When i decided to start this blog Timmy was one of the first names that came to mind for an interview. Not only has he been involved in the dance music scene for as long as i can remember but was also an early influence and one of the Dj's that inspired me to pick up the turtables. He also hooked me up with some great house and techno records while working in Phuture Groove while introducing me to new artists and labels. So I sent him some questions and here's what he had to say....
1. Tell everyone a bit about yourself and what you do?
I’m Belfast based dj Timmy Stewart, I’ve produced music as The New Aluminists, Future Rhythm Foundation, Bubba & T-Bone, Eastside Movement, Digital Rhythms, Signal
Federation, Soul Patrol and more recently as the Jet Project and under my own name. I’m also one of the residents and promoters of the Digital Boogie, Tsunami and Islandhopper parties.
2. How did u get into djing?
I was always heavily into music as kid first through my Mum’s vast record collection then through the Street Sounds compilations that I used to collect on cassette tape. I was first exposed to acid house and djing by hearing mix tapes and going to Holmer and Iain’s record store above Star to buy music. Then early visits to Tokyo Joes and the Art College reaffirmed what I wanted to do with my life.
3. What’s been your djing highlight over your career?
Getting to play at David Holmes night at the art college was a definite highlight. It was a dream of mine and Glenn’s to play there after going there as punters for so long. It was warming up for Dave Clarke and the place was rammed, we played really well and Holmer went on to offer us more regular work. It genuinely felt like the start of something.
4. How has your sound changed over the years?
I just play the best music that is available to me as a dj. At the minute I’ve been playing a lot more techno, as that’s the stuff exciting me the most these days. From day one I’ve just tried to play good dance music without getting pigeon holed as this or that and I think that’s how you bypass current fads and trends to be honest and that’s still the way I dj. I’m always conscious of my allocated time slot and the size of the venue I’m playing in as certain styles suit certain spaces and sections of a night. House and techno will always be my first loves, but I’m such a music junkie that I tend to collect everything from Funk, Disco and Italo to down tempo stuff as well so I can always surprise people by doing something completely different from time to time.
5. Why and when did u start the label?
I was originally involved in the Product Deluxe label so I learned a fair bit about what was involved with releasing and promoting your own music through that. The Islandhopper label was born out of pure frustration to be honest. We were getting so pissed off with record labels that signed stuff off us and then sat on it for ages. We reckoned we could release music on a regular basis by a range of local artists and have something of our own that was totally homegrown. Unfortunately the decline of vinyl was in full swing when we started our P&D deal so we were literally just breaking even on the initial releases and as we had stopped actually playing records ourselves we decided to carry on down the digital route.
6. Do your productions reflect your dj sets?
Definitely, I’m trying to make a balance between house and techno these days as that’s the way I play so therefore what I want to be predominantly known for. I always make music to play in my own sets in the hope that others will like it too. I also gauge how good a production is by how happy I am to play it out. If I’m not then it’s back to the drawing board.
7. What production from your extensive back catalogue would u rate as your favourite?
Two productions really, one past and one present. The first New Aluminist’s single “Get Down On It” on Paperrecordings I remember being really proud of, as it was a label I had avidly collected stuff on so it felt good to be a part of that collective. More recently the Jet Project remix of The Two Lone Swordsmen’s “Shack 54” as Weatherall has long been someone I’ve admired so just to be asked to do it was a honor but it was even better when he said he loved what we had done with it.
7. Apart from djing you also play live, how does that work?
The live thing was a bit of an experiment really. The Atl guys who asked us to perform a live set based on the Bubba & T-Bone and Islandhopper material they had heard prompted it. I’m a dj first and foremost so the thought of doing a live set had never really appealed to me until Ableton came along. I realised for the first time that I could have a similar feel to playing live that I got from djing. We just loaded all the loops/parts from our productions into Ableton on the laptop and I controlled what came in and out, applied effects etc through an external midi controller while Bubba moved about the parts on screen. I liked the fact that every time we played it was slightly different from the last time and it gave you that freedom that you get from a dj gig. We warmed up for Tiga and I got a real buzz from doing it as it felt fresh and made me nervous in front of a crowd for the first time in ages. It’s def something I’d like to develop for the Jet Project when we release our album next year.
8. What N.I djs or producers do u rate past and present?
When David Holmes played techno he def had a huge influence on me. Even in the way he promoted his nights, his attention to detail with his ideas for flyers, visuals etc really shaped what I went on to do.
I would also like to say that the level of djing in N.I is extremely high.
We have this no nonsense attitude over here where by if your crap somebody won’t be long in telling you so you have to work that wee bit harder. As a result there are a lot of younger djs who are very promising as well as some old faithfulls. But anyone who keeps it fresh by pushing the scene forward and doesn’t play classics all night in order to get a reaction is usually ok with me. Production wise John McIver, Ric McClelland, Aaron Shim, Sinister Industry etc are making some great stuff.
10. Over the year’s u have received worldwide recognition, why have u decided to stay based in Belfast?
I always had vested interests here like regular club nights and gigs which although have helped shaped my djing style and provided some great memories, sometimes I wish I hadn’t been quite as pre occupied on the home front as it would have given me the drive to build on things a bit further a field. I had considered moving away at one point but when I got quite far from home at one stage it made me realise how much I missed this place. I’m more focused on building a rep outside of own country these days as I’ve kind of full filled a lot of my potential here in a way. I’ve thrown myself into my production and it’s amazing how many more people globally are aware of me through a years worth of solid production than through almost 15 years of djing.
11. What artists and labels are you currently playing out?
Current people who constantly impress me are Llorca, Will Saul, Justin Martin, Paul Ritch, Lee Mortimer, Ito, Cobblestone Jazz, and labels like Pokerflat, Ovum, Get Physical and 2020 Vision.
12. Tell me about your night in the Stiff Kitten?
We are two years into our residency now and are really enjoy playing on the Function One system. We play quite a wide range of stuff down in the club from deeper stuff at the start to more jacking music at the end as it keeps the night interesting for us and the people who are there for most of the night. It’s also good being able to continue to bring the cream of the world’s undergrounds djs across to play here. Someone said to me recently that they couldn’t imagine dance music in Belfast without us playing a part, which was nice to hear.
13. You have had some very impressive guests at all your nights in Belfast, who would be on your wish list to have play?
At the min, Gabriel Annada, Paul Ritch, Booka Shade and Gui Boratto are top of the list.
14. What’s upcoming for Timmy Stewart?
A lot more production. I seem to be doing a remix every other week at the min both as part of the Jet Project and with my own stuff. We’re about to start recording an album for Silicone Soul’s Darkroom Dubs imprint as well as upping the anti with releases on the digital labels.
Forthcoming guest dj gigs at Pressure in Glasgow and Neighbourhood in London as well as Sonar next year.
15. Can u do me a top 5 of classic tracks that u have played over the years
These are the ones I always come back to and seem to be getting better and better with age…
1. Dark Energy – Atomic Witchdokta - UR
2. TC1991 – Berry – UCR
3. Basic Channel – Q 1.1 – Basic Channel
4. Tiefschwarz – Acid Soul – Classic Recordings
5. The MD Xpress – Welcome 2Da Club – Nite Stuff
ISLAND HOPPER WEBSITE
TIMMY STEWART MYSPACE
THE JET PROJECT MYSPACE
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