How was 2018 for you?
Ashley Beedle: Busy! Spent almost all of it in North Street Studios which has become my second home. Also, listened to a lot of new music discovering some fantastic talent that’s out there — got to love Spotify!
Highlights?
- Joseph Malik’s Diverse Part 2 LP on Ramrock Red Records
- Working with F*CLR and Ramrock Records and developing the North Street remix brand alongside artist development – Glenn Davis, Blazers, Mutenoise, Bon Voyage + Kameelah Waheed.
- Visiting New York and LA – Doing Tim Sweeney’s Beats in Space radio show in NY + loved the Bruce Talamon photography exhibition at the Grammy Museum, LA.
- São Paolo – brilliant reggae exhibition featuring all the original sound system memorabilia – when’s this coming to the UK?
Lowlights?
The passing of too many special people: Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson, George Power, Tommy Chase, Gary Haisman
The proliferation of hastily produced ‘edits’ — little or no quality control! Listen to some of Joey Negro’s masterful productions, people — that’s how you do it.
Song of the year?
Blazers’ “Side2Side,” a track created by French producer Tim Suillard, who has no hesitation in getting stuck into the reworking of a sample. Blazers reminds me very much of a young Daft Punk.
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Same as last year: I don’t make them! Just continue to embrace everything that comes my way with optimism, stay well and make people smile with music.