After some super-strong entries in the chronicles of Jungle D&B, Florida’s Jaybee has coming storming in with some proper dirt via Randall’s Mac 2. And it’s not just dirt: it’s Dirt Magirt, dammit, so stand up and get hurt, for cert.
Can you give us the, well, dirt on the new ep, Jaybee? The title infers that you are intent on going right in yes?
We stay going in ha ha ha ha. The EP is something that has been in the making for a while. Randall loved Dirt Magirt so we discussed doing an ep and the last three tunes pretty much came together all at once.
Dave Owen happened to be in town and staying with me and we got ‘Gangsta Shit’ done and he mentioned him and Zere had started something pretty firing when he was in LA the week earlier, so he had Zere shoot over the parts and we got ‘Come Down’ finished up.
About month later I got ‘Do It’ down and the EP was a wrap!
My fave tune is ‘Come Down’, speaking of it… I picked up a sense of your special vibe through this but you tell us: what do you do that is unique to D&B?
I always try to do little things that people do not do as much any more like chopping up vocals/sounds to make them stutter or doing cool break edits… which I’m happy to see are starting to really make a comeback.
I also like to try and fill up tracks with as much sounds/fx as possible without overdoing it. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
What’s another tune you would pick from the ep and talk us through?
‘Gangsta Shit’!!! There are fun times like no other when my brother from another mother Dave Owen is in town. We literally wake up – as early as 9am sometimes – pour 2 big ass drinks and head right into the studio and get to work and won’t stop except to eat and take a break here and there.
The only other people I can vibe like that with in the studio are Random Movement and the homie Zere!
And what was the moment you yourself got into D&B, when did it bite you?
What really did it for me was watching DJ ODI juggle Ray Keith’s ‘Terrorist’. Seeing you could incorporate hip hop tricks into this music sealed the deal for me!
Gonna show my age here but it all started back in 93 when I heard the Prodigy Experience album at a friend’s house from his big brother playing it.
I’d been to a few raves at the time but they were mostly house/techno and the first time I heard breakbeats I really felt I could relate due to being heavily into hip hop and hearing those same breaks in hip hop tunes.
I went to discover great hardcore breakbeat compilations like Hit The Decks and The Speed Limit 140+ series. In ’94 I went to my first all Jungle party and absolutely fell in love with the music.
And what’s the scene like where you are in your part of the USA: does it fluctuate, go through stages and changes?
Unfortunately there is no longer a D&B scene in Tampa in my opinion. We get the standard Ram or Hospital DJ every once in a blue moon but other than that it is pretty dead. It is a a shame as Tampa used to have one of the healthiest jungle scenes back in late 90’s when I first played down here into the mid 2000’s.
We do however have Torque in Orlando which is the longest running D&B night in Florida. I really applaud Kevin, Damien and Melissa for doing it week in and week out. They’re always bringing in top notch talent.
Do you produce at a dedicated studio, and what inspires you to get working?
Part of the reason I bought my house is because it had a shed out back which I had insulated, drywalled, ad turned into a home studio. Nothing fancy, but having a dedicated space separate from my house is great cause I can work whenever I want and have never got a complaint from the neighbors.
Nothing inspires me like music. Could be anything or any genre but when I hear a element in a tune I like it normally will inspire me to go in.
How did the hookup with Randall come about? He speaks highly of you.
I have give a huge thanks and biggup to Mike Vapour. He is the one who linked us. I sent Vapour a tune which was not right for 36 Hertz so he passed it on to Randall who picked it up and we have been in contact ever since. I still get nervous talking to Randall because of his history in this game. the man is a certified legend and still killing crowds week in and week out!! Being part of MAC II is such a good look!!
Who are your allies in the scene? I know the mighty Dawn Raid like you.
Love those guys!! I would say my three biggest allies are Random Movement, Dave Owen, and Zere. I also work with Bryan Gee over at V/Chronic/Liquid V. Huge shouts to him as he has really taken a chance on me and continues to sign and release my music. Another legend in the game!!
Thanks Jaybee: any shouts as we await the Dirt Magirt?
Bigup Randall for his continued support. That goes for Bryan Gee as well. Huge shouts to everyone that buy and support my music. Without them I would not be here. Shouts to all the DJs that constantly support my music. Waaaaaay too many to name. Most of all thank you to my family who have never stopped supporting my horrible career choice ha ha ha ha.