasn’t up to scratch. They found some speakers in a skip and fixed them up and that’s how the sound sytem started. So over time its developed and there’s loads of sound systems in Scotland now. Not that Mungo’s was the first, but there’s definitely been a new revolution of sound systems in Scotland in the last 10 years.
But would you say you helped to start that?
James: Well, we’re at the forefront of it but there’s many other sound sytems on a local level who really push things as well but maybe wouldn’t get recognition from organisations like yourself. There’s one called Argonauts in Glasgow who’ve been operating on a local community level for years. I’ve got a lot of respect for them. Same with Bass Warriors, Youths, CC sounds, Jumble Sale, Chungo Bungo…
Charlie: There’s many sounds that are big in this thing, but some of them haven’t got the capabilities of pushing it in a media way so people can hear it. But Mungo’s have done that extra thing so people from all over can hear about it. But its coming, reggae music is growing, its on Radio One now! I reckon in the next 5 years it’s going to get crazy.
Well as you said reggae is getting so big now, and it looks like you’ve played some big shows this year. Do you have any standout moments or highlights from the summer?
Charlie: This summer we were at Glastonbury, we were at Outlook festival…
James: Yeah so those were two of the biggest ones, and we ran our own area at Glastonbury called the Blues Arena. So on the Sunday night there we get a long set and play some good tunes, Charlie was around as well… and Outlook, it’s always a highlight of the calendar for us you know. We drive our sound system all the way to Croatia, we’ve got Mungo’s yard over there which is an amazing courtyard. The sound system just sounds awesome.
Charlie: It’s just the best place, the best arena, for me anyway.
I have to say I was there and I was blown away when I saw you guys playing. The sound was like nothing else I’ve ever heard!
James: The sound’s amazing. Those thick stone walls just create an amazing sound in there. And the fact you can just look up and see the sky above you, its just awesome. The boat parties were mad, they’re jokes every time. Then on the last night we played the main stage after Barrington Levy, which was an honour in itself you know, even just to see him perform.
Charlie: To pick up that mic after Barrington Levy’s just mashed it up, its a hard thing to do…
James: So that was a highlight of summer. And there’s some amazing festivals in Scotland we play, we’ve played this one in Scotland for the last 13 or 14 years called Knockengorrock, its a really small ceilidh festival, which is fun because it’s kind of off the radar.
Charlie: It’s nice because it’s kind of a relaxed vibe.
James: But the highlight of my summer, I’m not even joking right, we have some amazing times on the road but we run this dance every Thursday night in Glasgow called Walk n Skank…. I got back on the Thursday from Croatia and I went straight to the dance, and it was just like wow, the vibes in here are on a par with what we just did in Croatia.
Charlie: One of the best dances I ever went to was Walk n Skank on a Thursday! Doug still tells me thats one of the best sessions he’s ever been to.
James: Yeah, Charlie had the whole crowd singing Chant Down Babylon.
Charlie: The whole crowd was screaming it back at me! For me it doesn’t matter how many people are at our dances, cause we go to dances where there’s 10,000 people but sometimes they’re not the best shows…
James: Sometimes at Walk n Skank there’ll just be 40 people there but you’ll have the best night of your life!
Well I was gonna ask you whether - now that summer’s over - things were going to quieten down, but it sounds like you’re always busy! Do you have any more big shows that you’re especially looking forward to?
Charlie: Well it used to get quiet in the winter but its not like that anymore!
James: So next month we’re going all over France, St Etienne, then Paris with Charlie, then back in Scotland with General Levy at the Art School.In January. Then there’s a tour in Peru and Mexico, and later in the year we’ll be going back to Australia, to South America, Brazil, the US as well.
Charlie: We’re just confirming shows in Brooklyn as well.
James: Yeah we don’t do quiet!
Well when you’re not performing there’s obviously the Scotch Bonnet label, can you tell us a bit more about that?
James: Yeah so Scotch Bonnet’s our imprint, we just released our 50th single.
Charlie: The next thing to get released on the label is my brand new album, You See Me Star… big big album coming!
James: Yeah so that’s the next one, we just released the dub album with Serious Time, the next one is Charlie’s, so tonight we’ll be playing a lot of that, it’s gonna be wicked.
Charlie: There’ll be two professional big bad music videos for it too. Coming in the new year I think.
James: A lot of what we do with Mungo’s and Scotch Bonnet is the DIY culture, Scotch Bonnet’s a big part of that - like we said earlier with the speakers from the skip - we started our own label because we released some tunes with another label and we just thought we could do it ourselves you know? Have more people working with us and create more opportunities.
Can I just say I think Scotch Bonnet is a brilliant name for your label!
James: Thanks! Hotter than hot man.
Well talking of hotter than hot, what is your favourite track to drop right now that sets a party on fire?
James: Oof now that’s a question! There’s a French sound system called OBF- Original Bass Foundation, they got a new LP that just dropped called Wild. Charlie’s got a mad tune on there called Dub Controller, but my tune of the moment is called Going In by YT cause it just sets a party alight man! Also there’s a Mungo’s tune that my friend Tom produced, called Ragamuffin Man, coming out on Scrubadub - our dubstep sub-label - its got some verses on it from Daddy Freddy that we recorded last year, and that’s been the tune of the summer for me.
Charlie: And the tune for me is the Gentleman’s Dub Club High Grade tune, and I’ve got a tune called Rules of the Dance that is mashing up dances.
James: maaaad!
Charlie: Yeah, you’ll see that tonight.
So have you got any more big projects and plans that you’re working on?
Charlie: Well I’ve been talking to Doug and there’s gonna be some big things happening in 2015!
James: Man’s been scheeeming!
Charlie: I’ve got another album coming out next year with the Goldmaster Allstars….
James: You know I’ve got a single you recorded with them that you recorded when you were 8 years old! I bought this record in Japan, Charlie P “Moving On Up”... Charlie comes over my house and is like 'ohhh where’d you get that thing?' *Laughter* He’s 8 years old on the record!
Charlie: Well people just look at me and think 'ah he’s young, he’s just jumped in this thing', but people that know the scene know that I’ve been in this game longer than most olders… its been nearly 15 years!
James: But we’re all still pushing it man, personally and professionally. Collaborations to look out for, there’s Charlie’s album obviously, got an album coming with YT in the new year, we’ve got a lot of new works coming with Marina P, and we got a lot of work just done with Little John who came from Jamaica to Glasgow to work with us.
Charlie: Basically there’s 'nuff amounts of music coming that you ain’t even ready for!
James: It’s a lifestyle man! At Mungo’s we’re fortunate because there’s 7 of us and guys like Charlie, and we’re all working towards a shared goal. There’s a lot of work but we share the load so its really fun and enjoyable.
Ok, so now we’ve talked about the music, its time for the final question. If you were a cocktail, what would you be and why?
*laughter*
James: You’ve gotta ask my brother! He’s the best cocktail bartender in Glasgow.
Charlie: James would be a Slippery Nipple!
James: No, if I was a cocktail its gotta be dark and stormy man. All about the rum tings.
Charlie: If I was a cocktail…
James: Vodka and lemonade for Charlie.
Charlie: Yeah… I don’t wanna be no fancy bullshit. I am who I am, and vodka and lemonade is exactly what it is. I get the job done!
Interviewed by @MiriamEJohnson
