Catching up with Ethyl (Secretsundaze / Tsuba)...

"Hailing from the leafy home counties and connecting with music at a young age, Tim Hopgood AKA Ethyl, displays a musical knowledge and affinity for the groove far beyond his 25 years. Like many of today’s finest, while constantly looking forward, he has one eye placed firmly on the retrospective..." So his biography goes!!

Prior to his appearance at CLUB MO this Friday, we thought we would send over a few questions to the man called Ethyl... We discuss his favourite producers, how his DJing style has developed and the joys of ending up on the Secretsundaze agency. Oh, and how his MO growing is coming along. Enjoy!


How’s it going? What has been going on in the world of Ethyl recently?

It's going really well thanks. I've been the busiest I've ever been recently and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself.

I’ve known you since some of your first outings on the DJ circuit… How do you feel your style has changed over the years?

"Some of"??? You gave me my first set in the capital all those years ago. A lot has changed since then! You've got a kid and I've got a bad back but I feel I still look for the same things in the music I play. Obviously the content is different, I was younger then but I think the same things still turn me on.

You’ve managed to release your records on such labels as Tsuba, Cecille, Freerange, Quintessentials, Secretsundaze… How does it feel to have your music released on such respected labels?

It obviously feels great to know that people whose opinions matter to me have enough faith in what I do to support it with their reputations as well as their pockets. A lot of people are very keen to get their music out. Arguably before it's 'ripened', so pop up labels make it easy for people to do that. This isn't a bad thing, it's less cliquey but it can mean the quality control drops.

Talking about secretsundaze, you’re signed up to their secret agency. How did that come about? It feels like a perfect match for you, as you seem to share much of the same ideals when it comes to music… Do you feel at home there?

It all came about at the same time as discussions about the label happened. I was sending music to James and Giles and they were talking about the reformed singles label as well as the agency. It works great for me; I'm among people I hold in high esteem and it means I can concentrate on the things I enjoy doing. Since the guys have been doing this for so long, the longevity to what they do is apparent and that's important because I've got no back up plan.

What producers are rocking your world at the moment? Anyone that is not getting the attention you think they deserve?

It's inevitable that the most noise doesn't tend to be around the best producers so there are a lot of people that fall into this category. They are lauded in certain circles but I don't think they get the reverence warranted. Off the top of my head; 7 Citizens, STL, John Heckle, BLM, Kassem Mosse, Vakula and this guy I happened across on soundcloud, William Gebert. But probably my standout producer at the moment is XDB, that guy can do no wrong!

Lastly, many of the DJs and people turning up to Club Mo have donated their top lip for the month of November to growing a moustache in support of The Prostate Cancer Charity… How is your Mo coming along?

It's laughable and rat like and I'm sure I'm allergic to it!

Club Mo - Facebook Event Page

Further info on Ethyl:

Ethyl Facebook Page - Click HERE

Ethyl Soundcloud Page - Click Here

Ethyl - Realism Podcast 001 by ethylmusic

Selected Discography
Ethyl & Huxley - Slims [Tsuba]
Ethyl & Flori - Coney Island Boppers [House Is The Cure]
Ethyl & Huxley - Reflexions [Tsuba]
Ethyl & Huxley - SK Jr. [Development]
Ethyl & Flori - Paisley Riffs [Quintessentials]
Ethyl & Flori - The Trimley EP [Freerange Records]
Ethyl & Huxley - The White EP [Tsuba Colours]
Ethyl & Huxley - The Sassanids EP [Cécille Numbers]

Leif - Priority (Ethyl & Flori Remix) [Fear Of Flying]
Ethyl & Huxley - Mother Tongue (Ethyl's Dry White Edit) [Tsuba]
James Johnston - You're Still The Same (Ethyl's Wheezy Garage Mix) [Kolour Recordings]
Ethyl & Huxley - Byzantine (Ethyl's 2YC Mix) [Cécille Records]

Forthcoming
Ethyl & Flori - Secretsundaze EP
Ethyl & Flori - Quintessentials EP
Ethyl - Vitalik EP

Meeting Elijah "Jnr J" Collins before his headline set at CLUB MO...

How’s it going? What should I be calling you these days? Jnr J or Elijah?

Good question, I’m now at the point where I don’t know who to introduce my self as... I’ve got 5 names on my passport, so I’ll use a different one for each project, so lets go with Elijah.

You say in your biography that Elijah manifested himself in the summer of 2010 and that infamous London underground party Lo*Kee is to blame… Tell us more?

For a long while I got really bored with music. The long minimal summer lasted about two years too long. Techno was cool for a while but I got bored, then after that tech house sounded like it was sponsored by fair trade companies. At first I really enjoyed the ethnic vocals but it got to a point where every party was like watching a movie in an unknown language without subtitles. I can’t play what I don’t like, so as I couldn’t find anything, I just stopped.

I’ll always love to dance so I retreated to underground club nights that hardly anyone knew about which lead me to Lo*kee. It’s one of those parties that were started by promoters who are are in it for the right reasons, who have stuck to their convictions and have an amazing ear for diverse underground sounds and past music. It got me excited and always made me want to go home and make music after.

I always liked your DJ style and productions under your Jnr J name. How have you changed under the new moniker?

Where as Jnr J was a DJ project, I’ve started Elijah as a producer project. I’m having a lot of fun writing music and even more fun seeing it work on the dance floor. I’ve started to learn the bass and keys, so that I can enhance my productions. DJ wise, I feel I have more freedom than before to play exactly what I want as nobody has any expectations of Elijah. It’s an awesome feeling of total freedom.


You already have a couple of successful releases as Elijah Collins on Mullet Records, alongside your friends Nist and Tee-J, but what direction do you plan on taking your new sound?

I’ll pretty much do anything I’m feeling. At the moment I’m diggin the Nu Disco sound but I’m already seeing that I won’t be into this for ever. For the winter I’m working on a couple of deep disco bits to keep you all warm. I’m making what I feel is right for me so am working on stuff with a range of influences such as rare groove, deep house and even miami bass. I’m just going to do what makes me want to dance. I’ve also started writing more in tune with my emotions and using music as a way of expressing what I can’t put into words.

I’ve heard some of your solo material on Soundcloud, "8 minutes of rude" a particular favourite! In fact, I described it as if it was made for the follow up to the Tron Legacy movie. Are there plans for releasing that track and the others? Have any labels shown interest in them?

Cheers fella. I’ve just sent "8 mins" of to a vocalist who I’ve worked with in the past. After this we’re going to sit down together and come up with some colabs which I’m really excited about. I also have some other bits signed which are awaiting release. So far, so good.


You’ve also had a lot of support from a certain Vito De Luca from Aeroplane (one of my biggest influences of the past few years for sure). How does that feel?

To get support from people like Aeroplane and Mullet recordings is truly amazing! It’s like when you’re at school and the big children give you a nod. It helps to confirm that your on the right track. I’ve also been getting love from people who I started on the scene with, like yourself, Eric Volta, the guys at Lower East and my newly appointed Get Diverted residency. It's really amazing to feel the love from your peers and to see everybody moving forward in their goals.


And you got to warm up for him at a recent Get Diverted gig, where he dropped your track, Love’s Down. How was that? The videos of the moment online look wicked!!

Watch the video I made. I lost the plot when he played it and broke out into full vocal... Watching the video back made me realise that I can’t sing. I sound like a cat in a washing machine! It was one of the best moments of my career and the fact that it was one of the biggest tunes of his set made it all sweeter. I was buzzing for weeks.

Lastly, you’re playing a b2b set with Tee-J for our charity event, Club Mo. What can people expect from your set? And have you been growing your Mo?

Tee-J and I have very similar backgrounds and influences, we both grew up with mothers who used to rinse music and we probably both have gotten a beating for scratching mum’s 5 Star ep... Or that may have just been me.

It’s gonna be like soul train 2011 or like watching a blaxplotation movie. There will be so much funk that it’s gonna pimp slap anyone close enough!

East Project joins forces with Diasco... And goes all charitable!!

So, it's been a while since i like put a post up on here... What have we been up to then? Arranging our next event is what!!

That's right!! We've only gone and joined forces with the Diasco boys and got some extra help and support from the guys at www.clubbillboard.com and www.davecshaw.com to put on the mother of all charity parties...

Celebrating the month of Movember with a massive get together on Friday 25th November at The Apples & Pears Bar in London (with the money taken on the door being donated to The Prostate Cancer Charity).

A number of the DJs and guys coming to the event have also decided to take part in Movember and grow a Mo in support of the charity... If anyone would like to donate, you can do so here:

CLUB MO - http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1378608/
or
DIASCMO - http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1388160/

In preparation for what is sure to be a great night of House, Disco, Tech and Funk music, we thought it would be good a idea to share a mix from some of the DJs playing...

Ethyl:
Ethyl - Realism Podcast 001 by ethylmusic

Elijah Collins:
Jnr J presents Elijah Collins mixtape apr2011 by ElijahCollins

Tee-J:
Balls Out Funk! (Discofunk Vol 5) by Tee-J

Johnny Mikes:
Johnny Mikes East Project podcast by Johnny Mikes

James Clayton:
J Clayton - DiASCO June Mix by James Clayton

Dan James:
DiASCO aug mix by Dan James by dan james

Maxworthy:
Summer Worthy Sounds by MaxWorthy by East Project

Rich Wills:
Rich Wills - This Is Spring Mix by Rich Wills

Disko Trooper:
Disko Trooper - In The House by Disko Trooper


Enjoy!!