Feature

KERRI CHANDLER: HOUSE OF CHANDLER

“What,! Kerri Chandler is ma-hoo-sive…” cooed a self-confessed music pundit when I mentioned I had an interview with the man himself, “… don’t you know about him?” Truth be told, at 38 years old, New Jersey born Kerri Chandler is a DJ and music producer with his place reserved in the upper echelons of the dance world where he’s pretty much been since the start of his illustrious career over two decades ago. Having become an institution in his own right, Kerri Chandler can also be seen bringing his unique and energetic sets to this year’s 40th anniversary Southport Weekender festivities…

B&S: You’re playing at the Southport Weekender. What are you most looking forward to?
KC: Just meeting up with a lot of my friends and finishing it off, as I like to at Southport. I would say I’ve played there eight or nine times now. It’s like a second home to me. I know the promoters really well and we all just get along.

B&S: You’ve changed the DJ game with your energetic sets and penchant for using loads of equipment. What would you say has been your defining moment?
KC: That’s a good question. I don’t think I’ve ever had one. Everything just changes. I always find a new way to do something, always looking for the next thing.

B&S: Being a DJ himself, did your Dad have any influence on your decision to spin?
KC: Definitely. Most of my family are DJs – my uncle, my Dad and a few of my cousins. We have a few musicians in the family as well, and we still do parties together.

B&S: Would you classify yourself as a house DJ?
KC: No, I just love music. I play all sorts of stuff. When I go out I play mainly house stuff and jazzy stuff, but if I had a whole night to play, especially in New York, I’d play everything. Music is music. If I like it, I’m playing it!

B&S: What’s been the secret to your long and successful career?
KC: Actually, I really don’t know. I just think it’s just one of those things where I like going back and picking up where I left off.

B&S: Some people say that the music you cater for goes hand in hand with drug culture. What’s your take on the dance and drugs debate?
KC: It’s the same thing again. I never really got into that type of stuff. I’m here to play music, and I really don’t know about the whole druggie scene. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not like I don’t know about it. But the kind of music that I’m around, I’ve never really seen it.

B&S: Can you give us a ‘house for dummies’ guide to jackin’, funky, electro and progressive house?
KC: I never categorise any of those! If it sounds like house, it is. I don’t know where all these categories came from. I’m still trying to learn. But to me it’s just music.

B&S: In the UK, there’s been a huge shift towards house. What do you think about the decline in dance and trance in favour of funky house?
KC: I just play what I love. Things come in cycles anyway. It seems like there’s a new generation coming up and the old heads are phasing out. The newer guys are coming up and learning all this stuff, and I think they’re going back and digging through the roots. I think it’s really interesting to see.

B&S: How many records do you own?
KC: I can have 4 or 5 copies of a record, but if I had to guess, then I would say it’s in the range of 50,000. I go everywhere buying records, from the main shops to the little flea markets. Wherever there’s a place that’s sells records, I’m gonna go check it out.

B&S: Your debut was signed by Atlantic in 1991 and you’ve been DJing since you were nine. How do you stay so driven?
KC: Any time I play at a new place or I hear a new song, I feel like it’s the first time I played a record. I think that’s what keeps me going all the time. I give it my all. This is my life, and it’s all I’ve ever known. I still get excited every time I go somewhere. I remember when I missed playing at one of my favourite places, and because I love the place so much, I ended up giving out free CDs saying ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t make it last time I was snowed in’.

B&S: How did you choose which songs to put on Southport Weekender No. 6.?
KC: I just go with what I really know works there and, and keep it really eclectic.

B&S: So what can we look forward to from your Southport set?
KC: I’ve just got to feel it. I always deal with it that way. I’m gonna be there for the whole event because I love it. For the first day, I’m just gonna walk in, listen and hang out with a few friends. And then the next day, I’m gonna feel it out again, and just get inspired and start playing what I really love to play.

B&S: So do you know what CDs you’re going to pack?
KC: Not really no. I’m just going to bring a lot of everything.

Check out: www.simplycoolmusic.com
Words Emmanuel ‘BoyWonder’ Ezugwu