NCS Interview with Eddie Gordon
Name:
Eddie Gordon
Nationality:
English
Home:
Hermosa Beach, California, USA
How long have you been DJing/producing/managing:
Since I was 21, some 29 years ago.
Contact:
eddie@media2radio.com
Tell us about how you took Radio 1 to Ibiza:
My role in the 90's was to bring new talent and innovations to BBC Radio 1. In 1994 I saw the potential of using ISDN technology to broadcast Radio shows live without any quality loss in sound and with no time delay, so I pestered the Radio 1 Controller Andy Parfitt to let me have Tong's Friday night show live from Cafe Del Mar at Sunset time and an Essential Mix Show live from one of the famous clubs like Amnesia. Seems logical today to do that but then it was unheard of and Radio 1 agreed with some degree of trepidation, like somebody agreeing to being pushed off a swimming pool diving board blindfolded. What followed was the rest of the world's media including TV channels MTV, VIVA and SKY piling off to Ibiza every summer with Radio 1 who have been going back now for 15 years. The Ibiza explosion has my DNA all over it from the Cafe Del Mar CD worldwide popularity, the Space Terrace DJ booth, the Eden club logo (a peach cut in half), the Cafe Mambo Sunset cams and broadcast studio plus of course lighting the fuse to the media dynamite with Radio 1. I'm proud of all that but have not been there for the last 5 years so can't comment on the current Ibiza except that I hear its €80 to get into some club nights!
Favorite DJ:
Norman Jay MBE for his obvious love of the music he plays and the knowledge of that from his young teenage years.
What's the biggest selling record you have signed/produced:
Signed album would be the Cafe Del Mar series to Manifesto which is still selling today past 15 million sales and single would be Darude's "Sandstorm", also a million selling success. Produced would be the RnB girl group Eternal who sold over 4 million debut albums with "Now & Forever", their Greatest Hits album carries four West End remixes of their singles too.
Favourite artist signed:
A tough one to answer as I still talk to a lot of them today and they'll probably come across this interview on the web so can I just say my favourite artist that I never signed but worked with was Donna Summer. She was incredibly fresh thinking and into trying new ideas, I had to step back many times and just take it in that she was so open and friendly. The remixes of "I Feel Love" for example were a problem because the original Giorgio Moroder 2-inch Master Tapes of that classic were destroyed in the fire at Casablanca Records on Sunset Bld, LA. We sat looking at each other in a New York office until I suggested getting Donna back in the studio to re-record all the vocals over an instrumental version which she happily agreed to.
Favorite label:
Atlantic Records for its journey from Jazz, the Blues through every genre laid down by the industry and a special mention to Motown. Both labels I worked for separately and with success.
Favourite ever record:
Ten City - My Piece Of Heaven - produced by David Morales with Byron Stingily in spiritually lifted form.
Favourite ever album:
Ok two of them. One classic "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye. One unknown "Moodfood" by Moodswings check it out on Amazon, it captures the dawn of the Ibiza explosion perfectly -
http://www.amazon.com/Moodfood-Moodswings/dp/B000002VL7
What are you up to right now:
Listening to the NewSoundCity podcast which is very smooth and running Media2Radio, a music marketing company for new releases going to Radio DJs all over the world, based in LA.
Your inspiration:
Anybody who succeeds against hardship or negativity to rise with a smile on their face.
What would you change right now:
In the world I'd stop spending on Space exploration and use that money to build fresh water reservoirs in 10 key places around the world, mid-Africa for example, piping in salt water from the ocean bed, desalinating it along the way to create a resource that is going to be harder to come by as the world population grows and global warming continues. One third of the fresh water on the planet comes from the Himalaya mountain region but its disappearing fast as the Hispar glacier melts under the increasing temperature.
Favourite venue to play/visit:
These days the Malibu Movie House with 3 D glasses
Best ever gig:
DJ - Tony Humphries in the Ministry Of Sound, London circa 1992 one friday night/saturday morning. Singer - Marvin Gaye at the Royal Albert Hall in 1981. The Millennium in Hawaii 2000 with DJ Carl Cox.
What advice would you give to anyone getting into the industry today:
Do something because your heart says so not because your ego is speaking to you. Stick to that and you'll be successful with 80% of your decisions and the other 20% you'll learn something important from.
What is your view on the current situation in the industry, and where do you see it going:
Dance music as an audio experience is still a wonderful thing and it will always be. It needs new artists though who can write, sing, perform to inspire and break new ground in social education. Much of today's acceptance of an individual's rights have a lot to do with music speaking for them.
Anything else we should know about you:
That I believe we live in heaven here on earth, this is it but we just don't know it so we don't take care of all that it offers and those around us. If we shifted our belief into the now instead of when we are dead our existence here would improve beyond anybody's imagination. No human being on earth has ever met anybody who has come back from heaven after death but we all, every single one of us, has witnessed amazing beauty or love here on earth. How come?
Your thoughts on NCS?
NewCitySound is a collective that I believe will grow into a mighty tree with wisdom, passion and encourage others to the table of music and life. A living example of small ideas becoming life time journey that inspires. Thank you for running with the baton.
"Wow, a truly meaningful interview, Eddie. Many thanks indeed for sharing your experiences, philosophies and deserved success with us"! Regards, all at NCS.
