So how did the three of you originally meet, and what inspired the formation of Blaze?

Blaze was formed from two childhood friends and a church buddy. Chris and I went to the same church, and Kevin grew up with Chris on the same street. Kevin's DJing was growing and he wanted to make records. I played the key's and Chris was a great singer, so Blaze was formed. We patterned ourselves after the great producers like Norman Harris, Quincy Jones, and Timmy Regisford and Boyd Jarvis.

What was it like back in the eighties? How easy was it to get your music out there?

The music was innocent back then. The business was open for experimental projects. The level of creativity was much higher. There was more focus on the artist. Nothing was easy!

You've worked with Timmy Regisford since very early in your careers. How did you come to meet. How big an influence has he had on your sound?

Timmy and Boyd Jarvis were a production team. Before we met. Kevin and myself were heavily influenced by them. Our records received a lot of recognition in the NY area. Timmy did a lot for our music in those days. He played our music everywhere. It was only a matter of time before we would meet.

Tell us how it felt at Paradise Garage hearing Larry Levan play your track.

I don't know how Kevin felt, but for me it wasn't until we performed at the Garage that I heard our music at the Garage. I was too young to hang out there. So, the only time I went was to perform. The music was loud and clear, the crowd was full of intense energy, and LOVE filled the room all at the same time. Larry must have been playing our music a lot because when we hot the stage and got into the show, the crowd was so incredibly loud, and they received so well that we could no longer hear the music.

There's a bit of a story going on all the way through the album on "25 Years Later", can you explain the thought process behind both the music and the story?

The story is of a modern day Malcolm X. Someone who lived for the sole purpose of educating his people to the knowledge of theirselves. The music is soul. Soul music as it should be. The music connects to one's inner being.

Consolidation

Although, the first album received great critical acclaim, Motown was not in the best shape at that point in time and you never really reaped the commercial reward that the music perhaps deserved. How did you feel about this at the time? Did it dampen your enthusiasm? Looking back would you have signed to another label instead?

No, I think that everything we went through at Motown helped us. We needed to go through that to become the musician/producers/artist that we are. It was positive and a learning experience.

Tell us what you did next?

We continued writing and producing for a lot of the independent labels. We went underground for a while. It was great!

You wrote some great tracks during the early nineties for other artists. How did you get hooked up with them? Were you commissioned to write for specific performers?

I don't remember exactly how it happened. But we had friends that were singers and performers. And very often we would produce them. That was all to it. We knew the artist.

What were the reasons behind Chris Herbert's departure from Blaze?

Chris went on to do R&B. He got involved with a group who signed to a major label. It was an exciting time for him. We were supportive of his decision.

In The Studio

When you're producing an artist or remixing, how do you look to imprint your own sound on the original work?

We don't. That comes naturally. We look to enhance the artist and what they are bringing across. Whenever we do anything, our sound will come out. Even if I don't play any of the instruments, It's going to sound like me singing. Or lyrically, you can almost tell when Blaze wrote the song.

Of all the acts you've worked with, which projects have been your own favourites?

I haven't done it yet.

The lack of intros on your recent singles makes them more challenging for DJs to mix. Is this deliberate on your part?

No. It's just been that way. However, I think a DJ should have the ability to play a record without it starting with a 16 or 32 bar drum intro. God forbid if everyone suddenly wanted to hear classic records. What would happen? How can anyone call themselves a DJ if they can't.... Well, in the near future, I will certainly put 16 bar intro's for those who feel that they "need" that to play the record.

The Scene

During the time that you've been making music, how would you say the industry has changed in terms of attitudes, equipment, media, commerce, etc?

I don't pay as much attention to that as maybe I should. If I started worrying about that, the music would be influenced heavily by it. It's already influenced enough by the scene with the change of acceptance of music. Equipment and technology is becoming insane! It's a good thing, however, I think that the music will suffer because the lack of acceptance of all musical types and influences.
Media is doing what they are supposed to do I suppose. I just don't see a balanced coverage on the music scene. The Hip-Hop/R&B, and POP scene spills over into the Dance media. I read an article in a Dance section recently, and it talked about Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilerra. The Dance charts are filled with POP artist. The masses will never know what true dance music is. They will never be able to appreciate the artist in this genre of House music. They will, on the other hand, be introduced to the remixers. Because that's what happens. Major labels won't take a chance on a dance artist, they would rather spend the money getting their POP artist remixed to sound like us.

How do you feel about the internet and its effect on the music industry?

I think that it is getting better now. People are becoming aware of the theft that was taking place on the Internet and I think that it has slowed down a lot. The industry is now using the Internet as a powerful marketing tool, which is great. We are now able to get our music heard in far away countries a lot easier.

Have you travelled much around the world through your music? Any favourite places you've visited?

They are all wonderful, we've made friends in every place we went. So, I dare not mention one as a favorite.

The Slip¹n¹Slide Years

Since the mid nineties your UK releases have been through Slip'n'Slide. How did the hook up come about?

I don't remember. I think we did one song with them and the relationship proved to be a very good one. So, we stayed there and worked with them consistently.