Deepswing
Based on the West Coast of the USA in Los Angeles, Erik and JD are the Production/DJ team known as Deep Swing. Using other aliases such as “The Sunkids”, and “Jazz Transit” , Erik and JD’ s steady dedication to pushing forward their production style and sound came to fruition with the release of the biggest records to emerge from the 1999 Winter Music Conference in Miami.
" Rescue Me" which featured the vocal talents of Chance took the annual Music Conference by storm when it was promoed by Tony Humphries on his label, YellOrange Records.
With additional remixes by The Masters At Work, and Bini and Martini, many DJ’s and Producers proclaimed, “Rescue Me” as the anthem of the Music Conference.
1999 was a phenomenal year for Deep Swing as every record they released gained critical acclaim across the world.
Apart from “Rescue Me”, tracks such as “Rise Up”, “In The Music”, “Shelter”, “I Promise You”, “I Am Somebody”, “Lets Do This”, and “Takin Me Higher” have propelled the duo into one of the hottest Production teams around. Deep Swing were formed in 1993 with their first release on Megatone Records, and since their first production Erik and JD have gone on to record tracks for labels like Yellorange, Soulfuric, Soulshine, Kult, Narcotic, and Suntune, during their career before establishing their own label Generate Music. Inspired by many music styles and influences, the Deep Swing sound is based around strong and funky musical arrangements, drawing on their own musical abilities, Erik is an accomplished musician playing guitar, keyboards, and other instruments as well as being a DJ. James aka JD learnt his DJing skills playing at clubs across the mid west of the US.
Within their various projects, the duo are at equally at home working with strong vocalists such as Xavior (“Shelter” and “Takin Me Higher”) and Chance (“Rescue Me” and “Rise Up”) as well as jazzy and funky tracks such as “In The Music”, “This Is The Sound”, “Lets Do This” and “Steppin Out”.
Deep Swing like to draw on their musical background by adding real instrumentation to their productions to give a real live flavour.

Deep Swing’s Generate Music was launched in 2000 as a base for their productions, and since then Generate has released seven singles. Their most successful release was “In The Music”, which was subsequently licensed around the world and became a huge club and chart huge hit across the world following its licence to Time Records in Italy. Recently the track was included in the latest Jackie Chan movie “The Tuxedo” and the soundtrack on Dreamworks USA.

2002 was a busy year on the road for Deep Swing with extended visits across Europe to DJ and they made their second trip to Australia and New Zealand.

Deep Swing’s most recent remixes have been for Jamiroquai and Lisa Millett and they are currently scheduling releases for 2003 from Chance, Audiophiles and Donna Washington for Generate Music as well as undertaking remix projects for several major artists.

Dave Lynam caught up with the guys towards the end of their trip for a brief chat.
Firstly, how long are you over in the UK for & what have you been up to while you’re here?
We have been over in the UK for a week…we play two venues. One on Friday nite call Angel Deelite…And the other Saturday nite …Nottingham, Club Flip…Plus record shopping and visiting friends….


What significant differences do you think there are in the dance music scene between here and the US?

London seems to be on the edge all ways for new ideas on music!! Dance music that is.


You’ve established a tried & tested bumpy sound over the years. Was that kind of vibe you’re intention from the start & how do you intend to develop your sound in the future?

We just tried to do music and grooves like the people we admired. We will try to keep it fresh by bringing in new artists and musicians… and trying new & old technologies.


Eric, you seem to be more of the musician of the pair… There was a phase where people didn’t think real musicians could also be good producers. You’ve obviously proved that to be wrong. What benefits does your musical background bring to the team?

Harmony for one thing… I hear lots of good beats out there, but sometimes people don’t have yet an ear… so you hear records with wrong musical notes over a vocal…. And it tends to make the singer sound like they suck. Or… so many producers use some licks from the vocal session that should have been trashed for not being in pitch quite right.
Actually, I didn’t know people thought musicians couldn’t be good House Makers??

What can we expect forthcoming from Deepswing?
A lot of good uplifting music and new artist.plus some trax not from us, but we signed …cause the music was phat. A new Chance…called “Freedom”… and A Jazzy Flute thing called Raindrops. And lots more coming.


How did you meet up & get working together?

We met by living in the same apartment building ……but were introduced by a friend of JD’s…named Charles “cat daddy” Johnson


When you’re not DJing, where do you like to go for a night out? Anywhere in England you particularly like to rave?

There use to be this club over in Ealing kind of small, but the first time there was very cool…. other wise, your with your girl…


How long has Generate been around for & do you have a certain criteria for material that comes out on the label?

We been around for three years and will try our best to be around for a while…. As for what kind of material …it has to be slammin and funky…Uplifting


Of the many productions / remixes you’ve done, which one is the one that stands out for you as a favourite?

It would have to be Deepswing /f. Xavior “ Takin me Higher”…Very tight production
and magic!!!
Eric: …and “In the music” of course… for me.