Q-Burns Abstract Message

1. Describe the Q-Burns Abstract Message concept and sound?

Funk music. No specific genre but the feeling of 'funk' ... Any type of music can be funky and, if it is, then I'm happy to listen. I can go even further and loosely define funk as a celebratory music. It's the celebration of living and 'getting it on'. I don't think there's a such thing as a depressing funk song. Even in its darkest moments 'the funk' has a hope.

2. What is your favourite music? (to listen too and then to dance too)

I guess the above answer may have covered this ... I like funky music. I grew up on a lot of soul and R+B and, in my teenage years, a lot of early punk and what they now call "new wave". The bands in the new Simon Reynolds book were basically my soundtrack in my later school years. As far as dancing goes, the urge can come from any magical groove. The first time I ever felt the uncontrollable need to dance was at a zydeco concert in Monroe, Louisiana. The groove has power and it's so cool in the right hands. As my friend Robbie Hardkiss once said, "Intelligent dance music? There is no 'unintelligent' dance music ... What's smarter than music that forces someone to physically move?"

3. Is there a perfect era for you? (Did you love a specific summer for example that when you are old and grey in the nursing home that you will hope to remember?)

San Francisco in the mid-90's was pretty amazing. I lived there half of the year, sleeping on friend's couches and DJing anywhere I could. That's when I first heard the Hardkiss brothers and the Wicked Crew of DJs (Garth, Jeno, Thomas, and Markie). They inspired the way I DJ now ... made me realize that the best DJs aren't stars, they are just part of the party. Punk rock. The mid-to-late 80's were a great time for music in the USA as well. Early hip hop, great touring bands like The Minutemen and the (early) Butthole Surfers, the early glimmers of house music ... It was a fantastic time to be a music loving teenager.

4. What was the first record you bought? What 5 LPs would you want on a desert Island for eternity?

The first album I listened to intently was The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" which my mother gave me when I was about 8 years old. She bought it and didn't like it, actually ... So she gave it to me to play around with on my toy turntable. I listened to that thing non-stop. Everything on it fascinated me, from the out-of-this-world harmonies and orchestrations to the dog barking at the train at the very end.

The first record I bought is a bit less exciting. I think it was Duran Duran's first album, and I believe I bought it to impress some girl. I do like the song "Planet Earth", though, but that's about it. Sorry, Duran X2 fans.

My 5 desert island discs? This week it's:

* My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
* Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet
* The Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime
* Gang Of Four - Entertainment!
* Al Green - Greatest Hits

5. Who has been the biggest influence upon you and which labels and producers? > (is there anyone we should look out for?)

I am influenced by my friends mostly. I spend a lot of time with Huggy and Atnarko from Formidable Force (who release records on 20/20 Vision) who live here in Orlando. They're doing some great stuff that's inspiring. Also a lot of my San Francisco friends are doing some amazing work such as Joshua/DJ Iz and DJ M3. I also love producers who consistently stretch the limits of house music and fuse it with other styles, such as Carl Craig and Pepe Bradock. I'm also a longtime follower of Brian Eno's work and philosophies.

6. Are you down with the digital revolution ­ final scratch and ableton ­ or do you still prey to the God if vinyl?

These things are tools and a great if used creatively, but I see a lot of people using them simply in imitation of playing records. They will always be nothing more I'm afraid. There is an energy that comes from playing records and that energy is the primary reason I DJ. Nothing gets me going like seeing a DJ rifling through his bag, furiously putting a record on the decks and then changing it at the last minute when he decides on something different, watching the trainspotters crowd around with their heads spinning in circles as they try to read the rotating tile of the track ...

7. Where would you like to take the music? In other words what do you predict for the genre¹s future?

I watched a documentary film on Parliament-Funkadelic last night. It detailed their many projects, their elaborate stage show, how their image and philosophy was presented to people on every level, and, of course, their sound. It sort of looked like the future to me.

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