An Interview With POPCOX & JNR J

This article is about LATE NIGHT SOCIAL @ Hidden in London (UK), Fri 24 Oct 2008

A sound clash between London’s most rebellious DJ acts POPCOX and respected London mainstay and party starter Jnr J is sure to be a feast for the ears. For one night only, two of London’s finest will playing alongside one another with a back to back crossover set to rock your world only at Late Night Social @ Hidden 24th Oct.

Jnr J:

Jnr J, fearsome reputation for rockin' the house and renowned Jnr’s Jamm parties make him a London club land favourite. Testament to the calibre of his prestige and legendary parties, Jnr has attracted the likes of Sébastien Léger, Martijn ten Velden, Luke Dzierzek, Olivier Giacomotto, Mike Monday and King Roc to play alongside him.

In addition to gigs at the major clubs in London and all over the UK his talent and charisma behind the decks has earnt Jnr his stripes on the worldwide stage with trips to Australia, China, Ibiza, Switzerland, Norway, Poland and Latvia to mention a handful.

Versatility is very much part of the Jnr J equation and he's equally at home playing power-packed electro-tech-fidgety noises in venues like Turnmills, The Cross and the Ministry of Sound or darker, twisted, weirder grooves at underground after hours parties like Redlight & the infamous JTO & Bambossa. Whatever he plays, he’ll rock you to your core not letting you leave the dance floor.

POPCOX

New girl on the town POPCOX is perhaps one of the most rebellious and out there DJ acts to hit London this year. POPCOX is the epitome of fun; thumping good dance floor music to make you stamp and scream!!

The Disco deviant, the dance floor rebel, the final taboo, she’s on a mission and frankly you shouldn’t all be encouraging her, who knows where this might end! If you happen to be in the room while POPCOX is on the decks, expect to be scowled at, winked at, bitten, chewed up and spat out in a musical fiesta of nu-disco, electro, techtro and house to make you boogie so hard yo’ gonna ache all next week girl!

With successful 12-year career as a pro DJ already behind her, Popcox has re-invented herself in the most dramatic way imaginable. Racking up the gigs like tequila slammers, this year having headlined Pacha, The Egg, Aquarium, Helsinki, Ghetto and Club Rub to name but a few. She’s also found time to launch of her own night POPCOX PRESENTS and had guest radio mixes on Ministry of Sound and House FM, all within the first few weeks of launching the project.

The ultimate antidote to all things chin-strokey, POPCOX has had an epiphany, her life mission is one of musical rebellion; the revolution starts here…

There's also the small matter of Jnr’s distinctive antenna hairstyle, once seen and never forgotten! As for POPCOX, the vamped up glamour doesn’t get more daring than this!

Expect the unexpected but expect to dance your ass off because this tag-team will blow you away.

So, fellow party freaks, just how did this crazy dj set idea come about?!

POPCOX:
Well you know me, wherever there’s musical mischief I’m there with bells on! Not literally, I’m thinking a Karem Milen classic or something really punky. Haven’t played alongside Jnr for far too long and never in the POPCOX guise so I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be like a ‘who can pogo most in the booth’ scenario I expect, ‘cept I might loose as I don’t think Jnr’s planning in wearing heels as high as mine somehow!

How are you planning the b2b?

POPCOX:
The fun of soundclashes and b2b is that it’s a bit like the original hip-hop battles of the 70’s – you’re both spanking out your biggest belters competing to make the crowd scream and shout that bit louder. We’re thinking one of us will play first for a bit then a mad mash up cross over 2 on 2 off then the other takes over – not sure really, we’ll decide on the night, expect the unexpected!

There’s no planning at all, if anything its about keeping your secret weapons from each other even when you’re playing – the best bit is when either of you is craning over the other when their playing to find out the name of the stonker their playing you haven’t heard before.

JNR J:
WAH!!! Somady seh someting bout Soundclash!!!
Shizzzle…I thought it was a b2b ;) ….whilst growing up I used to listen to loads of ragga sound clashes which usually involved specially made dub plates, loud noises and some Mc saying “And Me Nah Tek Bak No Chat!” and the way you knew it had ended was when all of a sudden some one turned on all the lights, stopped the music and said “Dance Lock Off!!!!” hahaha
We’re just gonna get up there and have a 2 set deal with an hour cross over whilst having loads of fun.

Jnr J, you’ve released a number of tracks on your own, Devore label, as well as 12 Inch Recordings, Stealth, Plasmapool, Fakt Recordings with the Cheshire Catz. Could there be perhaps a Popcox and Jnr J musical love-in some point in the future?

POPCOX:
We’ve already discussed it and its on the cards :o)
I’ve produced 8 tracks now (watch out for the releases over the coming months) as POPCOX and Jnr’s one of the fiendish collaborators I can’t wait to get into the studio with, there just aren’t enough days in the week!

JNR J:
Like POP says we’re in talks about getting together to do a track quite soon. This b2b will no doubt inspire us to make it happen!

You’ve both had an incredible past year professionally with, Popcox, perhaps you having the most dramatic makeover of all! How did Popcox come into being and how are you finding the new direction your life is taking?

POPCOX:
POPCOX started as a throw away comment in a pub speaking to a promoter friend of mine. I was moaning over my pint, ahem, white Russian, about the all too serious frugging minimal techno scene saying how I wanted to do something insanely rebellious and to top it off I’d do it in the most outrageous persona possible and POPCOX was born – perhaps I’d had a few too many white Russians! It was just an idea but this year the concept has completely exploded, it’s all about back to basics - unrestrained dance floor hedonism with a twist. I think people are ready for something new and different, people want to absolutely ‘have it’ like they used to, the dance floor rebellion starts here ;oP

Now, you should never ask lady her age but…between the two of you, you rack up nearly a quarter of a century’s worth of DJing experience! (that should get people’s minds ticking hehehe). Are you both willing and able to give us some of your highs, lows and where you intend to go next?!

POPCOX:
Tsk tsk, don’t start something you can’t finish sweet pea! So first you ask my age and then you say I’ve been around the block eh?

When you get into double figures in terms of years behind the decks there are so many highs and lows. Lows? Squaring up to a guy three times my size who owed me my DJ fee at the end of a night in a dodgy south London club when I was a novice was a bit of a low, I made him pay me though so that wasn’t such a low! The lows are rarely that low, its the best job in the world, its tough though.

The highs have to be playing abroad, Ibiza, France, Switzerland, Copenhagen and Canada, especially Canada. I’m lucky enough to have played at London’s disappearing club heritage from Turnmills to The End, The Cross, Canvas, Key, so many, many wild times, they will be sorely missed, sniff, OK stop already, you’ll make my mascara run!

In terms of next? I’m really excited about how enthusiastic everyone is about the project, I’ve always wanted to play in Russia and, along with Bankok, Brazil and a return trip to Canada are all in the early stages of discussions so who knows?

JNR J:
I guess one of my worst moments was when I got pulled off a dj set 10 mins into it because of club drama and when I went to drive home ripped off my car’s wing mirror whilst reversing out of a car park at which point I got out and kicked the shizzle out of my own wing causing more damage that the mirror. Not a good day =( but the bad times are out weighed by many a high moment like Djing on a truck driving through a crowd of 60,000 people at the Oslo summer parade then moving on to the main stage and smashing the pants off of it.

Jnr, you’re known for your pneumatic dreadlocks and Popcox, dahling, you are a vision of colour and fabulousness. Both of you have a reputation of having an eclectic box of quality records. In this age of wannabes and try-hards, how does it feel to have both style and substance?!?

POPCOX:
OK, you’re winning me back now, flattery will get you everywhere :o)

I’ll warn you though, you’ve got me on my soap-box lol! Easy with the whole ‘try-hards and wannabes’ phrase – I think its brilliant that more people than ever are DJing and producing – I love the fact there are heaps of people getting stuck into an industry that belongs ultimately to the fans not the DJs.

That said, you bloody young whipper-snappers are certainly giving us a run for our money! All it means of course is we have to diversify, work harder and raise our game which is a good thing. I’ll doff my cap to any young gun that’s shit-hot, in fact I’ll give them a set at one of my nights – the proof is in the dance floor.

As for me, yeh, having experience gives you confidence and substance I guess. Style? One tries once best lol! Charisma is born out of passion and I’m passionate about dance music and clubbing, there’s limitless great new music, I can’t contain my excitement when your blasting it out to a club full of enthusiastic punters committed to having a great time.

JNR J:
I think this age is wicked, when someone new who is good comes along they totally change the game, take the Fidget Electro house movement for example. There will always be a load of crap that comes out of it but the new skool hero’s like Stupid Fresh, Lee Mortimer and Kelevra are raising the bar so high that others will have to raise there game or they wont last long at all as it is with any genre of music. Of course the influx of new Dj’s makes it harder for me but I find it a challenge and I believe quality must prevail. If not I’ll just take my party of to some random hidden location and enjoy it with like-minded people hahaha.

Jnr, Popcox does have a rather wild reputation. Are you at all afraid she might stab you with a flailing stiletto in such a confined space space as the DJ booth?

POPCOX:
Me? Reputation already!? Who have you been talking to!? And anyway, me stab Jnr with a stilleto? Or Jnr stab me with his hair do!?

JNR J:
I think POP will have to watch out for my hair it’s a bit long at the mo so maybe wear some shades POP.

Both of you are known for being the life and soul of the party and I can only imagine the energy you’re going to create when you’re in the booth together! How would you describe your sets to the uninitiated? (I’m thinking music here, but if anything else springs to mind feel free to divulge!).

POPCOX:
I’m thinking DJ booth / dance floor nuclear fusion baby! How about; nu-disco, electroboogie, techto hedonistic bedlam? Yeh, I like the sound of that :o)

JNR J:
Two words, PHA AAAT!

Can’t wait to see you in action on the 24th October! I’ve a feeling Late Night Social is going to be just that x

POPCOX:
Trust me, you can’t miss us!

JNR J:
HAHAHAHAHA =)

popcox.com
jnrsjamm.com