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Norman Jay Interview
Other | Tuesday 14th February 2012 | Osh
The first man to be awarded by the establishment for his services to music and ahead of his performance at the Winter Sessions Festival in Chamonix next month we went down to Brixton and hung out with, Norman Jay, the undisputed king of the good time.
Norman Jay, you’ve been travelling lots. Glad to have you back.
I love playing anywhere in England. Overseas trips are great, but they are the icing on the cake. Your bread and butter is earned right here in the UK.
So, where have you been travelling?
I just got back from an amazing time in Australia a couple weeks ago. I consider my gig of the year to be Sydney festival. Tonight I’m at Westbury, Kilburn.
Yeah, I saw a video of you playing Singing In The Rain with the whole crowd in the rain.
Yeah, that was fantastic. Australia has been a permanent fixture in my annual calendar for the last 10 years. I love going there. In New Zealand right now it’s summer, and I usually end up there at this time of the year. I usually end up in Singapore too.
Now you’ve said the Notting Hill Carnival is one of your favourite places to play. That’s where you’re King Of The Castle.
Yeah, it is. It’s the one.
It’s been a 30-year reign, right?
Yeah, that’s right. 30 years on the streets of Notting Hill. It’s a great part of the UK and the international party calendar.
It’s absolutely one of the best things the UK has going for it, and I have a lot of friends who swear by good times, who aren’t into the violence. Are you still getting the same feeling as when you first started?
Yeah, only it costs me about 10 times more to do it… like most things in these times. It’s a big issue and major factor in whether or not we return this year.
I’ve heard you’ve been performing since you where 8 years old.
Yeah, glad to hear you’ve done your homework.
How did you contribute back then? We heard you came back with the idea from America.
Yeah, luckily I was of the right age. I was lucky enough to travel there and take in the culture… and I loved it . One thing I didn’t want to do was to replicate it here in the UK. A lot of people don’t realise that the London club culture goes back further than that of the UK. We have outgrown history and put a twist on things, not just in London. We have always been into British youth culture - fashion, arts - and been interested in how youth culture has evolved. Now I’m old school everything, but if I was younger… I’d be playing an active part in maybe the grime scene or the dubstep scene if I was 18.
You were involved in disco scene in New York. Then the hip- hop scene. Then you came back here and got involved in the House scene. You hit every nail on the head.
Yeah, I’m lucky. But I never strive to be the head of anything. I travel around the country, play music, make people happy, make them feel good about themselves. Then I move on to the next place. We have our music champions, and I’m not one of them. I know I’m not and have never aspired to be one of them. I’m a party DJ.
So can you give me any dirt on any of these guys like Trevor Nelson?
Yeah, when my book comes out (laughs). We’re from the same peer group. All old now, but all those guys are amazing. They left an amazing legacy, inspiring aspiring artists, musicians, djs and a lot of young black artists.
Are we right in thinking you were the first black musician to be interviewed by NME?
Well, actually I was the first black DJ to be interviewed by them who wasn’t part of the rock scene. Fair play to them because they had their finger on the pulse.
Unlike most DJs, you’ve been able to play anything that you like. A lot of DJs would like to do that. Do you have any regrets about not jumping into one scene fully?
No, not at all. My whole head is different. One of the reasons Goodtimes is called Goodtimes is because it’s about giving people a good time. Now there are a lot of DJs out there who are technically gifted, who have perfected the art form. Others who are masters of a genre, who are constantly on top of the developments in, say, black music. But I’m not any of those things. I’m a party person. We have a huge female following. Loads of girls come, and that’s precisely why you guys come, because I bring that party vibe. Now I’ve been called a lot of things, mostly complimentary. That I’m a maverick: I take risks with music outside of carnival and my own gigs. If you wanted me to play 2 hours of house, I can do that. If you want 2 hours of hip- hop, I can do that. Similarly, if you want 2 hours of drum n bass… I call on a lost 50 years of music knowledge to play my sets. I love old music, I love new music. I like music that’s out there, that’s left field, and I like music that’s populist. Music selection is what’s important. I’m not technically gifted. I can’t mix. I cant scratch.
Really?
I can do those things if I really have to, but am not driven by toys. I’m driven by history and knowledge (pointing at his head). That’s the library, and no computer can replicate that.
You were at one of the Obama inauguration parties. You got to play out there and sink in the vibes then?
Yeah, absolutely. I’ve played for diplomats, politicians. Not just celebrities. Anyone can reel off those things, but DJ- ing has many facets. I’ve been able to explore many of those. I closed the world economic forum in Dallas, for 500 people who basically run the planet. It’s the gigs at that level that take a special skill to entertain. Those people in suits. But if you get them to loosen up their jackets and undo their ties, you’ve achieved something.
I can imagine you’ve had all kinds of requests.
Yeah, I’ve even done classical music gigs, I’ve had invites from ambassadors from around the world. My love of music is not just club, not just black. It’s almost total.
You have been to many places, met many people, and you seem to take it all in your stride. Are there any magical standout moments?
Everything is magical. I think to myself ‘How did I end up here? They could have asked anyone in the world, but they asked me.’ Once I get over that, I get on with the job.
You’re the first DJ to receive an MBE.
Yeah, the first. Give props to Mr David Rodigan MBE who really should have got it before any of us for his contribution to black music, to reggae music.
Is it true you never take any drink or drugs?
Yeah, it’s lifestyle choice. It’s just not for me. In my life I have seen too many tragedies. They deterred me.
That’s a great testament to your music, to music itself…
It’s just incompatible with what I do. Those who try to make it compatible often find they don’t have a career.
You’re such a nice guy. Often behind a cause, often trying to make a difference. Are there any particular things you’re championing right now?
I could sit here and use this media opportunity to brag and boast about what I do, and use it to embellish myself in a certain way. I believe actions speak louder than words. Those I choose to help… I do so in a quiet way. Yes, I have a social conscience. I try to give something back to the community in certain ways. When I was in Australia, I did a DJ workshop with the indigenous kids in red from Sydney. I spent time with underprivileged aborigine kids. I want to do more of that stuff here. If I had more time, I would do more for it, but in my own way I do my little bit.
Now you’re a bit of a music predictor. You’ve been around a while and you’ve already touched on dubstep. Is there anything else apart from dubstep you can predict to be big?
That is a bit of a misconception. I don’t predict anything to be big. What will be will be. My job is to find the elements I like, those that appeal to me, and put them into my mix. I play the best tunes I’m exposed to. I’m not cutting edge. I’ve never really been interested in getting music before anyone else. It’s what you do with the music when you get it. Sometimes I'm six months behind everyone. Sometimes I'm a year ahead. It’s having the courage in your convictions to say ‘I like this. Let me champion this.’ Sometimes you try something at the wrong moment and you get it disastrously wrong. I still clear dance floors, I still get it wrong sometimes… badly wrong, but its learning form that.
Your son is a bit of an artist now, right?
Yeah, both of my sons are involved in music. My nephew is as well.
Do you ever let them into your record collection?
Yeah, they’re the only people that have any kind of access to my music library.
You don’t really have to give them much more if they have access to that.
They are all great DJs and musicians in their own right. They are out there to carve their own niche. I’ll let them go forward and make their mark. If they need any help, I’m there.
Tell me more about you.
I watch movies. I’m into the heritage scene. I guess I wanted to be a mod when I was younger, but I was too young to be an original mod. The whole mod ethic has always remained with me.
What’s that?
It’s kind of a lifestyle. Attention to detail. Always be smart, stylish as opposed to fashionable. Have a love of classic British things: classic British cars, classic British scooters… the Italian ones as well. Again, I guess it’s harking back to an age when first generation blacks like me were born here growing up on the estates, mixing with everybody, getting on with everybody and loving it. But mostly we were free thinkers, creatives. America has always been great for giving us music genres. It gave us jazz, gave us soul, gave us r&b, gave us hip-hop, but it would never have given us acid house, jungle, grime. I love the fact that in Britain we take music, we subvert it and we add the anarchic British twist, and that’s what we sell around the world.
London is cosmopolitan. That has a big effect on our music scene, right?
That’s right. There is cross-pollination her. We have Black, Asian, white; a mix of cultures that can take the music anywhere. It’s fantastic! You can never be standing in the middle of New York and expect to hear jungle. It’s not happening. But you come to Brixton, go to Hackney, go to Notting Hill. You can turn on your radio, we have a great pirate radio culture here, which gives disadvantaged kids a platform you wouldn’t get anywhere else in the world. Our kids don’t know how lucky they are. I’ve been fortunate to get my Olympic rings early. I mean I’ve played on every continent. Not many of us have got those, but there are a few that have been fortunate enough. I was one of the first UK DJs to play behind the iron curtain, where they haven’t seen a black person before. You get your hair stroked and touched like you’re a monkey in a zoo (laughing), but once you understand the cultural context of that, you are actually learning from that. Fantastic experiences… and all because I play music. What a charmed life.
Is there anything in this charmed life of yours on your bucket list?
I have never set goals. Everything is temporary, so you just ride it. You have to think about it and provide for your family. If you’re fortunate enough to make a career out of it, don’t fuck it up. Use your head, do the right thing, be patient. It doesn’t happen overnight, but sadly we live in an age and culture where people think you just add water and you’re famous. Famous for what? Do something.
Learn something.
Yeah, learn something that raises you as a person and is a shining example to others. You know I hope by doing this interview it inspires one kid to say ‘you know what, I’m gonna get an MBE like Norman Jay. I want to do what he does’. I come from an area where nothing comes easy and you have to work for it. You can’t steal it, and when you spend all those years getting it, you have to work doubly hard to maintain it.
You are a very Guestlist individual.
Am I?
Yeah, you used to break in to places and have parties. That’s pretty much our vibe.
I’m not anymore, but I still love it when it does happen.
Okay.
When I was at those parties there was no Internet or texting. It was just word of mouth. I love all that. It’s not about the music; it’s the gathering of people. It’s about getting groups of people together to enjoy something that they wouldn’t ordinarily come together and enjoy. That was the main drive for me. I was brought up on soul, reggae and jazz, but I loved hip- hop and 60’s northern soul, and I liked 60’s pop. I love The Who. I like Hendrix and all of these guys are influences on me. It was fantastic to be in a warehouse space where I could play all of that music and one DJ play right across the board. I play 10 hours and you hear the A- Z of music: rock, pop, soul, house, African, Indian, Brazilian, South American. I don’t claim to be an expert in any of these musics, but there are certain elements to them that I like.
So, I hear that, legally or illegally, you will be doing a party for the Olympics.
We’re gonna get involved somehow. Don’t know where you’re hearing it all from. You’re well informed.
Like I said, you are very Guestlist Network. If there’s any way we can help?
Well, you know, there’s health and safety (laughs).
What other gigs are you looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to the PAC3 tomorrow in Manchester, I think I’m playing with one of the guys from the Charlatans. That should be interesting ‘cause I have got quite an ear for that music as well, but I love being thrown into musical bear pits where people don’t associate you with that genre or think you’re capable of handling that music. Then when you show them you can, it’s like wow. Also the Winter sessions Festival in France, I am really looking forward to that. I played last year too and had a great time so that is another big one to watch out for.
That must be one of the greatest things for you. You get to do that over and over again.
That’s the challenge for me. I love to play dubstep with one of the leading promoters and producers now. Then the next day I’ll go and play with someone like Charles Peterson where we’re playing cool Jazz. A part of me that likes all of that. For me, DJ- ing is about that. I cannot and do not want to be a single genre DJ. It doesn’t interest me, challenge me or stimulate me. The challenge for me is to be able to play different types of music for different types of people and for them enjoy it. That’s what I find rewarding.
Excellent. Thank you for your time, Mr Jay. It was an absolute pleasure.
It was good talking to you guys. I respect you for doing your homework. The reason I don’t do too many interviews is because journalists are lazy. If they can’t do their homework, if they can’t be bothered researching their questions, I can’t be bothered answering them.
We’re all about parties and having fun. We are the epitome of good times.
Yeah, that’s a great name. The Guestlist Network!
Also, we are doing this party every Sunday with one of my favourite DJ’s, Fabio, headlining.
Yeah, he’s good. Enough respect to Fabio. He is one of the originals. I’ve still got a lot of time for him even though I only see him occasionally. I tweet him. He’s the next man who should be getting proper recognition for what he has done. Not just for the music, but for the youth culture. It’s not just about the music; it’s about the impact people like Fabio and his kind have had. They force social change. We have a moral and civil duty to keep doing what we’re doing, to carve a righteous path for the kids who want to stay on the right side of things. Hopefully they look up to guys like us. We can’t preach to them. All I can do is lead by example.
Where are you feeling playing right now?
I love Asia. Asia is the future. I’m also playing China a lot. I hope to get back to doing stuff in India.
Whereabouts exactly?
Shanghai, Beijing, Shang Du… a few places opening up. It’s the fastest growing world economy. I still wanna get out there. Stake a claim. Make a mark. I haven’t been to Brazil or South America in over 10 years. The last time I was out there was with DJ Marky. I had an amazing time, and Marky - I have to say this DJ Marky - reminded me of a young Norman Jay. I love his techno, his way with the crowd. He’s a showman, and I loved all of that. He really reminded me of a young me. I toured with him, did a few dates with him in Saul Paulo and Rio. It was one of the most amazing tours I’ve ever been on.
Where’s the best place to come and film you?
I think the best place would be the vintage festival in the summer. I’m doing different things, doing different arenas, playing different genres. We’ll be doing an 80’s warehouse party. Doing a 60’s mod thing in another arena. I might be doing a hip- hop and drum n bass show for kids in another arena.
Thank you very much. It’s been great to meet you
Make sure you get down to the Winter Sessions Festival in Chamonix on 30- 31st March. For more information and tickets go to www.wintersessions.net
