Re: Made Inn Radio Show On www.justmusic.fm
Leigh Morgan From Urbantorque In Made Inn Radio Show on the 14-th of january 2007
Interwiev With Leigh Morgan
MadeInn: Which was your first met with the electronic music?
Leigh Morgan: My first exposure to electronic music, other than 80's pop, was really in the late 80's when acid started to flare up. I wasn't massively in to it then, I was more in the 'Manchester' sound, with bands such as the Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, and New Order, being young I didn't know that all these bands were intrinsically linked to acid house and early club culture.
MadeInn: What did U learn at the University in Liverpool?
Leigh Morgan: I studied Sports Science at University, my main aim was to become a physiotherapist. Very early on I ended up going to Cream, having never experienced a proper club before it was a bit of an eye opener to say the least. This was when I really fell in love with house music and when I bought my first decks, an old pair of belt drive decks, which were a nightmare to learn to DJ on, but if you can DJ with them, you can DJ on anything!
MadeInn: Why did U choose even so the musician carrier?
Leigh Morgan: I chose to get in the music business really after coming out of university and completely changing my mind and what I wanted to do, I always loved music, but never thought about making a career in it. So after university, 3 years of seeing live music, band, clubs etc I knew I had to work in the industry.
MadeInn: Where did U play at first in your life?
Leigh Morgan: My first ever gig was at a student house party in Liverpool, we hired a rig stuck it in the front room, and a few of us played some tunes, even though their weren't that many people there it was really never racking!
MadeInn: U have a lot of to do todays. How many things are U doing simultaneously now? Please, tell me about these! (DJing, Urbantorque, Promoting & Producing, download store, etc)
Leigh Morgan: Mainly running the label takes up most of our time, we don't generally promote club nights any more as we used to, we general now get booked to play rather than promoting the nights ourselves. DJing comes next, and producing a distant third at the moment, due to time restrictions.
MadeInn: How can U make so much things together?
Leigh Morgan: All about organization! Once who have a label set up and running, a lot of admin is involved in running a label, so you need to be organized to make sure you have systems in place, or you'll end up losing money!
MadeInn: How do U feel: have U enough time for DJing?
Leigh Morgan: I haven't had the time for the past 4 years or so, before that I was pretty much DJing every weekend, Fridays and Saturdays, however with the pressures of work I ended up spending less and less time on that side of things, so I let if drift. Over the past year however, I have been doing lots of gigs again, and I am really enjoying Djing again and getting a good response. I have the time to prepare more now and really get to know my records again.
MadeInn: How and with who did U started the Urbantorque Rec.?
Leigh Morgan: Urbantorque was founded by Jason Moore, former resident DJ with Journeys By DJ as the club, then after a while we decided to work together on setting up the label.
MadeInn: Urbantorque is a clubnight?s name too. What is the contact between the label and the party?
Leigh Morgan: Urbantorque was originally started as a club night at Heaven in London, back in 1998, a weekly party on London on Fridays. We had residents Jaun Atkins, Trevor Rockcliffe, Colin Dale, and guest such as Dave Clarke, Justin Robertson etc. On the middle floor we had rotating residents of Wiggle, Tyrant and Friction. The night only lasted around a year due to politics within the club. The label we actually started a few years later in 2001, when we really wanted a creative outlet for all the great music we were hearing.
MadeInn: What?s up with your The Askesian Society project?
Leigh Morgan: I started that up with a good friend of mine Patrick McCourt. We have only really done a handful of projects, but what we have done seems to have done alright so far!
MadeInn: U chose a very interesting name for this project... Why just this?
Leigh Morgan: The Askesian Society was a debating club for scientific free thinkers, which was set up in 1796 in London. We liked the idea of what they did, and the name of course. rumour has it they were the first bunch of people to take laughing gas for 'recreational' purposes
MadeInn: Do you have any other studio projects under way at this time? (out of Society)
Leigh Morgan: Always tinkering with ideas, but production is probably the thing I have the least amount of time for, I certainly do intend to get some new tracks done, but who knows when!
MadeInn: Which styles do U prefer nowadays?
Leigh Morgan: From a DJing point of view, I like all things with a deep electronic flavour, mainly house and techno, from a personal perspective, it doesn't matter what it is, just as long as it's good!
MadeInn: Have you seen a DJ or Band recently which has left an impression? If so who and why?
Leigh Morgan: I saw Primal Scream just before Christmas at Brixton academy, and while they are not bringing anything particularly new to the table, they are just a great band whom I grew up with, and I love their music, and they are still amazing live. DJ wise, the best set I have heard this year was from Funk D'Void at our party at ADE last year, he played a deep set early on, then rocked the place with his own brand of techno, ace.
MadeInn: How was the last year for U?
Leigh Morgan: Last year was a good building year, from the labels point of view we upped our release schedule, started doing parties again, and just signing great music. Obviously highlights such as Francois DuBois 'Blood' still stand out, and I'll be playing that record for ever more!
MadeInn: U will play soon at Justmusic.fm, in Made Inn Radio Show. How could U describe and propose your set?
Leigh Morgan: Deep, atmospheric and hypnotic, which is how I like to play when I am DJing out. I have always been in to emotional music with melody, not just bleeps and beats!
MadeInn: And how could U close this interview?
Leigh Morgan: Well just to say I hope you guys enjoy the music, be great to Dj over there soon!