RB Exclusive Interview: Michael Woods Talks The Clash, Michael Jackson, Alison Limerick and Being From London, Baby!

Michael Woods has been a prominent force in electronic music to as far back as the 1990’s, producing the UK #1 club hit “Warrior” in 1999 and later going on to produce multiple Singles chart top 100’s over the next decade. In 2011, Woods produced the UK #1 track, “Changed the Way You Kiss Me” for rapper Example which went on to sell over 582,000 copies, as well as receive a 2012 BRIT Award nomination.

Today, Woods is still as active of a presence as ever, touring worldwide, playing massive festivals, and influencing artists around him. As he closes up his 2015 and brings his productions into 2016 which he promises to be a year of experimentation, Michael Woods has delivered a track that truly sets itself apart from others the producer has crafted. Perhaps a hint of what’s to come in the future, Michael Woods’ “London Baby” not only shows off what the producer is capable of, but also gives us a little insight into the producers life.

As part of the release of this track, Michael Woods was kind enough to chat with me about “London Baby”, and the music that he listened to growing up in the UK and how these electronic and non-electronic tracks influenced him to create the music that he does today. Check out what Michael Woods had to say!

Let’s start with your track “London Baby”. It’s upbeat, it’s deep, it’s unique. Different from previous Michael Woods selections, where did the idea for this track originate, both in concept and musically?

“My studio sessions comprise a lot of experimentation and I don’t always know what the end product is going to be – in the case of London Baby! I experimented with some different methods to make really cool bass sounds using a distorted kick through a limiter plugin. I thought it sounded pretty different and cool and just ran with it. I think, because there are so many DJs nowadays making so much music, music-lovers tend to move on to the next thing pretty quick simply due to the pure amount of music available to them. So as a result, music is evolving at an increasing rate and I think DJs always have to think further ahead just to stay in the game. Wait until you hear the next release, that’s different again. I just like to show my range.”

You being from London must have a significant influence on the music you create. Can you elaborate on how your country and it’s music have influenced your career as a producer and as a musician?

“Yeah it amazes that this tiny country (UK) has always pushed the boundaries musically for the world, certainly from The Beatles/Rolling Stones onwards. Dance music has been no different, when it kicked off a radical cultural explosion in the late 1980s. Dance music has permeated every man, woman and child’s consciousness ever since, me included. That had a distinct impact on me alongside my love of all things ‘dance’ before that. We just didn’t quite have the platform for it that then emerged and has been sustained ever since. How could I not be influenced by say The Prodigy?”

The Goodmen – Give It Up

“This is the reason I fell in love with dance music. It blew my mind. These guys are genius and you may know now them as Chocolate Puma.“

Now you sent over a few tracks that really helped to influence you over the years. When looking at these six tracks there is quite the eclectic mix of genres and styles. Starting with “Give it Up” by The Goodmen, now known as Chocolate Puma, what is it about this track that made you fall in love with electronic music?

“You have to understand that before this one track surfaced there was a formula emerging – piano house was massive at the time. This with its batucada drum intro that sped up, bringing the anticipation alongside the hypnotic ‘Give It Up, Yeah’ lyric was radical in its time. It just blew everyone away and reinforces that dance music never stands still for too long. These guys are still top of their game.”

The Clash – Guns of Brixton

“I loved the vibe of this in our house even if I didn’t honestly know the context at the time. Predating the Brixton Riots but the sentiment hit the nail on the head for what was going on at the time.”

The next track you sent was “Guns of Brixton” by The Clash, sort of a mix of reggae and punk. The lyrics of this song hold political undertones, but that is not the reason for the song’s influence. Can you tell me what it was like for you and your family in the Woods residency when “Guns of Brixton” played through the house on the stereo?

“I was still very young and an aspiring musician, so I was hooked on the bass line and the fact that there was a song about Brixton. I was like, I’ve heard of that place and it ain’t New York! No doubt it had a different meaning to the rest of the family but the beauty of music is it brings you your own meaning. It wasn’t like we heard this and went all radical, marching down the streets of Hackney. However, when I look back something was definitely simmering in the air.”

The Style Council – Walls Come Tumbling Down

“Memories of the long summer six weeks holidays, hanging out with mates and generally getting up to no good.”

The Style Council’s “Walls Come Tumbling Down”, a song about revolt and breaking barriers, is the next choice. Now you say this one reminds you of hanging out with friends and generally getting up to no good, which is quite appropriate for this particular track. What was it like for you and your friends growing up, listening to music, and getting up to no good? Was music something that all of you bonded over and what influence did music have on friendships during your formative years?

“Yes of course, music becomes the soundtrack to your weekend, summer holiday, friends and lovers. For me a track is like a photograph – a memory or reminder of a mate for example. This one was at a time when I started to take a serious interest in the opposite sex, dressing up, trying to stay out late and filling my days during the 6 week summer holiday. Hanging out, each of us having a crack at vocaling the Weller lyrics, seems funny now how serious we took it. We were like ‘we should form a band’. Only thing was I was the only who could play a note!”

Michael Jackson – Beat It

“That intro, friends trying to out out do each over the J-curls, gloves and fedoras.”

Everyone is familiar with the next track, “Beat It” by The King of Pop, Michael Jackson. This song is not from London, but it carried with it a worldwide presence. What toll did “Beat It” take on the UK music scene and how did the phenomenal track sway you in one direction or another with the music you would go on to create?

“In this particular era Michael Jackson’s songs weren’t just a ‘release’ – they were an ‘event’! This was before the explosion of cable and satellite tv, so his video premieres were a mammoth event – everyone was allowed to stay up late to watch this and the ‘Thriller’videos drop on Channel 4 I think. There’s probably no one who has quite come close to that since. He could do no wrong (musically) during this period and was almost mythical. That had a significant impact on me although I couldn’t articulate it at the time, to have such a sway on the world. Musically, it reinforced my need to practice the piano if I was ever going to make it; didn’t need to be nagged by my dad at that point!”

Ronnie Laws, Always There, Original Version

“The original and the best jam in every hackney house party.”

“Always There” by Ronnie Laws you credit with being the best jam in every Hackney house party. What was it like at a Hackney house party? What were the vibes? what kind of crowd? What would you be drinking and eating? Make us feel like we are standing there with “Always There” playing through the house at a Hackney house party.

“I have to be careful that this doesn’t come off as a chiché. What I do recall is more the overall vibe. Things felt a little more carefree, people relaxed and it was a ‘warm’ feeling. When I look back at this time I’m struck by how close families use to be and how children had to fit in with their parents’ lifestyle. I remember always falling asleep on a big pile of coats while the adults got their groove on into the night. There weren’t nannies or any of the “I have to go now, it’s Johnny’s bedtime and I have to stick to his routine’. They just got on with it and we got a taste. I think I developed that taste as I’m known to enjoy a little party now and then too.”

Alison Limerick – Where Love Lives

“Was fascinated by the pianos in this track and was always trying to recreate it when at the piano as a kid“

And with the last track, “Where Love Lives” by Alison Limerick, we break into 90’s dance music. This song was a club anthem and probably the closest thing on the list to the music that we would hear in clubs today. You say as a child that this song’s piano enthralled you. In your career, would you say that you have a track on the same level as “Where Love Lives”? London Baby perhaps? And if not, what is it about “Where Love Lives” that helps it stand the test of time?

“Well that’s very subjective and probably for others to comment on. What I would say is I have had significant success in my career, from my first top 20 UK hit ‘Warrior’ in 1999 to producing Example’s #1 single ‘Changed The Way You Kissed Me’ with a hell of a lot music in between. Not all radio hits but club hits, that in their own way sustained me and my career. Hopefully I’m doing something right still to be able to answer your questions at this point.”

With such a diverse mix of tracks and each of them having some sort of personal context, would a Spotify playlist titled “The Life and Times of Michael Woods” be an accurate descriptor for your life in music prior to the start of your career?

“No, ‘Bring Me The Head Of Michael Woods’ would be. But that’s another story…”

I want to thank Michael Woods for taking the time to answer these questions, and I hope that they helped to get a better sense of the man behind the music. You can download “London Baby” now and catch Michael Woods playing a number of nightclub shows in the US starting with his New Years Eve performance in San Diego!

Stay Connected With Michael Woods:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwoodsonline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelWoods
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michaelwoods