DJ Jack McCord Interview

How long have you been DJ’ing for Hed Kandi and how did you first get on board with them?

"It's coming up to 6 years now. I started touring the Hed Kandi events through Australia then on into Asia / Pacific. The label signed a couple of my tracks and I suppose I must have done something right in the DJ booth so eventually I came on board full-time as a Hed Kandi DJ. Now I'm one of the longest serving members on the team."

 

What does the brand mean to you?

"I still think Hed Kandi is the best house music record label in the world plus to me personally it represents so many unforgettable moments and memories of good times, great friends and crazy parties right around the world. We've already come a long way but this brand has the vision and the energy to keep on developing over the years to come."

 

What’s your favourite Hed Kandi album or series, and why?

"That's one very tough question to answer... I'm a big fan of so many of the albums and in my opinion all the releases lately have been top class. If you pushed me I'd have to say Disco Kandi moves me most of all. It's the closest to the vibe on a typical Hed Kandi dancefloor with a big room sound, loads of vocals but still with plenty of drive to keep the crowd rocking all night."

 

Give us your first impressions of the Hed Kandi Beach Bar venue?

"Wow! What an amazing place. For once I was a little bit speechless. Believe me I've seen a lot of clubs and this place is one of my absolute favourites. From the entrance through to the bar, the restaurant... out onto the open-air dancefloor... dancing the beach under the stars... there's nowhere else quite like it. I LOVE playing this venue!"

 

With Ministry of Sound Red Sea and Hed Kandi Beach Bar both running successfully in Hurghada, Egypt – do you think we could be talking about a serious clubbing destination, either at present or in the near future? If so what else is required?

"Absolutely There's plenty to keep the club kids going every night of the week plus there's boating, kite surfing, scuba, quad biking and the beautiful craziness that is Egypt. Plus you've got Sharm El-Sheikh just across the sea so I can really see this location taking off as a serious clubbing / adventure holiday destination."

 

What was the team at Hed Kandi Beach Bar like?

"I don't want to give the secret away, but the team at Hed Kandi Beach Bar are the duck's nuts. They not only make the party, they also make you feel like you've come back to your second home. Top crew!"

 

How was the actual club-night you played at?

"Off the hook! I've played a few gigs there and every time it has gone nuts. The crowd is gorgeous and totally up for it with a good mix of people from all over the world absolutely having it. Large."

 

What tunes got the biggest reactions on the night?

"Again this is a tough one to pick specifically, but from memory the last time I played Axwell's 'I Found You' and Wez Clarke's 'Stepping To My Bitch' were the two that really stood out as sending everybody crazy."

 

How did the crowd differ from your normal clientele? Their response, musical preferences etc?

"If you mean is the Hurghada crowd more into the vibe than most other places then yes, definitely. They fucking love it and they're not afraid to show it."

 

Which are you best three clubbing cities / countries worldwide, and why?

"Egypt, Greece and Spain. I always have amazing experiences any time I play in these countries and I would say it's down to the people involved.. friendly, open minded and bang up for a wicked time... of course a little bit of sunshine never hurts."

 

Best gig of all time, either as a DJ / punter, and why?

"How can I answer this? Too many to pick just one. Seriously. I've been shut down by the army in Jordan for starting a riot, played to 50,000 people at the Sydney Olympics, flown private charter jets for gigs between Greek islands. My first time at Beach Bar was right up there on the 'All-Time Hot Gigs I Have Played' meter."

 

Can you tell us some of your musical influences?

"John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Public Enemy, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Masters At Work, Derrick Carter, Danny Tenaglia, Stonebridge, my girlfriend and whatever dancefloor I'm playing to."

 

Future events and projects in the pipeline?

"I've just relocated back home to Sydney to head up the musical direction of the new Hed Kandi Australia outfit so that's a big part of my life right now. Also I'll be back in the studio again in early 2008 and should have some new tunes shortly thereafter and then a return tour to Europe, Africa and America next summer... see you then!"