Q&A: Nick The Record takes the stage for upcoming Transport rooftop rave

Our favourite BK based party outfit, Transport, have pulled out all the stops to present a true legend for serious music collectors and underground dancing culturists.

Nick (left) with our dear friend, Ryota OPP

The Transport crew have something special in store for Bangkok party people. For their next rooftop session, they’ve invited a rightfully revered pillar of the scene whose name is synonymous with diligent vinyl collecting and textured, body-moving mixes, Nick The Record - fresh from his appearance at Wonderfruit last weekend.

Nick started out as a collector and dealer of obscure and sought after records, and began his DJ career at Brighton’s Tonka parties alongside DJ Harvey and Tom Bullock. He’s since carved out a deserved reputation as an inspired selector, thanks in part to his ground-breaking Lifeforce events in Japan, and has since become a regular on the international festival circuit - including appearances at Dekmantel, Love International, Kala and Houghton - as well as an in-demand remixer.

We were thrilled to speak to him to learn a little more.

Hey Nick, thanks for talking to us. So, how was Wonderfruit for you? 

I didn’t arrive until Sunday so I didn’t see that much of it, but what I did see was impressive. Seemed like a really good quality production. Great lighting all over. But especially in the Quarry where I played the visuals were great & the sound was awesome.

Sorry you didn't get to see more of it, but we agree, the production was first class. You've been very active on the festival circuit, are there any highlights you want to tell us about? 

Kala Festival in Albania had its second year this summer, which was very special. The location is wonderful, with stages on the beach and the area I play there is in a canyon behind a beach on an Eco campground. Very unique. I went back for my second time to Sunset Campout this summer in Northern California which is also in a very special location. On a river in an old gold-mining area.

So, when did you start collecting records, and is there anything in particular that inspired you to do so? 

Records and cassette tapes were the only options when I was a kid. I loved music so bought my first record when I was 8 years old.

And what were your favourite stores back then? 

Records were all over back then. Even in newsagents and corner shops

What was the first record you bought?

Elvis Costello – Oliver’s Army

Now, what's the most intrepid you've been to procure a record?

Well, I tend to look for records in most countries I visit. I guess the most unusual was in South Africa in the nineties when I went out there to play at a festival in Lesutu.

Are there any records that have so far eluded you, and are you prepared to tell us about them?

Of course there are. The best thing about this hobby is it never ends. No matter how deep you go there is always more to find & more to discover. I’m most excited to find something I’ve never heard of. 

Can you tell us about your experiences playing in Japan, when and where did it start and how did it grow?

That’s a long story which I wrote about extensively in this piece for Test Pressing. But yeah been playing there regularly since 1993. We brought a taste of the UK rave scene out there. Did the first outdoor parties in the country with DJ’s. 

Thanks, we look forward to reading that. You compiled tribute mixes for Larry Levan and Arthur Russell (we adore them both) for boiler room and RA respectively, do you have anything you can tell us about these icons?

I guess I’m polyamorous when it comes to music. I love them both (and many, many others) in different ways. I was lucky enough to hear Larry spin in London a couple of times in the early nineties - when Ministry first opened & one very special night at the Gardening club for Harvey’s Moist party.

I was also privileged to meet Tom Lee, Arthur’s boyfriend. I bought records from him & he told me a bit about Arthur.

This was before his music had found this second wave of popularity and before any reissues had been released. So he was surprised that there was much interest in the records & he was gobsmacked at how much money I offered him for the records. He even asked what currency as he was so surprised that the records were valuable.

Amazing. ‘In The Light Of The Miracle’ is a huge favourite at our HQ. Can you please tell us a bit about your Tangent parties with John Gomez, how long have they been running, and what do you have coming up next?

When I get booked for a festival I usually like to stay for a few days & really take it all in but we actually had a Tangent party booked in on Friday 13th so we did the party and flew out to Thailand the next day.

It’s been going more than 4 years now.

We started it as a place for me & John to play the music we love on a really great sound system in a 100 capacity basement. We lost that venue about 2 years ago but we had outgrown it really so moving to the Pickle Factory was the perfect choice. Next one is on March 14th

We’ve been thouroughly enjoying the Record Mission 12s you’ve been putting out in collaboration with Dan from Idjut Boys. Tell us a little about how that project came to life. how many releases deep are you now, what's coming up?

We have been friends since the early nineties & have similar taste in music, enjoying the more dubbed out & wiggy end of the spectrum. I don’t remember why we started doing edits together, I guess it's just more fun to do them together with someone else. We are up to our 6th release which is all Island / Tropical style tunes.

You've been busy on remix duty in recent years, is there anything new on the horizon?

Well, I just started a new label called Natural House & the first release is 2 Remixes of mine, both in an Afro House style. They seem to be going down well & I’m also happy with the label design & logo.

And what interesting gigs do you coming up over the next few months?

I’ve actually had a wonderful & busy year of gigs but have kept January clear so I can catch up on other work & get together with Dan to work on some new edits.

So this Friday in Bangkok & Saturday at Zodiac in Jakarta are my last two for a while until I get back to it in February for Soul City at the Jazz Cafe & I’ll be heading back to Japan to play at Vent in Tokyo.

Sounds excellent, we look forward to hearing the results of the studio time. And finally, anything else you want to tell us about anything at all? 

I guess take a look at the new website set up for the label naturalhouse.uk where I have also added links to a bunch more articles & mixes of mine.

Thanks again, Nick. Good luck with the show and safe travels.

Highly recommended by the Cosmic Tiger team, and definitely not one to miss. The show takes place on Friday 20th December at Tt Rooftop Bar. Full event info can be found by clicking on the flyer below.