Keith Thompson Interview

Keith Thompson Interview image

Keith Thompson image Your career spans a twenty year period and throughout your work there has always been a rich tapestry of vocal soulful messages, yet still fresh and uplifting... Who influenced your vocal style the most?
"No one person influenced me so I'd say Bunny Rugs from Third World, Philipe Winn of the Spinners, Delroy Wilson, Dennis Brown, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Gladys Knight, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, James 'D-Train' Williams, and last but certainly not least is Bob Marley."

Your last release in the UK 'In What', had the perfect elements of dance, soul and funk message, do you feel the current scenes/industry to be lost in some way when writing that track?
"I wrote 'In What' down in Miami one night during the annual Winter Music Conference. I just left a club and wrote it on a napkin commenting, yes, on how lost we are in society. Specifically, some of the clubbers and even some of the people in the house music industry. And rather than preach to anyone, I thought it should be framed in terms of a question to yourself. In what do you put your trust, your hope, your lust, your dreams? When one answers it, then you get a look at yourself and hopefully make changes if necessary. We all, myself included, have things to improve on or fix that might be holding us down. Materialism, prejudices, and or a lack of belief in anything can make your life aimless and empty. So, it's a regular question we must ask ourselves because even if you have asked yourself that question before, next year you have change."

Desert Island Discs 5 choices - What tracks and by who?
"1: Bob Marley's - 'Survival' album comes to mind first, 2: Stevie Wonder's - 'Songs In The Key Of Life', 3: Marvin Gaye's - 'What's Going On', 4: Third World's '96 Degrees' and 5: ???"

Vocally who makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck?
"That's difficult but off the top of my head... Al Green, Lauren Hill, Luther Vandross (early stuff), D Train, Gladys Knight"

If you could choose a DJ to drop by the island, who would it be and what tracks would they have to bring?
"Tony Humphries and if he is not available then Paul 'Trouble' Anderson. And the repacks ohh, 'Come On Over' by Third World, 'Someday', 'Promised Land', 'My Piece Of Heaven' by Ten City, and his favourite Keith Thompson track, whatever that might be."

The UK dance music scene is very loyal to it's originators, is the same to be said for stateside fans?
"Not really. There are some pockets of support in various cities but house isn't given the respect it should get. I think besides there not being any radio support, the fans who might give the originators any respect, don't know where to find the music and clubs to give it support. Due to the fact that these fans are probably parents now and have a lot of daily business to take care of to be concerned with a music genre they think is dead or not producing anything new. If we could reach them things might change. I'm trying with my business but until then, we give thanks for the rest of the world especially the UK for the love."

'Rhythm Of Life' was a huge hit in the UK, will we be seeing any more colabs with Indeya again?
"Well, that was really a remix project done by Tony Humphries with guests like Todd Terry, Bebe Keys, Larry Rauson, and Louie and Kenny who weren't Masters At Work yet. Connie Harvey, Debbie L. Cole and India were brought in as back ground singers. India wasn't doing much in house at the time. When Tony finished a rough mix with just the background vocals, they made an acetate to play it out in the clubs. Before the track was released months later, most heads and djs had heard that version. That project was done back in 1992 when I was signed to EMI. I left EMI and started my own label, Level 10 Music Works distributed through Emotive. 'The Rhythm Of Life' was the second release which we also licensed to Synthetic (UK). The main mix with my vocals got on the Kiss FM charts and the 12" sold well but over the years it has been the India/Connie Harvey featured mix that has remained in people's mind. Underground Solutions licensed it more recently and got UBP and Johnick to do remixes and it's been a hit again. It too is featured on my new album."

The Groove Junkies have mixed part of your LP, any colabs with the guys planned and who else are you currently working with?
"Groove Junkies remixed the track 'It's On' produced by Scott Wozniak on the album. I've talked to their manager about doing some work in the future and it might happen. Right now I'm just busy promoting the album and getting remixes for the upcoming singles. Collaborations will come later this year. Although, I am working with Victor Simonelli on some projects for an Italian label to be released also some time later this year."

Who would you like to work with from the UK vocals wise?
"Vocal wise, though, I've always been in love with Juliet Roberts. So, doing a duet or writing a song for her would be heaven sent."

Which tracks still give you the rush through the nose when you hit the dancefloor?
"I would have to say anything that is funky, soulful and comes from a place in the heart that loves house music and not that noisy. . I think it's an insult when people call that certain progressive. Progress? How is it progress or more evolved than the original flavour of house and the current material that stay true to the soul and Afro roots of the music?"

Do you think the '54'/'Paradise Garage' vibe still in the air in NYC?
"Yes in a smaller we it has come back in the guise of the Shelter club night. It was in Body and Soul which is now closed, Bang The Party which is now closed. But other promoters have stepped up recently to bring that vibe back."

And for your next release...
"The next single is 'Face Down', the third from the album Long Time Coming, in stores now. It is a sarcastic commentary on a lot of the sexual oriented songs getting air play today. We say it's 'The ironic anthem for a freaky world'. It seems we as a society in the US are very hypocritical. The song was written last year but the recent Janet Jackson scandal over nothing has made this song more pointed. Lyrically, 'Face Down' is very explicit in order to push the envelope knowing that radio will not play it and to test if DJs will be brave enough to. It laughs at the numerous songs that always brag about 'nobody can do it better than me', 'I can do you all night long' etc and ones believe that double entendre is, 'I wanna be deep inside you', which to me is almost as explicit but radio will play them or bleep some words out that we all know anyway. The bottom line to me is either we be more honest and ban adult material from the airwaves until late at night or we as a society get real and teach kids about sexuality so when this material comes on the radio it isn't scandalous. Otherwise, kids see this as hypocritical and titillating and will continue singing lyrics that are too adult for them to be singing. I don't believe in banning anything totally. As an artist I want us to express ourselves but just acknowledge it's consequences. Not everyone will get that the song is a joke to cause some dialogue. Most will see it as just another one in the long chain of explicit songs; Break 4 Love for the now generation. Well, it'll give me a lot to talk about."

Any message for up and coming vocalists/producers about the industry?
"My message for anyone getting into this industry is to realize that it is not easy and won't ever be easy. There are exceptions but on the average, you'll have to work hard to get in, hard to rise to where you want to be, harder to stay there, and hardest not to leave it empty handed. So, learn your craft so that you will feel confident in what you're doing. Get to know people in the industry and network. As much as this is art, it is also business. Time is important so don't waste yours or other's. Get yourself a lawyer when signing contracts. Don't be rushed into any deal. If it's that good, then there's nothing wrong with getting time to think it over. Do your best because if you do, then you can't have any regrets, it's the best you can do for that moment. You'll do better next time. Respect the music you do. Don't take it all so seriously; laugh at yourself and the business sometimes. If you release music, there are probably people out there who like it even if you think you've haven't been successful. Those fans expect you to do your best for them. Respect your craft, your music genre(s) and your place in it. Define what success is for you. Is fame and riches. Is it industry respect and fulfilment from creating music the way you heard it, or is it all of that. I suggest you protect your work either by copyrighting and publishing it yourself or getting a publisher who will do it for you. But learn how to protect your legacy. Finally, don't believe them when they say your great. We are always trying to get to greatness but fall short. Which is good because it keeps you ambitious."

www.keithompson.com - www.djlounge.net - www.reggaemotions.com

Keith Thompson interviewed by Sean Forryan (Solid Sugar UK)