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The Basics: Ray Mang

London's dubby disco don Ray Mang aka Raj Gupta or maybe even better known as one third of Nuphonic's Block 16 project together with Pete Z and Glen Gunner has found a new haven for his solo work at the belgian Eskimo label. His first outing is an album filled with previously released but now hard to find tracks with a little help from some friends as Leo Young and Dan Idjut. Working on upcoming Block 16 bits & remixes for Zero 7, Akwaaba and Wes Philips he still found the time to walk with us through the basics of being Mangled.

Tekst: Johan Vrancken

Publicatiedatum: 06 april 2002

Name:
"Raj Gupta"

Where are you from?
"Cambridge"

Where do you live?
"London"

If you could live anywhere else, where would it be?
"Somewhere where the sun shines a bit more. By the sea would be nice. Perhaps Brazil."

First record:
"Gloria Gaynor 'I Will Survive' 7" was the first one I bought myself!"

What kind of music did you listen to when you were growing up?
"Mostly pop mixed with a bit of jazz and Indian classical 'til I was 13; then a lot more . . ."

What kind of music do you listen to now, when you're not on the job?
"Pretty much anything, but a lot of funk, disco, afro, jazz, latin, soul, reggae, easy-listening, leftfield, house, R&B, rock, hip-hop . . ."

What instrument(s) do you play?
"Drums, percussion, keyboards, machines, samplers, computers . . ."

How long have you been playing?
"Drums since I was 13, but I don't play so much now; and the rest for about ten years."

Favourite album:
"My favourite album today is Johnny Frigo - 'Afro-Jazz-Dance' LP."

Favourite musicians/musical groups/DJs:
"Herbie Hancock, Sly & Robbie, Neville Brothers, Eddy Grant, Billy Cobham, Sabu Martinez, Tito Puente, Ashford & Simpson . . . The Meters, Salsoul Orchestra, EWF, Temptations, Niagara, Headhunters . . . Maurice Fulton, Harvey, Gilles Peterson, Idjuts, Una Bombers, Nick The Record, Jerry Rooney, Dave Mancuso, Danny Wang, Phil Mison . . ."

Worst job you've ever had:
"Washing up."

Guilty musical pleasure:
"Level 42."

Best/Worst/Most Embarrassing club/DJ story:
"Can't think now, sorry!"

Five essential records:
"The Meters - 'Rejuvenation'
Herbie Hancock - 'Head Hunters'
Fela Kuti and Africa 70 - 'Zombie'
Stevie Wonder - 'Songs In The Key Of Life'
Yellow Sunshine - 'Yellow Sunshine'"

Where do you get your musical inspiration from?
"If you haven't worked that out by now I ain't gonna tell you!"

Favourite place to play/DJ and why:
"Any midsize/smaller venue with a low ceiling and good sound. Party vibe!"

Favourite club/bar and why:
"Lux in Lisbon. Great place, people and setting (when I went)."

The moment you knew your music was much more than just a hobby:
"When it started to pay the bills."

What do you miss most about home when you're travelling to gigs?
"My Bed."

Best part of your job:
"The people I meet and getting paid for doing what I enjoy."

Worst part of your job:
"When I have to be businesslike."

What keeps you going? What makes you continue with music?
"Working with new and interesting people; trying to improve and expand; exploring new areas and new equipment."

What were you doing five years ago?
"Making music."

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
"If I knew that, life would be boring!"

http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/ray-mang/the-basics-ray-mang/1448/
Meer Ray Mang op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/ray-mang