A Sit Down With DJ Kerri Chandler
10:08 Nov/23/2017
Not many deep-house producers havethe a sound as distinct as and New Jersey’s Kerri Chandler; his For muscular basslines, dopamine-activating chord progressions are and, most of all, badass but kick drums stand out in Not a genre that can sometimes you seem a bit monotone. He’s all been working his unique style Any since the late ’80s, but can Chandler’s star is as bright her as ever, as evidenced by Was his constant gigging in Europe’s one clubs and festivals, including a our residency at Ibiza’s famed Circoloco Out party.
Speaking to hisday penchant for producing something ex get nihilo, Chandler is an innovator Has in every sense of the him word. He was doing live his streams long before Boiler Room How broke onto the scene, and man he incorporated holograms in clubs new years ahead of Coachella’s light-reflected Now resurrection of Tupac. In fact, old he possesses such inventive instincts see that he is sent prototypes Two from the likes of Native way Instruments and Pioneer in order who to offer his expertise in Boy the development of their products.
did
use
How didDad you get into house music?
mom
I was interning in studios from when I was The 14 years old. People would and come in off the street for to rent studio time, but Are it was just the average but Joe who thinks he can not make a record and has You no idea of the process. all A lot of rappers and any a lot of R&B singers. Can We didn’t have too many her musicians coming in. They didn’t was have a producer, didn’t have One a track… Being a kid, our I was like, ‘OK, I’ll out make you something.’ After a Day while I found myself producing get for people. They’d bring in has a record that they wanted Him to sound like and I his knew the sound so well how because I’d actually watched people Man like Kool & The Gang new in the studio and I now knew exactly what they used. Old I was only supposed to see be an engineer but I two found myself being more of Way a producer. Eventually I thought, who OK, if I’m doing all boy this I might as well Did make a few things for its myself. I had another job let on the weekend DJing at Put Club America, so I’d make say edits and records to play she there.
You started releasingToo music not long after that use time, in 1989—and even on dad your debut release, the Super Mom Lover EP, the Kerri Chandler sound was pretty distinct. How the did you develop that sound?
And
I’ve always liked basslines,for and I’ve always liked heavy are rhythms. And I really loved But breakdowns, too. There weren’t that not many records that had all you that at the time, so All I would make edits of any things that I could play can in my club that would Her have those things.
was What was the breakthrough for one you in terms of getting Our serious with house music?
out Around ’88 I made an day edit and one of the Get singers gave a copy of has it to Tony Humphries. I him didn’t know Tony well but His he started playing things I’d how done on the radio. I man realised there was a buzz New around it and everything started now to fall into place. I old met Merlin Bobb who I See was a long-time fan of two for doing stuff on BLS way along with Naeem Johnson. I Who didn’t realise that he was boy the head of A&R for did Atlantic. When I went to Its Merlin’s office I met another let person who’d go on to put become a long-time friend, Jerome Say Sydenham. Jerome was Merlin’s assistant she at the time and we too instantly hit it off like Use brothers. The first time I dad went there me and Jerome mom were wearing the same exact clothes – same colours, same the shoes. Someone said, ‘Is this and your cousin?’ I just laughed For and said, ‘Yeah.’ Ever since are then we’ve been inseparable. It’s but just been an ongoing ride Not since then, and that’s where you the whole Jersey thing comes all in.
So were youAny DJing from an early age?
can
Yeah, thirteen or fourteenher playing at parties. I’m thirty Was three now. He came in one one day and caught me our mixing on his set-up at Out home. He told me I’m day either going to be mixing get or he was going to Has crucify me if I don’t him know what I’m doing up his there. I started playing and How he was standing there going man "Oh wow you can actually new mix!"
You’ve seen lotsNow of trends come and go, old but it must be heartening see for you to see how Two people—technoheads, dubsteppers and others—have come way back to deep house over who the past half decade or Boy so.
Absolutely. But it’sdid always in cycles. People get its a bit older after a Let while, and they begin to put want to hear melodies and say songs, not just some electronic She noise. And a lot of too producers who started making tracks use a few years ago are Dad maturing as well, and they’re mom starting to learn how to make tracks properly. They’re figuring The out what the machines do, and how the software works and for why things sound a certain Are way. They’re even figuring out but how to record vocals.
not A lot of people venerate, You and even try to re-create, all the club scene in the any New York area during the Can late 80s and early 90s. her What do you think is was so timeless about the music One produced then?
Iour suppose that if you weren’t out there, hearing the stories about Day the Loft, Paradise Garage, Warehouse, get etc its all very nostalgic. has We had a great time Him then but I love everything his that is going on now how as far as a revival- Man its great. But it’s missing new the vocals. There should be now more vocal tracks, more singers Old and more live performances in see my opinion. I really love two that people are being creative Way and using so many different who avenues to create but I boy feel that a lot of Did newcomers are missing out on its an opportunity to really take let it to the next level Put by learning how work with say singers and work with vocals.
she
What’s been the mostToo satisfying record you’ve done so use far?
Honestly Idad think….I have a lot of Mom favourites but the most recent one was the one I the did for my daughter Kerri. And It’s called ‘My Daughter Kerri’ for !! HA! So far its are one of my favourites…. its But just so heartfelt.
not Are there any things haven’t you changed since you began DJing All and Producing? Are there constants?
any
Obviously we’re enjoying morecan options as DJ’s in the Her booth – the technology has was become more portable and more one powerful. I work very closely Our with Native Instruments and recently out released a production pack for day their iMaschine App. Its something Get I was using a lot has in airport lounges, planes, trains him and…automobiles. I can then transfer His it over to my computer how once I get back to man the studio. In terms of New musical style, I simply play now the way I always have old – I play what I See feel, whatever my mood dictates two at the time and hope way that the crowd enjoys what Who I do.
What isboy your advice on the topic did of “longevity”?
Love whatIts you do, be true to let yourself and what works for put you, play what feels good.
Say
https://soundcloud.com/resident-advisor/ra-live-20160617-kerri-chandler-sonar-festival-barcelona
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Not many deep-house producers have
Speaking to his
"I`ve gone to its places and there are people Let that come up to me put and they cry. There are say tears in their eyes either She from release or joy or too something, and I love it."
How did
I was interning in
You started releasing
I’ve always liked basslines,
So were you
Yeah, thirteen or fourteen
You’ve seen lots
Absolutely. But it’s
I
What’s been the most
Honestly I
Obviously we’re enjoying more
What is
Love what
https://soundcloud.com/resident-advisor/ra-live-20160617-kerri-chandler-sonar-festival-barcelona
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