Jasper James chats with Dubzy about playing Heidi Presents: The Jackathon at The Warehouse Project, ADE 2016 and Circoloco at DC10.
Dubzy: This is Dubzy every week here on Unity Radio, we speak to the leading artists on the dance music scene today for our real sound of the city feature and I am joined now by Jasper James, how’s it going mate?
Jasper James: Yes mate not too bad, yourself?
Dubzy: Great, I’m happy to be chatting to you right now, so you’re currently in Amsterdam for ADE I believe?
Jasper James: Yes, that’s right
Dubzy: How have you found it so far?
Japer James: Yeah it’s been mint, I got here on Wednesday afternoon, dropped my bags off and got straight out of the house, did a bit of exploring
Dubzy: Have you been Amsterdam before though?
Jasper James: I have been before; I came here for the first time when I was about 17 or 18, my dad basically said if I did well on my exams that he would take me over so I studied hard.
Dubzy: So what have you got lined up there for yourself while you’re there this time?
James Jasper: So tonight I’m playing at the new club that’s just opened up, it’s opening night tonight actually, it’s called Shelter; so I’m excited for that; it’s me, Jack Master, Midi Man, Tom Craigo, so it should be a good night hopefully, other than that I was playing at the Resident Advisor Football game witch was a good laugh.
Dubzy: Yeah I heard about that, how did it go? Did you win?
Jasper James: we got to the semi-finals, it was a good laugh, I think we need to substitute time; it wasn’t quite up to scratch.
Dubzy: Who gets man of the match?
Jasper James: Man of the match; Um probably the keeper
Dubzy: Let’s just take it back to your background a little bit just so listeners can get to know you a little bit more, for those who know your name but don’t know too much about you; could you tell us pretty much about how you got in to the music game?
Jasper James: Well my dad used to gig every Saturday, I was surrounded by my dad and a lot of music around the house, then i got more in to djing and the producing side of things, then it just kind of went from there, going out to places and watching my dad, Dominic and Optimal on a Sunday night kind of got me started on the whole music scene
Dubzy: and how would you describe your style and progression since you first started out?
Jasper James: that’s a difficult question; I hope I’ve got better man
Dubzy: but any younger artist coming through, could you give them some advice just to bear in mind and trying to play in the clubs, what’s a good thing to remember?
Jasper James: Just work hard, I don’t know, lock yourself up in that studio and make some tunes, get in to the DJ side of things, create a style of your own I suppose, go to different clubs, do a little digging
Dubzy: so the main reasons for calling you today was to chat about the Ware House Project but we’re gonna get in to that very soon, just before we do let’s chat about your Summer this year, how did you find it?
Jasper James: yeah it was pretty hectic, I was loving it in Ibiza, I was playing with Jack, Richie and a few other folks so it was pretty heavy as you can imagine
Dubzy: Yeah definitely you had a few dates at CircoLoco and Paradise as well so how did you find those?
Jasper James: Yeah I’ve been going to CircoLoco for about 5/6 years now and I knew as soon as I stepped inside that place that I wanted to play there if I ever got the opportunity, it’s my favourite club, everyone there loves to party and it’s just a good riot so CircoLoco was always the club I wanted to play at fortunately I got to do that in summer so it was wicked
Dubzy: so you gonna be back next year?
Jasper James: yep I’ll be back probably May
Dubzy: and is winter the time that you jump back in the studio and get the production going again?
Jasper James: yeah, for me certainly that’s the case, I find that when I get back to my own headspace and move all my stuff back to Glasgow I tend to get better in the winter especially on the production side of things
Dubzy: Ok let’s talk about Ware House Project now, you are playing tomorrow night for the Jackathon, are you excited?
Jasper James: Yep, buzzing, can’t wait
Dubzy: and the line-up is sick, Lauren Garner, Black Coffee, Heidi, yourself obviously, is there anyone in particular that you want to catch when you’re not on the decks?
Jasper James: I want to see everyone because there’s no one I don’t want to see in that line up so
Dubzy: Great stuff, have you played Ware House Project before, I’m guessing you done a few sets there and stuff?
Jasper James: Yeah I have played a few times last year, I’ve played some openings and I’ve also played Jackathon and I’m gonna be playing on the 27th so all together I don’t know, I’m not counting.
Dubzy: And what do you think of the venues? It’s sick in it?
Jasper James: yeah it’s mint, I’ve always loved it in there, and it kind of reminds me or Archers when that was open in Glasgow
Dubzy: Cool and what do you think of the Manchester crowd? Can you see any similarities from the Glasgow crew?
Jasper James: yes and no, Glasgow’s untouchable
Dubzy: Nice, I don’t think you could have put that any other way
Dubzy: It’s been an absolute pleasure talking to you today, just before we finish up, what’s planned after the Ware House Project?
Jasper James: throughout the winter I think I am doing a tour in Asia and South America and a couple of dates in Miami
Dubzy: nice and what’s going on in the production front? Can we catch any releases coming soon?
Jasper James: yeah I have a disco thing coming out later this year; I also have some stuff coming out next year
Dubzy: ok thanks again mate, have a good time at ADA and we’ll see you in Manchester tomorrow
Jasper James: nice one, looking forward to it