We’ve been incredibly lucky this year to have enjoyed the talents of that special mecca, Detroit, the city where it all began for techno. Earlier in the year Kevin Saunderson, the originator himself, brought along some of his fellow old schoolers, as well as the new wave of talent from the shores of the Michigan river to join the Visionquest crew in a total club takeover. Next on the block is
Norm Talley, who under the influence of Juan Atkins and Eddie Fowlks began his own musical journey as a DJ and later producer. He’s enjoyed a life of the highest level of musicality that has endured and only strengthened to this day and this Saturday we’re excited to be having him down to play in Room One and help us mark the release of Cassy’s fabric 71 compilation.
In anticipation Talley’s not only found time to talk with us about his early influences and current goings on but has put together this exclusive promo mix as a futher insight as to what we can expect him to emit on the dancefloor this coming weekend.
Download: Norm Talley fabric Promo Mix
Nice to meet you Norm, how’s life for you at the moment?
Life is good and blessed to be here, I’ve been busy with producing and DJing. I've also been doing some travelling playing at Watergate in Berlin and Katapult’s Summer Boat Party in Paris which were both great events. That’s always motivation for me on the creative side! I’m looking forward to the gig at fabric with Cassy and Basic Soul Unit as well as The Overground Festival in Geneva,Switzerland with my friend Jean Claude Varoslav! These will all be musically incredible nights. I've also got lots of new things coming up for 2014, my new label, UPSTAIRZ ASYLUM RECORDINGS! New Agent, Master Blaster Agency as well as new projects for Mixmode Recordings, Divine Recordings, Thema(NYC), MCDE/Faces, NDATL Muzik, Track Mode, Sushitech and more.
To go back to your roots in Detroit land of the techno originators, When did you first hear Detroit house? How were you first involved with it?
I was involved from the DJ’s perspective and most of the early Detroit music I heard came from a record store called Buy-Rite Music on 7 Mile and Meyers run by Clifton Thomas along with hearing Detroit producers like Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Blake Baxter, Art Forest, Mike Banks, Santonio and so on.
Who were the artists or producers you were dancing to in the New Age, 80’s?
Was it a lot of the stuff we think about now as classic house? I think of it as
Klassic Music that I came up on!! Early 80s was more Disco and Progressive music and some of the artists were Sharon Redd, Loletta Hollaway, Gwen Guthrie, Shirley Lites, David Joseph, Donna Summers, Weeks and Company, Geraldine Hunt, Bohannon.
Why do you think Detroit is so fertile for people making music?
I think having a large group of producers networking in one area is part of it, I think it brings motivation to express your musical thoughts and feelings. At least it did for me! Watching Juan and Eddie make music motivated me to make my first record which was released on Eddie Fowlkes label City Boy.
How are you looking forward to returning to London in August? Can you tell us about some of the parties you’ve played in the past and enjoyed here?
I’m really looking forward to playing at fabric again, there is always a good energy and vibe in the room as well as tight sound system which is important in feeling the vibe!! I think all of the BeatDown Parties we did there were Unique from open to close, 3 Detroit DJ’s from the first beat till close! Also the Defenders of Deep House gig with Mike Huckaby, Rick Wade and Myself was DOPE!!
What’s your memories of playing at fabric? How does it feel to be back for Cassy’s fabric 71 album launch, alongside Basic Soul Unit, live?
Looking forward to playing with Cassy and Basic Soul Unit and creating a night to remember!!!!
Do you get nostalgic about the Detroit Beatdown days? Do you ever think about resurrecting it with Mike “Agent X” and Delano Smith?
No I don’t get nostalgic about those days because I still work with Delano and Mike to date, and they’re good friends still. I do have fond memories of the Beatdown Residency at Agave here in Detroit on Sunday Nights for over 5 years, lots of good vibes!
From your first release ‘Grove Street Shuffle’, to ‘Cosmic Waves’ which was a pinnacle moment for us to hear Sunday morning played by Ricardo Villalobos in RM1 to ‘Travlin.’ Can you pick some of the cornerstone records of your career for us?
The Journey-Nouveau Riche/Third-Ear recordings
The Mystic EP-Track Mode recordings
The Travlin EP-Landed recordings
The Late Night Creeper-Soiree-Thema recordings
Cosmic Waves-Chisel/Partier
Detroit2Step-SushiTech
Tracks From The Asylum- Mixmode recordings
What was the moment that made you not just want to play other people’s music? Did you see a chance to bring something to house music that wasn’t in there already?
Well I still do play other peoples music along with my own productions and feel that good music is good music regardless of who made it and how!! The person that motivated me to make a record was Eddie Fowlkes along with Darrin Abrams. Both guys had studios and were great producers so that was motivation for me to get a studio set up and create some music of my own!
Where are some of your favourite places to go record shopping?
Detroit!! Philly, Pittsburgh, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Japan wherever there is vinyl and turntables.
What do you enjoy listening to that isn’t necessarily dance floor material?
Jazz
How does it work when you’re in the studio? What’s your current studio set up?
Analog Vs Digital
Do you have plans to release an album in the future?
Coming Soon!
Lastly, what advice would you give young producers who want to get into dance music, given your wealth of experience?
Learn the business end of music so you can have a long successful Journey!
