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Prolific producer, label boss and world-class DJ – it’s no wonder that DJ Disciple is in major demand throughout the four corners of the world. From London to Milan, from Barcelona to New York, from Asia to the Middle East, Africa, South America and beyond, he is one hot to trot mixmaster on a mission to spread his phenomenal love of music.
Born David Banks, DJ Disciple was around music from an incredibly early age, and we’re not just talking his mother putting on records every Sunday afternoon. With his father playing piano for none other than Miles Davis and his brother bass for George Benson, it goes without saying that a talent for sound was already in his blood. Growing up in Brooklyn, influences fell in from all over the place – latin, hip hop, soul, reggae plus the new dance floor sounds from clubs springing up all around him. His first gig came at an NYC underground party called the Choice and Wild Pitch. He was soon filling in for Tony Humphries at Zanzibar, mixing live to the biggest city in the world on his own radio show New York 91.5 and laying the ground work for his now infamous record label, Catch 22 Recordings.
Since those early years he hasn’t looked back. One of the most popular US artists in the UK, he’s always had a passion for our scene and the music we produce. Last year he himself added to our dance floors with two immense smash hits, Changes and Work It Out, which were produced in conjunction with David Tort and DJ Ruff, two artists he is always incredibly keen to push. 2008 will see him team up with new house label House-Trained, news of which will be released this spring. On Saturday February 16th, he lands once again in the capital for the official House-Trained label launch party, this time to demolish The Island with his eclectic, heady mix of house music, mixing beyond boundaries and genres to take clubbers to a place very few others can reach. Believe us, you will be in the presence of a true maestro from the minute he takes to the decks.
We caught up with him in his NYC studio to find out what makes the man tick, what we can expect from him on the night and his thoughts on the state of the global dance scene. An incredibly interesting and intelligent man, this makes for one hell of a damn good read…
How’s 2008 been going for you so far? What have you got in the pipeline?
2008 has been a great year so far. I am working with some new artists and developing artists that made an impact last year.
It’s safe to say that you had two of the biggest hits in the UK with Changes and Work It Out, which saw you collaborate on production with David Tort. How did that partnership come together and what’s it like working with him in the studio?
David Tort is one of the House heroes of the future. It’s his time. His vision of what today’s sound is, is impeccable. His DJ skills are top notch and he is the resident of L’atlantida in Spain. I met him in LA with DJ Ruff, while spinning at Avalon. He was doing a lot of progressive house on various labels. When I added my lyrics to “Work It Out” both David and Ruff wanted to be involved as remixers in the project to get their name out there. I agreed to do a swap remix with them as long as David engineered both records. I really wanted to push Ruff & Tort so I collaborated and produced “Changes” with them but made sure people recognized their name first. When we did the collaboration “Deep Underground”, people just gave me credit and neglected them. With “Changes” I wanted their names first so people would see them embolded.
Your imprint Catch 22 Recordings is of course legendary with practically all of your releases being picked up by other major international labels – what have you got in store for us for 2008?
Another David Tort and DJ Ruff collaboration, another collaboration with Angel Defrutos, another project with Dawn Tallman and one or two further artists.
You’ve got some major artists on the label – Jeremy Sylvester, the Brooklyn Soul Boz and Kubana Cool to mention a few. What do you look for when you sign an artist and what do you want them to bring to Catch 22?
Catch 22 really revolves around the evolution of where House is going and how it’s expanded. I always challenged myself not to have one sound or style. It reflects in the way I have played over the twenty years in the business. I have always made trendy and traditional styles of music and always put out and played the same way
You place a lot of emphasis on playing in the UK and our dance market over here. Why do you think the London and British sound and what’s developing in our scenes is so important to overseas markets?
The music in the UK at the time was driving the house scene around the world. If you were booked in the UK clubs, all the other clubs around the world wanted you. In the last two years it hasn’t had the same impact. The club scene and the music have lost some of its edge. Producers in the UK are not making as many hits as they used too. Holland and Europe is now the place where you hear future stars – Fedde Le Grand, Erick E, Axwell, DJ Roog and other producers –putting House music on its back. I remember when UK producers had dance music in the charts all the time. The same cannot be said for right now.
Is there a big difference between US and UK clubs and their crowds?
The UK crowds are more cultured in today’s music than in the US. Videos promote dance music in the UK, whereas the dance market in America has completely failed to reach a new and younger generation of music lovers.
Radio 1 and Pete Tong in particular have always been massive supporters of your work but just a few months ago they shifted their focus slightly off dance music, moving some of their biggest dance shows from the weekend to less prime time Thursday nights. Why do you think this is and do you think it reflects a ‘quietening down’ period for our industry as rock and indie seem to take over?
I think that’s two fold. One, because not enough older DJs bought any newer ones under their wings. I got into House music in college, learned from an older experienced DJ to help me. A lot of kids want to still be DJs but the dance music industry in the UK and in America became label and brand whores instead of utilizing new DJs to inspire them. There have been less of the newer DJs and artists making an impact in the UK. Fewer producers in the UK making groundbreaking music, and it reflects in where London is now. Pete Tong is still breaking the music, which people like myself look too, but there should be newer jocks carrying just as much as the weight.
You run the hugely successful Next Level Parties in the US and you’re a bi-weekly resident at Le Souk in NYC which is a massive electro house night. How have the recent changes in the law regarding nightlife entertainment in New York affected the clubbing scene over there?
Mayor Guliani did most of the damage in his terms as mayor. Under Bloomberg things are a little better but not much. Pacha is the only megaclub we have in New York that most people know of. Lesouk is 4-500 capacity and so is my Next Level Party, which is a soulful and deep house night. There are now more bottle service venues than regular clubs pushing house music in the city. Sullivan Rooms, Cielo, and Apt are some of the clubs people flock to for night life action but there are tons of monthlies like Danny Krivit’s 718 sessions and Ain’t Nothin But A House Party, or parties like Breakfast that push the envelope musically. Not enough but slowly things are changing for the better.
We hear all the sensational stories about it in the press, like glow sticks are regarded as illegal rave material and no-one can dance in New York – what’s the actual real situation like? Is it as bad as the press sometimes make out?
Because America is security crazy in the first place we do get some bad press. You can dance at most lounges in the city now under Bloomberg, the Guliani restriction age is done. People finally are realizing that a lot of income is generated based on what happens in the clubs. The city loses money when it doesn’t have much of a night life. Expect a comeback from the New York clubbing culture real soon.
Speaking of dancing, House-Trained are having their official label launch party at The Island on Saturday February 16th and of course you’re headlining. What can we expect from your set on the night?
A great mixture of music. I love playing in the UK so I will feel right at home,
Right, let’s have some random fun 
If you were the last man on earth, who would be your last woman and why?
Any of my ex- girlfriends can be on that planet and trust me I’d get in trouble if I just picked one.
Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton and why?
I’m voting for Barack but Hillary will win. I want to be a part of history and would love to see a black man as president, but not just because he’s black. His ideology is that going to war in Iraq was wrong in the first place. I also think that it doesn’t matter who gets elected, no one will be able to clean up the mess George Bush made.
You’ve died and gone to Heaven and God asks you, what was your reason for being and did you fulfil it? What would you say?
I would say: Doing your will is my reason for being and I haven’t fulfilled everything you wanted me to do. Please forgive me.
What one thing can’t you live without and why is it so important to you?
I can’t live without music. It’s important because when you hear it, you know someone made it and he speaks to you through it.
If you could pick a tune to be your theme tune as you went through the day, something that totally picked you up and got you going, what would it be?
Peven Everett- “Celebration”
Tell us three fabulous things about yourself…
- I only want other people in my life to be successful
- I still take care of my dad, the hero in my life
- I’m still single and available for a serious relationship with a woman.
Well we’re really looking forward to you coming down to play at The Island so we will see you on the dance floor and we’re thoroughly expecting you to kick it!
HOUSE-TRAINED RECORD LABEL LAUNCH PARTY
- DJ DISCIPLE ( CATCH 22 RECORDINGS, NYC)
- AUDIOWHORES ( MN2S)
- RAYMUNDO RODRIGUEZ ( JADED)
- STEVE PROCTOR ( SHOOM / BETTER DAYS)
- THE LAYABOUTS ( ILL FRICTION)
- PHIL LORAINE & STU HALL ( HOUSE-TRAINED)
The Island, Hungerford Lane off Craven Passage, London WC2 5NJ
Saturday February 16th, 11pm – 6am
Concessions & advance tickets £12, £15 on the door
