The kings of funky house scarcely need an introduction but should you need reminding...

Junior Jack is Vito Lucente, the producer behind monster tracks dating back to 2000's My Feeling. Thrill Me came out two years later, E Samba was the soundtrack to Ibiza 2003, goth hero Robert Smith guested on Da Hype – and who could forget the soft porn wrestling of Stupidisco’s video? He's released tracks under various names and tasted mainstream pop success as Room 5 topping the UK singles chart with Make Luv. Junior Jack won Artist of the Year at the 2004 House Music Awards, while Best Album went to his debut long-player, Trust It.

Nicolas Scaravilli - or Nico - has been recording as Kid Crème since his 2001 track Austin's Groove which Morillo signed for Subliminal. He released the anthem, Doing My Own Thing, last year and had some chart success with Hypnotising, a re-worked version of Raw Silk's Do It To the Music. Nico's remixing skills have been in-demand ever since he worked his magic on Shakedown's At Night - which even gained Kylie's attention. But long before that he was a DJ, getting a residency at Brussel's first house night at the age of 19.

The interview takes place just before they play but they're both friendly and relaxed. I'd been warned their English would be poor - but despite their husky, continental accents there’s no problem communicating.

Vito, how did you feel about winning TWO House Music Awards?
JJ: It’s not going to change my life, but of course, it made me proud, gave me the kick to go in the studio and make some new tunes for all these people who support [me]. But you know, you always have to start again: You receive an award, it means you have more pressure, you have more people waiting for your new tunes, so I don’t know if I have to be happy or not.

Did you feel like you’ve ‘made it’?
JJ: Not really, not really! It’s just the beginning, I want to do some more big things, we just start having fun, I hope it’s gonna be a long way.

Tell us about working with Robert Smith.
JJ: I was a big fan of Cure, I have everything, when I was 15 years old I went to see the concert, waiting for him to sign my posters. But you know I was impressed, when I arrived at the studio, Robert was already there, because you know I grew up with him, through the TV. But he’s such a simple guy, that after five minutes I just forgot that I have a big star in front of me and we start working normally.

Did you get any make-up tips?
JJ: Uh, no! But I think this guy just wakes up in the morning and puts make-up on, because he has make-up in the studio when we work together.

Do you worry about balancing commercial success with credibility?
JJ: I don’t think about that, I’m just in my studio and I do whatever I feel. Sometimes it’s more commercial, sometimes it’s more underground, sometimes it’s more personal. But I don’t care really… Sometimes it’s nice, sometimes it’s bad. But one moment when you do music, you have to decide, Okay, that’s it, that’s the release I have to do something else. Otherwise you can keep working on the same track during 10 years.

So why do you work under other names, eg. Room 5?
JJ: Because when I do something and don’t like [it] – because you cannot do just things that you like – you know, sometimes you do something, you listen after three days and you don’t really like [it]. So I didn’t wanna put onto Junior Jack’s album, ‘cos it’s my main project, this is what I do, what I like to play, what I like to listen [to]. But the record company likes it so I say, Yeah, just release it, but not as Junior Jack ‘cos this is my baby, you know.

That’s very honest, admitting you make music you don’t like!
JJ: Everybody [does]. Llike a painter, you cannot do just paintings you love, or interviews – sometimes you got a person in front of you, the feel is nice, the interview is interesting. And sometimes it’s boring, you don’t like [it], you just do it!

You’ve topped the chart and won awards – what next?
JJ: I don’t know, just working. I just wake up in the morning, spend all the day in my studio. I’m just interested in music and sex – the rest after!

Nico, which of your remixes are you proudest of?
KC: Of course, Shakedown. It was the biggest, even the Kylie was a re-cooked one but Shakedown was definitely the biggest one. I just checked my discography and I did so many, but Shakedown is definitely the best one.

Did you get to meet Kylie?
KC: No no, in fact, it was a kind of asking the record label through my label. I would love to. Maybe next time I’ll ask to see her before the remix.

Is it more satisfying putting out your own tracks than remixing?
KC: Yeah I think, remixing some people is nice because you get some ideas, stuff and you cannot do a lot of things, you just got the melody or the vocal and you have to work around [them]. When you do your personal stuff, you can go around, and as he said, you can stay 10 years on the same tracks. And I think this is my problem, for my personal production, I take too much time, when it’s a remix it’s just quick: you’ve got this and you gotta do something better than the original.
JJ: It makes it more fresh ‘cos you got one date, you got to deliver the mix, you receive the parts, you got already 50% of the job already done: You cannot change the vocal, you cannot change the melody, and so you just add your sound and you do your ideas just fresh, you know, in two or three days you have to have the job done.

What about others mixing YOUR tracks – is it like handing someone your baby?
KC: You know I’m sorry for all those people who remix my tracks but I never really like any remixes! It’s not like it’s bad, but I still prefer the original. It’s not ‘cos I did it, but I know that I give SO much when I do a remix and… Maybe one of the most difficult was the remix of Thrill Me, you know, ‘cos this track was so big for me, it was just like, I cannot do better than this, that’s why I did something more techno. But I never had some really huge remixes of my tracks - some good work, some nice tracks, but not really like, Yeah, wow!

Nico, should others be inspired by you getting kicked out of Music College?
KC: Yeah, Maybe I dunno. If I stayed in Music College, I never do electronic music - it’s difficult to say, but yeah. I dunno if my way is a good way, but let’s try – we will see.

You’re both Italian/Belgian – does that affect your music at all?
JJ: You ask me a question that I never asked myself! Definitely, I think living in Belgium influences my music cos Belgium’s got a very long electronic music [history] like Front 242, T99, Anastasia - who is good friend of ours. Belgium is more cold, more close to Germany, more electronic. Italy - it’s more funky groove, more sunshine music. Maybe the mixture makes [us] what we are today, I don’t know!
KC: Being Italian and living in Belgium is a good mix.

You see yourselves as producers primarily, so is DJing a necessary evil?
JJ: We have to say the truth, DJs [get] good money! Especially when you reach a good level, when your tracks are in the chart, played on the radio, you’re on TV, lots of people [are] asking you, they pay huge money. But this is not the first reason we do [it], ‘cos we can earn money in the studio doing production. But it’s a good way to promote yourself cos, you know, in pop music you get the singer on the TV show - it’s promotion , but as DJ-producers nobody sees us! The only promotion we get is just playing the clubs, you know.

Why do you DJ together? Can only one of you mix?! ; )
JJ: No he pushed me to become a DJ, because he was DJ when he was 15 years old with some friends. I never DJed, but because I had my label before him, I received lots of promos and he was always coming to my place, [saying] Why don’t we play? And I said, Look I don’t enjoy travelling by myself…

At this point they have to dash off to play and there’s no time to answer questions from DSI members. But they take the sheet of queries (with accompanying profile pictures) and look pretty chuffed about some of the girls’ requests for phone numbers etc!

Junior Jack and Kid Crème play the Defected In The House closing party at Pacha Ibiza along Martin Solveig, Simon Dunmore and Shovell.

DEFECTED
Junior Jack’s official site