Kiss History

DJ EZ INTERVIEW 23 June 2009

DJ EZ, a Garage legend and the best technical DJ in the UK. Having spent 10 years mixing every Friday night, live on Kiss, we wanted to get to the man behind the desk. Here, EZ talks to us about tattoo adorned fans, 8 hour sets, David Rodigan and Donna Summer.

You started out at a young age conquering the technological battle of mixing by originally just using a tape deck. With your passion for mixing starting so young, do you still feel as passionately now as you did then?

Oh yeah, definitely. I was actually thinking about the olden days recently. I was thinking do I prefer the tape decks and turntables from back in the day or do I prefer the technology now because what I’m using now is nothing compared to what I was using back then. What won it over for me was the raw feel of back then, getting a tape deck that wasn’t designed to be adjusted by pitch. So, without sounding like an old biddy, I still favour the old days!

David Rodigan is 57 and still playing in clubs and on air on Kiss. Do you see yourself still mixing at 57?

Hell yeah! I’ve got a lot of respect for Rodigan and I’m going to keep on Djing until my limbs fall off, I don’t want to do anything else.

Was there anybody growing up who made you want to be a DJ?

No. Do you know what, my love for the music came at a really early age and from that I just knew that this was what I wanted to do. I want to play music to people.

You made your break as a pirate Radio DJ, but your time now is dominated by clubs so where does your heart lie?

I love Radio man! I mean Friday nights are the most sort after dates for booking me and I still prefer to do a live show than take a booking.

You’re nearly at ten years on Kiss now, can you tell us how you feel Kiss has changed in that time?

Well, I’ve seen a lot of people come and go, obviously, and the music policy has changed, but the great thing about Kiss now is that all genres are covered. I mean it was 2000-2004 when Garage was at its peak and although it’s not at the top right now, the fan base is still there and I’m still at Kiss which is positive.

With artists such as H "two" O getting big hits in Garage last year there seems to be a younger following coming through. Have you noticed a change?

Yep, I’m seeing that definitely, but that’s the strength of the radio show as well. They get to hear certain tracks I don’t play in the clubs and they get into the sound.  A lot of listeners are not straight Garage heads, they like RnB, funky, house, a mixed bag really.

A lot of younger DJs on Kiss have cited you as a big influence to them. Were you influenced by anyone?

Well, I grew up on David Rodigan so I have a lot of respect for him. My parents were into Reggae and he was always on the Radio, in the background, every Sunday. Definitely for me Rodigan was a big influence. I think I’d say Tim Westwood as well because he’s been going for such a long time. I also like DJ Hype.

Now, it’s not just DJs that you influence; you famously have a female fan that has your name tattooed on her arm…

Ahhhhh, do you know what, that for me is one of the freakiest things in my entire career, to have someone tattoo my name! When I first saw it I thought it was maybe a Henna tattoo or something that you could rub off in a few days time, but no it’s a real tattoo! And she’s got a boyfriend!? He’s not a fan of me I think.

What are your top three songs of all time?

This always comes up in an interview and I can’t name three, but I’m a big fan of Todd Edwards so I’d just put all his tracks in the top three.

Can you remember the first record you bought?

Yeah, the one that springs to mind, even though I wasn’t born when the tune came out, is Donna Summer’s ‘I feel Love’! It’s wicked, that for me is still a key track. Do you know what, that should be in my top three, add Donna Summer ‘I Feel Love’ to my top three! 

You are referred to as ‘London's Number One’ within the UK Garage scene, and many describe you as the best technical DJ in the country, yet in recent years you haven’t appeared in DJ magazine’s annual Top 100 DJ list. Do you feel snubbed or is it just the politics of the music?

Well, it’s not really a DJ based list, I think it’s down to the genre. I mean with Trance and House, you can’t compete; the following and the scene, you can’t mess with that. That’s the way I see it anyway. It doesn’t really bother me as long as I still have my following and the show, I’m happy.  

Your technical ability is what differentiates you from other DJs. Do you still have to practise?

No, no, no. Practise?! I don’t think I’ve ever practised, seriously! I can’t actually recall ever thinking okay, now I’m going to practise this mix or I’m going to set out this DJ list for that club. I’ve never actually practised because, without sounding like a big head, I get enough bookings just to try out new things and that’s the way I do it, I try out new things on the fly. Some work, some don’t! 

So do you ever mix on your own, just for your own pleasure or does there always have to be an audience?

Oh yeah, I like to just put some vinyl on and reminisce. I even like doing mixes for myself you know, for the car and the journeys to and from the club. Those sets will include tracks from the late 80s when I was DJing House and Detroit Techno, that was when I first started. I want to go back to that really but my fan base right now wouldn’t get it so I wouldn’t want to put that on them, they’d all be like ‘Detroit Techno! What’s that!?’ 

Is there any music that you just chill out to?

Oh yeah, I’m a big fan of Royksopp, massive fan of them, and when I’m in my car I don’t really listen to Garage. I’ll have chilled out and retro stuff on. 

Where will DJ EZ be in ten years time?

Still doing what I do and approaching 20 years on Kiss!

You famously start every set with ‘When I say E you say Z’. Will it always be the same or would you ever dare tampering with it?

I couldn’t start a set now without it! People know it’s a signature tune.

Finally, you’re doing Z Uncut next week which is an 8 hour set! That’s pretty hard core.

Do you know what, this is my second run and I think to myself, I want it to be longer! That’s how much I love music; I want to try 12 hours! I actually thought about going for a world record but then I saw DJs that had done two or three days, so I think I’ll pass on that!

To find out more about EZ, check him out on totalkiss/EZ as well as on DJEZ.com