Marcia Carr, London, England

Name: MARCIA CARR
Born: DULWICH WEST HOSPITAL, LONDON UK
Place where living now?: WANDSWORTH, LONDON
Occupation: DJ, MUSIC JOURNALIST, FULL TIME MOTHER & PR

1.For the not so clued up person in regards to the world of Soulful House and Garage, Uk Underground music could you tell us how you got started in this game?

How I got started was that I have loved my music from day one. So, much so that even though it would land me in trouble with my lovely Mum, she would be the one ask me to do the family functions. It continued to grow from there, really. Gosh, it just hit that its almost two decades old, all this love of music.

1B. You seem to be a big hit on the Internet in regards to your postings on the famous "Masters of Work" e-mail forum. How come? You seem to be a superstar on there!!! Everybody knows you there? How did this come about!!!!

I was intrigued by the so-called "Chatboard" in general and was curious to find out what folks talked about on their site. Following my curiosity, I decided, after a day, that it wasn't as daunting as it first looked to me and that I could contribute something. What also pushed me was the lack of few female contributions. As for being a superstar, as you put it. Maybe one day I'll know what that is. Until then, the more us girls say sumthin, wherever we are, the more the guys (not just on the MAW board will take us as being genuine). I haven't time, nor want to be thought of as the many airheads in existence across the globe.

2.There seems to be a steady influx of Londoners ( Yes your area of the World..Marcia!!) that are solely interested in the world of Soulful House and Garage; ranging from Alan Russell, Doctor Bob James, Paul "Trouble" Anderson that has influenced many people to stay true to the word of Soulful House music ... For instance for me it was the writing's of Alan Russell within the magazine called Echoes that got me hooked into a habit of purchasing expensive USA Soulful House tracks of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Who was a major influence for you within the World of House and Garage

I would have to say my admiration falls on Paul 'Trouble' Anderson in particular, Ricky Morrison (M&S Productions), Norman Jay, Johnny Reckless, Gilles Peterson and my ex-partner Seamus Haji within the UK. Stateside, the vibe hails from Larry Levan, Merlin Bobb, Louie Vega, Roger Sanchez, Kerri Chandler and Tony Humphries.

3.Marcia, the last time we talked you were explaining that you were disillusioned by your state of affairs within the World Of House and Garage music again in regards to the Uk. Are the promoters not being fair to you?

You have to look at the cases of promoters individually to be fair. Sometimes, based on my oh so many experiences people want me to compromise myself in many aspects, but would not treat me like that if, I were en par say with of the big names deejays.

3b.Garage City and the Loft ( both situated in London) are often mentioned over here as places to go if you want to here Soulful Type House... Have you visited places of the like such as "Bump Hustle -Bournemouth, England" and "Back to Basics - Leeds, England yet". Also other haunts in London such as "Space" or the "Soul Movement", also in London. In fact do you go out clubbing any more...???

The Loft has always been one of my regular haunts apart from Garage City. Bump & Hustle used to do some excellent nights, and Back II Basics in Leeds was also out of this world. And I'm not just saying that because I played there several times before Dave Beer (its promoter) called it a day.

4.I posed this question to DJ Cosmo, and now I'm going to pose it to you.Have you ever been given the to play on those famous Pirate Radio Show's; any of them at all? Would or will you play on them ? In short what do you think of the Pirate radio set-up within the London area. As you actually there it would make interesting reading. Do there serve a purpose, or have they out stayed their welcome?

I have been on several pirates over the years. Mirage FM, Sunrise, Soul FM and some I can't even remember the names they come and go so often.At present, you can catch me every Saturday on UK-Rumbal. It's a big Inter Net station, admirably run by a young guy called Alex. Plus, my mate Nestor Delgado has to be given props for The Classic House website. I have guest mixes featured on his site also.Plus, I've been a guest on radio in Sri Lanka, Norway, and Italy. Simple logic would suggest that though we live in a governed state we are all different in what we like.

So of course, even though their approach is not all that professional, the good intentions of pirates will continue to be an integral part of the underground scene; breaking in what ever the next "new form" of Black dance music, generally speaking. Some people need to remember that it is where they started out which, in turn helped them to leap into the music industry. Can I also say that corporate companies, record companies and national/IRL stations act as if they are not interested in the underground, but the irony is they pay attention more than we are aware it's called headhunting for the underground hyped.

5. Do you still do your stint of record shopping or hunting? Or do you leave it up to being supplied by promo's to keep you up to date. A lot of DJ survive by living of what given to them by Record labels of all shapes and sizes. What about you. Does this apply to you?

Record shopping at Release The Groove, Spin City, Black Market, or IS Records, and the supply of some tunes (it mostly crap that I receivin the post) help to maintain my survival.

6.Being a DJ and music Journalist ( for so many years of a number of Black orientated dance magazines), has the music of Garage and Soulful House gotten better?. What I mean by this is...Over where you are based has Garage reached such a saturation point that it has become stale....??? Do you enjoy listening to other forms of Black dance music?

I think that all forms of Dance can have saturation points. Only natural progression tends to turn things around within producer/dj's studios. It's really about being creative for yourself. Then, if it crosses over that is all well and good. On a different level with the majors, its partly down to advertising the same thing over and over if different ways to sustain public interest. If I heard something, like when I used to listen to pirates Invicta, Horizan, LWR back in the day or one of my cousin's records, it would be plainly a case of if I liked what I heard I had to have it. I don't recall many ads for the music I truly loved - jazz funk, soul, jazz and all that reggae, James Brown and Motown played in my parents household.

7 I take it that being a music Journalist for some time has led you to travel to most places in Europe and the States..Who then was you most interesting Interview that you had to do? And who within the world of Soulful House, UK Garage was the most interesting to also?

The most interesting interview that I've done would have to be Lon Lucien, the jazz artist I did some three years back. He was the most spiritual and beautiful person I've ever met. Within House, I'd say Kerri Chandler, Larry Heard, Tony Humphries and the truly cool Frankie Knuckles have done interviews with real passion.

8.If you had a Club that was yours to do with what you will.. What would be you music policy within the the spectrum of House music...?? This co-inside reports that London is to expected to have built 4 New Night Clubs to built within the City...??

Owning a club, now wouldn't that be something. The policy would be good quality SOULful House, be it vocal songs, deep filtered Disco, jazz based or funky Techno would suit me. Progressive and anything off like cheese would only prove to be stalemate in my House and so, I'd only want refreshing uplifting soul spirited stuff. One of the other rooms must have music playing just like what I experienced growing up.

9 If you were given the chance as a DJ would you like to work with in the World of House and Garage music? Masters at Work, Don Carlos, Derrick Carter, Kerri Chandler, Grant Nelson, Shazzz..who??

If you mean from a producer point of view, I really can't see the likes of me ever getting the opportunity to work with some of my favourite producers such as Louie Vega, Ricky Morrison, Ashley Beedle, François Kervorkian, Blaze, C. Dockins, Kerri Chandler or Booker T.

10.Who do you rate as one to look out for in the future? Who should we keep an eye out for!From your own country? DJ/ music artist/s producer.From what you have heard or seen from abroad? DJ/ music artist/s producer

Producers from my homeland that I think are the blazing in creativity are Phil Asher, I.G Culture, Ricky Morrison, Frankie Valentine, Noel Watson and Funky DL (hip-Hop). I love what France's Pépé Bradock and Bob Sinclair are up to. Stateside, I feel that Jay Denes of Naked Music NYC is super duper. Louis Bendedetti, from Miami's Soulshine Records, and some others folks.

11. Are you at peace with the press? (*Considering that you are part of it?)Do you still constantly worry about being misquoted. Or do you have a good relationship with the press as a whole?

Being a freelance journalist can have its limitations at times but I have no beef with anyone from the Dance mags.

12. The very mention of UK Underground House brings about mummerings of "Here wecome again", or "More please". It has led to some hefty and heated conversations/exchanges on the "World famous Global House-mail forum in the past. Many have seen UK Underground House (* Speed Garage ) as a breath of fresh air, whlist others however are claiming it to be pile of "Doo Do"... What are you thought's about it?

My thoughts are that I appreciate the fact that ALL music evolves as the human race has, be it for better or for worse. So, it's almost the same analagoy for Black dance music and musis generally. There is good and bad in all the forms, but the over hype, or misinformation of the media does not help the cause.

As a journalist myself I do try to avoid labelling if I can. There's isn't much you can do when things are made bigger than they really are. One downside of that is that the general public, and even those who also work within the industry like me (DJ's), can get hooked on one thing and then for arguments sake will just go along with whatever that new name tag is. The whole scene of House music has to go through some ups and downs, that's how we progress isn't it?

At the end of the day, whether certain individuals are jealous of the great glories made out of hyped genres, but can't do any 'better' themselves should keep themselves quiet.

Refecting, hybrids of what ever shape inject new life the original roots and wake up those who have been complacent, squeezed out, or feel threatened of their postions, or thrones. Maybe that's what all the fuss is about.

More about Marcia.??