Tuned up for the move master

ANYONE WHO GREW up in the 1980s and had even the most passing of interests in club music will know about John Morales, one of the most influential DJs and record producers of the era. Now they can see him live – on his second visit to Bangkok tomorrow night.
Born about the same time as rock ’n’ roll – into a hard-working Puerto Rican household in New York’s Bronx neighbourhood – Morales took an early interest in the exciting new rhythms saturating the airwaves and fostering youthful rebellion. By the time John was 12 he’d persuaded his local record store to give him a part-time job, working for 45s instead of a paycheque. And by the time he got his first full-time job he had a huge record collection, which helped land him one of his first DJ gigs, at the Stardust Ballroom in the Bronx.
Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin were among the superstars on whose records Morales worked alongside the late Sergio Munzibai as M&M. Others were Spandau Ballet, Hall and Oates, Dan Hartman, Candi Staton, Melba Moore, Rose Royce, Billy Ocean, Debbie Gibson, Odyssey, the Commodores and Rod Stewart.
As the maestro continues to excel in the studio and in the DJ booth, maintaining the respect he so much deserves, we had a chat with him ahead of his return to Bangkok.

HOW HAS 2015 TREATED YOU SO FAR?
It’s been great so far! I’ve just been making the world dance, one country at a time. As for studio work, it’s been a little difficult because of the travel, but I have some new compilations this year for Quantize Records, as well as some new Motown stuff.

WHICH PARTY EVENT OR FESTIVAL HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE?
That’s a hard one to answer because I’ve played so many great parties, and honestly it would be unfair to single out just one. Let’s say I’ve been fortunate to have had some great nights, and I hope the one at the Vault in Bangkok is one of those.

HOW DID IT ALL START?
I started out playing records in my father’s bar because they lost their jukebox, and from there I got the fever for music. I grew up listening to variety of music. In my house it was Latin, salsa and on the radio we had soul, funk, pop and ’70s disco. I feel fortunate to have grown up in that period, to experience all these different types of music.

WHAT WAS THE CLUB SCENE LIKE IN THE 1970S BRONX?
There were few clubs in the Bronx in the early ’70s. They were primarily bars and after-hour places that would have music and sometimes a DJ. That’s how I ended up working in so many of the late-night, after-hours spots.

YOU’RE CREDITED AS THE FIRST DJ TO CREATE AN “EXTENDED MIX”. HOW’D THAT HAPPEN?
Well, to be honest, I wasn’t the first. There were a few guys already doing them, but I was among the first guys to make it an art form. I started to do edits on a cassette deck, then reel-to-reel, before graduating to a real studio.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL DJ SET?
My sets vary according to the crowd. Sometimes it’s just disco and sometimes it’s a mixture of disco, disco edits and house. I try to give a real mixture of different things to keep the night exciting.

WHAT’S THAT LATEST DJ TECH YOU’VE ACQUIRED?
I haven’t really picked up anything new. I use USB flash drives to play, so I travel light!

WHAT’S YOUR IDEAL PARTY LIKE?
My ideal party is a packed room of people dancing, sweating and having a good time!
 
MEET THE MAESTRO
John Morales plays tomorrow night at the Vault Speakeasy Club on Sukhumvit Soi 11.
Admission with a drink is Bt500.Find out more at (082) 308 3246 or www.Vault-Bangkok.com.