Can you describe your musical background and how you came to choose the name Pal Joey?
GREW UP WITH DAD PLAYING JAZZ, SISTERS PLAYING MOTOWN, AND ROCK, R&B IN THE STREETS.
MY NAME COMES FROM THE MOVIE PAL JOEY, THOUGH I NEVER SAW THE FILM UP UNTIL RECENTLY, I LOVE FRANK SINATRA AND THE IMAGE OF HUSTLE THAT WENT ALONG WITH IT.
One of your earliest tracks Earth people ‘Dance’ was big on both sides of the Atlantic in 1990. What are your memories of creating the record/ what equipment were you using at the time?
I USED A DRUM MACHINE, KEYBOARD, DJ MIXER, TURNTABLE, SEQUENCER, 4TRACK REEL TO REEL, GREAT AMPLIFIER, AND GOOD SPEAKERS.
Another great production is Hot Music which has a much Jazzier flavour. Can you tell us about those Jazz influences?
JAZZ IS EVERYWHERE, IT HAS NUANCE, WHICH I LOVE. IT’S NOT POWER THAT I FEEL. I DON’T LIKE TO BE OVERPOWERED.
I LOVE SOLFEGE
What is your attitude towards sampling?
I LOVE TO SAMPLE.
OUR CHOICES ARE, USE THE SOUNDS THAT COME FROM A KEYBOARD OR FIND YOUR OWN.
What was your experience of working at Vinyl Mania in NYC?
THE BEST TIMES.
IT WAS GREAT HELPING MUSIC LOVERS DISCOVER NEW MUSIC. A LOT OF SHARING. A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. AND THE BEST BOSS.
How did you first get in Dj’ing, who initially inspired you?
WHEN I WAS 16 I GOT A HOLD OF A CASSETTE WHERE A DJ WAS CUTTING UP COOL SONGS.
I LOVED THE WAY HE WOULD REPEAT SECTIONS OF THE SONG. I LOVED THE STORY THAT WAS TOLD. I WISH I STILL HAD THAT CASSETTE.
Your latest album: Pal Joey presents Hot Music, is a compilation of your productions from then to now. How did you go about choosing what went on it?
I PICKED MY HITS, SONGS I FEEL DEFINE ME. I PUT MAYBE A DIFFERENT MIX IF I HAD DONE ONE FOR CERTAIN SONGS, AND I PUT MY FAVORITE NEW SONGS AS WELL. COMPLETE PACKAGE 😉
How do you think that Dance Music has evolved from when you started out?
PEOPLE WOULD DANCE MORE BACK IN THE DAY. EVEN COUPLES WOULD DO MORE COOL STEPS.
THERE WAS LOFTING, BREAKDANCING, AND THE PUERTO RICANS HAD THERE SPECIFIC STEPS FOR THEIR FREESTYLE MUSIC. NOW THE DANCE IS NOT AS SERIOUS, PEOPLE TALK DRINK , HAVE A DANCE, HAVE A DRINK AND LEAVE. THERE ARE STILL SOME COOL PARTIES WHERE PEOPLE DANCE ALL NIGHT LONG.
Can you tell about what you have been producing recently?
I PRODUCE MUSIC. NOW I AM A FATHER. I TRY TO BALANCE EVERYTHING. I LOVE SPORTS.
I HAVE NEW PRODUCERS DOING REMIXES OF SONGS THAT WERE RELEASED TO KEEP THEM BUSY.
THE SONGS I GIVE THEM ARE USUALLY HIP HOP BEATS THAT LACKED SOMETHING. THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS MISSING AT THE TIME WOULD PROBABLY HAD BEEN A RAPPER, BUT BECAUSE OF TIMING THE SONG NEVER CAME OUT WITH VOCALS. SO I HAVE THESE GUYS ADD TO THE FOUNDATION I CREATED.
Where can people get to hear you DJ?
IN A TOWN NEAR YOU 😉
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