CLUBS
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Last year's reigning champion Plus One defends his title on Sat 19 Jun
Scottish DMC Heat
’Obviously, technically they have to be a bit special,’ believes Joni Lyley, organiser of the Scottish heat and of Edinburgh hip hop club Scratch, about what makes a champion DJ. ’But also it's the whole way that you carry yourself; it’s about style, technique and crowd participation.’ Qualities that both aspiring bedroom 015 and those currently tearing up our dance floors with their skills will get the opportunity to show off at the Scottish heat of the DMC/Technics DJ Mixing Championships.
What started in 1986 as an outlet for the under- represented and oft-undervalued talents of 015, it has since expanded to become the most important and prestigious contest of its kind in the world. This .luly, competitors from over 30 countries will converge on New York for the 13th finals. Going further than just plain old scratching, contestants have only six minutes to cut, fade and juggle their way through their set and prove their worth.
Lyley reckons DJing is finally coming into its own. 'The championships have been a pretty low key thing for quite a long time. Scratch in London (long-running big sister to the Edinburgh club) has had a lot to do with really bringing it to the forefront. The bizarre thing is,’
he continues, ‘it's called the UK mixing championship but up until two years ago there wasn’t even a Scottish heat.’ The idea being if you were an aspiring DJ in Scotland, you would have to travel to a heat in Manchester or London to compete.
'I know there is some pretty hot talent appearing at the Scottish heat this year,’ Lyley hints. ’There are people travelling up from Newcastle and coming from all over Scotland to compete. Look out for Table Mannerz, a newcomer from Dunfermline, as well as some veterans including Extra, Ritchie Rufftone and last year's runner up, Krash Slaughta.’
The small scale of the Scottish hip hop scene has meant some faces appear again and again but this has built up a lively competiton between 015. ’There is a healthy rivalry,’ admits Lyley. ‘But it never gets out of hand. It's good that they can compete seriously, have a good time and entertain a crowd.’
'0] culture,’ Lyley concludes, ’is going through a bit of a renaissance at the moment - it‘s become really popular in the last few years.’ This evening will be a testament to that. (Mark Robertson)
3 The Scottish DMC heats take place at Scratch at The Venue on Sat 79 jun.
Anne Savage
Better looking records: Anne Savage
uni: usr 10—24 Jun 1999
'To cut a long story short, I had my first residency at Angels in '93 and my first release was in '95 on Automatic Records,’ says Anne Savage, conCiser answering the ’so tell us about yourself' question. Luckily, we already know that she owns and records on her own label, Freakshow, still releases on the Automatic label, reSIdes at Birmingham’s Sundessential and, in June, will hit South Africa as a part of the Tidy Trax tour.
'I guess I did find it hard at first, though,’ she admits, a little qunet, although perhaps that's because of the long weekend she's just spent in Ireland. 'When I started out, the only females out DJing were me, Rap and Nancy Noise, really. Now there are a lot more role models for the up-and- coming girls to look to.’
And what does she think the fairer sex have added to the.scene? 'I'm from the old skool, really — without mentioning any names, I‘m not too keen on the, er, fluffy bra places. I think that the music's got to be the
most important thing. But there IS a lot more glamour in clubbing nowadays. And let’s face it, girls look better behind the decks.’
Savage has a new tune out now on ’The Tidy Girls EP’, a four-tracker featuring new material by herself, Lisa Lashes, Lisa Pin-Up and Rachael ‘Auburn. 'We went into the studio separately, it's not like we’re a group or anything,' Savage quickly points out. ’Tidy Trax picked us four because we support their sound — the hard house sound, I guess you could say.
'| get to spend a lot of time in Canada at the moment,‘ she continues. 'I go to Atomic in Toronto every six weeks and I love it. The scene there is younger and they're more up for what I play. You know, I think I'm more famous there than I am here.’ (Simone Baird)
! Anne Savage plays at Fruitfly at The Arches on Sat 79 Jun and Taste at The Honeycomb on Sun 20 Jun. ‘I Need
You' from “The Tidy Girls EP' on Tidy
Trax, is out now.
Club news
CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID Thompson who won the Scottish heat of the Redemption DJ Comp at Alaska at the end of May. He now goes on to the final in London next month. Seb Fontaine was booked to play at the night and help judge the heat but was waylaid by a fire alarm at Heathrow.
ANOTHER NO-SHOW last issue was Bob Sinclar (Gym Tonic) who didn’t make it to a Tennent's launch at the Sub Club because his flight was apparently cancelled by Air France. There are no plans for the D] to reschedule.
UNLIKE HIS NAME, Paul ’Trouble’ Anderson managed to show up to his gig at Substance, despite his flight being delayed for several hours due to freak thunder storms in London. He stuck out the wait (whereas Soul ll Soul went home) and arrived at the club at 1.05am proceeding to rock The Honeycomb. Nice one.
CALLING ALL BEDROOM 015 The Catwalk Open Decks Competition is open to all 015 who are not and have never been a resident or guest at an established club night and it is not restricted to genre - you get to play any style that you want. The prize list is impressive and includes flights and gigs in Spain and around the capital, mailing lists, equipment and loads more. To enter send a 30 min tape with a minimum of seven mixes and an entry form Uber Diko Records, FAO DJ Competition, 36 Cockburn Street, EH1 1P8. Entry forms are available from the Catwalk Cafe, Uberdisko Records. the Edinburgh Disco Company and HiFi Corner. Entries close on Mon 28 Jul. For further information (and all bribe offers) call Roger on 0131 225 5583.
MORE NEXT ISSUE regarding the Shelter charity gig. With Apex, Mingin' and Pillbox all doing their bit, make sure you look out for it.
No problem: Paul 'Trouble' Anderson