Jay Cunning Interview November
Interviewed by Somsay.

Jay Cunning Profile

Age: Physical - 40 / mental - 12 / actual - 28

Height: In bed we're all the same height

Weight: In space we all weight the same

Average heart beat per minute: Ranges from 10 to 237 depending on activity

Fingernail length: Swimming pools

Bed time: When needed

Color of socks: All the colors of Christmas

Favorite Pop Song: Shakin Steven’s - Green Door

All-time Favorite Breakbeat Chune: ils - requiem

Favorite Band: Boots extra strength Band-Aids

Favorite Models: Transformers, he-man & action man

Favorite Monsters: Terry Atomic Hooligan & Klaus 2Sinner


The Interview

When and how did you first get into djing?
Back in the late 90's when love was free and so were the women & drugs.

How long did it first take you to beat match?
I tried beat matching for months on shit turntables with no pitch then I went to new Zealand for a year and didn’t have a turntable in site so I listened to mix tapes - when I came back I was a natural at mixing!

Can you please explain your style now?
Party party - my only aim is to get the room jumping with fat tunes, whether that’s done with with long building mixes a bit of chopping for effect, accapellas and sounds layered over the top. I always try new things to keep it interesting and different. I'm not interested in educating people or "taking them on a journey" - its all about the party atmosphere.

What and where are your current DJ residencies?
Radio wise every Thursday from 9-11pm London time on breaksfm.com I have the menu sessions which I do with terry hooligan. Its 2 hours of tunes larfs, competitions and top guests - www.menumusic.com for gig wise I'm just talking with RAM to take over the breakbeat residency at The End.  I also run and reside at Global Beats & BreaksFm nights which we have just hooked up with Raindance - watch dis space.

How did you get hooked up to play your first big gig?
I begged: they felt sorry for me.

How did you get hooked up for Spain?
I have atomic hooligan to thank for that, he's a god out there where as I'm just a mere demigod. Tel introduced my to satisfaction agency and it all went from there.

Where is your favorite place to DJ now and why?
Anywhere where the party is fat! I playing in Romania last week with atomic hooligan & mc ziggy. We had a 6 decks n FX set up and totally smashed the 1200 string crowd. I've never seen such enthusiasm in one place!

What does your DJ studio consist of?
2 x techniques 1200 / 1 poineer cdj500 / 1 x stomach excersizer / 1 x roland 2000 mixer / dat / friut blender / electric toenail clipper.

What’s the most amount of people that your have ever played for?
25'000'000 at the exit festival in Serbia, though it could have been more like 25'000 - I lost count after 57.

Is breakbeat getting substantially bigger globally?
Does dolly parton sleep on her back?!  (yes) absolutely,  I'm traveling a lot and the response to crowd who are new to breaks and those who are not are giving a massive response. The music is so fresh and appealing as it take so many styles into one sound.  Its all about the breaks.

Are MP3s hurting our breakbeat world in anyway?
Yes and no.  yes cos of bootlegging / copying tracks etc then distributing on soulseek etc means established artists who have worked hard to get where they are miss out on sales which they deserve. For the new starters though its a great thing - being able to send your music to more or less anyone in the world is the best platform you could provide.  It truly is a double edged sword that we all live and die by.

In your opinion, how can we make breakbeat more known to the world?
Neon advertising on the moon.

How many breakbeat records you have now in you personal collection?
Around 3108 - they are all numbered and cataloged.

Did you ever have any musical training?
I learned to play the double bass at school to get out of math lessons and I also had drum lessons for 2 weeks until the other kid in the class got jealous and had me kicked out. At 13 years old that kinda shit scars so I never picked up and instrument again.

Where is breaks going this year?
In the right direct - towards the funk.

Where do you think breaks are going next year?
Onwards and upwards in the same direction! it would be nice to see it as big as drum n bass is now, more available but still with that underground edge

What advice can you offer to aspiring breakbeat DJs in America to help them get off the ground?
Use the internet in anyway you can. I used it to get awareness by sending e-mails, creating a site, putting up mixes - its the best tool you can use

Any plans for production?
Just finished a track with Carl from 2 Sinners called Bad Girls which will be out next year on 2s2, also finished  a tack with Ed209 which will also be out next year on Wireframe. The Atomics & I are also busy making tracks for Menu.

Do you meet all ot of DJs who want to be your friend?
They do until they realize I have personal hygiene issues - they stay well away from me then.

How did you first hookup with Atomic Hooligan?
We met in a brothel, Terry was getting his weekly gimp 'n' suffocate session and Mat was having his Spoo extracted by a midget hooker.  After that we became best of friends

Tell us about your new record label with the Atomic Hooligan?
Menu is about release good quality tracks that have a musical element to them,  its not about getting the latest bassline smasher thats heading straight for the dance floor - that will be the remix on the other side of each release! This formula enables us to be a little more risqué with the original, whether it me house, breaks, DNB, down tempo - whatever really just as long as its good!

Your words of wisdom to breakbeat fans in North America who want breaks to take over:
Always floss your teeth and never eat bacon on Tuesday.

Jay Cunning Shout outs:
Everyone!
 

Please visit: www.jaycunning.co.uk and www.menumusic.com for all the archives form teh Menu Sessions (live & radio).