MUSICAL MIX: Secondcity’s new record will be issued next week.

By Goeffrey Rowlands

Chicago deep house combined with UK garage just as easily describes Anglo-American DJ/producer Secondcity as his chart-topping single, I Wanna Feel.

Born in Chicago but resident in Britain for the last 15 years, 27-year-old Rowan Harrington has effectively become a poster child for the mix of musical cultures. But a debt is owed to his mother for Rowan’s early appreciation of Chicago house.

“I was obviously too young to visit nightclubs when I lived in Chicago. But I was brought up listening to house music. My mother was a great fan. She was always playing house and old disco tracks so this kind of music had a massive impact on me.”

Although the influence of his mother’s musical taste remained strong, the family move to Forest Row in East Sussex exposed Rowan to the different sounds of UK dance.

“I got to hear this exciting new music. I still loved house but it was great to hear other dance genres. It was like being on a voyage of musical discovery.”

Despite only becoming a full-time DJ/producer less than three years ago, Rowan’s career path was forged at the age of 13.

“That’s when I got my first set of turntables. I knew I wanted music to be my career choice over everything else. But the truth is I played around with music at first. Maybe I lacked confidence or realised the importance of getting a good education but I’ve only been creating my own music for about six years and pushing it properly for around two and a half years.”

Rowan’s career change was a spur of the moment decision. “I had a good job in London and was just doing small, low level DJ gigs. But I absolutely loved the DJ work. One day, I decided to quit my nice, safe, secure job in advertising and try to make it as a DJ. My heart really ruled my head but it’s turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Rowan’s own tracks have changed considerably since his initial efforts to create songs.

“I started on things like Fruity Loops working on very basic ideas. I moved on to Logic and began learning how to use different techniques. I also explored a variety of sounds. My tracks evolved dramatically as my knowledge increased.”

House has been the one constant in Rowan’s music.

“I’ve always made house tracks. I might have introduced varieties or other themes like you hear now on I Wanna Feel. But I’ve tried to keep things pretty simple and concentrate on making songs which will hopefully fill nightclub dancefloors.”

After releasing tracks on numerous independent UK dance labels, it was dance music major Ministry of Sound who picked up I Wanna Feel. The extra publicity and promotion afforded to the song by Ministry of Sound propelled Rowan to the top of Britain’s singles chart.

“It seemed to be playing everywhere even before the track was released. I felt it could be a really big hit but I couldn’t believe it when I found I was number one.

“I don’t think it could have happened in America. Dance music has become mainstream in Britain. There have been so many big hit dance tracks in recent months. Things are changing in America. There are more dance hits now on Billboard’s Hot 100 but it’s still nothing like the situation in Britain.”

Despite never having returned to Chicago as an adult, Rowan used his birthplace as the source of his stage name. “I’ve loved living in Britain but always regarded Chicago as my second home. It’s called America’s second city so I thought of this personal link for my stage name but converted it into a single word.”

Rowan’s new record will be issued next week.

“It’s an EP called Groove ‘N’ On which is on Defected Records’ DFTD label. The release date wasn’t planned to capitalise on my success with I Wanna Feel but it couldn’t have worked out better.”

 

in brief

Erin Alvey O’Sullivan

A boyfriend took the then teenage Erin Alvey O’Sullivan to an Atlanta Braves baseball game. It had the desired effect in that Erin fell in love. The problem was that Erin fell in love with the Braves, not with him.

“I liked baseball but had never attended a Braves game,” explained the 20-year-old country music singer/songwriter. “I found the atmosphere amazing, particularly when the Braves were threatening to score and the fans did the ‘Tomahawk Chop.’ I was totally hooked and now can’t get to enough games.”

Erin used the story of that fateful date as the inspiration for Tomahawk Love, the lead single from her forthcoming self-titled debut EP. What’s more, she got the recently retired Braves legend Chipper Jones to appear in her song video.

“It was my dad’s idea to have a Braves player in the video. Chipper was not just my favourite but the most famous Brave since Hank Aaron. I never thought he’d do the video but he was so enthusiastic and incredibly humble. We filmed at his house and Chipper is seen with an item of his Braves memorabilia. This was all his own idea.”

Erin’s Tomahawk Love video is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Znk2yltojI

 

Justin Timberlake

Anyone who submitted photos, videos or love stories to Justin Timberlake for possible inclusion in his new video for Not A Bad Thing can now see if they made the final cut.

The video is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAeteudJ5g0. It features all kinds of love stories including some you may not necessarily expect. One such is the clip of two ladies expressing their love for the world famous St Andrews golf links in Scotland. Justin would be particularly attracted to this. He is an extremely keen golfer and has played the course.

 

Rusted Root

Rusted Root plan to celebrate their 25th anniversary by recording an eighth studio album. Wishing to do so without label pressure, they hope to raise the required $25,000 through a crowdsourcing campaign at www.indiegogo.com/projects/rusted-root-new-album-project.

A video and text on the webpage gives a full explanation of the fundraising effort. There are also details of the perks offered to all those who contribute.

The video for Cover Me Up, the latest single from their seventh album, The Movement, can be seen at www.rustedroot.com/. A free download of the song is linked from the webpage. It is offered in exchange for your email address.

Many more Rusted Root videos are posted on YouTube. Gain access by typing their name in the website search box.

 

Michelle Johnson

Little has been heard in recent times of actress Michelle Johnson. Now 48, she first found fame as Michael Caine’s teenage love interest in the 1984 movie, Blame It On Rio. A succession of film and television roles were to follow but her last film was 10 years ago when she co-starred with Harry Connick Jr. in Mickey.

A change of career now sees Michelle revealing her talents as a singer/songwriter. She has just released her debut album, Popular, which was created in Michelle’s home recording studio.

“I’ve loved music since I was a little girl,” she remarked. “A friend got me into recording and I found my true love. Making music is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

The video for lead single, I Like ‘Em (BDC),” is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQaC0jJOZ60. A video for non-album single, Lost My Way, is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wnsvh8Z4HA