JDNB Interview - Crate Classics - Jamie Rodigan and Aaron Horn
From playing Glastonbury 2019 and Parklife 2019, and originally hailing from West London, Jamie Rodigan has grown up with music in his blood. Being the son of the legendary radio broadcaster Sir David «RamJam» Rodigan music has played a pivotal role throughout his life. In 2016 he teamed up with producer and long-time friend Aaron Horn to collaborate as Crate Classics and Red Bull Music premiered their debut track which received support from Mistajam, David Rodigan (BBC 1Xtra) and Tom Robinson(BBC Radio 6) amongst others and saw Mixmag described them as “ones to watch” for 2016 - so we have a quick catch up and see what's goin' on!
Tell us about your DJ name, what it means, what it represents to you, it's related to your Dad right?
Crate Classics relates back to our youth and having boxes of records around the house. Music has always been an integral part of my life growing up so it felt natural to incorporate it into our production alia
When did you first start listening to dnb and do you like any other genres?
I started listening to Jungle Christmas Day 1994 when I got given a Jungle Mania CD by my parents. I’d heard it sporadically on the radio but not really paid much attention to it other than what I heard on daytime Kiss FM. I was hooked from then because it fused together all the genres I grew up listening to and loved such as Reggae, Dancehall, Rare Groove, Rap and RnB.
What track got you into jungle and dnb?
The first track that got me into Jungle was ‘Sound Murderer’ by Remarc.
What are your top 5 tracks right now?
Tell us about your label, I keep getting such wicked music thank you ;)
The label has been running for five years now and we have been releasing one single every month since the end of 2021. It’s been amazing getting the chance to write music with some really talented artists such as Jodian Natty and we are super blessed to be able to release the collaborations on our label.
Can you tell us about your Grammy nominations for co-production on Doja Cat ‘Planet Her’ album?
Tell us about the Co-production on Runkus album “In:side”
Runkus is an incredibly talented artist from Portmore in Jamaica. We connected back in 2017 at a festival in Belgium and linked up when he came to London and voiced two tracks in 2019. “Pose For Me” was one of the tracks that we had been working on remotely back-and-forth between Jamaica and the UK and it took shape from there.
Tell us about where you have DJed so far and your favourite DJ experiences.
I've played all over UK and Europe. Favourite gig would have to be Overjam Festival watching the sun come up in Slovenia alongside a river.
Do you mix and master your own tracks?
Yes we mix and master all our tracks.
Which labels inspire you and why?
DJ Hype and Playaz have always inspired me. Also Dave Kelly's Madhouse label made some outstanding music.
What do you think about the JDNB website?
JDNB website is great. Always have a browse on their for info.
If I saw you at the bar, what are you drinking?
Probably drinking a Guinness.
Tell us about the "Jungle Fire" series and what's on the forthcoming list.
Jungle Fire was our first Jungle release on the label and a chance for us to express ourselves in that genre. We ended up doing 3 volumes and remixes including one from one of my all time fave Jungle producers Chatta B from Kemet.
Where do you see yourselves in 5 years time?
In 5 years time I want to have released more quality music, done some tracks with original vocals, and maybe branched out into some other genres.
What are your fav radio stations or shows in London?
Reprezent Radio and 1Xtra.
Tell us about your personality traits, your good ones and your bad ones....
Good personality trait is that I'm very creative. Bad personality trait is i'm a bit forgetful lol.
Whats up next for you?
Next up is a vocal Jungle Drum n Bass track with London production group Peso Life forthcoming on Another Rhythm label.
How can producers get in touch with you to send demos?
Email us your demos at crtclssx@gmail.com
Thanks for your time and all the best for 2022 and beyond!!
Interview by Missrepresent April 2022
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