Dj Marc Hurley,Cork, Ireland - The Official Interview

Name: Marc Hurley
Age: 26
Sex: Male
Born: Ireland
Location: Cork

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

That's an easy one - in Cork, Ireland there is a world famous Deep House Club, called Sweat, every Saturday (some Sundays with guests) at a club called Sir Henrys. I started going kinda late compared to my friends/peers, at age 19, but when I did it was simply amazing, and I was hooked then and there. I had never heard anything like it... I was totally blown away and I was back in there the very next night. I was a happy punter for about another year, and then I started buying records.

1a. 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?

Partly (b), I liked a lot of the pop music of the 1980s (argh!!). But in terms of greatest influences, see answer to question one.

2. Who was your first musical hero? Was it Artists from the.. Soul area Hiphop scene Rock/Heavy Metal scene Motown, The Sound of Philadelphia or Stax Records artists Jazz artists, Hip Hop Artist. Or just any particular artist?

Most of these sounds for me have all been post deep house discovery, to be honest. My earliest musical memories are all Ska actually: Madness, Bad Manners, and even Musical Youth. I used to get given bits n pieces by my cousins when I was 6/7. I remember listening to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" for about 6 months solid when I got my first tape player, so I guess that qualifies. After that there was Talking Heads and a lot of indie stuff of the day - New Order, Depeche Mode etc. But when MARRS etc hit the charts in 1988 I was well hooked to these new and odd sounding tracks…

3. Are you a DJ/Producer. Or are you just a Dj? What was the first club that you played that allow you to gain vital experience to that is invaluable now! Is it still there now; and have you gone back to play there from time to time? What was the first Club that you ran completely.

The first place I played regularly, I still play at. Lewowskis's in Cork, Ireland gave me my first real break, only about four years ago. I started playing every Thursday and I still do, which is cool. The crowd really appreciate the music, and there is an acceptance of the stuff that I'm playing, so that was a huge boost to go further. The bar has DJs playing 6 nights a week, so it was a good place to start. Club running I toyed with briefly but it's not my thing (i.e. it lasted 4 weeks).

4. I posed this question to DJ Cosmo(USA), a couple of years back and now I'm going to pose it to you. Have you ever been given the chance 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 your area of the world? Do there serve a purpose, or have they out stayed their welcome? Is Pirate Radio tolerated in Ireland? What are the punishments if caught broadcasting this way over the airwaves?

Is that DJ Cosmo from New York? I know her; she's an excellent DJ.I'm not altogether sure what you mean by "those famous Pirate Radio Show's" but I've been doing radio for as long as I've been playing. I play on Radio Friendly 104.6 in Cork, Ireland, and soon to be in Galway, Ireland. I play every Sunday afternoon, and people seem really into it, everyone seems to be relaxing on Sundays and I get lots of calls and nice comments.

5.Still on being a DJ. What would you consider to being the music that you like playing the best. USA Garage, Deep House, Disco House, Jazz House or 2-STEP Garage, Soul, Rnb or Funk or do you throw all of these music's into your set to get the best results?

I get fuzzy on the borderlines of the above but I would say that I play deep house, but the definition changes wherever you go doesn't it? All of my records are either deep or jazzy in my mind, with or without vocals. Maybe some are deep-garage, I couldn't tell you.

6. Are you a resident DJ some where, or do you work Freelance?

Lebowski's in Cork, see 3 above.

7.What is your day job. Djing by night, but what do you do during the day? Do you like what you do? Is it your dream to break into the Music business full time still a major ambition of your life?

Yes I do have a day job, if only to support my unfailing vinyl habit. I work as a system administrator.

8.Ireland has for sometime loved the deeper, Usa House sounds. Is this so where you are from (Cork, Ireland)? How did this come about? Is there any Record labels coming from Cork, that shows that you are as a people well into the music. Is there a Guidance Record style record label coming from Cork for instance; or Ireland, if we are to paint a bigger picture? Ireland seems to be another part of the world that is championing the Deep House sound that originally comes from Chicago, USA. Why is that?

There is a whole lot of stuff (suddenly) happening in this country at the moment when it comes to music and labels. The Sweat residents (Sir Henry's in Cork - see answer to question1), Greg Dowling and Shane Johnson are recording as Fishgodeep, and they have releases out on i! records and Brique Rouge, as well as imminent release on Chicago's Gourmet.

There is a now established label out of Belfast, Ireland - "Slide", with releases from their local talent pool, and those guys are up to their fifth release now.

A new label is ready to go out of Galway, called "Elevation", featuring music from David Duirez, and the label head Darren Nugent has a new 12" out on Clearblu (Sweden) as Aurba. Dublner Robbie Dunne's project, Spectrum is Green, is enjoying success with his debut single on Plastic City, "The Key".Finally Deephousenetwork boys Derek Hyland & Cillian Joy have had one of their tracks out on the much-respected Mantis label.Watch out for Real House music!!!

9. You are part of the Internet House organisation called "Deep House network". How did that come about? Did they approach you, or did you approach them in joining this establishment. Has it been a success?

Derek and Cillian had the idea and they needed a DJ/trainspotter type. So that's my description if ever I heard it. It's a success as long as people enjoy it, and the music we try and promote, especially at a time when so many people are coming warming to deep house... Have you noticed how many deep house compilation CDs there are out there…?

"Yes I have Marc, and some of them are out of this world" -Carl Brown- England

10. Changing the subject. What are your thoughts on the music known as 2-Step Garage music that is busting out of London? (Artful Dodger, M.J.Cole,Ed Case, etc etc) The music has bulldozed its way into the Garage and House music world. Its the newest hybrid within the music gender. Some people hate it. Some people love it. What are your views on the scene and the music?

Not my sound exactly, but there has been some fine records; MJ COLE - London, England continually impresses me actually.

11. There seems to be a love for GARAGE at the moment that resembles the early days of Hiphop music within the USA. Labels are being sought after, the pirates are canning the music. Underground clubs via word of mouth are becoming " Sought after places to visit". Is the bubble going to burst soon though do you think? Can Garage (especially UK Garage remain Underground for long?) Will the majors move in, in a big way to take their share of the profits? What are your thoughts?

I'm not too sure what you mean by hiphop influenced Garage Carl, but the one thing you can be sure of with major labels is that they rarely come out on the bottom.

12. Kiss 100 Fm Radio station (London) has come in for a lot of stick a couple of years ago for moving away from its dance music ethos in favour of a more commercial and pop orientated sound, which has infuriated a large amount Londoners. Is there a station such as Kiss 100 FM in Ireland at this present moment time?

Well there is no national dance station in Ireland but there are regional dance stations that do remain very loyal to the sounds of their respective areas, mostly because they are still pirate stations. Pirate Stations in Ireland do have much more leeway then in the UK, for the simple reason that we have less of them. Dublin has a station called PowerFM http://www.powerfm.org and Cork has Radio Friendly http://friendlyfm.tripod.com/, which will extend its waves to Galway soon, both of which are fine stations.

13. BBC Radio 1(England) seems to be championing the cause of dance music. But is this fools gold. Is this only a case of dance music being fashionable so that the BBC- (England) are panicking and pressurised in putting on these soul, drum and bass and garage shows. Not because they have a genuine interest in these music. But because it brings in the listeners to the station. What are your views?

Well I guess a big organisation like the BBC will have their ratings to consider more than the tastes of you or I, which is why pirate will always be better.

14.If it were possible would you prefer to play the long, long sets that are given to American DJ's such as Danny Tenaglia? European DJ's can only dream of at places like the "Tunnel" and Twillo in New York, etc, etc. Then the customary 1 or 2 hours that is given out to most European DJ's? Within your clubs past and present do or have, or have you been allowed to play for as long as 4/5 hours per set?

The long set every time Carl… I'd love to be able to play for 5 hours. In this country it is difficult (although it has happened in the past) as the licensing laws for clubs are crap, even though the pubs have recently got extended by an hour. Clubs close at 2 or 3 so it makes long sets out of the question for most of the time... except of course if the likes of Francois Kervorkian, Usa ever came, then we'd all be in the club before 9!!

15.Dubbed the "New Ibiza" by music critics and fashion experts alike. Do you fear for the islands (Ayia Napia, Cyprus) beauty? Do you think that the island will attract all the wrong types of people? Watching the film called the "Beach" starring Leonardo Da Capiro. We all saw what could happen if rules are bent and relax to accommodate wealthy holiday makers. Do you think that Ayia Napia, as a holiday resort could be spoilt.? What are your views as a Brit.

Well I am not a Brit so I can't comment as one! I think these places can be kept beautiful with the vigilance of the local authorities, but personally I never go in for party holidays… especially of the Aya Napia kind.

16. Where you present at this years Winter Music Conference (2001), in Miami, Usa. It has become the place where once a year Dj's from all over the world prodominently from the House and Garage World meet up. What are your views on such a Conference

Is it good for Soulful House and Garage music? Yes, it's gotta be good. When producers, labels and DJ congregate in the sun, then there's bound to be some ideas emerge. I'd love to go, you get guest passes being a old hand at this game Carl (hehe)????

17. Changing the subject again.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?(If 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 love record shopping too much to give it up; I get a huge thrill out of looking through stacks and stacks of vinyl to find something worth buying. If you are playing just what you are given then that's a bit too much like all those pop groups these days who are controlled completely by record company bigwigs. Never!! All deep house records greatly received however … marc@deephousenetwork.com (I never miss an opportunity J)

18. As labels go.. Have you a favourite. One that you always stop by as you flick through the piles of Records in your specialist record shop?

Hmmm lets see: New(ish) label wise there are a few that are impressing me:

Basic, Moodmusic, Brique Rouge, Chez, La Rosiere, Stir15, Environ and more. The likes of Estereo, i!, Ibadan, Naked, Nuphonic seem to always have a 12 in my record box. In an all-time sense there would be Nitegrooves, Cajual, F-comms, Soma, all the usual house and deep house suspects.

19. 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?

Just the straightforward blending for me… as smooth as I can manage. Check for yourself with my 'One year older' mix on the website: http://www.deephousenetwork.com/mixes.php

20. Are you running a label of anykind? And if so, who have you got signed to the label? Any important Releases that we should keep a look out for?

No, not for me I'm afraid.

21.Deep House music is a great love of yours I know? This form of House music is probably the most followed style in House and Garage music world wide. Labels from the West Coast of America are really making every body stand up and take notice with their brand of Deep House. Labels such as Grayhound and Panhandle are making the city of Chicago, Usa to sit up and take notice. But we forget that the Scandinavian countries such as Finland, Norway and Sweden and France have bustled themselves into making quality Deep House music as well. Is the good times going to continue for Deep House music. Or does Deep House music need another kick up the back side to take it that one more step forward?

I have always been a proponent of house on the world stage... The Americans have traditionally led the game but the last few years has seen the whole thing blow up... and that has to be good. My favourite labels used to always be US labels, but now they seem to be from France/Germany. I think that the popularity of deep house music has quietly grown into something big in the last few years… the spread of labels, producers and radio shows all dedicated to the cause is testament to this.

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

From Ireland keep an eye out for Fishgodeep, Aruba, Spectrum< is Green, the Slide label… and plenty new stuff to come.On the bigger stage I think hat the likes of Julian Jabre, Osunlade, Needs/Boobjazz, DJ Deep, have all yet to peak.

23. Are there any good clubnights available, that if anyone coming to Cork (Ireland), and are into Soulful House or Garage music. Would they have a good time? What about Ireland in general?

There have been some new venues open in Cork, Ireland recently so that has opened up the choice a bit more for people, and more and more bars have DJs playing so it's all pretty good for music and clubbers here in summer 2001. Dublin has come a long way too, from being a primarily techno city, there are house nights four or five nights a week in the capitol, and keep your eyes peeled for your truly making appearances shortly…

24. Have you been to London before? What about Deep House music spiritual Home. Chicago, Usa. Have you been to Chicago or New York before to hunt down those more obscure Deep House and Soulful house labels? What are you views on these cities if you have been to all 3 of them? Which was your favourite and why?

Well I have never been to New York or Chicago, Usa, but hopefully soon. However, London, England certainly rocks when it comes to record shopping.

25. Changing the subject completely. 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!

Stick to what you like, don't play what is expected of you, and stay off bandwagons because they rarely last. 26. What does the Future Hold for Mr. Hurley. Have you got any more ambitions. What are you planning to do for the rest of the year or beyond. Anything exciting?

Well I would dearly love to get something released on vinyl, but my first love is DJing, so gig all over Europe and America will do nicely, thanks.