Norman Jay Interview

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Last Updated on Thursday, 01 January 1970 19:59 Written by Matt Shea Wednesday, 03 February 2010 16:16

Music Man

British musicologist and radio luminary Gilles Peterson once described Norman Jay’s style as being “inclusive”. It’s a beautiful way to sum up the artistic approach of one of Britain’s most treasured musical masters, a man who’s earned an MBE for his services to DJing but doesn’t believe in the term ‘DJ culture’.



“I still don't believe in DJ culture now. I'm just a fan of music, not the people who play it; anybody can do that. I don't say that with contempt or disdain for my peer group - there are great DJs out there who fully deserve all the accolades that they get - I'm just putting it in perspective.”

It's an attitude that perhaps springs from his humble beginnings behind the decks: Jay never intended on becoming a superstar, it just happened, and the slightly serendipitous nature of it all is something that sits rather well with him.

“I was simply a geeky record collector for a number of years. I just discovered soul music in the 70s and started devouring it,” he says animatedly. “I read about it, bought as many tunes as I could afford and just totally immersed myself in the tunes. And I didn't really harbour any sort of   

nascent intentions to become a DJ - it just happened. I was a serial clubber for years: I went everywhere - I never followed DJs; I just went to places where they were playing the music that I liked.”

Still, Jay is wise enough to understand the excitement his name can conjure for the projects he's connected with, and it's just reached fever pitch with the release of his 'Good Times Australia' double CD.

“I'm very happy with the way it turned out, because the guys at Central Station who were doing the research and getting the tracks absolutely excelled themselves. I really didn't think they'd get the tracks I wanted. People don't understand that with compilations you don't get exactly what you request. You submit hundreds and in their infinite wisdom they let you pick up the dregs, and out of the dregs you make an album. So, when their email said, 'Yep, we've got David Bowie, we've got 'Kooks',' I was like, 'What?!' I couldn't believe it. I was very, very happy.”

Sir Norman Jay MBE's 'Good Times Australia' is out now through Central Station Records.