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 Washington,
DC is the bomb, if you ask me. People are always looking to NYC
and London, but from time to time we all should turn to our own
backyards for some beautiful flowers. That's how I see Step
Ahead Records out of DC, a house label I discovered relatively
late. Actually, to be absolutely honest, it took an e-mail from
somebody who called himself Aou (or Thaneeya
A. Pakdee with his full name) to get my full attention. The
rest is history, and Step Ahead became one of my Top 10 labels
out there.
The reasons for this are simple. For me, Step Ahead represents
the true underground, and during this process released some incredible
records, which can best be heard on DJ Spen's out-of-this-world
mix CD called "Underground Sound Of DC" (Step Ahead SAR001-2).
When I played it for my buddy Theory, he freaked which for me
is always the best confirmation. The mentioned Spen mix features
a series of outstanding songs from Step Ahead's back catalog,
like David Crawford's luscious "Get It Right" or Keith Kennebeck's
slamming "Transitional," besides several tracks from a band
called M.U. Express. I had not heard anything
from these artists, but it soon became clear that Step Ahead's
releases are very well known in the DC area and in the UK.
Step Ahead Records is also a label which refuses to focus on
house music only, but also on acid jazz and other music styles.
Their love for acid jazz can best be heard on Kimani Wilson's
latest album called "Afro Kozmik Soul" (Step Ahead SAR003-2),
which got recently signed to K2. You probably know it, but I still
love acid jazz as an alternative to uptempo house (actually, acid
jazz for me is just downtempo house), and I always appreciate
efforts from labels to keep this music alive, while the original
acid jazz labels slowly disappear from this planet. Especially
when the result turns out to be one of the best AJ albums I've
heard during the last couple of years!
I had a chance to talk to one of the persons behind Step Ahead,
who happens to be also one part of M.U. Express. For more information,
make sure to check out their homepage and Andrea's interview for
undergroundhouse.com at:
www.stepaheadrecords.com
www.undergroundhouse.com/features/aou.cfm
Watch out for Step Ahead, because that's what they are.
DJ MG
July/August 1999
The following interview was conducted by DJ MG on 06/22/99:
First of all, please tell me something about your
person. Where are you born, how old are you and all that.
I was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Now I'm 32 years old.
When and how did you start in the music biz? As
a DJ?
Yes, as a DJ. I started since my college days in Gainesville,
Florida. I was turning 21 and my first job was a resident DJ at
the 'Bar.' Then I moved to SF and landed here in D.C.. With my
business management background, I decided to start my own label
named after a monthly party event called 'Step Ahead.'
When did you really start doing things in the
Washington area?
I moved to DC since '92 and then met up with Ali from Deep Dish,
Eric from Thievery Corporation, Farid from ESL and George Mitchell
from Backbeat Records. They're all doing music and are involved
in DC's club scenes. After the 'Step Ahead' parties started they're
all my guests and George invited me to his studios. Then it all
happened from there ...
So Step Ahead started as a monthly party event.
When did you decide to elevate it to a record label?
I thought it needed the theme ... We did this song called "Theme
From Step Ahead" which until this day isn't released yet. The
label started to support the party and created this intimate vibe
within the D.C. area. There were two acts on the first release
which both were produced by me & George: M.U. Express and the
Indica Groove. Later we licensed it to Mephisto Records and changed
the name to Sound Sessions Massive.
 Who
is running Step Ahead? Is it only you, or are more people involved?
Step Ahead Records is a family thing ... I mean Kimani Wilson,
Emm (my bro), Julius Talvik (Tallinn 77), and myself.
How is the success so far?
I won't describe the label as being a success. It never comes
up to us to do Step Ahead Records for a living. Most of us have
daytime jobs that pay the $$$. We obviously love music, therefore
we do it for love.
You can definitely hear this in your releases.
Please describe the music Step Ahead puts out.
It's very soulful and experimental. We don't focus on big name
artists or remixers, and we're trying not to stay with the same
trend. We're always ahead of our time.
You also release stuff from your own project called
M.U. Express on Step Ahead. When did you start M.U, and how did
you hook up with George Mitchell?
M.U. Express was our first production and release. As I mentioned
earlier, George Mitchell showed up at one of our Step Ahead parties,
that's how we hooked up. I used his studios for most of the M.U.
Express productions.
What does M.U. stand for?
M.U. stands for me & you ... To be honest with you, our friend
from England, Lovely G. aka Gordon Kaye, named it. We didn't know
what to call it as a group ;-)
M.U. Express has some incredible records out,
and I was really wondering why I've never heard of you until I
listened to DJ Spen's mix CD, on which a series of M.U. tracks
is included. Is it because you mainly focus on the D.C. area,
and how is the feedback to your releases here in the States in
general?
Ever since M.U. Express started, most of the local D.C./Baltimore
areas supported the release of "Family Crisis." It went on
DMA acid jazz charted by Chillfreez of Giant Step NYC. When I
went to visit a friend in SF who was then working with Michael
from Mephisto Odysy, they quickly signed "Family Crisis" within
that day I was there. Then we changed the group name to Sound
Sessions Massive. They're mainly promoted in Europe, and you can
find us on URB's, Dorado's, Talkin' Loud's and Mo'Wax's charts.
 So
people in the UK really love M.U. and know much more about you,
right?
Yes, because of the success of Sound Sessions Massive, Defender
grabbed the next release of M.U. Express called "Music Is My Life"
for their "It's A DJ Thing Vol. 3," and "Liquid" for Vol.
6, plus they reissued it as a single by itself. Defender Records
is a strong garage-house label in England. Therefore, the popularity
of M.U. Express was better than in the States.
What can we expect from M.U. Express in the future,
and how about upcoming projects at Step Ahead?
M.U. Express are now focussing on remix projects for labels like
Giant Step, Liquid Sound Lounge, K2, Chilli Funk, Om Town (Virgin
France), etc. and perhaps we're coming up with an album. Our upcoming
projects are Kimani Wilson, Tallinn 77, and Chris Brooks.
You also do a lot of DJing. Do you still remember
your best gig, or the gig which moved you the most?
I think my best gig has to be at 'Red.' That's where we recorded
"Mix Taboo" as Sound Sessions Massive. People were there from
beginning 'til dawn. So far it's the best club in the world -
I think ...
Do you have any goals you would like to achieve
before you retire from the music business?
My goal is to have music that people around the world know as
"this is our sound."
Some final questions. You have released two records
which are in my opinion some of the phattest tracks I've ever
heard: David Crawford's "Get It Right" and Keith Kennebeck's "Transitional."
Please tell me something about these two guys, as I have never
heard of them.
David Crawford died of his health for two years now. He was very
talented and released with Oji & Pope on POJI Records, You Street
Dance, and Renegade. Crawford did several songs with me, like
"Deeper," "Get It Right" and "Stronger Together."
Keith Kennebeck presented his project called "Transitional."
He's from Hamburg, Germany. He debuted several songs with us which
delay for release due to contact and info on those songs. "Transitional"
went to the hands of Deep Dish, D.T., Eddie Amador and more to
break the record. By the way, the version on Spen's mix CD is
my mix ...
Thank you very much for the interview!
Thank you for your support.
Discography:
on Step Ahead Records - Vinyl:
First Step Sampler EP (Sar-001-1/12")
feat. M.U. Express "Family Crisis" b/w Indica Groove "Last Climax"
Second Vibes EP (Sar-002-1/12")
feat. 95 North "Move It Y'all," DCO "If You Want My Love,"
Chamber Of Sound "Turn Dat Music Up" b/w Wayne Wilentz Trio "Pontieo,"
Beatsugar "Snake Monkey," Indica Groove "Blue," and
Cavemen "My Mohagany"
Sound Sessions feat. David Crawford "Get It Right"(Sar-003-1/12")
Afterhour mixes b/w "Deeper"
A.O.U. "Heavy Sessions EP" (Sar-004-1/12")
feat. M.U. Express & Sound Sessions Massive remix
TP/DC "Higher EP" (Sar-005-1/12")
feat. David Crawford
Keith Kennebeck "Transitional EP" (Sar-006-1/12")
feat. A.O.U. & Indica Groove remix
on Step Ahead Records - CDs:
Various Artists "Underground Sound Of DC Vol.1" (Sar001-2)
mixed & compiled by DJ Spen Of Basement Boys
Various Artists "Mix Taboo [Underground Sound Of DC Vol.2]" (Sar002-2)
mixed & compiled By Sound Sessions Massive
Kimani Wilson "Afro Kozmik Soul" (Sar003-2)
on Defender Records (UK):
Various Artists "It's A DJ Thing/Vol.3"
incl. M.U. Express feat. Sam The Man Burns "Music Is My Life"
Various Artists "It's A DJ Thing/Vol.6"
incl. M.U. Express "Liquid" & M.U. Express "Liquid" (re-released)
on K2 Records:
Kimani Wilson "Afro Kozmik Soul EP"(K2 001)
Kimani Wilson "Sunny Jive Groove"(Pound Boys Remixes)
coming soon...
Upcoming CDs:
Tallinn 77 "Homeless" (Sar004-2)
Various Artists "Underground Experience [Underground Sound Of
DC Vol.3]" (Sar005-2)
mixed & compiled by Oji & Pope Of B.I.T.S. Productions
Chris Brooks (Sar006-2)
feat. guest artist Kimani Wilson
M.U. Express Remix Productions:
95 North "Unbelievable" for K2 Recordings
Les Nubians "Makeda" for Om Town/Virgin France
Macy Gray "Do Something" for Giant Step/Epic
Astronauts Of Antiquity "Jaya" for Liquid Sound Lounge Records
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