Dj Pope - Baltimore, Usa - The Official Interview

Name:Brian Pope

Age:35 years old
Sex: Male
Born:August 11, 1966
Location:Chicago, IL, USA

1.Who or what had the greatest influence on what you listen to today? 1(a) Was through listen to your parents (Did they have an artists or performer that they constantly kept going on about that influenced you) 1(b) Was through listening at a early age to the Radio to a particular sound or artist 1(c) Was through going to the church (being part of a choir?) 1(d) Or was it by being forced to take musical lessons that influenced your choice?

My mother used to play a lot of 45 records. I learned a lot from that. There was no particular artist that captured my ear. It was just the music. I started listening to the radio at an early age. Marvin Gaye, the Dells, the Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin. In going to church and listening to gospel music, in some underlying way had an influence on me in my writing of lyrics because I tend to write songs w/uplifting spiritual lyrics.

2. Who was your first musical hero? Was it Artists from the Soul area Hip-hop scene Rock/Heavy Metal scene, Pop artists, Drum and Bass artists... Or just any particular artist/s?

If I had a musical hero, it would be Marvin Gaye.

3. The city of Washington, DC and Baltimore, USA aren't traditionally known towards its love for Soulful House and Garage music, that falls to Chicago, New Jersey and New York, within the USA. However, did you fall into this trap? Could you tell us how you got started in this game with regards to House and Garage music?

Just to clarify a few things, I am not from Washington, DC. I am from Baltimore, MD. I just have 2 residencies in DC. That is how I fell into the trap. Well, I started DJing in 1980. I grew up listening to DJs like Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, and Farley Keith who played soulful dance music.

4. I did say above about Washington and Baltimore's love of House music wasn't as instant as the 3 cities mentioned above as well. "Go-Go" music still taken seriously within the city of Washington DC. But I think I may have forgotten to mention about artists such as Deep Dish, Ultra Nate, 95 North Productions, The Basement Boys and Keith Thompson (Break for Love fame!!). Do you some times get a bit annoyed that people do not mention this area of the country (USA) when concerning Soulful House music.

Yes, due to the fact out of the 5 people you mention, only 3 of them live in DC. I think a lot of times people get Baltimore and DC mixed up. When in fact, Ultra Nate & Basement Boys are from Baltimore. So yes, I get annoyed when people associate artists from Baltimore with DC and not mention other artists like Charles Dockins. So you see there are a lot of artist in Baltimore that do not get there due.

6. You have teamed up with another House head from within the city - Dj Oji. How did that come about?

We met at Morgan State University.

7. Were you always thinking of becoming a duo. Did you ever want to go it alone within this profession - Dj/Prodution wise?

I was already DJing on my own professionally from before I came to Morgan. So since we both had the same aspirations and goals, we decided to start our own production team called Brothers in the Struggle.

8. Was the first single that you released as a team? Did you sell many copies of your first single as a Team?

The first release as a team was a song I co-wrote with an ex-girlfriend called "Come Together". Oji did a remix and I decided to call it "Brothers in the Struggle" or "B.I.T.S." on Emotive Records in 1991. I really don't know if the record sold many copies but we know it received a lot of airplay from Tony Humphries, the late John Robinson, and other DJs.

9.You since then gone onto to make many single releases. What for you is your favorite track that you have made so far? Have you got one? How many single have you made so far as a team.

My favorite track would be "Watching You" by DJ Pope featuring Una, and as a team, the remix of "In My Arms" by DJ Pope and Una. As a team, we have made approximately 6.

10.When it comes to putting vocals on within a track that you about to make. Do you or Oji provide the vocal content? Or do you always get in a vocalist/s in?

Well, out of the 2, since I am a writer, I tend to hear a song. I will sing the melody for the artist so they will know how the song is supposed to flow.

11. Have you done or been asked to do any remixing work as a production team. Have you got any work of that nature coming up soon?

Out of the few remixes that we have done, I was originally hired to do the mix but I would bring DJ Oji into the fold so that we would do the mix together such as "In My House" (Cutting Records) and "In My Arms" (Yellorange).

12. For anyone was new to you and your sound. Could they hear of you at any DJ residency spot that your may have within your own area? And if so, does the club owners allow you have some control over what you can play? Do the promoters tell you what to play in some instances?

I have 2 residencies both in Washington DC (the Sanctuary and Club Red). I also have a residency in Baltimore at the Paradox. I have never been asked to play a certain style of music or have never been told to play a certain style of music.

13. Have you played outside your country to play? What did it feel like to DJ outside of your country for the first time, if you have?

Yes, I have had the opportunity to play out side the country. I played at a Club called Bar Non in Leeds, England. That was my first opportunity to play abroad. It was slightly different in the fact that I was in another country. But the people overseas appreciate the music more than the people here in the US. No matter what you play, they would dance all night long. It was all about the music.

14. You have managed to create a credible website that is allows you place your mixes of your favorite tracks down. What gave you the inspiration in making such as website in the first place? Are you okay with the Internet. Do you like using it? Or is it a distraction sand something you tend to avoid?

The website was created to promote ourselves here and abroad and to allow people who could not hear us play with a means of hearing us play via the internet. Yes, I think the Internet is a valuable tool especially with record labels that do not have the means to promote on a wider scale. The Internet does that for you especially making contacts with people over seas.

15. What is the radio set-up like within your country like nowadays? Is there now a credible dance show on Radio highlighting the best dance music available for the people of Washington D.C and Baltimore?

The radio here in Baltimore and DC sucks. There isn't any means on the airwaves where you can hear dance music throughout the week. It's just not happening.

16. As you do still DJ do you still do your own stint of record shopping or hunting? Or do you leave it up to being supplied by labels, etc to keep you up to date? When you play out? A lot of DJ's nowadays survive by living of what given to them by Record labels of all shapes and sizes. What about you. Does this apply to you?

I still buy records. I get a lot of records in the mail. Some labels do not send me records, but if they are good records, I will buy them. No.

17.Record mixing. Your technique when playing out. Do you use a style of blending when you playing out; or are you a person who like to jump straight in and out of a track without warning!!! What styles do you like to use?

I am more of a technical DJ. I don't like "train crashing". When I blend the next record in, I like to have smooth blends. Smooth as a baby's ass.

18.Changing the subject a bit. Do you have your own record label? If so have you got any new acts signed to the label, or is used to bring out your own material?

Yes, I have my own label co-owned by me and my partner DJ Oji called POJI Records. POJI Records was started to promote our records as well as artists out of Baltimore area that would not get a chance to be promoted other wise.

18. I have mentioned this before within this interview that Chicago, New Jersey and New York City have traditionally dominated the musical output coming from the USA of recent years (*with regards to Soulful House and Garage music). However, the city of San Francisco input over the last 3 years has changed that. Are you aware of Labels such as Loveslap, Naked Music, Panhandle, Red Melon and a host of others that are truly challenging these traditional cities musical output. Do you get a chance to listen artists from those labels.

Yes, I do get a chance to listen to labels that you mentioned. Also, if you are going to talk about the San Francisco area, you should have to mention Ohm Records which probably is one of the top 2 labels out of the San Francisco area. If I am not mistaken the producers and writers work out of the same studio as the producers for Naked Music. So yes, I am familiar, i.e., Lisa Shaw.

19. Another area of the world that always seems to get a few raised eyebrows is London, England. Many Soulful House and Garage artists and fans around the world, are now familiar with tracks from either The Artful Dodger and M.J. Cole. 2-Step Garage music is familiar with quite a few people nowadays. Do you think that these artists have bought the music forward for 2-Step Garage music from England to around the world? Have you listen to any of their material before?

Yes, I am very familiar w/the Artful Dodger and MJ Cole. I had the opportunity of picking up a 12 inch white label Artful Dodger featuring Craig David, "Please Don't Go", which was a very soulful house mix. I was also able to receive a test pressing of MJ Cole mixed by Masters of Work. Both of which were soulful house records.

20. Coming from a city like you do. You must have come across quite a few Vocalists, Musicians and DJ/producers of all shapes and sizes. Who would you say to keep an eye out for. Is there someone out there that in your opinion will be huge in 2002?

There is a guy by the name of The Saint. He is from the West Coast, Usa. He was featured on our EP called, Soulful Cadet, for Winter Music Conference 2002 in Miami, FL, USA this year. He is a producer to be recon with in 2002.

21.What is your relationship with the press? Do you like giving comments out or doing interviews. Even though we are doing this right now? Do you feel comfortable doing interviews. Or would you like to be left alone to just to create music?

I believe that the press and doing interviews is a part of the game. It is all about promoting yourself and the project that you are working on at that time. Doing interviews is a means of free advertising. So for one not to want to get free advertising, something must be wrong. So, I do not have a problem in giving interviews or talking to the press.

22.Have you got any advice for any aspiring record label producer, DJ or club owner within the world of House and Garage. Any rules that he should adhere to!!!

Be true to yourself and to the music.

23. Lastly, the whole world witnessed the attacks on America during September 11th, 2001. How are the people of Washington D.C coping? Have they managed to move on from what you can gather and see?

Yes, from what I have seen in the Nation's Capital. The people have moved forward. In fact, as a healing process for me, I have written and produced a song titled "America At War" for Yellorange Records which was released at this year's(2002) Winter Music Conference in Miami, FL.

Interview conducted by Carl Brown Ipswich, England and Dj Pope - Baltimore, Usa

All rights of the text and the images belong to Carl Brown, Ipswich, England and Dj Pope, Baltimore, Usa.
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