Chris Price is a self-described “record nerd” with a finger firmly on the pulse of the DC music scene. As such, he was ill from the top 40 nights played out all over the city and diagnosed the need for an “underground-alt NY style party” for Washingtonians. So he started Unknown Pleasures with his label Future Forward Records as a cure to the Top 40 blues and the rest is history. An injection of house-sythpop-electronica taken once a week is just what the doctor ordered and what party goers were jones-ing for.
This Saturday, Chris Price is joining forces with Richmond’s own Weird for a night of electro powered good times at New York Deli. We asked him a few questions to get you excited about it.
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Chris Price is a self-described “record nerd” with a finger firmly on the pulse of the DC music scene. As such, he was ill from the top 40 nights played out all over the city and diagnosed the need for an “underground-alt NY style party” for Washingtonians. So he started Unknown Pleasures with his label Future Forward Records as a cure to the Top 40 blues and the rest is history. An injection of house-sythpop-electronica taken once a week is just what the doctor ordered and what party goers were jones-ing for.
This Saturday, Chris Price is joining forces with Richmond’s own Weird for a night of electro powered good times at New York Deli. We asked him a few questions to get you excited about it.
So, are you a native Washingtonian?
I grew up here in Virginia, northern Virginia, then Tidewater for my teenage years. I’ve been back up here in the DC area for about ten years now.
What kind of music did you listen to when you were young?
We had lots of music at our house. It was almost like a small record store there, although no one really knew what or where anything was. It was mostly an unexplored collection, so as I started getting really into music as a kid I had the chance to dig through them and find stuff that looked interesting to me. In my teenage years, that mostly turned out to be classic rock — Floyd, Clapton, Zeppelin, Neil Young, etc. — the usual suspects.
My mom had a very small collection of 45‘s and singles, and in contrast to my Dad and me at the time she actually knew what she had and where to find it. She had some great late 70s/early 80s pop/disco stuff like Prince, Patrice Rushen, The Time, and Stevie Wonder that she played a lot of the time. Good stuff.
Aside from a little Devo, Bowie, and my Mom’s stuff, though, I was a pretty straight-ahead classic rock enthusiast until later in high school. Since then, I have been almost entirely focused on alternative and independent music — the dancier side of which is showcased during my party nights. Although I touch on several different forms of electronic music during the course of a set, my favorite music to play at DJ parties is classic house.
Nice! Can you define what you mean by “house”? That term seems to be applied pretty liberally these days…
Well, there is a subset of modern dance music out nowadays that calls itself “house,” using the genre label very loosely in my opinion. Think spray tans, fist pumping, and basically any “dance” track with a Black Eyed Peas guest vocalist. I dunno, it’s basically top 40. My beef with this music is not its quality — there’s a time and a place for it. My problem with it is that by using the term “house” to describe itself, it’s effectively tainting the meaning of the genre tag. It reminds me of what happened to disco back in the late 70s. The commercialized “disco” post Saturday Night Fever basically killed that genre. To this day there’s a connotation associated with the term disco, even though there are a ton of records from that time that are actually pretty cool.
Thankfully, I don’t think that will happen with today’s house music, but who knows. To answer your question, I play the opposite of this stuff — true house records and those influenced by the classic house sound from the 80s and 90s. I would encourage anyone who is interested to look deeper than commercial “house” on the radio. There is a difference, and you’ll know it when you hear it.
Agreed. So what are some of your musical inspirations?
Tony Wilson/Factory Records, Larry Levan, James Murphy, Radiohead, Mark E. Smith. I’m getting old, so I’m always inspired by creative individuals who are successful (not necessarily making money, but able to do what they are passionate about, on their own terms) in their 30s and beyond.
Speaking of 30-somethings doing what they’re passionate about…I wanted to ask you about your various projects. Can you tell us a little about Unknown Pleasure?
Unknown Pleasures is a party that I throw regularly in DC. It focuses on underground-yet-accessible dance music — mostly various forms of classic house and modern tracks inspired by classic house, but really you could hear a bit of everything there, depending on the evening. Definitely no top 40 or hip-hop, though.
And you also own Future Forward Records?
Yeah, it’s a small independent label I run on which I release original music and remixes. FFWD also (obviously) sponsors ‘Unknown Pleasures’ and any other parties we happen to throw around the city.
The concept of a traditional record label is such a thing of the past now, when I started working on music I figured, “why not just open my own label?,” so I did. I do a fair amount of (re)mixing and production work, so this year I’m going to start thinking about working with some up and coming bands, perhaps with the intent of releasing some new artists on FFWD.
Can you talk about some of the bands you would like to put out on your label? Specific bands or what you look for in terms of style of music…
Oh man…I listen to a lot of different stuff, so I’m not sure I could limit us by genre. I just look for things that are interesting and have potential. Yes, we specialize in producing dance, synth pop/rock, but I don’t think I’d limit any future releases to those genres. Very generally speaking, I tend to prefer stuff with an edge of some sort to it. Three of my favorite artists/bands are popping into my head when I think about releasing other people’s material: Kate Bush, Talking Heads, and My Bloody Valentine.
Speaking of artists, who is your favorite artist that you’ve worked with?
Probably Gang of Four. I’m a big fan of their older stuff…Entertainment!, etc. — the opportunity to remix a single from their newest release was really cool. Of course, I turned their post-punk into acid house, so I’m not sure how they felt about the results. Haha.
I’m sure they’ll love it. What’s your take on the DC nightlife scene?
I really don’t get out in DC for too much other than our parties and to see bands play, so I’m certainly not an expert. From a non-socialite’s perspective, though, there are some really good live music venues in the city that I enjoy. Although I have yet to go there, I hear U St. Music Hall is pretty awesome. They are constantly booking some incredible DJ’s, and their sound system is supposedly top notch. Todd Terry was there a few weeks ago. Anyway, I plan to check it out soon. I was in touch with Will Eastman (co-owner) many years ago when he was doing the Bliss party at the Black Cat and I was just starting out with my party. He seemed like a good guy, so I’m very happy to see him not only succeeding, but doing something great for DC dance music.
And now enquiring minds want to know…Do you dance at parties?
I have been known to do so at my parties, but I doubt I’d call it “dancing”. It’s more like a seizure. Have you seen that KXVO Pumpkin Dance on Youtube? Now that guy has moves…
Are you sexy?
Do you like record nerds who have less dance moves than Ian Curtis?
Haha, no comment… Now, tell us a secret.
I’m actually a practicing street mime who doesn’t know the first bit about DJ’ing. Our party on the 19th is going to be a really quiet affair.
A quiet dance party? Well, that would be pretty weird… Oh, and I almost forgot, are there any projects you have been working on lately that you would like to share with us?
I’ve got a few remixes in the works. I just finished a pretty cool remix for Sleigh Bells a few months ago. Other than that, just ‘Unknown Pleasures’ stuff.
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http://soundcloud.com/info-193/gang-of-four-i-party-all-the-time-chris-price-remix
Gang of Four – I Party All the Time (Chris Price remix) by cpricemusic
http://soundcloud.com/info-193/sleigh-bells-run-the-heart-chris-price-remix
Sleigh Bells – Run the Heart (Chris Price Remix) by cpricemusic
