soul II soul
back II life
Norman Jay Interview by Sarah Bentley from 2006
Sarah Bentley is a London based music and youth culture journalist. She frequently contributes to Touch, Blues and Soul, ID, Timeout, Adrenalin, The Times, Marie Claire, XLR8R, The Fader and Riddim/Juice magazines.
Norman Jay, Thursday 27th April 2006
Location: Abracadabra, English Harbour
SB: When did you become part of the event?
NJ: I've been a part of this since it started three years back. Jazzie approached me six months before the first one and basically said I had to be a part of it. Jazzie can be very persuasive and it wasn't like I needed much convincing. Most places are over done. Antigua wasn't really on the party map before this. It's funny because it was a real spiritual experience for me doing the first event because I hadn't been to the West Indies in twenty-five years.
SB: Why not?
NJ: Circumstances and schedule. It was symbolic and important to me. Both my parents are from the West Indies - Grenada and Cairacou.
SB: How did it feel to come back?
NJ: It felt amazing. I'm born in the UK but the Caribbean is like mine, Jazzie's, Trevors and David's spiritual home.
SB: Why is the event so special?
NJ: It's the only event I get to play with DJ's from my own peer group. DJ's I look up to, respect and would always listen to. I knew from the first event it was the start of something great.
SB: Do you remember the first time you met Jazzie?
NJ: I don't remember the very first time we met but I do remember the first party of his I went too. I was aware of his soundsystem - I had Goodtimes and was from the west, he had Soul II Soul and was from the north. He was the first group to make it massive in the mainstream back in '89 and I was also one of the first to be accepted by the mainstream. Anyway, he invited me to a session of his, this is like early 80's, to hear his sound - I think it was in Stoke Newington. I rolled up on my own to this pretty heavy vibe party in what I can only describe as a pretty insalubrious neighbourhood. I had an old escort van with a stereo in it and I remember being really worried someone was going to nick my stereo so I yanked it out and carried it in - remember car stereo's were pretty big them times, and asked him where I could stash it and that's how we got to know each other.
SB: How did you become friends from this point?
NJ: Through music. We decided to hold a dance together. Jazzie found this old house in Hornsey and we had a floor each - Good Times on one, Soul II Soul on another. Nobody showed up. We were gutted. I remember us standing in the doorway, music blaring on every floor but nobody in the house. We can look back on that now and laugh but at the time it wasn't funny. We'd promoted the party in the usual way - flyers, phoning friends - it just didn't happen. It was one of them ones. You have to remember back in those times there were no black DJ's in mainstream British music culture. Jazzie really took off in '89 but I was accepted by a mainstream white audience as early as '84. My first interview was for the NME.
SB: What's unique about the event?
NJ: We're all old bastards having a laugh. In our own way we're putting the island on the international clubbing map. There's a lot of places we could hold the party - New York, Sydney, Cape Town, but it wouldn't feel as intimate or special as it does in Antigua. No other events like this go on. We're bringing something totally different to the island and it works as an introduction to Afro-Caribbean culture for the Back II Lifers from England and likewise introduces Antiguans to the British penchant for partying.
SB: What have you planned for your set?
NJ: All my sets are happy accidents. I respond to the emotion of the crowd. Anthems always seem to emerge but I never plan them.
SB: What's the crowd like who attend the party?
NJ: I love the crowd. I like to address them all at the end of the party because it feels like such a unique gathering. People come here strangers and leave as lifelong friends. Some people have been on it every year since it started but more and more original people come every year.
SB: Other than the crowd what makes it such a unique event?
NJ: The music on offer and the beautiful venues and locations it's played in. Rodigan has a huge following in the Caribbean so his party is a great chance for the Back II Lifers to mix with the locals. Trevor is known for his more mainstream approach to black music but here he gets an opportunity to drop tunes from his early selecting days. Jazzie plays everything from soul to reggae then I come along and ruin it all with my leftfield tunes.
SB: Do you mix any local music in to your set?
NJ: That's more Rodigan and Jazzies area. Between the four of us we've pretty much got all bases covered. Every night there's something for the UK clubbers and the locals and both sets come with a "let's have it" attitude.
SB: How does the event compare to other music in the sun style holiday events?
NJ: Favourably. The event unites the best DJ's who are all at the top of their game musically, puts them in an incredible environment and they play under the stars. It doesn't get much better than that.
SB: Does it attract many locals?
NJ: More and more each year. Jazzie's been good at letting locals know and getting them involved in the production. I think that's where events have fallen down in the past. Promoters from the UK have this 'we know best' attitude. Jazzie's never done that. It's always been an event from a local standpoint with international input. We've never marched in like the imperial army - a habit of the English.
SB: What's Antigua like as an island?
NJ: The people are warm, friendly and the hospitality is second to none. The food is second to none. It's the favourite island of both Virgin and BA cabin crews. It's the only Caribbean island that has yachting week and next year they'll be hosting the cricket world cup.
SB: I've heard you had a littler mishap one night?
NJ: You could call it that yes. The night before my party I went over to the other side of the island to visit a friend. I got back to Jazzie's house about 2am and I couldn't get in. No one was answering the bell and I didn't have a key for the security gate. I was calling and texting but no one was answering their phone. Everyone was asleep. I had to get the taxi man to give me a leg over the wall and it was only when I was half way over I started worrying maybe Jazzie had some security dogs. I got to the house but I couldn't bring myself to start banging on windows shouting so I looked around and thought well - where's my bed tonight? The grassy knoll, poolside, the outside table? I bedded down on a bench and slept under the stars. The view was beautiful but I can't say I had much sleep. I was attacked by mosquitoes all night long. Around 6-7am I heard a noise in the house. I went to the door and whispered, 'Jazzie' and he goes "Who dat?" in a broad accent. He opened the door and said, "Bloody Tottenham fans." Jazzie's a big Arsenal supporter so I'm sure it was a revenge action. He still insists I was just getting in and was on a wind up I'd slept outside all night.
SB: How would you recommend the party to people?
NJ: It's small but perfectly formed. All three have been really special and everyone that comes feels like they're at something really special. Last year when it rained out the beach party and everyone carried on partying that's when everyone went wild. This year my schedule really couldn't permit me coming but I shoe horned it in somehow and have just come over for 48hours but I'm so glad I did.
