Time out with EJ

just thought i'd have a quick word with DJ/Producer EJ as we await the release of his massive anthem Soldiers on Rossi B's Army Record Label

DJ Q
EJ

yes yes big man EJ.. big in the game from long time... for those who don't know how long have you been on the garage ting for?
since 1996. started buying more speed garage than the new 2step stuff that was being introduced though... until i heard my very 1st UKG tape pack and realised that the 2step scene was large in london
just out of curiousity what was the tape pack and were there any tunes off there you can remember?
I think it was from a sun city event (early 1997), i remember hearing MC creed, DT, etc. and thinking "Wow this is heavy"!!!....
yeh round about same time i got into garage, those were the good days!!!
tunes like Amira - My desire, Ramsey and Fen - Love Bug...
u must know about liferide init
yeah of course man... featured a heavy lady vocalist (forgotten her name though) lol
rose windross!
Brap! that's the one!
look at us man getting carried away.. lol
lol, innit.

anyways...if im right in thinking then u started off as a DJ... when did producing come into the mix up?
ok, i started messing about with music production programs around 2000 but not becuase i wanted too but becuase my best friend at the time was producing jungle and he got his hands on a load of software which looked interesting (cubase VST, Reality, etc.) but i decided to take it seriously around 2003... after i upgraded my PC and brought decent monitor speakers.
whats your typical studio set up?
P4 2800 PC with 1048mb DDR mem and 2x120gb HDDs, EMU Emulator X studio soundcard, Alesis monitor one MK2 monitor speakers with Alesis amplifier, evolution MK-361c Midi trigger, Professional studio mic (GT33) and stand plus... Cubase SX 3, Reason 3, FL studio 5, pus many many many more software & VSTi's. Not forgetting 2 technics 1210's MK 2 and Numark CD mix 2 console.

sounds BIG... you was well known for your dark 4x4 productions but now your kicking up a fuss with tunes like 'soldiers'.. what made you change your styles up?
Well, I wouldn't say i've changed my style becuase i'm very very versatile when it comes to production... I still produce dark 4x4 and other genres too (which may shock a few people out there when they hear them!), With Soldierz i basically went with the flow with the type of sound which was 'bussin up the place' at the time, for example, the Davinche, Lowdeep, down-tempo grimey beats.
Not saying them styles aint bussin it up now because they are and doing very very well but i've noticed the scene starting to balance itself again with a nice mix of 4x4, vocal, r&g stuff and that looks like a healthy move for the scene in my opinion.

yeh true tings.. you are very versitile when it comes to your productions.. speaking of soldiers though, thats signed to rossi b's army label... how did that link up come about?
Ok, I might get cussed by Rossi for saying this but... lol
lol.. go on..
The linkup with Rossi came when LAS - V.I.P was produced... I sent a demo of V.I.P to everyone i could think of on the circuit at the time, around 2003 but it basically got air until DJ EZ decided to play it at a Sidewinder event!!
Rossi swears blind that he didn't recieve it but i don't believe him LOL
i remember that winder.. people's choice 2003 if im right?
yeah thats the one.
So he called me after that event, so did a few other labels, DJ's etc....
since then i've been sending all my stuff to Rossi B 1st becuase i rate him as an individual, propa safe guy, toppa top dj/producer and knows exactly what he's doin still.
we're like family now lol
didn't your dark 4x4 remix of vip come out on the vinyl?
yep
how about any other remixes..? has anything else seen the light of day?
Yeah Rossi B gave me the opportunity to Remix one of FT's (IMP Batch) track called fusion, this got released on ARMY Bullet a couple of months ago and managed to reach number 1 in the 1xtra UKG charts! (so i gotta big up everybody who copped the vinyl and making it a successful release) am i right in thinking that VIP got to number 2 in the 1xtra UKG Chart?
Yeah man... it stayed at number 2 for a very long time man, didn't quite reach number 1 though but for our 1st release we couldn't complain... it put me on the map so now it's about us just pushin out new tracks now that we've made our mark.

yeh thats true..... now i know rossi b deals with the big ep's on his label.... what else is there to expect from the soldiers package besides the instrumental mix?
the vocal mix which features B-live, Riko, Faction G, Royal & Sier which is guaruteed to merk the seen even more!! also a track called UFO (which is on a dark4x4 tip) which has already merked a few sidewinder events already!

Gotta big up yourself and the other lucky DJ's which have been pushin the promo from day!!!
u know me, always been pushing your bits from day

apart from the list of mc's on soldiers are there any other mc's or vocalists your working with at the moment?
I got a lot of big local crews lined up like TNG, Higherstakes, etc. becuase i would like to see the outer london MC's get heard too, but apart from my locals i've got links with Nasty crew, Bruiza, Big seac, Newham Generals but nothin has been confirmed yet... and since i'm apart of ARMY records Rossi B is always linkin me with MC's so lets just say that the pipeline is very fat at the moment!!

yeh heavy.... i know your a busy man so i'll let you get off now. before you go though, what are your plans for the future?
a lot more collabos, remix work, DJ work... anything regarding music that i love and that i'm capable of doing basically!

any shout outs?
nah
lol joker....
Gotta send a shout out to yourself for giving me the opportunity to get heard, not forgetting my fam LAS, Apostle and all the other DJ's feeling and pushing my productions... and Definately Rossi B & Luca without a doubt, theres a lot more but u know how it goes... 1

alright then thanks for your time.. hold it up, we'll catch up soon!!

for more info email ejfromwolves@hotmail.com

Don't forget to catch EJ on Midland Underground 107fm Every Sunday 4pm till 6pm