Radio Frequency

spunky junk

AlkatrAz meets Spunky Junk

I recently got to catch up with Spunky Junk, one half of the Lilo Lovers, a DJ promoter and event organiser of one of Leeds' longest running nights Riff Raff @ Leeds, West Indian Centre. Nine years this year!

First, a bit about Riff Raff...

Room 1 is a mixture of Hard Dance, Hard Trance, NRG with a truly banging selection of main room DJs and flourecent visuals which bring back the ideals of psychedelia. Previous guest DJs include: DJ Proteus, Chris Liberator, D.A.V.E. the DRUMMER, Greg Zogg, Adam (LAB4), Marc Johnson, Sol Ray, DJ Pod, Dill Zogg, Mobile Dogwash, Oberon, DJ ANT, Ben Fraser, Nog, Beamish, Mr Burns, The Pranksterz, Dynamic Intervention, Cyber Steve, Sam Townend and DJ GRH.

Room 2 is where my heart is and where the Deep and Chunky House beats rein supreme. Previous guests have included Lawnchair Generals, Littlemen, Shoebart, myself DJ AlkatrAz, Kinky Movement, my favourites Jackin Box and of course residents the Lilo Lovers among many others.

Spunky Junk's roots are in the Northern (England) free party scene, but luckily for some she has been enjoyed up and down the country gracing the decks at clubs, festivals and free parties. Recently Spunky took a trip over the pond to the Nevada desert to play her original sound at the Burning Man festival.

Now less from me here's the interview...

What was the first track you bought?

Er... blimey that's difficult, I can't remember! It was quite a while ago but can remember going to a club when I was just starting out and a woman was DJing and she played a track I thought 'Wow! This is amazing!' So I ran across the club and found out what it was and the very next day went into Leeds town centre to try and find it and found it in a bargain bin outside a record shop and totally buzzed off that! Can't remember the exact title but it was La Luna 'to the beat of the drum' wicked tune even now... classic!

What was your first or most memorable club experience?

Is this for yer first club experience or your most memorable? Could be quite different! But... difficult again as I don't remember my first club experiences, ha, ha! I do remember going to The Orbit in Morley, had some mental nights in there, like nothing else at the time. I saw Dave Angel and CJ Bolland, they were pretty awesome.

What’s your favourite platform/format to perform on? Views on vinyl vs CDs vs MP3?

Well I've always been a stickler for vinyl and I love it and I said I would never sway but breaking news... eeeeek... I played in US over the summer and I'm now converted to CDs! Crazy huh? Makes sense really, don't weigh as much, cheaper and they're actually fun to play as they're so much easier to mix than vinyl! Am using WAVs though at the moment. Still not convinced about quality of MP3s yet, sorry!

What events would you advise our readers to go to?

Well, of course I would advise readers to go to Riff Raff at the Leeds West Indian Centre on second Saturday of every month, but I'd also recommend anyone to save up and make the effort to go to the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert check it out, you won't be disappointed! I went this year and was blown away!

Which artist/s do you think we should listen out for in 09/10?

Ok, so artists to look out for... er... Sonny Fodera has got some cool tracks out at the moment, watch this space for Jackin' Box too!

Top 5 tracks rocking the dance floor?

Sonny Fodera - 'Lose my Mind'
Inland Knights - 'Lowdown & Blue'
TX - 'Boogie that Be'
Soydan - 'Running with the Beat'......still!
The Girth - 'Nubian Funk'

Where do you see the scene going in the not so distant future?

Where's the scene going? Oh I dunno... people are always going to want to party so the scene will continue if new blood and energy are invested in creating exciting new ventures, or re-inventing old ones!

If you could have anything to eat and/or drink right now what would it be?

Ha, ha, ha... well I've just had my tea so nothing to eat just a nice big glass of red wine would be most pleasing, thanks!

What is your favourite piece of footwear that you own?

Oh, oh, oh, I love shoes so very difficult to say but I did treat myself to a fab pair of camouflage, cowboy boot style fleece-y slippers when I was in the States so I guess at the moment it has to be them, especially as it's so bloody freezing here!!!