DJ Charma
Prolific Recordings / Vybe FM - London, UK
Over the past several years, Charma has quickly become one of the leading forces behind the decks pushing the Bumpy 4x4 and Vocal 2-Step sounds in Garage. In fact, he was so persistant about getting exclusives and forthcoming material for his VybeFM pirate radio show, MJ Cole brought him onto his Prolific Recordings roster and made him a resident at their monthly club night. He has also taken the sounds of UKG far and wide with him to places like Russia, Zurich, Germany and Copenhagen.
SoulChampion’s G Notorious caught up with Charma to find out just what drives him, how he got here and where he thinks it's all going...
GN - You've been busy recently. Give us a brief run down of whats been going down in Charma's world..
DC - The roller coaster is in full swing! In the last six months I've started my own joint record label, put out a mix compilation, joined another label, promoted an event, organised remixes, distributed records, and have clocked up a large number of air miles! Its not all been an easy ride, nor all glamourous, but its been needed and the next six months will be even busier.
GN - Where are you from originally? What’s your musical background?
DC - Having lived in Florida for 10 years as a kid, I was exposed to all kinds of music from all that jazz my dad used to play me on his vinyl, to flicking through MTV and BET for my first taste of the "urban" (in between catching a Phins game in Miami!). Musically the hooks, melodies, and soul in everything from Miles Davis to Fleetwood Mac to Soul2Soul, formed part of all the elements I love in music. That's where the connection started. 
GN - How did you first get into DJing. Did you play other styles before UKG or was that what made you want to DJ?
DC - I bought a pair of decks in 2000 inspired by the energy and emotion I experienced in club land, and from listening to tape packs until they were worn out. I taught myself whilst at Uni, no other genre prior to UKG - it was always the garage vibes through and through. It was the likes of EZ, The Dreem Teem, and Mike Ruffcut Lloyd who were in their prime and inspired so many... and I was just one who of those inspired folk!
GN - Your Radio show seems to be outlet of your work today. Explain its concept.
DC - The radio show has always been the basis of what I do. From my first ever show on Vybe FM I've always tried to be different and to follow what I've always personally loved about radio - hearing a track and thinking "Wow! What's this?" for the first time. When I first started in 2003 there wasn't much new UKG that excited me but I hassled the hell out of everyone to send me their stuff and offered a hosting angle in an another attempt to do something on pirate radio. I recorded every show and still have the first show copy - in less than 2 months the show was full 2 hours of fresh UKG and just carried on gathering pace helped by an upload of the shows on the web. The web site is the hub of the show and uploading them for playback is as important to me as turning up in the first place. The concept of offering something different through new tracks and being a "host" carries to today.
GN - From starting as a DJ in 2000 briefly describe some of those memorable moments and how they came about.
DC - In less than a year on radio I was brought over by a group of UKG promoters in Russia, before hitting places such as Zurich, Germany, and Copenhagen soon after. Traveling abroad and spreading the sound is something special and there isn't much that compares to it in this game. Finishing runner-up as Best Newcomer DJ in 2004 and having the highest placed pirate show at the UKG Awards were also right up there. Those and the 2 trips to Russia and Copenhagen have been special.
GN - How did you get involved with Prolific. How are things going there?
DC - You'll have to ask MJ how exactly it happened but I think he just got fed up with the amount of times I went to the studio and talked for ages about his latest tracks! Now I'm involved its all business and coming up with ideas on how to hit the street through releases, the Club Night, and spotting talent for the label. The first project I'm involved in is the release of 'Watertight' where we wanted to bring together a series of remixes for a release of a double package later this summer. There is so much to come from Matt and the label, and we've got the talent on board to carry on being at the forefront of the vocal side of UKG. We will soon be releasing a compilation in Japan which is likely to be supported by 2 tour dates later this year. My baby at the moment though is the Club Night at Herbal in London which is moving to a Friday in the near future. There are some awesome lineups coming up! Check WWW.PROLIFICRECORDINGS.COM for the latest.
GN - Where do you think Garage is going? It seems like 4x4 has pushed along through the tough times and re-established some credibility for itself with the general public in the UK, do you see that carrying back into 2-Step?
DC - I've said it before and it still stands - there is still a long way to go. You mention the general public which really is the key and the answer to re-establishing itself. Had you asked me in 2003, I would have told you we needed to get it right amongst the underground first. We've done that now through raising the quality level in productions, pushing the new and established events, and encouraging the music of today to be heard. I'd be lying if I told you everyday I feel upbeat about it all. Everyone I know involved in this goes through ups and downs and we all take inspiration off each others achievements to carry us through. Call it 4/4 or 2-Step - I like to call it Vocal UKG and I think everyone involved would agree that one of the best feelings is seeing the general public recognize a recent track. Radio has done that, likewise the emergence of "hubs" in various different cities in the UK (particularly the North of England). This is supported by the continued comeback of Old School where there is the advantage of nearly everyone recognizing the successes from yesteryear. Its almost like a double headed sword attacking the general public in the name of UKG - and we're moving quicker now than at any point over the last few years.
GN - Do you still see 4x4/2-Step and Grime as parts of the same scene or has it split completely?
DC - The famous question that gets the same answer from me every time. I said at the top of the interview that its the various elements of UKG that I love from vocals, to the melodies, to the basslines, to the skippy beats. They all form part of what I still see as bringing together parts of RnB, Drum and Bass, Jazz, Blues and Hip-Hop. 4/4, 2-Step, and Grime do that in their own ways - but for me 4/4 and 2-Step have more of the key ingredients that I personally look for - notably vocal hooks, bumpy beats, soulful melodies, and warm basslines. Naturally as they are different they have gone off in their own ways but I don't see it as a complete split. Groups like Scandalous Unlimited and J-Sweet have captured both markets in their tracks, and with a continued emergence of vocal hooks in Grime the scene will move closer. As always, there is a good music and bad music and the rule still applies - keep those key ingredients I mentioned and and you're on a winner.
GN - What producers and tunes are you feeling right now? Who are your all time favorites?
DC - Matt Cole is my first answer to both of those. 'Sincere' is my all time favourite track in UKG and I've heard what MJ has in store in the coming months and it only reminds me why I got involved in this in the first place. Wookie's latest tracks have been heaven sent - he's found his own sound again and I'm loving the soul he's managed to bring out in his music recently. Delinquent have had an awesome twelve months and provide inspiration for showing how much hard work can reap rewards. Scandalous Unlimited, Misty Dubs and One Dark Martian form part of the True Tiger wave of one firing release after the next. The Wideboys, I have so much time for, in the same way as the international boys Artifact, Proton, and CJ Reign. Qualifide and Duncan Powell continue to deliver, as do Agent X, Riplash and Sus, and R Kane Domino with some awesome basslines. Will Phillips is coming through on a purist tip, likewise Scott Tonik and Charlie Sezz. The talent is so exciting right now.
GN - Vinyl vs. Digital? How do you think people will buy and play music in say, 5 years, 10 years, etc?
DC - I've spent a lot of money recently on gadgets for my house and each time I've purchased my mind has wandered at the possibilities of what is currently on the shelves out there. Take memory sticks for example - short of getting the detail right, what stops us putting hundreds of tracks on them and using them in our DJ sets? The subject becomes a hotter subject by the week, illustrated most by the number of DJ's I see playing out on CD's, both for club and on radio. I personally love vinyl and always will, but I do feel those who are strict on sticking to vinyl for the sake feeling "it was always like that" are being left behind. On the other hand one of the small delights of being a DJ is carrying a bag full of your own records into a gig! At the moment I am in the middle but you can't fight off or neglect what is happening out there. Music sales will move with it and just like any other product there will be more opportunities.
GN - Do you ever aspire to write music as well or would you prefer to stay on the DJing side of things?
DC - The thought of producing realistically goes through my head about once a month. Between time, I don't have the time to sit down and learn. At the time of writing I wouldn't know where to start and something else would have to give to do it right and properly. It wont be happening in the near future.
GN - What do the next six months have in store in Charma's world?
DC - The journey on Prolific has just begun so look out for some firing releases in the pipeline and some more awesome lineups with the Club Night. Stereohype Recordings will be launching its 2nd release in the coming months, and after the popularity of the recent "Rumours" mix compilation, look out for another similar concept soon. In the coming months I'm due to head back to Germany and Russia, as well as bookings in Prague in September and Bulgaria soon after. The rest of what will unfold in the next six months is a mystery to myself as much as anyone else!
GN - Any shout outs?
DC - Everyone at Vybe and Manic FM - big up as always. All the producers I've already mentioned - without your talents the scene is nothing. Those who have stuck with it and carry on pushing things forward regardless - notably EZ, Matt Jam Lamont, and Martin Larner. The international garage heads developing their own scenes - keep it moving. Everyone else who puts their efforts where their mouth is - big up for having the balls, and finally to some close friends - some who have been there from the start, and those I've met recently who are now in it forever! You know who you are. Thanks for the support.
Further Information:
DJ Charma:
WWW.DJCHARMA.COM
Prolific Recordings:
WWW.PROLIFICRECORDINGS.COM
Catch Charma On Vybe FM 99.5:
Web Stream: WWW.VYBEFM.COM
ManicFM.com
Saturdays 8 til 10 BST: WWW.MANICFM.COM |
