I’m working my butt off, I’m struggling to find my flip flops every ten seconds and the gigs are coming thick and fast. There doesn’t seem to be five minutes spare where I can eat or sleep.
This summer Glastonbury and the world cup are upon us at the time of writing and I intend to enjoy them both by the time of reading! Hopefully you will be enjoying both as well with fingers and all other appendages crossed for England. Here’s to hoping they haven’t crashed out!

Also this year I’ll be playing out in Corfu with my old mucker the Yanman for a well deserved busman’s holiday. Playing on a beach somewhere, trying NOT to think of England and throwing down beats to a sunset backdrop… I actually can’t wait!

This month I’ll be interviewing the one and only Sista Stroke from Chicago. I met her a few years back in Bristol at the now defunct Soda bar… I think she wrecked the dance floor so much the place actually had to close down!
I had a chance to catch up with her to see what she’s been doing…

=-=-=-=
RC: Tell us a bit about yourself? Don't be shy.

SS: Hmmm, how does one talk about themselves?? Ha Ha, well, I'm a self-proclaimed Music lover from the B-Girl era with a back-seat-of-my-mamma's-car education in Music. Meaning, that's where I first heard some of the best tunes ever, and also most of them for the first time there. Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B (classics), Punk, and even classic rock were all part of that education growing up, until I eventually turned to the "new wave" movement of artist that were coming out of England in the 80's (like most around my age, I suppose). I've been Djing 17yrs. and producing for about 12 of those years. Umm, I've played piano since I was three, can read sheet music but am more of a "play-it-by-ear" type of musician. Music has been a vital part of my life for as far back as I can remember, and when I think back to times of my Shorty-hood it's usually accompanied by what song was playing at that moment. I am currently holding down a residency for a monthly event called "Cill-It-Bang" that is an old-fashioned warehouse party. I love it! Also, I'm back in the studio working on music for myself, as well as working on 2 new projects called, "NY-Lon", and producing an album for a singing group called "Dropouts". It feels pretty damn great to be back on the music since moving over here so, I can't really complain.

Growing up, I was a military brat so we moved around a lot. The most recent cities I've lived in since leaving Texas are Chicago, Los Angeles, and now London.

On the personal, I enjoy travelling, beaches, cooking, photography and that sort of stuff. :)

RC: I can tell you like your attention to detail! So why make the move from the home of House to London?

SS: I recently re-located to London after I got married in 2009. I'd spent time here a few times before and well, the city reminds me a lot of Chicago so I feel very comfortable here. Yes, I do Love it!! But let's be real, it's pretty far from my Family so... I'm working on a plan to build a toll-bridge across the pond, ha ha ha!

RC: How do you feel about the current state of music today?

As far as House Music goes, I have hope.

SS: Wow, I think it depends what sort of music you're asking about specifically, lol, because there is a lot of crap out there right now passing for "music". As far as House Music goes, I have hope. There was a large gap between 2008-2009 where my doubts and worries we're seriously being entertained, as new House Music wasn’t.... hmmm...well, I just wasn't feeling as much as I had for the last 15 years. Don't get me wrong, I do understand 'change' and that all things must change. But I felt as if a lot of up-and-coming producers weren't paying homage to this music that they were trying to simulate (not sure if that's the proper word to describe it, but it comes close enough).

RC: You have a couple of radio shows on the web and I've also been told you have a show on De la souls hip hop station. How did you manage that as a House DJ?

SS: I was actually offered the slot by someone associated with the (de la soul's) Dugout. DJ Dummy, I met through his show, The Breakfast Club, introduced me to DJ Maseo and it sort of went from there. Dummy had a gig and couldn't cover his 6pm show, "Crash Test", and asked me to cover for him - knowing I play House. It went over well, a vote was taken (apparently) while I was doing my show and that weekend an offer was made. Beatminerz Radio ended up picking it up and now, few months later, I've got "Freak Freely Friday's". Guess you could say its syndicated, lol. We call ourselves "One Nation Radio" and I'd by lying if I didn't say that I enjoyed being one of the only strictly-playing House shows. I also hold down a radio show called Brick City House on ChicagoHouseFM.com every Wednesday's at 7pm GMT. We're a year and half into it and going nowhere! BCH!

RC: What do you think of the current trend of reality based singers/musicians?

SS: To be fair I really can't speak on this. The limit of my reality shows is American Idol and X-Factor. Not a great foundation to be based on, ha ha ha. So ... pass.

RC: What is your view on the current technology that is being used by DJs & Producers..?

SS: See, this is a tough question for me. But I'll keep it simple of the products I've used and like. For Djing, Serato. I love it and have nothing bad to say about as it's lighter, easy to use, and pretty great when things run smoothly. Torque is cool too, but I'm still on the fence with it. As for production, I've just started using Ableton. But let me say here and now that I am a die-hard Cubase Lover. "Technology is a wonderful gift to us; however, don't depend on it as an artist.", that advice was given to me 17yrs ago and I've never forgotten it.

RC: What are the key things you look for when you’re trying to break a fresh new track when touring?

SS: Man, so many elements come to mind but I think the one thing I can pin-point for sure is: stamina. Ha ha. No really, I want to make sure that if I'm going to drop it it's going to be able to keep-up or even add to the tunes I'm already beating out. I don't look for one element in a track, rather I look at what it's going to bring to the tunes I already have going in my crate. Perhaps my view, musically, is a bit different but this method works for me.

RC: Who is your favourite DJ(s) Other than yourself?

SS: Well there's a few DJs that have been moving me for years, and as of lately. However, since I got into this game I think the one DJ that I really connected to, musically, was Heather. I'd heard her play Hip-Hop back when I was just starting out and well, yea, guess you can say that since that day she's been my favourite DJ. Mr Hun (London) is in a close tie though.

RC: Do you have any tips for the up and coming budding djs out there?

SS: Play what you feel, but don't forget that you're also playing for an audience who came to share in an experience. Look up, acknowledge that they're there, and interact with them; I mean ... I think some of us forget to do that enough. At the end of the day, most time these people have paid hard-earned wages for entry to a club where they fully want to "forget" what’s on the other side of those doors when they leave. Another great hint: Know your music. I can't express that enough!

RC: Did the Djing or the Production come first?

SS: Definitely Djing. I wanted to produce music and had 2 drum machines before I even had decks. But in order to be able to understand one aspect I needed to fully understand the foundation. In this case, it was Djing.

RC: What was the first record you ever bought for yourself?

SS: The Beatles Anthology and Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life". Both were purchased at the same time, and I thank my mother for that allowance that enabled my habit!

RC: So how is the house scene in your eyes at the moment?

SS: Struggling. I've always felt that House Music is the bastardized take-on of Disco, and for some reason it sometimes feels like we inherited Disco's stigma's from the 70's. Though it was a successful carry-over (thanks to it's going back underground to simmer and mature), I still feel sometimes that House Music should be further than it is. I mean, I don't want to be saturated with every advert drenched in a 4 on the floor beat ... but a wider respect from Critics, Marketing people, media - both print and film - would be a nice acknowledgment for over 30 years of hard-work from House Producers and DJs alike. When it comes to the scene in itself, well, let's be real, that falls on the people. More people should be supporting their local Underground, DJs, and events. Full-stop. Without the people's support local scenes will not be able to support themselves. And it goes deeper than that. No local events mean no local DJ talent is able to rise up and bring the music that's moving the masses right now. It also means that those people that already do support their scene have no where to go and work out that week-long strife that's been building up. Makes for a very sad society with nothing to do and no place to express, and I personally never ever want to see that in my lifetime. So I'm doing what I can to ensure that I at least contributed.

RC: Funniest thing that ever happened at an event/gig?

I looked down from my decks to him and noticed that he had one fist in the air and the other... ermmm ... "werking it" on himself.

SS: Hmmmm ... this may be a little to perverted but, I was getting a guy so... ermm... off, that he had to get one out. Meaning, I looked down from my decks to him and noticed that he had one fist in the air and the other... ermmm ... "werking it" on himself. I was complimented and repulsed all at the same time, hahaha!!

RC: What do you do outside of the dance music scene?

SS: I offer my promotional services to others. So if anyone needs promotions, just let me know! At the end of the day, the more people that know what's going on the more people you just might get out supporting.

RC: Knight Rider or A-team?

SS: Neither. Wonder Woman.

RC: where can we find more info on your good self?

SS: I've got a few places on the web. www.Virb.com/sistastroke, Beatmaven.com & RevolutionaryMusic.com for mixes, original production, remixes, etc. or www.BrickCityHouse.beatmaven.com for info, Guest DJs, new BCH shows, mp-free give-away's. Or you could always Google my name!

If you have any queries or suggestions you can contact me via Email: renny@djrennyc.co.uk

I’ll catch you next month!

Renny C

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Sista Stroke Interview

01 July 2010

You know what, I can tell that the summer is here…

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