Josh The Funky 1, has been grabbing attention lately , he hails from Chicago, the home of House Music. A DJ for over a decade his style covers the gamut of House, from Uplifting Vocals to Dirty Tech…. Pumpin Big-room to Jacking Chicago….its representative of the influences and fusions heard around the world in modern House Music. Ever the performer, “The Funky 1” has become synonymous with using scratching, loops, acapellas, & effects, while also playing on three CDJ decks, allowing for an unparallel level of creativity in his live sets.

Buying a pair of decks while still in grade school, Josh discovered the art of scratching and was instantly mesmerized. His passion and persistence for the art form proved to be worthwhile, as he has since become a D.M.C. Midwest Finalist and a winner of the W.M.C.- D.J. Spin-Off Battle.

His first exposure to house music came through Chicago radio station B96 (96.3 fm), where every Friday and Saturday night he locked into the sounds of DJ’s Julian “jumpin” Perez and Bad Boy Bill. It’s only naturally fitting then that in 2001 Josh The Funky 1 was hired to became a weekly resident on the exact same Mix Show that initially hooked him in. Nowadays you can find Josh at the forefront of digital era, with his own Radio Podcast on I-tunes, allowing him to go beyond the Chicago airwaves and reach a global audience of listeners.

As is the natural progression for DJ’s to start producing their own music, it was while still a teenager that Josh found himself releasing his first original productions on Chicago based label, International House Records (I.H.R.).

Owned by the legendary DJ, Bad Boy Bill, he quickly snapped up Josh’s single “Been in Love” and featured it on the “Bangin The Box 3” mix compilation.
Never one to be content, Josh also found and launched his own label, Funktion Recordings in 2001. Set up as an outlet for both international artists as well as his own output, he began a partnership with long time friend and associate, Gus Calderone in 2005. Both passionate and sharing the same vision, they have worked tirelessly at bringing the U.S. based label to the forefront of the International Dance Music world.

Now in 2008, he plans to further increase his output of original material/remixes more so then ever. As he’s been climbing high on DJDownload charts for a while, thought we should know more about him…

Who or what has been the biggest influence?
Chicago, in its heyday

What would you rate as the best experience that you’ve had in the music scene so far?
Coming from America, flying across the pond for the first time to Europe was by far my best experience

What have been up to lately and what can we expect from you over the next couple of months?
The usual….. Bit a DJing , bit a Producing, bit of A&Ring….People can expect some exciting collaborations with several international artists this year.

Which one do you enjoy the most, Djing or producing?
DJing, I love the immediate feedback and I love being in front of a crowd.

What do you see as your main strengths as a producer?
I grew up in Chicago, I think the history here and growing up in the scene during its prime
really gives you an edge as a producer and DJ.

What can people expect from your live show?
3 Decks , EFX, Acapellas, Scratching

What makes a party good & bad?
An Enthusiastic crowd makes any party regardless of size.

Is a DJ a star today? Or does he have to be more than just a DJ?
He is, but he has to be a lot more then just a DJ

Do you sample, use old records, listen to them, or how does your producing process go?
I love sampling and digging through old records, even if I don’t use it, its always a good
source of inspiration for a production.

What was the party that affected you a lot?
There isn’t one particular, it’s an accumulation of all the parties over the years.

Which is more appealing to you while djing - to dig out a relatively old track, or play the newest release?
The newest release, especially if it’s hot, theres nothing like the
anticipation of seeing how the crowd will react.

What is the most interesting comment you have heard about your music?
A girl told me it makes her moist, down stairs……not the kind of stuff you share with your mom, but interesting to hear nonetheless.

Is it the technique that is important? Or the selection or the looks or the moves?
Are we talking about sex?

Is there something that you don’t like about this scene or things that pissed you off along the way?
Just the seeing how many people are only in it for the quasi- fame they think it gives them.

What’s the single most exciting thing about dance music at the moment in your opinion?
The music is truly international now, I don’t think there is anywhere that isn’t exposed to dance music and that lends itself to some very exciting opportunities.
Who’s been your favourite musician or producer that you have worked with over the years?
Harrison Crump ,I learned a lot from him on production and getting your sounds right.

Who is rocking your boat these days and who are your top tips for 2008? /What DJ’s and producers are doing it for you these days?
Franky Rizardo from Holland, just did an ep for our label Funktion Recordings, and has remixed my new tune “It’s the Music” as well.

If you could have anyone remix any of your tracks, who would it be and why?
Armand Van Helden, cause he’s a legend, and you never know where he’s gonna take it.

Which dj would you most like to punch and why?
Either, The one that won’t get of the decks when its your time to go on cause he’s hanging on to his 15 minutes of fame, or the one that is supposed to be opening for you but decides he wants to be the star and play a bunch of anthems just before you go on. (ohh I’m feeling a Dj Assault incident here !)

What non dance music do you listen to in say your car CD or on the stereo in the kitchen?
Talk radio

What is the craziest after party you’ve ever been to or played at?
On the cayman islands in a jet boat with bunch of people I just met, speeding through the ocean in the pitch black.

Where’s your favourite place to play ?
UK, people just get dance music there.

How do you handle obsessive groupies? (The hot ones)
With care

Then how do you handle obsessive groupies? (The ugly ones)
swiftly

And then how do you handle obsessive groupies? (The guys)
They just usually want to chat your ear off, so you gotta know
how to end the conversation.

What’s your best tip for getting money out of dodgy promoters?
Rule # 1 - Get paid before you go on.

Which is your personal favourite track that you’ve produced & why?
“Universal Sound” just cause of the title, it really sums up dance music to me

What would you say is the most difficult aspect of music production?
Making it sound like what you hear in your head.

What is the best thing, and the worst thing about the dance music scene?
The music and people are the best, the worst is some of the dodgy people you have
to encounter and deal with along the way.

What are your favourite production tools /gadgets?
Ableton live

What do you think about this whole minimal craze and do you support that?
A lot of it sounds like updated Chicago house from the early 80’s, so It’s really nothing new,
and i’m not impressed.

What’s your all time favourite tune?
Something by Todd Terry or Masters at Work

If there is one rule in life to live by, what is it?
Make it happen

What destroys music?
The same style and sound being copycatted over and over.

What keeps it alive?
New Ideas

What are your plans for the rest of the year in terms of production and general music related business? What is your aim as a producer, what ambitions have you got?
More collaborations and original production, my goal as a producer is to try and make tunes that can last longer then a week in this increasingly flooded and disposable market

Any news, updates, new productions, events, etc that you would like people to know about?

My new single “It’s the music” is out now.

What’s the perfect holiday for you?
Someplace where my phone doesn’t work and theres no internet connection.

Do you believe a good life is attainable? Or is it something that is out of our control i.e. subject to luck etc.
Depends on what your idea of a good life is

What attracts you most?
confidence

Who was your hero as a child?
Michael Jackson

What do you do for fun?
Watch a flick

What are you most proud of in your life?
Having the balls to go full force into this crazy music buisness

If you had to pick one car, which would it be?
Any car that had my own driver, to take me back and forth to the airport.

If you could pick anyone dead or alive to have lunch with, who would it be?
Rick Rubin, the man is a living legend.

What is the meaning of life?
Let me get back to you on that one.

What is your biggest turn off?
An adams apple

Favourite Rapper?
Rakim

If you could time travel, what would be your first stop?
Chicago circa 1985

What is your favourite TV show?
“Californication”

If you could time travel to the past to correct any mistakes you feel you’ve made would you?
No

Click here for his exclusive chart

Josh The Funky 1 @ Houston TX, Praia Urbana

Josh The Funky 1 - Video Podcast - Live @ Knubel Klubbing