Feature
Louie Vega: Little wonder
“The music we call House is our sanctuary.”
Louie Vega has been a regular on the DJ circuit for as long as i can remember - a member of the renowned Masters At Work production team, he has worked with some of the biggest artists on the planet. So it’s two decades or so later, and still as popular as ever! Indeed, and still hugely enthusiastic about music.
"Its now become a collectors/purist world of vinyl buyers. Think of it as vintage, like buying vintage clothing - people who love vinyl will always collect it, I still do. But you will not find much of todays releases on vinyl. Even on Vega Records we only print vinyl from artists with a strong fan base. Its hard to print a small amount on a new artist and hope it sells, you usually end up losing money, so best to wait and see how big the song gets. I will always love the sound of vinyl and do miss it… I do one event a year in NYC called ‘Flashback’, where I bring out lots of vinyl and only play vinyl, it’s in November, on a Wednesday at ‘Roots’!"
And your take on the nostalgic Technics.
Well it is sad that Technics are not being made, but you can always find them, check Ebay. It is a natural progression in life, times have changed and technology as well, for those who have them appreciate them. Luckily I own nine Technic Turntables, that I’ve bought over the years, and received a few as gifts - they are in storage. Three are on my DJ set up in my studio, they are limited edition black lacquer and gold arm Technics (a gift from Kenny Dope), so I still use them to listen to songs and tracks in my collection. And I also use them as playback to transfer my vinyl to digital form.
What music fuelled your desire to DJ?
it was 70's disco, latin soul, breakbeats, jazz. But House music drew me in even more. It is a unique form of music that has become a big part of my life. it does draw many in deeper than any other music and has now been twenty six years with me, so there's a good example. I’ve been lucky enough to be there in its early beginnings till now and I’ve also been part of the innovations in House music. I’ve created and experimented with it as a producer for years bringing in many styles such as African, Jazz, Latin, Soul, Gospel, Brazilian, Funk, Hip-Hop, and culture within the Electronic and Organic worlds. The music we call house is our sanctuary.
What was it about Disco that so captured you?
Disco is the beginning of dance/club music. I grew up with it and its become a huge influence since way back. The music was made by musicians, arrangers, songwriters. There are many styles of disco, not just the commercial side - from avant-garde artists and producers, to Jazz, Gospel, Soul, Latin, Brazilian and more. Exactly what we (Masters At Work) have done with house music, its been done with Disco. That fusion of styles in Disco is what I love most.
How has House music changed in your opinion?
There are so many hybrids of House music. If it wouldn't change it would be boring. I think it’s great that there are so many styles emerging with new flavours of House on the rise. You have South Africa, which now to me, is the mecca for House music. The House sound has become a part of the culture there, kids are growing up with it as we did back in the day, and those are great signs. Artist’s and producer’s like Black Coffee, Culoe De Song, and the legendary Oskido are all over the air waves. Nulu music, a new label and imprint by Anane and Antonello Coghe have a hot new sound they coined Afrotech - made by young artists they sign from Brazil, Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, Congo and Haiti. The youth in all these countries are creating their interpretation of House music. This is incredible and this makes House music part of the youth culture, then it will reach way beyond the underground as it has in South Africa!!!
Your production skills are renowned, what makes a good track?
A great track needs to have good sounds. Has to be recorded and mixed properly AND a class arrangement. If it has vocals, which is way more challenging, then you have to know how to produce/collaborate with vocalist’s, and know how to get the best out of the artists with your direction. All starts with “the melody” as Quincy Jones says; and lyrics that can touch people. If you are in the studio listening and you get chills or goosebumps, there's your sign of a great track!!! Thank you Quincy for saying something that is soooo right!!!
You have worked with some huge artists, who is next on the Vega hit list?
Stevie Wonder is at the top of my list. He is one of the reasons I make music. An all around artist, singer/musician/songwriter, top class, need I say more? There are many I’d love to work with and in many genres of music: Quincy Jones, Sting, Mick Jagger, Jill Scott, Lady Gaga. (I have cut the list down - trust me it was huge!)
What’s on the Vega schedule?
‘Elements of life II - This Is Us’ The new release of my live band project, Boddhi Satva ‘Invocation’ a new artist from central Africa that I’ve signed - stuff from Anane. I have my radio show every Friday called ‘Rootsnyc’ live on 107.5 WBLS and I will be back in London with Groove Odyssey on on Oct 1.
I asked Roger Sanchez a little while back what was the weirdest gig he had done?
Weirdest gig… I DJ’d once at the Cannes Film Festival and the DJ booth was on a flat barge facing the beach and the crowd was on the beach - the barge was out in the water, not close to the beach. So it was a weird feeling.
Lastly, what’s the next five years look like for you?
Next five years… Big things coming! Surprise!! …You will definitely hear about it and we will speak again... Thank you very much for the wonderful questions.
Louie Vega's new mixed and compiled album 'Mad Styles & Crazy Visions' is out now on BBE Records.
Words Semper Azeez-Harris
