NUTsMag recently caught up with Sean Chapman for a quick chat about music…
1. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?
As a teenager in the 1970’s I first got into pop whilst still at school. In 1976 I started going to Cleethorpes Winter Gardens and grew to love northern soul, I also loved punk and then got into the Mod revival in late 1978 while it was still underground and before the bands established themselves in 1979. I just like good music which includes Bowie. Anything Mod. Punk. Soul. Reggae. Britpop. Also some of the new kids on the block like the Strypes and The 45’s and anything else that tickles my fancy.
2. Where was your first DJ slot?
My first DJ appearance was at Trowbridge in 1982, a northern soul event. Although I have been Djaying for over 30 years, the first 15 years because I was in The RAF (30 years service and very proud of it), I never got established as I was moving every couple of years including Holland and Belgium, When I came back from Holland in 1998 I started to really establish myself at all the major events.
3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?
I have had some very memorable DJ spots at nearly all of the major events, both UK, Europe and The US but always enjoy Kings Hall Stoke, when there is 1000+ in there, it rocks! Although I have performed to 4000 at Prestatyn on many occasions, my favourite event has to be “Someday” in Madrid All Nighter in 2014, the atmosphere that night was mental!
4. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?
On a few occasions and all when I played to a mixed crowd venue, you get the drunk telling me what a w***er I am because I won’t play ‘the Snake’ Or ‘Do I Love You’. Just no need, let the DJ get on with it and trust them.
5. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?
I always looked up to DJ’s like Rick Scott, John Manship and Poke who were the residents at Cleethorpes and Dave Thorley at Yate and the biggest influence on me has been Soul Sam. These guys were always prepared to try something different, it did not always work out, but they had the balls to play it. Currently, no northern soul DJ influences me as such, but I do like RnB/Mod DJ’s Callum Simpson, Mik Parry and Mace.
6. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?
I always love a full dance floor naturally and I like the tempo upbeat and mixing the genres! However, I am always looking for a new sound and if that means I lose the floor for a record, it does not phase me, as in order to break records you need to make a start somewhere, if you believe in a record just keep playing and if its good enough you will get the floor moving. I always try to put something different into my sets. Over the last five years I believe I have a set what is unique to most of the other DJ’s.
7. What was your best ever find/discovery?
I have really enjoyed playing some of the BIG mod tunes and then breaking them on the northern soul scene. If they have Rhythm and the Beat, I do not care what genre it is. I suppose the biggest records which have been Monster tunes on the Mod scene for years have been Jonathan Caprice – Gonna Build Me A Mountain and Manny Corchado – Pow Wow, which I have also played in my northern soul sets for the last 5 years.
8. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favourite artist(s)?
I have always loved the Mod, Skinhead and Northern Soul scene plus Punk and Britpop. Favourite Artists in no particular order: Otis Redding. Marvin Gaye. Tammi Terrell. Aretha Franklin. The Jam. Small Faces. The Who.
9. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?
No I only collect records I can use for Djaying, although I do collect a very wide spectrum which includes Mod. Latin. Reggae Ska and Rocksteady. RnB, Northern Soul and I am a collector of UK DEMO’s.
10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?
Resident at Stoke Kings Hall, Blackburn and Keele All Nighter’s. Out Of Time Mod Night Wolverhampton. Prestatyn, Blackpool Tower and Whitby weekender’s. Toon (Gateshead), Wellingborough and Dunkenhalgh All Dayer’s.
11. What is the record you would most like to own?
Still chasing Larry Clinton – She’s Wanted In Three States and Joseph Webster – My Love Is So Strong.
12. Please give us a top 10 all time favourites and a current top 5 spins?
Top 10 Tracks of All Time:
1. Eddie Parker – She’s Gone – Awake.
2. Hamilton Movement – She’s Gone – Lok-Out.
3. Precisions – If This Is Love – Drew DEMO.
4. Al Williams – I Am Nothing – Palmer DEMO.
5. Damon Fox – Packin Up – Fairmount.
6. Soul Bros Inc – Pyramid – Golden Eye.
7. Parisians – Twinkle Little Star – Demon Hot.
8. Del Larks – Job Opening – Queen City.
9. Little Tommy – Baby Can’t You Wait – Sound Of Soul.
10. Jam – Going Underground – Polydor.
Current Top 5 Tracks:
1. Jonathan Caprice – Gonna Build Me A Mountain
2. Dewy Black – Taking Love Where I Find It.
3. Strangeloves – Night Time.
4. Los Sonidos – Les Adolescence – RCA
5. Parisians – Cockroach – Demon Hot.
Web Links: www.chapmanrecords.co.uk
Facebook: Club A Go-Go
Next event:
Blackpool International Soul Festival, Whitey Weekender, Stoke Kings Hall All Nighter.
Don’t forget to tune into my weekly radio show Club A GO-GO (playing a mix of 60’s club soul, RnB, Motown, Latin and Boogaloo plus Reggae and Ska) every Wednesday 7-9pm on 107.3 Staffordfm, check it out for details check my facebook page and also check out www.chapmanrecords.co.uk for the very best in Mod, Northern Soul and reggae and Ska.
