The following interview was done by our new member Andrea Beamish, who is well known from her interviews featured on the infamous undergroundhouse.com Web site. We are delighted to have her in our consortium, and we are honored to be able to add her flavor to the UF site. Her first article is an interview with Peter Bosco from Toronto, Canada, who runs the excellent Garagemusic Web site at http://listen.to/garagehousemusic besides being a superb DJ.

The DJ Consortium
June 1999

The following interview was conducted by Andrea Beamish on 06/03/99:

Well Hello Peter, thank you for taking the time to talk to me on behalf of Underground Files.

My pleasure Andrea, as always. Thank you and the Underground Files for interviewing me.

You are a dedicated Garage House DJ, what inspired you to become a DJ?

Going to clubs at a young age of 16 and watching this DJ (in particular Matt C, local Toronto DJ) move hundreds of people to his music was really what got me into it DJ wise. I just loved the crowd reaction.

Has it always been Garage?

Well, it was really Dance Music first. In 92 or so I started with House Music listening to a local radio show called 'The Rhythm Method' hosted by my idol Toronto legend Mitch Winthrop. It was that particular show that steered me in the 'Garage' direction as he played all vocals and soul, truly an inspiration as I still have about 60 tapes or so of the show.

Would you say Garage is the deepest you can go in House music?

I think it's the genre that is most true to House Music. I mean to me personally, there is no feeling or meaning in listening to hard house, tech house, speed garage, progressive or any other 'imitations' as I like to call them of House Music.

It seems to me as if there is a very thin line between deep house and garage. I think that is what I like about it. Do you disagree?

Many people like to refer Deep House and Garage as the same style of music. For instance I see all over the Internet people in the U.S. call Garage 'Deep House.' In New York the term Garage is not really used much, instead they use the term 'Deep House' to refer to vocal, soulful House Music. Yet here in Toronto we call vocal, soulful House Music 'Garage.' Strange but it's all good, yet a bit confusing.

Can you give us a little history of Garage house music? Where did Garage originate?

Garage to me is an offspring of Disco. It originated in New York City at a club called 'The Paradise Garage' in 1976. The DJ at this club was the legendary Larry Levan (RIP). Garage Music that was played there was not the same as Garage Music we call nowadays. I personally can only tell you what I've read stories about people that experienced it live. Garage at 'The Paradise Garage' was a mixture of any type of music, you name it. Rolling Stones, punk, disco, jazz whatever Larry Levan felt like playing he played. Today (I don't know how) Garage is vocal, soulful House Music.

Who was the first Garage DJ? Who are some of the Garage house DJ's who carry on the Garage movement?

As I finished saying Garage to me is vocal, soulful House Music, therefore the first Garage DJ that I heard or knew of was Frankie Knuckles. Today DJ's such as Tony Humphries, Louie Vega, Louis Benedetti, Victor Simonelli, Lenny Fontana, Kerri Chandler, Frankie Knuckles, Paul Anderson, Bobbi & Steve, Dino & Terry and countless others continue to shine the light...

How has Garage changed from the time you started spinning?

I think it's a bit harder, more instrumental too. There aren't as many gospel records coming out either. A lot of records in 94, 95, 96 had vocalists 'praising the lord' so to speak, that isn't a message in songs today, at least not enough of it.

Don't you think Steve 'Silk' Hurley has been diligent in bringing back the gospel to Garage? With his 'Nobody Else' by CeCe Peniston, 'The Word is Love' by Voices of Life and the newest "He loves me" you feel the great spiritual power. Isn't spirituality the basis of Garage?

I don't think Steve Hurley utilizes the "gospel" sound I'm talking about. I mean the songs you mentioned are good and I do play all 3 but they are more r&b oriented songs with CeCe Peniston and Sharon Pass on vocals. But yes that side of House Music is growing bigger than ever, the r&b crossover to House Music is the big thing right now next to the French House Sound.

What are the best Garage house music labels?

Let's see - The big 3 right now are Yellorange, Soulshine, Sub Urban.

Who are your Garage mentors?

The man Tony Humphries, Louis Benedetti, Tommy Musto, Louie Vega.

What are your 3 favorite choons at the moment?

At the moment (June 3 1999) 'What A Surprise" (Frankie Feliciano Vocal Mix) by Cooly's Hot Box, 'You Worry Too Much" by Urban Babies, "He Is The Joy" by Donna Allen.

I've heard some of your mixes and they are superb. I consider you to be a "mastermixer." How do you beat mix so well?

I don't consider myself to be a 'mastermixer' but I strive on beat mixing and tight mixing. I also know my music very well, which makes it easier on me when I'm mixing. It's just a feeling, when you mix for some 4 years for countless hours you catch beats faster and with more ease, it comes naturally I guess.

I've always considered Garage as being very underground. The "After-hours" vibe seems to favor keeping it there, would you agree? We need to keep the underground thriving, but do you favor commercial success to keep the Garage movement growing?

I really don't mind commercial success of certain tunes. I mean it makes the producers, artist, remixer and label money, in turn this should let the artist and producer come back with another hot tune. Underground is nice, I do prefer the 'after-hours' to the club scene but some success is necessary to keep the music alive.

You've dedicated your love of Garage music in a superb web site @ http://listen.to/garagehousemusic. I've noticed that you have some of the top Garage DJ's on your site. Do you actively seek them out or do they come to you?

Well, thank you for your kind compliments regarding the site Andrea. I do actively seek them out, I want the site to be known as a 'shrine' to my favorite DJ's. It's unique in a way where all these big boys have sets that people can hear 24/7, it's very exciting to be able to run a web site with such a caliber of DJ's.

Since I've come to know more Garage style tracks, I am really loving it. The soulful power radiates deeply into you... I must thank you and other Garage music devotees for the beautiful spirit you bring.

You're too kind. I hear a whole bunch of free tapes dropping in someone's mailbox - hahahaha

Can you give some words of inspiration to those DJ's who are just starting out.

Yes. The most important thing as a DJ 'learn your craft.' Know your music, study it. Be into one genre, don't go crazy and start playing everything in a set, that's tiresome and has no appeal.

Thank you SO much. I wish you the Stars.

Thank YOU for having me.

Andrea Beamish
StarMonkey Productions
June 1999