Strictly Rhythm

STRICTLY MEETS...AARON ROSS

Strictly catches up with Aaron Ross for the low-down on strictly the hottest rhythms on the block as we release the new mix, Strictly Rhythms Vol.1 mixed by Aaron Ross!


Aaron, please can you describe your Strictly Rhythms...tell the people about your selection and the special features of your mix?

I had a lot of fun putting together the Strictly Rhythms Volume One mix and it was an honour to be asked to launch this new series. I kick off the mix with a special intro from Roland Clarke which rolls nicely over the ultimate classic DJ tool; Duck Beats from Barbara Tucker's I Get Lifted single - that's really also part of the intro.

The first proper record in the mix is Chris Lake's brand new remix of ATFC featuring Yasmeen – Tell U Y – what a wicked job he did with this! It's tough but the bassline has a wicked funky groove that really compliments the vocal. And I love the way he's got a little vocal sample in the drums. It sounds dope, a little old school trick there.

Then we move onto the awesome Eddie Theoneick remix of Todd Terry featuring Tara McDonald and Play On; I was involved in the signing of the record and commissioned Eddie to do the remix for Strictly, so I was super happy when he delivered this killer remix - baddass drums and hints of electro make this one a peak time banger – a great way to kick off 2009 for Strictly and a suitable progression into my Strictly Rhythms mix.

After that comes a track by a young producer from the Netherlands who we're excited to be working with. His names Afrojack and this one is called Radioman, which takes us steadily into The Dons remix of Music Talking by The Montanas and Roland Clarke. Again, this is a record that I signed to Strictly, so I feel I have a bit of a personal affection for that reason.

Then comes the first exclusive of the session, it's the acid house classic Higher State Of Consciousness. a remix that's never been heard before by man of the moment – Funkagenda and his pal Paul Thomas. I just put this one in the mix for a couple of minutes and I edited out the part where the acid line goes up an octave, that's just a bit too bonkers for me! Mood II Swing are up next and it's their killer dub of Reach For You, which is their most recent release on Strictly Rhythm. With this one I took an accapella from a classic soulful Strictly record, Colonel Abrams - Victim Of Loving You. The lead vocal fits nicely over the dark MIIS groove.

Into another exclusive, it was a remix that came in a bit late on the big Quentin Harris single, My Joy, from last year. Wales's finest soulful house producer Sean McCabe programmes some killer beats and delivers a monster remix of a record, which some would say isn't the easiest record to re-visit – love what he did on it and this is the only place the remix is available.
Then follows one of my favourite Strictly Rhythm vocal records. A somewhat under exposed record from Ultra Naté – I Don't Understand It – it's a trademark Ultra and Mood II Swing production/song, which just hits the nail on the head for me.

Now this next one, I really had enjoyed re-working with. I was digging through some old Strictly records when I put this together and I stumbled across an old Roger Sanchez groove, Shake Shake – I decided to give it a cheeky little facelift and grabbed the drums from ATFC's remix of Wondrous and a few elements from Marlon D's – Jesus Creates Sound – mashed them together with a few FX and the outcome was this edit – which I think works nicely, it has a traditional Strictly vibe but with a new edge to it. And it's another exclusive! Actually the rest of the mix is pure exclusive mixes or edits... Tedd Patterson got to grips with one of his favourite Strictly grooves and the result was this wicked edit of the tribal sounds of OK Alright by Buddah Khan.

The penultimate track of my mix is one of my favourite tracks from the label – the original is an MAW production – it's Hardrive – Deep Inside – this is the 2009 remix by a guy who started his career with the label, Harry Choo Choo Romero, and this is his Version Three mix – which is different to the ravier version that Erick Morillo has used on his recent Strictly comp. This version really works for me and I think the mix into the next track is the highlight of the comp as far as two records sounding hot in the mix goes I drop in the Spen edit of the Henrik Schwarz remix of Code 718 – Equinox and just run with it for a good few minutes. They work together like bread and butter! It gives the Henrik mix that extra beef that (for me) it was missing... I hope you enjoy listening to this mix as much as I enjoyed putting it together...


How and when did you first come across Strictly Rhythm Records, Inc?

I think the first record I came across on Strictly Rhythm was Barbara Tucker - Stay Together, or Mood II Swing – All Night Long (which was on a Strictly-affiliated label, Groove On).I was introduced to the label by a very good friend of mine Nigel Wildman, who also introduced me to house music. At the time we were working at Virgin Records, which funnily enough was located right next door to the Strictly UK Office. We always used to try to hustle the latest Strictly test pressings, which were like gold dust!


What does Strictly Rhythms really represent to you?

The mix represents more of the newer sound of Strictly than the older – originally I wanted to do it as more of my all-time favourite Strictly moments with a couple of new ones thrown in, but it actually ended up being the other way round. I'm cool with that, it's all about representing my sound not being all about soulful house or old school house... I'm a house DJ meaning I can cover a lot of different sides of the spectrum. I can bang it out or I can play smooth and soulful. At the end of the day it's all house and as long as it's hot then I'm with it...


Who are your Strictly heroes?

MAW but they couldn't record on Strictly under that name, so they went under the names: Sole Fusion & Hardrive.Mood II Swing – killer production for Ultra Naté and early Full Swing releases and records on sub-label Groove On. DJ Pierre, Todd Terry and E-Smoove complete my list.

What's your favourite Strictly track(s)? You can have five goes if you can't pick one.


In no particular order...

Hardrive – Deep Inside
River Ocean – Love & Happiness
George Morel – Let's Groove
Barbara Tucker – Stay Together / Beautiful People
Ultra Naté – I Don't Understand It


Tell us about your day job...

Three days a week I work for Defected / Strictly Rhythm as A&R manager, basically meaning I work very closely with the artists and the catalogue of repertoire or tracks, signing new artists and records and also working the catalogue with remixes and compilations.


We haven't formally announced it yet but you're going to be playing at the Strictly Rhythm 20th Anniversary bash in London in June. What are Strictly events like these days?

All the Strictly events I've played at have been wicked. The best so far was with Kenny Dope and Todd Terry at Pacha in Ibiza. A great moment for me... I think now the label is re-established the events will take on a new life too. There's a strong NYC vibe at the events, which is of course the home of Strictly!


What else should people know about Aaron Ross?

I also produce records under Fanatix with Neil Pierce, I'm part of the Restless Soul collective and I come from a music business family – my Mum and Dad and my uncle have all had successful careers in the more mainstream side of the music business working for major record companies.



You can download Strictly Rhythms Vol.1, mixed by Aaron Ross from Monday March 23 in most territories around the world and from Friday April 10 in North America and Mexico.

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