After returning recently from a solid stint of working the London nightclub scene, ITM was fortunate enough to catch up with dance music veteran Jack McCord to find out what house music means to him. The DJ/producer was chosen to mix the most recent installment of the Hed Kandi series Disco Heaven, and it’s a sterling example of what jack is all about – smashing tunes and dancefloor fillers.
“People get bored, human nature will always look for something new and different, but ultimately return to what they know and love best. It’s all about the house music, and it always will be.” ITM finds out what house music means to Jack McCord.
You joined Hed Kandi in 2003 and gatecrashed the international circuit, touring throughout Europea. Your first smash production and release Real Love hit the club charts. Was this the first major highlight of your career?
It was definitely the biggest highlight up to that point, but in any career there are going to be lots of exciting developments to enjoy along the way. I mean, I was equally as excited about buying my first mixer, the first time I mixed two records, learning to scratch, filling my first record box, booking my first ever gig… And that all happened back in the 80s!
How did you originally get into DJing and who were your major influences at that time?
I was always into music. I played sax with a ska band called the Allniters and from that I developed a love for reggae and from that got a vibe for dub and hip hop, which were the first forms of music really driven and produced by club DJs. That was happening overseas but my major influences were the people immediately around me at the time, Sydney DJs like Kosta Ellis, Scott Pullen, Mark Walton and Tim Ritchie. I was also sharing a house with Johnny Gleeson at the time and we both started to DJ the same week. Swapping tips, playing each other’s tunes and generally getting crazy together. Good times.
Production wise, you have had eight major releases including the massive Ibiza hit Feels So Good. Stonebridge, Ian Carey and Cabin Crew also worked on remixing your slamming house tunes. What can we expect from you in terms of future production work?
I’m not so sure about the ‘major’ factor but I’ve managed to release a few decent tunes over the years. The plan for the immediate future is to step things up a gear and keep releasing more and more music of better and better quality. My goal, as always, is to reach and hopefully fulfill my maximum potential as an artist and also as a person.
Other major artists such as ATFC, Jungle Brothers, Sunset Strippers and Peyton are added to your list of remixes which include Lovin You. How does it feel to be able to remix some of the best house producers of the time?
It really is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to create a career in music, which is the passion of my life. Working with these talented artists has been a real honour and just as importantly it’s also been great fun. I’ve made a lot of friends in music and I’m happy to include some major talents like Peyton, Stonebridge and Jungle Brothers among them. Makes studio time a lot more enjoyable too!
You returned back from London last year after many years. Where do you see your long term focus to be now coming back home? More travels?
I feel like I’m back home now and definitely plan to stay in Australia, although I wouldn’t mind going to live in Melbourne for a while at some point. I still enjoy traveling every now and then so hopefully they’ll keep booking me overseas… Hint hint Ibiza !
The dance music industry can be tough at times to say the least. Can you tell us about the most difficult time in your career and achieving success?
Good question. Moving to London the second time just a few years back was actually the biggest challenge of my career. Big changes were underway at Hed Kandi after the Ministry of Sound takeover. I went from being some kind of well-known guy in Sydney to having to prove myself all over again on a very competitive world stage. It wasn’t easy and took some time but, as always, the way forward is to be yourself. I stayed positive, was genuine with everybody, enjoyed myself and made the most of every opportunity. Most importantly I smashed it up at every gig I played so ultimately the promoters saved me because they kept insisting on booking me again and again.
Seems as though you have a studio set up from home. What equipment do you use and when do you do most of your production work generally?
I have a bit of a studio in my spare bedroom. The three most important components in my studio are imagination, dedication and good ears. Technology-wise, I use Logic Pro as my main production program plus some NI soft synths, the excellent UAD-1 plug-ins among others and the best monitor speakers I can afford.
You seem to have formed a strong bond with Peyton who has an amazing vocal sound. How did this bond originally form and will you be working together more in the future?
Sorry to disappoint anybody expecting some kind of long-distance homo-erotic love story. I met Peyton through Hed Kandi when he came to Australia on tour about 4 years ago. We hit it off straight away and he stayed an extra month at mine. He’s my big gay brother… how could anybody not love him ? We don’t tour so much now that I’m back in Sydney but we’ll catch up in Ibiza in August then he’ll be coming back to stay with me next summer for a few months so we’ll hit the studio then and tear it up on tour.
It’s been a while since you have returned to little old Adelaide! You’ve had many rockin’ nights under the Hed Kandi banner. Any plans to return, and what Australian gigs have you got coming up?
I know! And I love little old Adelaide! Good news is Hed Kandi is just about to kick off a new monthly residency at Vodka Bar, first Friday of every month starting August 1st. I’m away in Europe for the first couple but I’ll be there on October 3rd.
Where do you see the future of house music? Do you feel electro is minimising and solid house vocals returning?
House music isn’t going to fade away, it will always continue to develop and evolve through many different influences and flavours, both new and old. ‘Electronic Dance Music’ has gone through disco, new wave, hip house, electro, techno, progressive, trance, breaks, euro, afro-beat, minimal, maximal, techtonic old skool decaf orange mocha frappacino and still come back to ‘house’. People get bored, human nature will always look for something new and different, but ultimately return to what they know and love best. It’s all about the house music, and it always will be.
Jack McCord’s new compilation Hed Kandi: Disco Heaven is out now through Ministry of Sound/Universal.
