Below, Zane speaks with Simon Harrison, of the Basic Soul Show, which is broadcast on FM radio, podcast and various web-stations across the globe. You can also hear Simon’s Nu-World DJ mixes on Samurai FM. Both feature the best in Soul, Jazz, Nu Jazz, Broken Beat, House, Drum and Bass, Funk, Hip Hop, and just about every style in between.

How did you get started as a DJ?

I started getting into Hip Hop and House in around 1987, but as I lived in Ulverston near the Lake District, the only way to hear music like this was on Jeff Young’s “Big Beat” on Radio 1. As there was no internet or alternatives this became essential listening for me. I even used to ask my Grandma to turn over the cassette if I was out on a Friday night. Of course it all went Pete Tong in 1991. With far too many mix tapes and compilations, which I’d made up myself, in 1989 I was planning to go on holiday with some friends, and when it all fell through I had some spare cash so went and bought myself a pair 1210s and a Realistic two channel mixer. It’s 20 years this summer since I bought my 1210s, and they are still going strong – that’s reliability for you! Friends soon found out I had this DJ bug and I got roped into various parties, which were almost always a disaster. What I did learn very quickly was what works and what doesn’t – that’s been very handy over the years.

Nearly every town in the late 80s, early 90s had record shops so you could get quite a lot, but Manchester was the best city for record shops, which ensured you got just about everything on your wants list. Around that time we started making regular trips to the Hacienda, which was nothing short of amazing. It was not always about the big name DJs because the warm-up DJs built up and created the atmosphere; then all of a sudden around 11pm and very rarely before, the dance floor suddenly became mayhem.

What led you to start the Basic Soul show?

When I moved to Leeds for University it was such an eye opener with so much choice of clubs and record shops but trips to Manchester were still essential. At the start of 1993 I sent a mix tape into a pirate station called Dream FM, and was given a chance to host a show. Not long after I was given a weekly show, which continued until 1997 when the station closed because it applied for a legitimate license, but lost out to Kiss in the end.

In 2000 I was itching to re-start a show and looked around for a way of broadcasting a new show, but with the dangers and risks of a pirate station, I thought I would look into internet radio. I knew very little about the concept and in December the show started weekly on a Manchester based station. Things have gone from strength to strength, and my show is now broadcast on FM, various internet stations and also via a podcast.

It took me a little while to come up with a name but I thought Basic Soul covered the sound and concept I was trying to achieve…. whatever style I play it’s got soul. The format also goes back to the pirate shows, which I used to host, where my show is about the music not about me.

There’s such a diverse range of styles in your shows and mixes – Jazz, Nu Jazz, Soul, Future Soul, Hip Hop, Broken Beat; whereas many DJs focus on one particular sound.

What made you love all these different forms of music and bring them all together?

Thinking back, Jeff Young’s “Big Beat” as already mentioned had a huge influence on my musical taste today. Most shows and DJs back then used to play a lot more styles, but as specific scenes got bigger that all changed. Also hearing early tapes by Bob Jones and Gilles Peterson was a real eye opener, proving that anything could be played next to almost anything.

With more people using iPods, and obviously people shuffling their tracks to make their own mix tapes you would think that people would understand more but in a club situation that’s not always the case… haha. We’ll keep trying to educate them anyway.

I ask that because when I listen to Basic Soul or Nu World, the mixes are right on. It make sense to me to have Jazzanova in the same set as Herbie Hancock, and you’re one of the few DJs to make a connection like that. What kind of connection do you think exists between this New Jazz (and Future Soul, Bruk, etc.) and modern Jazz and early Soul music?

Most artists in scenes and styles I play are often fans of Jazz and Soul, and listening to their tracks you can often hear these influences, and obviously in the samples used. When putting a mix together there’s always a bit of guess work in there with what might work another track, but when it works it’s a good feeling especially when people like yourself spot it.

Talking to fellow DJs often leads to discussions of their and your favourite Jazz/Soul artists and what albums you often go back to. With the help of the internet it’s now possible to talk to anyone around the world, and often hunt down records that have been on your wants list for years.

What was the first record that really inspired you?

This is one question that I always struggle with; bear in mind there’s around 40-50 years of music, and every year I discover new artists and labels. It’s a continuing journey that never stops. Holidays are always a time for me to go through old albums and re-discover things I’ve not played for some time, maybe even years.

What records are you really feeling right now?

As we’ve just come to the end of 2008 it’s really the tracks I’ve played on my last two shows (w/c 29th Dec and 5th Jan 2009), which proved that we had another great year for music. It’s very common and easy for people to be negative, but you need to get yourself out there and I’m sure you’ll find some music you love, whatever the style.

You always seem real dedicated to new music and new artists. Actually last year you were one of the first to play my music. Is there an upcoming artist you’re particularly excited about?

I’m very lucky that labels, producers and artists send me music, and it’s something I’ve never taken for granted, but sometimes I do struggle to have time to get feedback back to everyone. Maybe that should be my New Years resolution. I try to balance new and old, but over the last few years even though artists are struggling there just seems to be so much music released each week, so I really struggle to have time to listen to everything I would like to hear. Rather than single out one artist here’s a list I’ve just compiled of artists to look out for in 2009, which you can read here: www.on-point.be/?p=1192. In fact I wrote a piece for them last January which is still relevant because some projects haven’t been released yet.

So what does 2009 look like for Simon Harrison and his musical endeavors? Any plans yet?

I’ve never had the time to produce music, and I still love digging out and playing other people’s music so I can’t see that will happen. I would really like to start a record label, and even though these may not be the best times for such a project, it’s not about making money, more getting music out there. So Basic Soul records might happen one day, but family, work and numerous other things come first. I would like to DJ more in Leeds over 2009, and get out there and guest at more nights in whichever venue will have me.. haha.

More:

Simon Harrison’s Basic Soul
Simon Harrison’s Nu-World