MARCIA CARR
Who are you?
Hahaha. Sounds like a speed-date Q… I’m London born and bred. Started DJ’ing around 1983. I DJ’ed at quite a few places at home and internationally, and had guest stints on radio all over – MOS, BBC Radio One and internet stations including UKRumble, House FM and Pushfm to name but a few. I have been writing as a freelance music journalist for many years as well as being a skilled radio producer/presenter, and run my own PR company Talking Music Productions. I’m dabbling in studio productions when I can too.
How would you describe the music you play?
I’ve always played a wide spectrum of MOBO* – from soulful Afro/tech house to jazz-funk, disco, reggae, soul even the odd pop tune.
Best dj experience or musical memory?
There have been many but one of the best ever moments was at a gig in Luxembourg. From start to finish – it was a four hour set. The club was rammed and the crowd lapped up everything I threw at them – from Barbara Tucker to Siouxsie & the Banshees. When the lights came up – local police decided we had partied enough but the crowd kept cheering and applauding for more, the buzz was intense.
You’re stranded on a desert island with 5 records. What are they?
Aaarrgh, I find these kind of questions so frustrating LOL…. Roy Ayers ‘ This Side Of Sunshine’; Alex & Rai ‘For The Love’; Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ ‘Jesus Be a Fence’; Doug Carne ‘Higher Ground’ and Steve Arrington ‘Nobody Can Be You’
Current music.. In a state or great?
Generally, from what I see it’s a mess in terms of the standard of productivity and creativity within the whole music industry. In any generation there will only ever be a handful of talented artists who are a cut above the rest – some do get recognised, the rest remain undiscovered, and those who get through, not all, but most are disposable record label fodder. Sadly, the present and the generation to come are missing out on ‘learning the ropes’ through natural progression of musical pathways via apprenctiship, even more lack depth of historical knowledge, while others show no interest whatsoever. However, in my opinion you must know your roots in order to move forward grounded with any significant substance, or potentially end up becoming a vague and vaquous character within the industry, which is sad but currently evident. Oh yeah, long live the format of vinyl!!!
What do you see happening in 2010?
So far things have been moving along nicely for which I am grateful – thank God! Plus, things are taking off being a part of the all female DJ + MC crew Ladybugz.
Why are you looking forward to the Deep Cover launch party?
The DC guys share my love for quality music expression, and so for me, its a worthwhile opportunity to share some classics with some new future gems to their appreciative, up for it crowd. I just love it when the audience want to come along on the journey in anticipation of the unexpected. It’s going to be fun and a huge success for one and all!
Tell us something we don’t know?
I had a small speaking part and was a dancer extra in Isaac Julien’s cult film Young Soul Rebels and I’ve also danced in a few pop videos in my time.
*MOBO = music of Black origin
A Brief Biography
To describe Marcia, a former jazz dancer as a woman of many talents would be truly an apt for the long standing UK based DJ, who is also a member of the London based LadyBugZ DJ collective.
Her club DJ sets of deeper, inspirational, soulful, jazzy style encompassing tech, gospel house to broken beat have taken her to a host of international locations; festivals, beach parties and and endless list of club nights and venues including Neighbourhood, Hidden, Club Colosseum, Southport Weekender (Liverpool), Back II Basics (Leeds), East Village, Heaven, Ministry of Sound, Sosho, Plastic People, Fridge Bar, The White House, Inigo, Babalou and Traffik.
Not stopping at the dance floor interest for Marcia Carr’s eclectic musical platter have also featured on air of a variety of radio stations from Chicago to Sri Lanka, to our European neighbours – Estonia, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg and at venues like the Ministry Of Sound on-line alongside the likes of Bob Sinclair, David Morales and MAW. She continually gets invited to appear on a many radio stations in addition to holding numerous DJ mixes and podcasts online too.
Fitting in journalist contributions to I-DJ, Soulm8online, basic-soul.com, the Soul Survivors magazine amongst other publications, with PR work for distinct record labels and artists.
For a long time Marcia Carr has been considered the DJ’s DJ with her own edgy style always consisting of quality immersed in a distinct sound of soul fusion – recently she has been turning her hand to studio producing and remix work. She’s even on hand from time to time for a spot of music consultancy – illustrating why exactly this multi-talented lady is still very much in demand everywhere.
