Bio
James Duncan was born in Toronto Ont Canada and was active
as a musican and DJ there for a number of years. Since
arriving in NYC he has worked with some of the city's brightest
lights, in additon to releasing his own records as a producer
on labels like Traxxx and his own label, Le
Systeme Records.
As a musician, he has recorded and performed with
Metro
Area and has appeared on recordings and remixes by
Environ head-honcho Morgan Geist. 2002 also saw him playing
on trumpet on The Rapture's dancefloor hit "The House
of Jealous Lovers" (on DFA), adding a scronked out,
Don Cherry-like trumpet solo to Geist's made for the floor
firey remix. In addition to this, he also records with
NYC improvising collective IZITITIZ on the Conduit/Sound@one
record label. His latest release is called "Times
Like These" on Le Systeme.
1. Where do you continually get
your inspiration?
Well it's from a wide variety of sources. Most directly
from records by artists that I enjoy and respect of course.
I try not to limit my inspiration to things like style
and sounds etc. I really try to be inspired by an artists
intent. I truly believe that the spirit of a person comes
through in the sound and soul of a recording. I also am
inspired by those in my life directly and I really enjoy
hearing them work on music or projects and seeing them
work through the creative process.
2. Which artists are you currently
listening to?
Well it's a long list! That changes a lot too.. currently
I'm enjoying Kai Alce, Lots of old house like the Burrell
Bros, old classic house on labels like Prescription and
Serious Grooves. Jazz and disco from the usual suspects
and then ppl from detroit a lot. Old techno and newer house
from ppl like theo parrish and KDJ and one of my fave DJs
ever, Ric Wilhite.
3. Are you involved in any current
collaborations?
Yes currently I play trumpet in an improvising collective
here in NYC called IZITITIZ. We recently put out our second
release called "Lucky Bird" on a label run by
our guitar player Carter Thornton called Conduit Recordings
that he released jointly with the No Neck Blues Band's
label Sound@One. We do shows here in NYC and on the east
coast with ppl like Thurston Moore and The No Neck Blues
band. As far as productions go, I usually work on my own,
but if the right situation comes along, it'd be great to
collaborate with someone in the studio.
4. How do the crowds and club atmosphere
in NYC different from those in Europe?
Well to be totally honest I don't know as Ive never played
in Europe. It'd be great to do tho and Ive tried to make
it happen but unfort timing and circumstance haven't allowed
it work out yet. Plus as a producer, a lot of ppl don't
know my name so its hard to expect them to bring me over
as I don't think they know that Ive been involved in some
bigger name projects as a musician. But from what I can
tell, the clubs there seem a lot more open to different
sounds. Here in NYC, in the bigger clubs, its either very
commercial or, in terms of deep house, it's a very NYC
styled sound. So to hear something a bit more varied you
have to listen to DJ's in bars, which unfort you cant dance
in, so it affects the music scene quite a bit here I feel.
But when someone can get a space together, NYC can party
like no other. That's what makes NYC really amazing.
5. Enlighten us on your dream project?
Well in some ways they've already happened so I guess I'm
trying to build on them. Ive been lucky to work with a
lot of ex-Sun Ra Akestra members as a musician, so to hear
about their experiences first hand has been both very delightful
and incredibly informative. Plus working in Metro Area
even in my humble capacity has also been a wonderful experience.
Morgan and Dar are so respectful of the musicians they
employ but I also love that they exercise a great amount
of control over how the live instruments are incorporated
into both their productions and live shows. I tend to avoid
situations where a producer just asks me, as a musician,
to play a "solo" over a beat or pattern. I personally
think that's been one of the downfalls of dance music.
Personally id rather hear well programmed machines on a
track rather than a producer filling up time for the groove
by adding a solo over top...but then again, done well,
there's nothing like it....so it goes both ways I guess.
6. Talk about your label and dj/music
2004 news
Well there will be a new Le Systeme release soon under
my own name in spring 2004. Unfort I don't DJ that much,
even tho I love to do it, so unfort no gigs are planned
at the present moment. Hopefully that will change! Thanks
for asking some kool questions! Cheers!
