Featured Interviews

Small Talk with Moodena [Tropical Disco Records]

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Hello Tim, nearly 30 years in the music industry! That’s some serious dedication. What initially drew you to the world of electronic music, and specifically the disco scene?

My first love was House Music. What drew me to the scene would have been the music and the parties!  In the late 80’s and early 90’s there were loads of illegal parties happening here in the UK either in Warehouses or in fields in the middle of the countryside. These parties could go on for days and there was a real sense of unity, love and a little bit of rebellion.  It was all about the music, there were no people on their phones recording everything, we were there dancing together as one.  House Music took its influence from Disco so it was a natural progression for me to dig and search for unusual disco tracks and build a love for disco.  But my true love is House Music.

Legendary artists and selectors have supported your work in the past. Were there any particular artists or mentors who played a pivotal role in your early career, inspiring you or providing valuable guidance?

I was in a fortunate position of being in the music scene for some time and throwing parties and running a large DJ agency and record label.  So I was constituently surrounded by my heroes and no doubt this rubbed off on me. I would say my biggest mentor and inspiration would have to be my close friend Dave Lee (Joey Negro, AC Soul Symphony).  He is a musical genius and has always helped by giving me advice when I need it, or if I’m having difficulty finishing a track, suggesting solutions or idea’s that I hadn’t thought of that could work.

I’ve always had a love of jazz, so I would hunt down jazz samples that I could use in my music. 

Your sound is a captivating blend of disco, funk, and nu-disco. How would you describe your creative process? Is it more methodical or fueled by pure inspiration?

A lot of my early work is sample based, so my process back then was to dig for samples that hadn’t been used before.  I’ve always had a love of jazz, so I would hunt down and find Jazz Funk samples or straight jazz samples that I could use in my music.  This would then get me started to create something from that sample and see what direction it would go in from there.  Now I’m doing more remixes which I really enjoy, working with other peoples music.  I’m not a musician so having the music to work with from the start really helps the process.  I also have some session musicians that I can reach out to that can add those extra elements to my tracks to make them a little more standout.

As an artist and a label co-owner with Tropical Disco Records, you have seen the label evolve into a powerhouse for the disco revival. What excites you most about this current wave of disco appreciation, and how does it influence your creative direction?

I don’t get too caught up with what is going around me, obviously I am partly influenced by this but I try and make my music from the heart. I’m a firm believer in making music that you love, not making music that you think will sell or that people will like. If I’m digging it, then hopefully other people will.  I get requests for remixes all the time and I would say I turn down probably 90% of the requests I get as I really need to be feeling the project to be able to make something happen with it. I won’t just take a remix for the money, I need to love it and feel that I can add something different to the project if not I won’t get involved.

I don’t get too caught up with what is going around me, I make my music from the heart. I firmly believe in making music you love, not making music you think will sell or that people will like.
If I’m digging it, then hopefully other people will.

Let’s rewind a bit. October 2023 saw you embark on a 3-city India tour. What initially drew you to bring your sound to the Indian audience?

I was so excited when I was asked to come to India and tour.  Well for starters, I love Indian food!  But on a serious note, the opportunity to come and play over there was a real buzz. I love new experiences, meeting new people and I also love history, architecture and most of all experiencing new cultures. I couldn’t wait to soak up the culture and also see how people party over there and the music they are listening too and vibing off.  Having the opportunity to spread my love of music in a new territory for me is a beautiful and exciting thing.

Three cities in India – that’s a whirlwind adventure! What were some of the most memorable moments you experienced connecting with the Indian crowd and their energy?

I think the most memorable moment for me was meeting the crew that looked after me.  We immediately bonded and the hospitality was next level. I felt like we had been friends for some time as it was so easy to hang and enjoy their company.  The Dynamite Disco crew is BIG, so I go the chance to hang with loads of different people and we partied HARD!  Which i like :)) As far as my connection with the crowd, I was blown away.  The indian crowd are UP FOR IT!!  So much energy on the dance floor and so appreciative of the music.  I really wasn’t expecting the vibes to be so electric, it was very heart warming and inspirational to see and feel.  Also, the fact that I actually had fans in India was also a real trip!

And what was your favorite city to perform in?

I wouldn’t want to single any city out as they were all beautiful in their own way and a different experience.  I just have to repeat that the energy of the crowd at each event was infectious as they love to party and love the music!

Did you have the opportunity to collaborate with any local Indian artists or DJs during your tour? If so, how did these collaborations influence your perspective?

I didn’t get the opportunity to collaborate with any local artists but I managed to have some deep conversations with a few which was nice.  Discuss music and their processes of production etc. which is always interesting.  I definitely also want to put out a release on Dynamite Disco at some pointas I really dig the label and the vibe they are on.

Having the opportunity to spread my love of music in a new territory for me is a beautiful and exciting thing.

 

Getting to see how it is done here by Stalvart John and his team, did you find any similarities or differences in the way you work back home?

There were loads of similarities.  Pushing parties and events is the same across the world but what touched me the most about Stalvart and his team was the universal love for the music and the belief to push their sound in a territory where disco isn’t the main stream and creating their own scene. That to me is a beautiful thing to see and very inspiring.

Looking back at your India tour, did any specific moments with the “Disco Boys” stand out for you?

Yes, lots of moments!!  I don’t think I can really mention them fully here, but hanging out with the whole crew at the end of the tour in Bangalore at Stalvart’s house was really fun.  We got into some deep chats about music and life and that was a standout moment for me.  Obviously playing with the guys at the events was also an amazing experience, hearing what they play and vibing with the crew!

Have self belief, carve your own path, don’t get side tracked or too influenced by what other people are trying to do. Try and make your own sound that isn’t exactly the same as everyone else.

Beyond music, are there any creative pursuits you’d like to explore in the future?

Yes, my plan is to buy a property abroad with my wife and convert it into event space for weddings, ceremonies, events with accommodation, restaurant etc. We have already started looking and getting a business plan together, this will hopefully be my retirement plan!

Finally, do you have any piece of advice for upcoming artists?

Well, the obvious one really which is don’t give up!  You will get a lot of knock backs in this business so you need very thick skin.  Have self belief, carve your own path, don’t get side tracked or too influenced by what other people are trying to do. Try and make your own sound that isn’t exactly the same as everyone else.  Be kind and respectful to everyone.  Never let your ego get in the way and be humble.  Surround yourself with good people, people that will support you and bring you up.

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