Scott Grooves Natural Midi / Clone / Third Ear
Links ...
Fabric, London Interview 2009
Resident Advisor Interview 2010
Website
Music ...
Scott Grooves / The Burlington Project / Podcast / 2010
Biography ...
The year was 1988, when Scott partnered up with a friend and began to DJ around Detroit. Like every other DJ in the city at that time, Scott soulfully embraced the early Detroit electronic records. A strong musical family background laid the foundation for what was to come next, making and performing his own music. The first release for Scott Grooves was on Soiree Records in 1992. After that came two more releases and a host of remixes for the label. Next up, Scott had the chance to record on the legendary KMS Records, along with Alton Miller.
Determined to have a bigger impact on the scene, Scott’s next project pushed him beyond. Scott found himself at a Roy Ayers concert in 1997. After the show he approached Roy about working together on a project. To Scott’s amazement, Roy gave him his contact information and a few months later, "Expansions" was recorded.
Scott wanted to do something with George Clinton. At the time, he was recording at the same studio where George stored most of his master recordings. He asked if he could sample one of the records. After days of searching through classic master recordings of George, he found what he was looking for. The album was now complete with two heavy hitters, Roy Ayers & George Clinton.
Upon hearing a Soma record in a local record shop in Detroit, Scott sent a demo of his completed album to the Soma office. The rest is history... Scott made his debut on Soma Records with the first single lifted from the album 'Pieces of a Dream', the sublime, "New Day" (Soma58). With heart stopping piano chords, the song was given a “thumbs up” by the Slam boys.
The next release from the album the Lonnie Liston Smith classic, "Expansions", reworked with Roy Ayers on vocals and vibes. Remixes came from Joe Clausell, the Ballistic Brothers and others. This momentous release enjoyed a national chart position in the UK. The final single from the album 'Mothership Reconnection' proved to be the biggest thanks in no small part to Daft Punks' remix and the support of Virgin records.
Looking for a stateside appeal, Scott recorded an obscure 15 minute organ jam, ("Organ Nights"). He gave it to Joe Claussell, and within a month, New York and Japan were knocking at his door.
Scott has run his own label "From The Studio Of Scott Grooves" since 1999, which spawned his biggest independent release “The Journey”. He also runs the labels "Natural MIDI", which is geared towards the edgier analog sound, and "Modified Suede" which portrays his more organic soulful side.
The recent resurgence in Scott’s music has seen his profile in Europe rocket these last 18 months, playing the likes of Fabric, Rex Club, Watergate, Berghain, Zukunft, Robert Johnson to name a few.
Last year Norm Talley's Third Ear gem 'The Journey' and also Frank Martinique's 'Goldendusk' on Curle Recordings both received stellar reworkings under his new remix moniker ‘Panther’. 2011 also saw the start of Scott's white label series "White label of the Month". In celebration of Soma's 20th anniversary the label re-released Scott's classic 'Mothership Reconnection' along with the famed Daft Punk remix and a new reworking by Claude Vonstroke, and last but not least his groundbreaking 1998 album 'Pieces of a Dream' was reissued in Japan and through Scott's own website. In Spring 2012 'The Journey' will be given a full rework for a new vinyl release.
Scott has proved he is one of the most versatile musician/producers Detroit has seen in a long time. Scott follows one of the oldest tenets of show biz: when you've reached the top of the mountain, go down the other side.