The Mix
Where and how was the mix recorded?
"Live at Glitterbox on 16th August 2014."
Talk us through the track selection of the mix.
"Just doing my thing - taking old school records and making them sound new."
What are the musical influences that have allowed you to arrive at this mix?
"Seeing Kenny and Louie doing their thing a couple of weeks before inspired me."
The Plug
You state in your biography that you didn’t get a break straight away in your home town of New York, but England happened straight away. Why do you think that happened?
"England was more accessible to new music and they were open to my sound."
Would you say there is still this major gulf between the European and American scenes? It certainly seems to me that they are progressively closing the gap to each other now.
"Definitely closing gap but still feel as thou England is ahead of the game in new music."
Longevity and consistency in output for dance music artists is of course key to a successful long-term career. You had groundbreaking releases back in the 90s, so how does an artist continually remain current and relevant to todays scene - as someone who is doing exactly that.
"I keep my ear to what is current and collaborate with the new guys that are out there."
People have some much love for your work as a producer, in particular as a remixer with you working on so many huge tracks. I wonder what it is like working with such big names as Bjork, George Michael, Jamiroquai and the like? Do you have any involvement with them did they ever give you any feedback directly?
"Most of time with remixes you may have a phoner with the artist to get insight on what they are looking for. Some artists do show up to the studio like Kylie and Cher, which shows that they are really care about their artistry."
When it comes to working with these artists, what is the basic work process to take a record and turn it into a dance track? What limitations do you have?
"You try to please two worlds; the label and the artist production. You want to stay strong with what you believe in and make it a good song so you try to hold your ground."
Taking it back to your current situation, what do you have in the pipeline in terms of productions or remixes?
"Remixes - Clean Bandit ‘Come Over’, Hercules and Love Affair ‘Do you feel the same’, Kaz James ‘Show me all your love’."
"New productions - Todd Terry vs 2 In A Room ‘Crazy on the dancefloor’ and check InHouse Records"
We’ve got you involved in our podcast series as you’ve been pretty present on the island with Glitterbox at Booom, how was the last date? Still plenty of love for the island?
"Ibiza is feeling much better this year. It is going back to real house music and it makes a difference for the dance floor."
Lastly, imagine you have some time off (!!!) on Ibiza. Where would go? Who would you go with?
"I do have some time off there coming up and I plan on going in to the studio with Abigail Bailey and Junior Sanchez."
Biography
Grammy Award nominated DJ/Producer Todd Terry has been engulfed in dance music since he first started listening to European dance music records while growing up in Brooklyn. Already devoted to turntables, he heard something different in those tracks, and he “went for the difference". "I never got a break in New York, but England happened right away, so I catered to them.” In any event, the Todd Terry sound was born.
By 1988, Todd Terry hit big in England and Europe, and his notoriety was making its way back to the U.S. In addition to DJ appearances, Todd was cutting his classic underground tracks A Day In The Life, Weekend, and Can You Party, released under monikers such as the Todd Terry Project, House Of Gypsies, and Royal House, all considered essential and ground breaking. In the mid 90’s, the Ministry of Sound’s eponymous UK label released A Day In The Life, a collection of Todd Terry tracks that had been causing dance floor panic. That then led the way to a deal with Mercury Records allowing him to set up a context in which to work with his favorite singers and performers. The first release, Keep On Jumpin’ on featured a vocal workout from super-divas Martha Wash and Jocelyn Brown, together for the first time ever. The song became a top 10 UK crossover pop hit and worldwide smash. Todd followed with the anthem ‘Something Going On’, a top 5 UK crossover pop hit.
All the while, Todd continued to break new ground as a Producer/Remixer. From SNAP to Annie Lennox to George Michael to Bjork, Todd’s mixes bridge the ground between club cool and commercial accessibility. In 1995, his remix for Everything But The Girl’s Missing became a worldwide smash, giving the British duo their first ever hit. He then rode the charts with mixes for Garbage (Stupid Girl), The Cardigans (Love Fool), Everything But The Girl (Wrong), 10,000 Maniacs (More Than This), Jamiroquai (Alright), The Cardigans (Been It), and The Lightning Seeds (You Showed Me),.among others. He also produced a Robin S track (Givin’ You All That I’ve Got) for the multi-platinum Space Jam soundtrack. INK/Distinctive Records 2005 release The Todd Terry Trilogy: Past, Present & Future on 3 x CD & 10 x 12” vinyl has inspired Todd fans both old and new with over 30 Todd classics and 10 new Todd songs.
Todd is also releasing a barrage of new singles on Blanco y Negro, Elementary Group, and Manifesto/Mercury (who are also re-releasing the ‘Keep On Jumpin’ and ‘Something Going On’ in 2006). Ministry of Sound has licensed Philippe B Vs. Todd Terry ‘Can You Feel It (Can You Party)’ for a major 2006 release, a new version of the Todd classic Royal House ‘Can You Party’. Todd Terry All Stars feat. Kenny Dope, DJ Sneak, Terry Hunter, & Tara McDonald’s ‘Get Down’ will be released in 2007 on Strictly Rhythm. This red hot single is the first proper original release on the re-launched legendary label. ‘Strictly Todd Terry’ compilation mixed by Todd Terry will be released in 2007 on Strictly Rhythm. Todd’s mix follows installments by Masters at Work and Tiefschwarz in this newly launched series.
Todd is one of the world’s most celebrated figures in dance music. With almost two decades of dance floor domination under Todd’s belt the quality of his productions goes from strength to strength. Welcome to the church of house music presided over by Todd the God. Are you a believer?
