<\/span><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>Paul Murphy is a generous, passionated and impredictable DJ, as notoriously demonstrated last summer at Paris OPA where we\u2019ve had such an unforgettable experience. Dancehall, jazz, house, soul\u2026 4 hours of continuous mix with almost every tune like a discovery to many dancers at the club. Producer\/remixer, his own records are played by the biggest names. Back from a European tour, he\u2019s on his way to release both an album and a comp. Should he ever come next to your door, check him out, you won\u2019t regreat it\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHi Paul. What have you been up to recently ?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI’ve been DJing around Europe in what might be taken as a forlorn & hopeless quest to visit every Country in Europe. But I’m not doing too bad as I now only have a dozen or so to go : Czech Republic, Slovakia, Albania, Moldova, Cyprus Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Bulgaria, Luxembourg (never even been through it), Ukraine, Romania are the biggies\u2026 Malta, Andorra, Monaco & San Marino are gonna be tough although I did go on a day trip to Liechtenstein ! And I\u2019ve spinned in Kosovo and thats only negotiating to be a country. It\u2019s almost an obsession but a magnificent one I think. ..And I’ve been working in the studio again after a two month break.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCould you tell us how did you start your career ?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span>Which career ??? I’ve never really had one. I’ve been a DJ, worked in dead end office jobs, sold wine, waited tables, tended bars, managed a restaurant and a couple of nightclubs, ran a record label, owned quite a few record shops, (which did very badly financially), clothes shops too, (which did very well financially…lucky for me), washed dishes in restaurants (a low point), been a professional film extra (I was an ambulance man in Batman, a dead Viking in Erik The Viking, a French Knight in Henry V & a whole host of backgrounds in TV programmes like Inspector Morse) been unemployed several times & unemployable several times more. But I digress, the DJing started (probably, I’m getting too old to really remember accurately) in the very late 1970’s. I can’t even remember the reason I started doing it but it must have been a good one. But now of course I’m running a record label Afro Art Records, a job I really love doing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWho were your first inspirations?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMusically ? Lying in bed, stricken with some childhood disease (I think it was Hepititas or what we called Jaundice in those days), listening to Pirate Radio (the real pirates who lived in ships on the sea) playing Len Barry “123”. Like taking candy from a baaaby. I knew then that the life of a bricklayer was not for me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nA word on the Spiritual South project you’re having with Marc Woolford…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSpiritual South (although I’d love to take the credit for it) was not me. It was Danny Lewis who was the studio mastermind behind all the releases like \u2018Green Gold\u2019 & the remixes of \u2018Jazz Room\u2019, \u2018Happy\u2019 etc etc & Mark Robertson . I did write \u2018Jazz Room\u2019 along with Marc Woolford though. Alas, the Spiritual South that did all those wonderful records are no more as Danny has been snapped up to a major deal by Defected Records of London. He’s releasing a record called \u2018Ballistica\u2019 next year. I gotta tell you, it\u2019s absolutely fantastic. I only wish that we could have released it on Afro Art & I can pay it no finer compliment than that.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhile listening to your productions, we feel the strong influence of Latin and Brazilian music. How did you get introduced to these sounds? Did you travel in South America ?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHMMM. Like a lot of people I’ve travelled. All over the world… But mostly in my head. If you really listen & look, you can be influenced by almost anything from anywhere.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAlso, what is your position at Afro Art Records?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTenuous. Well sometimes anyway. But I seem to be like an old & retired sheepdog these days, always has his favourite piece of the floor & everyone works around me. I can ask no more.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe’ve played together last summer in Paris (a great party!). I started my selection with Edwin Starr\u2019s classic \u201cWar\u201d. A track which has seemed to to disturb you a bit. How come ?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI’m living in a country (United Kingdom) where, much to my chagrin, I suddenly find myself involved in a war. Both 5000 miles away in Iraq & in places so familiar as to be almost part of my daily existence. ie the Underground system , bus system.. A record that was seen as an abstraction, that was written over 30 years ago about another place, another country, another time, another war. And suddenly, with its very hard hitting although simplistic lyrics, it really became relevant. I never even dreamed that I’d see a repeat of mistakes made in the war in Vietnam all those years ago suddenly becoming a daily reality & I’m watching the same kind of news items on TV. It\u2019s like a waking nightmare & I’m finding that music, films, books are just becoming un-. Un-? I can’t explain it ! I just can’t listen or watch certain things.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThere are a loads o\u2019great DJ\u2019s in UK, could your give us your top 5?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHmmmmmmmmmmmm. hard. But the most influential dj’s (for me anyway) have been Charlie Gillett (still on BBC London), Chris Hill (older than Jesus Christ by now), Mark Roman (an unknown East London legend), Benny Wilson (who practically invented mixing & the mixtape) & that guy at the youth club when I was a kid. Never knew his name, but he started me off.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nYou have an album in the shelves, could you tell us more about it ?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWell it\u2019s part of all the kinds of music that have infected me along the years, but it started off as a journey I made a couple of years ago, a trip around India. That\u2019s why its called The Trip. I saw things I never expected, did things I certainly never even thought that were possible for me to do. One of the songs was written about my favorite bar in my favorite city \u2018Budapest Chachacha\u2019. I did a version of the theme from my favorite film (Seven Samurai), I wrote a tune about a friend (\u2018Mr Cosmic\u2019), I did a jazz tune (\u2018Herbie Mann\u2019) & there are a few others too. I got my idea for the cover as well as for the label too. So I’m just gonna release it next year & see how it goes. If it sells, it sells. But I’ve done it.And I’m also working on a compilation, my first for 20 years. Its called Afro Arthouse\u2026 We’ve got people like Glyn Bigga Bush, Diesler, Mod’x, Jung Collective, Shannon Harris, Peak doing funky versions of the themes from films like Goodbye Lenin, The Wicker Man, Underground, Get Carter, Withnail & I, 2001, 5 Deadly Venoms & more. All original versions too, no remixes !<\/p>\n
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The Story<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>.<\/p>\nPAUL MURPHY was first bitten by the DJ bug in the late 70\u2019s when he was promoting a club night \u201cThe Kingswood Club\u201d and the DJ didn’t turn up due to inclement weather.<\/p>\n
A string of Chitlin Circuit gigs followed till the big moment finally arrives with the opening \u201cJAFFAS\u201d at \u201cThe Horseshoe\u201d, Tottenham Court Road W1. The club was the first to mix jazz with the infant Jazz Dance scene. Guests included British acts such as Morrisey Mullen, Paz, Breakfast Band, Gonzalez and the legendary Heath Brothers (on the night of the Brixton Riots!!).<\/p>\n
Further mishaps and adventures followed including a year running a shop (Fusion Records) in Clerkenwell and promoting a concert at the \u201cYMCA\u201d featuring Brazilian singer\/pianist Tania Maria.<\/p>\n
Other gigs and clubs Paul Murphy has played include: \u201cThe Electric Ballroom\u201d Camden Town, also Paul started the now legendary \u201cJazz Room\u201d Brighton, (still going after all these years!), \u201cThe Wag Club\u201d Soho W1, \u201cThe 100 Club\u201d, Oxford Street, London W1, \u201cThe Comedy Store\u201d, London W1 and The \u201cSol Y Sombra\u201d, Charlotte Street, London W1.In 1984 to 1986 Paul ran Palladin Records which released the now seminal Venceremos by London based collective Working Week. He also released LP\u2019s by Tommy Chase, Jimmy Mcgriff and Phil Upchurch amongst many others.<\/p>\n
Paul Murphy was also the first WIRE Magazine DJ of the Year in 1985.<\/p>\n
Eddie Piller of Acid Jazz rediscovered Paul in Ireland after his mysterious disappearance from the club scene at the beginning of the 90\u2019s. Paul took up his offer of a residency at the much missed Blue Note club in London\u2019s Hoxton Square. This put Paul right back in the spotlight and Paul is now managing and A & R\u2019ing at Afro Art Records, the London based label founded by the X-Press 2\u2019s Ashley Beedle.<\/p>\n
Since then Paul has released several singles and has been involved in many of the other Afro Art releases amongst which are Unitedeye \u201cFar East Of The West\u201d, High Fidelity \u201cCream Of Beats\u201d Cubalooba \u201cCubalooba\u201d and the latest Unitedeye single \u201cBig Chief\u201d which was immediately licensed to the \u201cBig Chill\u201d Enchanted Garden compilation and the \u201cDope on Plastic\u201d compilation and is also the theme tune for \u201cWanderlust\u201d a TV programme on RTE Ireland. \u201cSoul Call\u201d another of Paul\u2019s releases was used for the Clothesshowlive 2004 ad on UK TV Channel 4.<\/p>\n
Pauls releases of \u201cSka East of the West\u201d and \u201cBig Chief\u201d featured on many playlists including top New York dj Joe Claussel (Body and Soul), Boris Dlugosch (Sing it Back\/Moloko), Tim \u201cLove\u201d Lee, John Stapleton (Dope on Plastic).<\/p>\n
Pauls \u201cJazz Room\u201d single has been one of his most popular releases so far and was not only one of Afro Arts biggest sellers but also was charted by over 100 djs and has featured on over 30 different compilations and a new remix by current Afro Art high flyers Spiritual South has been unleashed & is now one of the BBC Worldwide show top records of 2004.<\/p>\n
Paul has remixed and produced many varied projects including Neon Heights, Solar Apple Quarktette, Robin Jones, Tito Heron, Kid Loco for the Cocteau Twins label and Ashley Slater formerly of Freakpower. Pauls single \u201cJAZZ ROOM\u201d THE SPIRITUAL SOUTH MIX was number One in Gilles Peterson\u2019s chart (BBC RADIO ONE WORLDWIDE) and was the summers smash hit!<\/p>\n
Pauls debut album \u201cThe Trip\u201d has released in 2006.<\/p>\n
He is currently on his quest to dj in every European country this year.<\/p>\n
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![\"the](\"http:\/\/www.varka.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/the-trip.jpg\")
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Discography.<\/strong><\/p>\n.<\/p>\n
High Fidelity – \u201dCream Of Beats\u201d (Afro Art Records) UE 001<\/p>\n
Unitedeye \u201dFar East Of The West\u201d (Afro Art Records) UE 002<\/p>\n
Unitedeye – \u201dBig Chief\/Sambana\u201d (Afro Art Records) UE 003<\/p>\n
Cubalooba – \u201dCubalooba\/Raggalooba\u201d (Afro Art Records) UE 004<\/p>\n
Paul Murphy\/Marc Woolford Project – \u201cJazz Room\/Latin Jazz Room\u201d (Afro Art Records) UE 006<\/p>\n
The Man – \u201dQuestion?\u201d (Afro Art Records) AFR 009<\/p>\n
Unitedeye – \u201dThat Beat\u201d (Afro Art Records) UE 008\/UE708<\/p>\n
Paul Murphy – \u201dSoul Call\u201d (Afro Art) UE009 May 2003<\/p>\n
Paul Murphy – \u201dSeven Samurai \/ Budapest Chachacha\u201d (12″) (Afro Art) 2006<\/p>\n
Paul Murphy – \u201dThe Trip\u201d (album) (United Eye) 2006<\/p>\n
Paul Murphy – \u201dThe Trip \/ Withnail & I\u201d (12″) (Routine Jazz, Japan) 2007<\/p>\n
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Remixes & Productions.<\/span><\/p>\n.<\/p>\n
Ballistic Brothers – \u201dProphesy Reveal\u201d Parts 1 & 2. (Afro Art) UE 005<\/p>\n
SuPaFiX – \u201dBarrio Nuevo\u201d (Afro Art Records) AFR 008<\/p>\n
Dance Freak – \u201dSlap Da Freak\u201d (Afro Art Records) AFR 010<\/p>\n
Neon Heights – \u201dCannonball\u201d (Afro Art Records) AFR 015<\/p>\n
Tito Heron – \u201dKing Of Dreams\u201d (Afro Art Records) AFROTITO 1<\/p>\n
Frogsnatcher – \u201dDream Rabbit\u201d (Afro Art Records) AFR 020<\/p>\n
Robin Jones – \u201dMozambique Callejero\u201d (Royal Palm) RPR 007<\/p>\n
Kid Loco – \u201dA Little Bit Of Soul\u201d (Bella Union) TBR Sept 2002<\/p>\n
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orch. – \u201dSkarada Dub\u201d (Afro Art\/Avex) TBR Sept 2002<\/p>\n
Mighty Quark – \u201dLos Feenos\u201d (Play UK) TBR Sept 2002<\/p>\n
Ashley Slater – \u201dHusband\u201d (Plush) TBR May 2003<\/p>\n
Frogsnatcher – \u201dDirty Bird\u201d (Afro Art) TBR April 2003<\/p>\n
Solar Apple Quarktette – \u201dBerwick Street Mode\u201d (Furtherout Recs) May 2003<\/p>\n
Soundtrack – \u201dWithnail & I Remixed\u201d (Nanny Tango) Who knows???<\/p>\n
Secta Chameleon – \u201dTry\u201d (?) 2004<\/p>\n
Paul Murphy\/Marc Woolford – \u201cJazz Room\u201d THE SPIRITUAL SOUTH MIX c\/w ORIGINAL (JAZZ MESSAGE ) May 2004<\/p>\n
MOD\u2019X – \u201dTHE QUEST (Paul Murphy Remix)\u201d (Iceandspice Records) Dec 2004<\/p>\n
PEAK – \u201dGet Carter\u201d (Paul Murphy’s Go For A Curry mix) (Afro Art) 2005<\/p>\n
QUARTETO MAGRITTE – \u201dMalanotte Due\u201d (Paul Murphy remix) (Afro Art) 2007<\/p>\n
SAMP BROTHERS & OUTBOUND – \u201dAlcoholic Drinks\u201d (Vodka mix by Paul Murphy) (Afro Art) 2007 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"at Cuba Caf\u00e9, Jauniela 15, Old Riga, LV. . DJ set of world famous but still underground Paul Murphy. . 5th time in Riga!. Genres: Nu jazz, latino, afrobeat, funk, soul, samba, broken beat, reggae, drum’n’bass, dub. . Links: Download Paul Murphy July 2006 mix (55 Mb, 60 min). Paul Murphy “The Trip” album Afro … <\/p>\n
Continue reading “Paul Murphy (Afro Art Rec, UK) @ Cuba Caf\u00e9”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-events","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.varka.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Paul](\"http:\/\/www.varka.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/paul-murphy-e-flyer.gif\")
DJ set![\"Malanotte\"](\"http:\/\/www.varka.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/malanotte2.jpg\")
Quarteto Magritte – Malanotte \/ Malanotte Due<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Alcoholic](\"http:\/\/www.varka.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/alcoholic-drinks2.jpg\")
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