Hans Diepstraten

Washed ashore on a lonely island in the sea is my latest guest, DJ and radio presenter Hans Diepstraten.

Since 1993, Hans (with co-presenter Harry Van Vliet) has run the weekly soul radio show Fingerpoppin' Soul out of Amsterdam with a guest list that reads like a complete "Who's Who" of soul music.

Over to you Hans...

Starting Out

"I was raised in a middle-class family in the college town Tilburg in the South of Holland. My parents were not into music at all, and neither were my brother and sister both younger than me, but I was hooked from an early age. The first record I ever bought was Gilbert O’Sullivan’s 'Nothing Rhymed' which I bought when I was about ten years old. Or rather, I bought the picture sleeve cover because inside was Dave Edmunds 'I Hear You Knocking', another hit at the time. It was as if someone was pointing me towards R&B from the start. 

After that I started buying the lead 45s in the hit parade. LPs were beyond us financially at that time. Then when I entered secondary school it was time to get serious: Deep Purple 'Live in Japan', Pink Floyd 'Umma Gumma' as well as Tom Waits with 'Closing Time' and some of the country rock records by Poco, the Eagles and CSNY. 

No soul records entered my universe until at least 1975. Actually the first soul records I acquired were Motown records: the compilation LP 'The Big Wheels of Motown' and (incredibly) Marvin Gaye’s 'What’s Going On' which I received as a birthday present and which went way over my head at the time."

Punk and Reggae
"Then came Punk, which changed my whole musical frame of reference. The Ramones first LP on Philips, Blondie on Private Stock, The Modern Lovers on Beserkley, The Damned on Stiff… I really was a punk before you were a punk. 

With that territory came (Punky) Reggae, and records by Culture, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, Israel Vibration, Pablo Moses and the Heptones. At that time I was still not truly bitten by the Soul bug. There was no (Northern) Soul scene in Holland, and there was no access to this music in the Dutch media, or at least I was not aware of anything. However, UK music magazines such as NME and ZigZag did mention soul music and I started investigating here and there. I would like to be able to say there was some sort of revelatory moment where I saw the light but I must admit that my immersion in Soul Music was a gradual affair that took maybe some five years. By that time it was the 80s, possibly the worst era in soul music so it was a small miracle that I ventured that way at all."

Clubbing and Pirate Radio
"When I seriously started clubbing it was the 80s (I was late to the game) and at the time soul and funk were the main styles played in clubs, together with the post wave sounds of things like PigBag and Tears For Fears. You could always count on Marvin Gaye’s 'Sexual Healing', Chaka Khan’s 'Ain’t Nobody' or the live version of Maze’s 'Joy and Pain'. Those really were the records that drew me in. They made me start looking for similar records as well as other styles of soul music I had ignored before, or which maybe had not really clicked in my head. I discovered Kent records and before long I was buying mainly soul music LPs and the occasional 45.

In the mean time I had taken an interest in (pirate) radio and the station I was always listening to (RVZ) was advertising for new DJ’s. This station was a superb quality non-commercial affair run by a close group of music addicts much like New York’s WFMU. Anything was possible there, as long as it was real. I applied and after a shaky and nervous few try-outs I was accepted, mainly because I chanced on the tune 'Heaven Must Have Sent You' by the Elgins, a Northern Soul classic and a favourite of one of the leading DJs at the station. 

So that was the start of my radio “career” which has now lasted for nigh on thirty years. Initially I played anything that fit in the broad format of the station (from alternative rock to African music, Black music and Reggae) but at some point I started a shared show “The Soul Squad” with the soul-oriented guys and then my collecting passion fast became black music only."

From TeenBeat to Fingerpoppin’ Soul
"After a few years the pirate station RVZ was raided by police and that was the end of that. The core group of DJs started a legal local station and after some changes I was asked if I wanted to take over a specialized show with a focus on early sixties pop music called TeenBeat. This show played a lot of late fifties and early sixties pop music, with a focus on girl groups, Phil Spector type sounds and early soul like Barbara Lewis. 

I did that weekly show for about a year and then a watershed event happened that actually changed my life in multiple ways. We had the great idea to start a nightly show called Vinyl Junkies and invited listeners to apply for a spot. A number of interesting characters applied (people specializing in Indian Ragas, obscure psych, dark wave etc) plus one guy who just wanted to play soul music. That guy turned out to be Harry Van Vliet, and he became a lifelong friend and my fellow DJ for what later became the Fingerpoppin’ Soul radio show, which we still run today. After about 4 weeks of Harry doing his Vinyl Junkies hour and my TeenBeat hour we decided to merge the show into a two hour TeenBeat. Then after a little more time we changed the moniker of the show, to better align with the actual music played on the show. And so Fingerpoppin’ Soul was born.

It was 1993."

Expanding the collection
"Once Fingerpoppin’ Soul was underway we initially had to fight constantly to keep it on the air. At that time the legal radio station was run by a set of decidedly “hip” people, without a clue about history or classic soul. Only the latest new imports should be played, and what we were doing was considered old hat and “music for old people”. That is why we had to attend every management meeting just to make sure we weren’t cut out of the schedule. In the mean time we had to feed the weekly radio show with interesting records to play. That meant that rather than just buying records at a relaxed pace there had to be new sounds to play every week. We could not play the same record twice of course. So over time, when the Fingerpoppin’ Soul format got established this led to an acceleration in the acquiring of soul records, and mainly LPs. In that period eBay started as well, giving unlimited access to a wealth of records I never knew existed before. I started a fanatical search for obscure records.

One thing to recognize as well is that, mainly through listening to other people’s great radio shows I developed an eclectic taste and broad view on music. This also fed into our radio show, where we play many different types of black music. This resulted in an orientation quite at odds with the mainstream of the UK soul scene, and this difference is still very clear today.

The arrival of on line forums on the web, such as Essential Modern Soul, the Southern Soul email group, Soul Source and Soul Strut made it possible to hook into other people’s knowledge and to grow the record collection through their posts and information. Especially the early Essential Modern Soul forum, blossoming around the year 2000, I believe, was a treasure trove of information as well as a collection of highly knowledgeable and opinionated soul collectors and DJs. I learned an immense amount from the people on that forum."

Today

"Over the last few years I have also been buying Latin, Brazilian and Jazz records. By and large, this is because there are fewer and fewer soul albums still “out there” for me to find, with the exception of the occasional major Grail for which I have to fork out significant money. 

To feed my collector’s habit, I have had to expand into other genres like the ones mentioned. Currently for every soul album I find there are at least three other "non-purist" albums flowing into the collection. I do believe however that it ultimately all comes from the same well. My radio experience has shown me that these genres naturally flow together and form a cohesive whole.

...which leads me to the five discs that play and played an important role in my life."

The Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso

"This record is the first one that really grabbed me from the start and never let me go again. Simple music, almost stark, heart felt, real, soulful without being soul, and resonating with the insecure teen I was at the time mainly because of the angst in Jonathan Richman's delivery. This was before his conversion to nursery rhymes, and produced by John Cale it remains a monument of expressive rock music."

Phil Flowers - The Mirror Cried

"When our friend Tom de Jong played 'The Mirror Cries' by Phil Flowers off his album 'Our Man In Washington'. It blew our minds. 

Phil Flowers was the ultimate “journeyman soul singer” and his discography is wider than the Amazon river. Beat ballads, Northern Soul, Heavy Psychedelic Funk, Two Step, Gospel, he did everything and did everything very well. We met him in Washington DC too which was great."

The Impressions - I'm So Proud

"I met my future wife at a friend’s party and on our second date we ended up at my place and slow danced to the Impressions. At our wedding party the first record played was this one. Nuff said.

The Impressions will be played at my funeral, although to be honest I probably will not care at that point… "

Eric & The Vikings - It's Too Much For One Man To Take Too Long

 

"This is another all time classic for me. I first heard it played by Brian Goucher on a UK radio station and the lyrics and delivery are breath taking. This song also represents the richness of the Vocal Group seam in soul music."

Tim Maia – I Love You, Girl

"Brazilian soul singer Tim Maia is an enigma. He should have been a superstar. He made this after he left the Racional sect in the mid-seventies and recorded a full album in English, tried to get it released and when he failed threw the test pressings away, making this by far the rarest Tim Maia LP in existence. Thankfully it is on Youtube in full and it was reissued (albeit badly mastered) on CD in Brazil. Almost all of his records are magic."

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"I could have easily picked a hundred other songs, and I see there is no Gospel, no Rocksteady or Lover’s Rock, no Bobby Bland and no Dells, no Neo Soul, no Doo Wop, no Latin Soul. 

Basically this list sucks big time.  ;0)"

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As Hans mentioned above, the Fingerpoppin' Soul radio show has a different orientation to the UK mainstream soul scene and I urge you to give it a try as I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

Here's a link to the Fingerpoppin' Soul  facebook site :  

click on the picture

Hans & Harry also produce a podcast of their show and this is available on Mixcloud :

click on the picture

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Markus Kater

Hailing from Schaumburg in Germany, my latest guest to be washed ashore on a lonely island in the sea is the multi-talented Markus Kater aka MaxK.

Markus is a journalist who has worked as an editor, department manager and editor-in-chief for local and regional newspapers... he is also a writer, DJ, presenter, producer and the recording artist MaxK.

As a boy, Markus grew up musically whilst singing in the schools choir and learning to play trumpet. In the early 80’s his addiction for 'everything that has a soul' began whilst spending hours and hours listening to Luther Vandross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye and Prince (just to name a few) on BFBS.

Today Markus is behind the decks again and has a passion for internet radio too... he started to edit tunes a few years ago for his sets and these can be heard on internet stations.  His big love, though, is remixes and these can be found on itunes, traxsource, amazon and all other download-portals. His own tracks have been released on the  Mac Da Knife label in the UK.

Earth, Wind and Fire - Can't Let Go

"Growing up countryside in North Germany in the 70's is probably not the best place, if you like funk and soul and jazz, but I was lucky enough to live close near to Minden where BFBS had a station with some shows, and (lucky again) the guy who ran the local record shop was into my music too, so he ordered all the good stuff. 

Luckily for me, I was probably the only one, who would ever buy a record of Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, Kashif, Me'lisa Morgan, Raoul de Suza or George Duke there. So whenever I had some money, I brought it there and I still love to go through my vinyl collection.

Earth, Wind & Fire is how it all started for me. I still adore them. It is something like a lifetime friendship, if you know what I mean. I had the great great pleasure to see them live for a few times in the last years and it was... just impressive."

Prince – Pop Life

"It was in 1979, when I bought my first Prince record. It took me five more years to find out, that there is a genius. When he came to Germany in 1986 to play some concerts, I got addicted. I confess, I am not a Prince addict anymore, but I can also say that this guy gave me some of the best moments in my Pop Life. 

I still get goosebumps when I think of the Dortmund concert of his Lovesexy tour in 1988 or the 22 minutes long 'Purple Rain' solo in Berlin a year later. 

On the other side, he really did cost me a fortune. I became a member of a fanclub in the UK and those guys sent me lists and lists of records of bootlegs, most of them on cassettes. So there was some night I was sitting in front of my tape deck listening to a badly recorded aftershow party from Vienna or Paris. It felt good."


Mousse T - Horny '98

"In the late 80's and early 90's the best clubs in Germany were in Hanover, believe it or not. 

Ferry Ultra and Mousse T were playing at the Palo Palo. A few years later Mousse T got Grammy nominated and impressed the world with Horny and Remixes for Madonna, Earth, Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones and others. 

He still rules and there is nothing better to cruise in your car to the Baltic or the North Sea and listen to this tune... very loud."

Grant Nelson – The Sound

"I wasn't much into Housemusic in the 90's; there were other things to do than checking out all the good music that is around. 

But Grant Nelson impressed me with this version of this classic from 1985, originally from the US group Dayton, a tune I have danced to a lot and played to death probably. 

Grant Nelson for me is the Admiral of Housemusic, besides some other Generals like Joey Negro, Masters at Work, Josh Milan to name just a few."

Cool Million – Show Me

"I started working at the local newspaper in Bremerhaven in North Germany in April 2009, and a few months later I stumbled onto Rob Hardt, one of the two masterminds behind the music project Cool Million. 

Rob and Frank Ryle from Copenhagen have released three albums up to now, and a new one is coming this year. 

I love this danceable, back to the future sound they have and I agree with Tom Moulton who said "These guys have Soul"."

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So now you want to hear Markus's excellent mixes ?

Check 'em out here :  

Also check out his latest tracks on Mixcloud : 

And keep up to date with Markus on Facebook : 

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Natasha Watts

My latest guest castaway to be washed ashore on a lonely island in the sea is one of the UK's most exciting and talented Soul Artists, Natasha Watts.

Singer, songwriter, performer and all-round entertainer, Natasha has been surrounded by all genres of music, from reggae and jazz to blues and funk.  With a DJ as a father and a soul insane older sister, she really had little choice and she soon became familiar with every rare groove and soul track well before her years.

At the age of sixteen Natasha teamed up with Roame Lowrey (percussionist with Maze and Frankie Beverly) who took her to the states to experience recording and develop her as a young artist. Whilst in the states Natasha worked on a stage musical and performed with Kirk Franklin and the Family. Natasha’s talent grew and the inspiration from her current peers coaxed her in new directions and she realised that she had a new found love for Gospel and true RnB. Natasha’s stay in the states ended with the arrival of her son Taylor, which took her out of the music scene for some years.

Having always credited her mother, Sandra as her inspiration, the woman who moulded Natasha’s soul and direction, passed away in 2008. Yet, through this distressing and heart-breaking period, comes the life affirming "Time to Shine"...  to this day it is still Natasha’s favourite number due to the deeply personal resonance behind it.

Natasha exploded on to the UK soul scene with "Show Me", her first collaboration with Cool Million and featured on the "Cool Million III" album. This was rapidly followed up with the Summer smash of 2012, "Back 2 U" with producer Ric Atari which featured on the "Soul Seeds Vol 1" album. The 2014 album "Future Rare Grooves" saw Natasha featuring with Don-E on the stand out track "Big People Tings".

Natasha is in demand more than ever for her vocal talents and vivacious on-stage presence. A host of well-respected producers have elicited her formidable talents as well as various fellow contemporary songwriters and bands. There have also been gigs at huge events around the world, including IPM, Southport, Amalfi Conference, Moscow, Croatia and Miami, as well as supporting the legendary Betty Wright at various gigs all over the country.

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"Thanks again for asking me to do this .... 5 tracks that have influenced my life."

Foxy - Mademoiselle

"First up...

I am a Rare groove junkie and this one of my all time favourite tracks. It always gets me dancing !!!!!"

John Holt - Help Me Make It Through The Night

"Second...

This track means so much to me. 

It's all about my family and I almost cry every time I hear it !"

Stevie Wonder - Another Star

"Can't have a top five list without a Stevie track in there.

 Love, love, love this one."

Jill Scott ft. Anthony Hamilton - So In Love

"Another reason why I sing.

I love this lady and all that she is about!!!! 

A most beautiful duet of recent years!"

Natasha Watts - Go Slow

"And to finish... the first track of my album.


Had to be done... heheh !"

>



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Want to hear more ?

So check out Natasha's album here...

All the latest news and information on Natasha Watts can be found on her website...

Jim Donovan

It is my great pleasure to present Jim Donovan as my latest guest castaway to be washed ashore on a lonely island in the sea.

Jim could be categorised as a DJ, a collector, a dealer, but he is much more than simply the sum of these parts... so I have included this excellent video, produced by Rafael Gough, to provide a better insight.

JIM from Rafael Gough on Vimeo.

"It's been a long road, and there's no turning back". 

"In it for life"

"These are two of my favourite quotations, which have kept me at continuously vinyl collecting since 1959, and DJ'ing since 1962. It also does not look quite so bad if I say that I have bought 3 records every day for the last 56 years rather than type a figure.

My roots were in modern jazz, morphing into the 60's club scene, 70's Mobile Disco's. I sold out in the 80's/90's, DJ'ing at weddings, parties etc., with 'Top 40', but continued to collect the music, (jazz, funk and soul) that I loved. 

When vinyl virtually vanished in the late 1990's, I packed in the mobile, and 'fell into' bar/club culture... going back to playing the music I loved at nights like Smiler's (Paul Anderson) 'Club Rude' and my own very diverse evenings. For very many years, even back in the 60's, I recorded my sets and the current ones turn up on Mixcloud (Jim B. Donovan). The playlists for these are also on my shop website (Just Imagination Memorabilia).

I am sure that everyone that contributes to this lovely page start by expressing disbelief that they cannot choose just 5 tunes. I have had a little experience, however, especially having been involved in a night called Melodies and Memories, whereby I 'managed" to distill my 60's faves down to 40 tunes!

My selections, therefore, attempt to cover the areas of music I most love, and focus on tunes that I keep going back to."

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Charlie Christian - Swing To Bop (1941)

"This one was recorded on a primitive tape recorder at Mintons Club. When I first started collecting this influenced me in many ways. It of course is one of the earliest examples of 'Modern Jazz', and, whilst I would have liked to select some Bird or Miles or Dizzy, this has to be the one. 

However it had a further influence on me as I was well into tape recorders in the early 60's, recording from the radio. When I started DJ'ing in the mod clubs I often took the tape recorder with me to record the bands. Some of these recordings are now having another life. Without this tune and an early recording in 1941 on a portable recorder, it possibly would not have inspired me to do the same 25 years later."

John Coltrane - Greensleeves (1961)

"Having 'caught up' with bebop from the 40's and 50's in the early 60's, I just had to 'get contemporary'... and this was the first Coltrane I bought on the Africa Brass LP. 

It was the beginning with a life long admiration for the man, and more so because of his soprano saxophone playing, which soon lead me to guys like Don Rendell. 

This is a traditional English folk song which should seem out of place on a 'way out' American jazz record, but it works, and is still on my funeral music list! "

Sonny Boy Williamson - Help Me

"This classic manages to crossover with another all time great Booker T’s Green Onions as it uses the same riff. 

In the early 60’s, Rhythm and Blues was taking over from the trad boom, and what few beatniks were left, were going with it. We were starting to hear British covers of blues tunes, but Pye and John Schroeder (bless him) were putting out the real thing. 

The reason this tune is more iconic than most is that in September 1963, it was the first tune played by Roger Eagle at the opening night of the Twisted Wheel... and we all know what that lead to! Roger's first session was also only 4 days after Georgie Fame recorded his 'Live at the Flamingo' LP : The album that kickstarted British club culture and one of my fave LP’s 

Apologies for not picking any Motown, Stax, Stateside, Sue etc.  It's a tough call only picking five and trying to cover fifty-five years of collecting."

Frank Zappa - Peaches en Regalia

"When Frank got 'Jazz', you knew it. I just loved this mans whole lifestyle. 

Also on this tune is Shuggy Otis, who was recorded by Al Kooper... the one man I wish I could have been (apart from Gilles Peterson!)"

Robert Glasper Experiment - Afro Blue (featuring Erykah Badu)

"This one has to sum up all the music that this list excludes like Ska, Disco, Prog, Drum and Bass, and especially Hip Hop. Also for me it is 'modern'... which is pretty exceptional. 

However, thanks to my son and the younger guys who I DJ with and who come to my nights, sample culture, and turntabalism generally still fascinates me.

This tune is evocative of the Afroba that I used to play at and Blue Notes longevity. This also brings us up to date, especially as there are all sorts of current things happening in the shop : A feature film, 'Love Me 'til Monday' (with a brief appearance by myself) just out on DVD and my contribution to the TV show 'Toyhunter', plus guesting at one of Craig Charles's gigs... 15 minutes of fame, used up and very late in life !"

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Jim DJ's at a number of venues in and around Reading, so check out his facebook page to find out where and when he playing :  Jim Donovan on Facebook

In the meantime, here's a little taster...

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Emma-Rosa Dias

Shipwrecked and washed ashore on a lonely island in the sea is my latest guest castaway, the wonderfully talented television producer, presenter and director, Emma-Rosa Dias.

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Emma-Rosa moved with her mother to Germany in 1990 and her media career began in the German music industry in 1992. Her first TV media venture came when she was recruited to work for Germany’s landmark children’s TV series 'Die Sendung mit der Maus' for WDR Television. 

Emma-Rosa first found fame from having starred as a cast member in the second season of long running British reality television show, Channel 4’s 'Shipwrecked' in 2000. This was the same year as 'Big Brother' launched in the UK, when reality TV was a breakout phenomenon. Viewed as a social experiment by Emma-Rosa, before reality television became a tool for self-promotion, her experience on. 'Shipwrecked' stimulated her interest in pursuing a career in television production. 

Her television career started by presenting BBC's factual entertainment series 'Dinner Next Door', produced by BAFTA award winning Alison Miller. Emma-Rosa heralds Alison has a mentor and teacher in her television career.

Taking a year out, Emma-Rosa embarked upon a round the world trip and, while working in Sydney, had an unusual and memorable introduction to actor Hugh Jackman. Impressed by Emma-Rosa and recognizing her talent, Hugh Jackman sponsored her to take a three-month intensive television production course at Actors Centre Australia in Sydney.

Returning from her travels, Emma-Rosa began both freelancing as a television presenter for BBC and UTV, and also began a production career behind the camera at Street Monkey TV, Belfast. Her behind the scenes work developed her experience of commercial production, eventually leading to role as an In-House TV producer and Assistant Creative Director at Ardmore Advertising. Emma-Rosa produced commercials for many companies including Subway, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Stena Line and Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Emma-Rosa fronted the ‘Backin’ Belfast’ campaign, winning the Tourism Think Tank Awards in Berlin, 2013, and the Digital Communications Award, beating competition from over 600 contenders.

Drawing on over 13 years of international experience of producing, presenting and directing, Emma-Rosa founded her own company, Afro-Mic Productions, in September 2013 and her first project was ‘Belfast is Happy’, a unique version of the Pharrell Williams music video Happy, which was shot featuring members of the public in Belfast dancing in the street. 

With her passion for music and subcultures, Emma-Rosa Dias produced, directed and presented a series of documentaries on Mod subculture, including 'Faces In The Crowd' and 'For The Love of Mod: London', where Emma-Rosa's relaxed and warm interview style allowed her to access Britain’s leading players in the underground Mod scene to learn about their life experiences as a Mod. The success and wide reaching appeal of the film led on to Afro-Mic Productions being awarded funding by Northern Ireland Screen for a third and final Mod documentary For The Love Of Mod: Tokyo, filmed recently in Japan.

The series has garnered Emma-Rosa with international acclaim. Despite its low production budget, reviews have praised both the film’s portrayal of what Mods love about their scene and, in particular, have applauded Emma-Rosa’s relaxed, friendly and engaging interview technique that brings out the character of her subjects, which gained her the trust of an underground scene known for a dislike of media attention.

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"The ironic thing about doing this blog is that I actually have been stranded on a desert island! Although it was with 15 other people and in front of the TV cameras for Channel 4’s ‘Shipwrecked’ back in 1999 it still got very lonely at times! Having music would have been such a luxury!"

Joan Armatrading - Love and Affection

"I was truly lucky when it came to my early music education as my mum managed a record shop called ‘Blinkers’ in the students union at Queens University Belfast. From 1978 - 1986 (I was aged 4 - 11) I spent everyday after school in the record shop and as soon as my homework was completed in the back office I was able to explore and help my mum around the shop. Pricing the records, changing the posters, counting the concert tickets, and best of all listening to all sorts of music! 

Watching all the customers come and go was an experience in itself at that age - Punks, Skinheads, New Romantics, Goths, Hippies and Mods, it was a place they wanted to come to and hang out so the vibe was always great. My mum brought me up on her own and she really loved that place so I have nothing but fond memories. 

I got to hear thousands of albums like The Sex Pistols, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Thin Lizzy, The Police, ABBA, The Supremes, there's one song that brings back all those feelings and it's by musical genius Joan Armatrading. ‘Love and Affection’, it’s an absolute classic."

Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

"I watched my first music documentary in 1984 (aged 9) when my mum and her friend Ellis brought me to see Talking Heads - ‘Stop Making Sense’ at Queens Film Theatre. 

I’ll never forget that night because both my mum and Ellis feel fast asleep during the film and I watched the lot! Don’t get me wrong it was a little bit out there and loopy for a 9 year old but the energy throughout the film and frontman David Byrne kept me entertained! 

The director Jonathan Demme made the film with such passion during a three-day concert gig at the Pantages Theatre in Holywood and it is still one of the highest rated music documentaries of all time. Therefore my next song is Talking Heads ‘Once In A Lifetime’."

Orbital - Chime

"Now to the start of my clubbing days which was in 1989 (aged 14). Yes, I know, I was far too young! 

My uncle owned a sound & lighting company and DJ duo at the time David Holmes (Homer) & Ian McCready used to hire his equipment for their ‘Sugar Sweet’ rave nights at the Art College. I’ll never forget the first night they brought ‘Orbital’ over to Belfast, it was simply electric the atmosphere was like nothing I’d experienced before. Orbital’s ‘Chime’ and 'Belfast' are the tracks that bring those memories back for me. 

For me the Dance Music days continued for many years after that. My mum and I moved to Cologne, Germany in 1990 and at 17 I left school and started working at ‘Line-Up’ a DJ Booking Agency which was part of an underground techno club called ‘Warehouse’. By 1993 I was managing the German & Austrian bookings for DJs such as Carl Cox, Laurent Garnier and Ritchie Hawtin. 

I remember my friend and very talented house DJ and producer Hans Nieswandt complaining that there wasn’t enough female DJs on the circuit and offered me his old mixer to try it out. He tried to teach me how to mix, but I didn’t have the patience. One of the tracks was 'Bizarre Inc’s ‘Playing With Knives’ which I still have the odd rave to in my living room!"

Ocean Colour Scene -  Lining Your Pockets

"Dance music obviously played a big part in my life as my career very much started in the music industry when it was rife. I went from managing DJs to promoting a indie record label to managing bands and club nights. Great times but by the time I was 23 I’d had enough and went home to Belfast! 

Even when living in Cologne for those 8 years I used to fly home to Belfast every other month or arrange to meet up with all my friends in London and Glastonbury Festival was a must. I was very much in touch with what was going on outside the dance music scene plus I religiously bought NME, remember the times without the internet! 

Ocean Colour Scene, Massive attack and The Stone Roses were constantly being played on the decks at house parties but I never got to see them live until recent years. One band I often seen live though (8 times in total) were Oasis. Yes I was a huge fan but I wasn't heartbroken when they split because I enjoyed what Liam did with Beady Eye and what Noel is producing now, he’s a master of his trade. The best Oasis concert for me was in 2002 at the Witness Festival in Dublin when one of the security guards thought I was one of the singers from the dance tent and I managed to get on the main stage and stand at the side and watch the whole show. The crowd were going crazy and it was nice to experience it all from that angle! 

The big tunes that bring those years back to me are Massive Attack ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ The Stone Roses ‘I Wanna Be Adore’, Oasis ‘Little By Little’ and 'OCS’s ‘Lining Your Pockets’. Simon’s voice in this live version on Jools Holland is simply breathtaking..."

Nora Dean -  Barbwire

"Now I’ve spent the past two years documenting my journey into Mod subculture and that has hugely broadened my music library! 

I’ve been so lucky to have DJs like Eddie Piller, Paul J Hallam and Dave Edwards introducing me to all sorts of music that comes under the Mod umbrella, a’broad church' indeed haha! Jazz, Ska, Northern Soul, Latin, Motown, Rhythm and Blues it’s going to be hard to pick out just one track but I suppose I have to!

My ‘For The Love Of Mod - London’ screening was in Brighton, which was my first ever screening and very special indeed. Eddie played a track for DJ Wendy May Billingsley (Locomotion) that got everyone proper grooving on the dancefloor, it was Jamacian reggae singer Nora Dean and her classic ‘Barbwire’ (Oh Mama)."

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The final in Emma-Rosa’s Mod documentary trilogy ‘For The Love of Mod - Tokyo’ is available from Amazon & eBay.

In the final film in her Mod trilogy, producer/director Emma-Rosa Dias explores the Tokyo Mod scene and discovers how a British subculture thrives in the land of the rising sun. 

Emma-Rosa Dias's Mod trilogy comes to an enthralling conclusion in Japan. Exploring the modernist scene in Tokyo, Emma discovers first hand how a British subculture thrives 6,000 miles from its spiritual home in London. Meeting some of the faces in the Tokyo scene, we learn exactly what fashion, music, scooters and the modernist lifestyle means to these people. Stylish, classy and as entertaining as the mods who are featured, this documentary is an honest portrayal of the passionate Japanese Mods.

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If you've not seen the first two parts of Emma-Rosa’s Mod documentary trilogy, you've certainly been missing something in your life !

Available now on Amazon, click on the picture below to link.

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