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BIG DADDY MOOCHIN

Drumsuite: What music did you grow up with ?

Was a mixed bag really, round the house when I was little it was Queen, Dylan bit of Simon & Garfunkel. I was mainly rock in my younger days, Hendrix, Chilli Peppers and the like. From there really progressed onto the acid jazz thing via a few comps along with the sudo funk scene, Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai then into P-funk and its various spin offs, I always felt though I was looking for something a little deeper and heavier but didn't really think it existed.

Can you tell us how BDM came about?

Kind of a round about trip, I was at music college and a drummer & bassist there had met up with a few lads in their local town who were really into funk & collecting. A female singer and myself were working together on a few projects along with a horn player and we completed the line up. I wasn't really into the funk thing at that point and the guys who were collecting, gave us tapes and I bought some comps. From there just felt it was the sound I'd been looking for!

Who is/was your biggest influence and helped you shape the sound you have today ?

wow that's a tricky one, I think the band as we stand (which is nothing like the original 7 of us mentioned above) have many different influences, from 70's groovy rock through to bebop & jazz. I Think we all meet at 70's New Orleans scene and use the Meters/Toussaint as something to look towards. Out of the new bands, NMS & the Daptone thing had just hit the ground when I started getting into the scene, so that was something to look towards. We also did a lot of covers for the first couple of years, people like Ann Sexton, Lyn Collins, Marva Whitney etc just to try & get an understanding of how to put it all together & learn our craft. The biggest help as far as producing our own stuff have been the guys from Speedometer, Leigh came down & helped us produce our first 45 and gave us some great tips & insight and we've been up to Simon's (the Hammond player) and done some work in his studio, so big respect to those guys!!

At the moment your more of an instrumental band, is there any plans to add a singer ?

We've released 4 singles now & on 2 of them one of the sides featured vocals. When we play out live we have 3 vocalist: A main front man/emcee, a female vocalist we feature and the Bassist also takes a few songs as lead & when allowed the drummer may also get a mic! We have recorded quite a few tracks with vocals but it's the hardest bit to make sound authentic, I think there are some great bands out there but when the vocals kick in it just doesn't come up to par. Its something we're working on but not something we're willing to rush.

And now you've started up your own label, can you share the reasons and some plans you have for it?

I like to keep control over what's happening with regards to the band and it just seemed like a natural progression really. We'd also just finished running a regular club night in Brighton, (The Bake) and had some free time and wanted to put some effort into a different aspect of the scene. I really wanted to try my hand at it and I'd made some good contacts so felt the time was right. The plans are to keep working on 45's putting a few out each year slowly and hopefully pick up speed. Its not an exclusive BDM label, we will be releasing other artists and BDM will be releasing on other labels. I should take the time to say that its not only my label and that Lindy (my girlfriend) also has a great deal to do with running it behind the scenes.

Being a part of the 'New funk' movement how do you see it progressing ?

I think the scene is moving along well, its only got a limited appeal because its heavy on the beat and a lot of its instrumental, as it drifts in and out of fashion then crowds will pick & drop off accordingly. I think there will always be a core following. I think its really important for people to work together if the scene is to progress. In my opinion this also has to apply to the collectors/Deejay's of the Older/Classic funk. If the two worked hand in hand they could achieve much more as a collective.

Is there any 'old artist' that you'd like to record with ?

I think we're starting to run out of a few now! One of my first 45's was a Betty Lavette and I know she's still about so maybe her ! Although I hear Ann Sexton is back on the road and as Your losing me was the first track BDM ever played together I think it would be only fitting if it was her!

You've travelled alot gigging, what is your favourite city and clubnight at the moment ?

Well I suppose I have to say the Bake. As a band we,d have to agree on the Lovelite in Berlin, its got a great atmosphere and the guys running it are in it only for the love of the music, Its like a little funk commune!

What's your top 3 tipples (alchololic drink if any)?

German beer, English Ale & Scotch!

Future plans if you can share them?!

For the Band it's just to keep pushing forward and trying to develop the sound, hopefully look at an album some time in the next year. Personally I want to keep working with the label and try & raise the profile of that and look to get back into putting some nights on. It would be nice to get the chance to diversify into some different style.

Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview is anything else you'd like to say ?

Support your local funk bands & Deejays !!!

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