Beats4Life caught up with Mr.V one of the most influential dj/artist producer in the house scene. Over the last ten years Mr.V has paved the Deep Soulful House scene to where it is today
You will know him for tracks such as Da Bump, Something (Wit’ Jazz), In Da Club,, Come Back To Me, including Vega Records (featuring the massive tracks Jus’ Dance by Louie Vega feat Mr. V, V Gets Jazzy and Put Your Drink Down) his releases and remixes have appeared on labels such as Defected, Vega Records, Strictly Rhythm, Nervous Records and King Street Sounds.
In 2001 he founded Sole Channel Music with Alix Alvarez releasing tracks such as Reelsoul “Spend My Life” Siji “ijo, Distant People feat.Chappell “Just Do It” and DJN Project & Nef Nunez feat.Joell Ortiz “Be With Me” and the latest B.A.M and Reelsoul “Wake Up”.
Q1. Mr. V thank you for taking the time out to do this interview for Beats4Life.
>> Thank You.
Q2.Originatly your from New York, where are you located at the moment?
>> I grew up on the Lower Eastside Of New York, Moved to Brooklyn for about 3 years now I reside in Staten Island NYC.
Q3. Mr.V could you let the readers know you as to how you began in House Music, and did you have musical experience before you began as a DJ or Producer?
>> My love for house music started in the late 80's around 87/88, I started out with Hip Hop of course but quickly migrated to house music after going to my first nightclub called "The World" on the Lower East Side.
The weekend Dj would start his sets with Hip-Hop then around peak hour would go into a house set, throwing in Pal Joey's Hot Music, Marshall Jefferson Tracks, Lil' Louis and such.
I just loved it when I heard it, it was my calling, never had musical experience back then but I knew what I like to hear.
Q4.What was the first music you remember buying and what did you grow up with?
>> First record I ever bought was Biz Markie's "Make The Music" but my household consisted of alot of music, mostly latin but me and my brother were heavy into Hip-Hop as it was the growing trend and house was not too far behind.
Q5.How long have you both been producing and DJing? What are the most important lessons that you have learned along the way?
>> Been producing for about 7 years now, been Djing for about 15 years now but steady djing since 2002.
Best lessons I learned is to know the music business, not to burn bridges unless necessary and to grow thick skin.
Q6.How do you see Mr.V as distinguishable from other DJs out there? What makes you different in sound and style?
>> I love to have fun man as many Dj's do but I like playing things we havent heard in a while or forgot about, I try to hard not to be like anyone else.
I mix the vibe up when you hear my sets.
Q7. What ambitions do you have outside making and playing music and how conventional do you consider your life to be?
>> I think being a great dad is one of them if we are speaking in terms of outside music, it's probrably the most hardest but most loving job to have.
My life is ok, it was ruff when my daughter was born but it's panning out now so.....
Q8.What do you consider as being one of your greatest achievements to date?
>> Man just being relevant in our scene is a great achievement, I dont ask for much after that to be honest, I feel blessed to know so many and work at something that I love to do.
Q9. Is there a particular track or release which has become a firm favorite of your own and loved by the crowd when you play out?
>> "Jus Dance" i'm still amazed on how so many people loved that record.
Q10. Are you optimistic about the future of house music and what are your thoughts about any directions it might take?
>> Well i'm no doubtful nor optimistic, I just dont know what people want nowadays, there is a genre born literally everyday, it's just trying to keep up with things IN the game that's tricky, I mean it all comes around in cycles, everyone wants to dance now, the bling bling gansta Hip-Hop days are pretty much wrapped up from what I see, I mean ask drake who sings on 1 record then he's tuff and gangsta on another?.
Q11.Who do you see as your favourite DJ's at the moment, who's rockin' you when you see them on stage?
>> I dont see much heads rockin but when I go out Spinna, Kenny Dope, Timmy Regisford still rock, also Loco Dice just to name a few.
Q12.Ok tell me something about what kit you use to get the Mr.V sound. Don't give all your secrets away just a hint!
>> In the studio I use Logic, got a bunch of new plug-ins but I love having great Reference Monitors, right now I own a pair of Genelec 8020B monitors and I love it.
they give me the sound i'm looking for literally, let's also not forget a good AD/DA converter and for that I use a Rosetta 800 which right now not on the market.
Q13-How did the five beats come about and can you introduce all the five members.
>> The 5 Beats was started in 2007 and the original 5 members are myself, Alix Alvarez, Spinna, Dj Deep & Franck Roger.
Q14. What are your production plans and when you think about putting a track together, what are the most important elements?
>> honestly I dont plan anything, production should be just feeling and doing, going with what works and what you have been feeling lately around you period.
I try not to put to much emphasis on my music, to me, simplicity works best.
Q15. Do you have a personal favourite track that has been released with the label and who in general are you loving at the minute in the house music world ?
>> My personal fave track on my label is "I Can Sing" only because it was a hit when I was only kidding, i'm digging alot of AtJazz's work, along with Ralf Gum, Culoe De Song, Mendo, Henrik Schwarz just to name a few.
Q16.You’ve played some amazing clubs which have really stood out for you?
>> Moxa Club In Mantova Italy, Lotus in Hawaii, Eleven nightclub in Japan.
Q17.What about secret weapons, any tricks you use to get the crowd pumping.
>> I dont believe in tricks, it's all about track selection.
Q18.You have a new label Muzik 4 Tomorrow can you tell us a bit more how different it is to Sole Channel Music?
>> Muzik 4 Tomorrow is my own personal label, I wanted that label to stand for Music of all types worldwide with no labels attached, one month it will be a house music release, the next month Hip-Hop, after that Electro but all releases are great, trust you will see a difference there.
Q19.Tell me about some of the tracks you are working on and artists that you are working with at the moment.
>> Well at the moment I just wrapped up Tales From The Deepside 3, Miss Patty's album is out which was co-produced by me and Reelsoul but my focus is shifting to my 2nd album, I wont release any info on it but i'll simply say it will be better than my 1st.
Q20. What are some of the new releases on your label, Sole Channel Music, that we should know about?
>> Miss Patty's album just got released which highlights what me and Reelsoul can do outside House Music which people rarely hear or see, so that's a challenge for us but I think we did a great job, "Wake Up" is awesome B.A.M & Reelsoul really nailed that record and thanks to mega writer and producer Bill Wolfer we were able to release it.
Q21.What are your plans for your label Soul Channel Music in 2012 and also in the future ?
>> Just to release more music, I think we should touch different styles more though, I'm gonna focus on that, I cant speak for Alix & Will though but I know I will.
Q22.So what's next for you? Where do you see yourself within the next twelve months? Two years?
>> Hopefully having more hits and doing more collaborations with producers and such, I think i'm gonna be seen around the industry for awhile.
Thank's MR.V all the best for the future