Howdy Mr Louie Vega!! Thank you for taking the time to sit down and chill-out with the Saturday Sessions crew ahead of this week’s event….
So first and foremost, tell us a little bit about who you are and what you’re about?
I WAS BORN IN THE BRONX, GREW UP IN THE DAYS OF EARLY HIP HOP, BLOCK PARTIES, DISCO, R & B, SOUL & SALSA (FANIA). I’M A DJ/PRODUCER/IMPRINT/LABEL OWNER, ONE HALF OF MASTERS AT WORK, BAND LEADER OF ELEMENTS OF LIFE, HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRAMMY WINNER. I’M A DOWN TO EARTH KIND OF GUY, ALWAYS THERE TO HELP OTHERS AND HAVE A HUGE LOVE FOR MUSIC. A TRUE FAMILY MAN AND GOOD HUSBAND.
This Saturday is set to be an exciting event with you returning to the Box, what can we expect to hear from you?
WOW, WE HAVE LOTS OF GOOD STUFF, I’M COMING WITH VEGA RECORDS RECORDING ARTISTS AND DJS ANANE VEGA (FROM CAPE VERDE) & BODDHI SATVA (FROM CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC). THEY ARE TWO VERY UNIQUE TALENTS. ANANE’S RESIDENCY IS IN NY AT THE SUBMERCER AND HAS PLAYED NUMEROUS VENUES THIS PAST YEAR. SHE’S DJ’D AT ROOTS NYC (OUR PARTY AT CIELO), HAS OPENED UP WITH A 4 HOUR SET AT PACHA NYC FOR ERIC MORILLO, PLAYED AT SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL FAMILY, DJ’D IN ITALY, GREECE, MIAMI, AND NOW WILL DEBUT IN LONDON AT MINISTRY OF SOUND FOR SOUL HEAVEN’S LOUIE VEGA GET TOGETHER. ANANE HAS AN ALBUM COMING SOON ON NERVOUS RECORDS ENTITLED “ANANESWOR LD”. THE RELEASE DATE IS FEB. 16, 2010 PRODUCED BY HER AND I. SHE WILL TOUR EUROPE IN MID FEBRUARY.
BODDHI SATVA’S RESIDES BETWEEN WEST AFRICA AND BELGIUM. HE HAS A RESIDENCY AT HIS OWN PARTY CALLED HOT FUSION IN BELGIUM AND HAS PLAYED WORLDWIDE IN NUMEROUS CLUBS. HE’S HAD THREE SINGLES OUT ON VEGA RECORDS WHICH DID VERY WELL AND NOW IS RECORDING AN ALBUM FOR VEGA RECORDS. WE ARE ACTUALLY MIXING IT NOW AT THIS MOMENT.
Describe your sound in 5 words?
SEXY, SOULFUL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, UPLIFTING!!!!!
How does you’re sound and style differ from any other artists?
WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
Your lovely wife, Anane Vega will be djing for the first time in UK & performing a live PA is this the first time that you have toured together as djs?
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE IN LONDON WITH HER DJING. WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED, WE JUST PLAYED A BEACH PARTY IN NYC AT WATER TAXI BEACH LIC AND SHE ROCKED!
HER MUSIC IS AFROTECH/WORLD/HOUSE AND MORE. I WILL SAY NO MORE, COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE!!!
What can we expect from the other DJ’s that are playing?
FROM BODDH SATVA YOU WILL EXPECT MODERN ANCESTRY MATERIALIZED THROUGH HIS SOUNDS AND BEATS WITH THE PURPOSE OF RELIEVING THE CROWD FROM PAINS AND STRESSES. ITS AMAZING WATCHING BOTH BODDHI AND ANANE DJ, THEY HAVE POWERFUL PRESENCE AND THEIR SELECTION IS OUT OF THIS WORLD! LONDON IS GOING TO BE RUMBLING!!!!!!
O F COURSE THE SOUL HEAVEN RESIDENTS WILL BE TEARING IT UP AS WELL. NEIL PIERCE, AARON ROSS, SY SEZ, AND THE REST OF OUR CREW!
You’re clearly recognised as one of the leading fathers of soulful house, what does the music mean to you?
THERE WERE MANY BEFORE, I’M FLATTERED YOU THINK SO, ITS A TRUE HONOR.
What inspires you when it comes to making music and choosing a set list?
MAKING MUSIC I GET INSPIRED BY SO MUCH. MY WIFE, MY SON, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, A PERFORMANCE, A PLACE AROUND THE WORLD, MEMORABLE NIGHTS AT GIGS AND CLUBS IN MY PAST, OH AND MY MUSIC AND RECORD COLLECTION. I BRING LOTS OF MUSIC, I DON’T PLAN THE SET, WHAT HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN. I FEED OFF THE CROWD AND ENERGY OF THE ROOM, ATMOSPHERE AS WELL.
Are there any other DJ/producers that are doing it for you right now?
OSUNLADE, BODDHI SATVA, CULOE DE SONG, MZEE, MANOO, ANANE, ANTONELLO COGHE, AT JAZZ, RANCIDO, ARGY, EZEL, DJINJI BROWN, CARL CRAIG, & THE FRENCH TWINS.
What can we find on your ipod?
DONNIE HATHAWAY, HECTOR LAVOE, STEVIE WONDER, WILLIE COLON, QUINCY JONES, JAMIROQUAI, ALISHA KEYS, OUMOU SANGARE, CHAKA KHAN, D ANGELO, MICHAEL JACKSON, HAVANA CULTURA, JASMINE SULLIVAN, FRANK MCCOMB,
OLIVIER DE SOUL
What are you’re top ten tracks of the moment?
1. BITTER SWEET (LOUIE VEGA/JAY SEALEE MIXES) JULIE MCKNIGHT ATAL MUSIC
2. ANCESTRAL CALLING MZEE NULU MUSIC
3. BANG=2 0THE DRUM SISTER PEARL TRIBE RECORDS
4. LETS GET HIGH (LIFE LOVE MUSIC) ANANE NERVOUS RECORDS/VEGA RECORDS
5. I APOLOGIZE (AT JAZZ REMIX) OVEOUS MAXIMUS YORUBA
6. YOU CAN’T LIE (KERI CHANDLER / SPINNA REMIXES) HARLEY & MUSCLE SOULSTAR
7. CREEP (MASTER KEV/TONY LORETO REMIX) RADIOHEAD
8. WAR WITH THE DEVIL JOHNNY DANGEROUS SOLE CHANNEL
9. TAMBOULA (CULOE DE SONG/ARGY) SONSOUNDIATA’S REBELS OFFERING
10. MAHUWELELE MZEE OCHA RECORDS
How did you first get into the music industry?
I STARTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD DJ, PLAYIN SWEET 16′S AND HIGH SCHOOL PARTIES. I WORKED AT A RECORD POOL BACK IN THE DAY (DOING INVENTORY ON THE PROMO VINYL THAT CAME IN) AND MET MANY PEOPLE IN THE MUSIC
INDUSTRY. THEN I PUT TOGETHER MY OWN EVENTS WITH JOHN RIVERA (A FRIEND FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD), AND EVENTUALLY STARTED PLAYING AT CLUBS IN NYC.
MY FIRST CLUB WAS DEVIL’S NEST IN THE BRONX, THEN HEARTHROB IN NYC, STUDIO 54, AND MANY OTHERS. I STARTED MAKING MUSIC BECAUSE RECORD EXECUTIVES WOULD COME TO CLUBS I SPUN AT AND ASK IF I’D BE INTERESTED IN DOING REMIXES. THEN IT ALL BEGAN.
If you hadn’t of became a DJ, what do you think you would be doing right now?
I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO FLY PLANES.
Where have you played this year?
ALL OVER: AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SINGAPORE, PHUKET, ITALY, GREECE, SPAIN, MIAMI, NY, LA, CHICAGO, CANADA AND MORE.
What’s been you’re biggest achievement?
MY BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT HAS BEEN TO WIN A GRAMMY AND TO COMPOSE AND PERFORM THE SONG “ONE DREAM” FOR CIRQUE DE SOLEIL AT THE SUPERBOWL IN MIAMI ALONG WITH ANANE AND ELEMENTS OF LIFE. ( 145 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHED IT LIVE AND WE PERFORMED IN FRONT OF 70,000 PEOPLE IN A STADIUM). ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT IS THE BODY OF WORK I’VE CREATED ALONG WITH MY PARTNER KENNY DOPE GONZALEZ AS MASTERS AT WORK.
Obviously, you have seen the scene changes throughout the years, how does it differ now to way back then?
ITS WAY DIFFERENT NOW.
Lastly, as we’re sure you are well aware last week the club turned 18! What we’re you doing on your 18th birthday?
WOW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MINISTRY!!! WHEN I WAS 18 I WAS DJING SOMEWHERE IN THE BRONX.
What’s the most embarrassing song that you have ever played or bought?
I DON’T HAVE ONE.
You’ve played all over the world, where has been you’re favourite place to play?
JAPAN AND ITALY
How do you think the crowds differ in the UK, compared with anywhere else in the world?
UK WAS THE FIRST TO APPRECIATE AND WELCOME US WITH OUR MUSIC, WHICH SHOWED THEY WERE VERY OPEN TO NEW SOUNDS AND MUSIC. WE GOT SO MUCH LOVE FROM THE UK AND WILL NEVER FORGET THAT.
Cool, so what makes you come back to Ministry of Sound?? What do you like about the club?
MOS IS LIKE HOME, ITS ALL ABOUT THE BOX!!!!!!!! REMINDS ME OF HOME.
Lastly, you’re from New York right? What’s you’re favourite home food comfort?
RICE AND BEANS!!!!
Thanks
Saturday Sessions
xx
