Funky HouseTribe - Exclusive MOB Interview

DJAM

On March 2009 DJAM contacts Funky House Tribe to give them an exclusive MOB interview:

What are your names? Where are you from? And where are you currently residing? My name is Jorge Cardenas (DJ George Vibe) and I was born in East Los Angeles. I currently reside in Montebello, CA.

I’m Jerry Martinez and was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. I currently reside in Bell Gardens, CA.

Funky House Tribe – We both live just right outside the downtown area of Los Angeles, CA.
How long have you've been in music? Do you produce your own tracks? If no, who? George Vibe – I’ve been DJ’ing for almost 20 years now. I started at the age of 12. Well do the math and you’ll know my age. I’ve been producing now for about 5 years and have been producing with my partner Jerry Martinez for about 2 1/2 years now. That was when Funky House Tribe was born.

Jerry Martinez – I’ve been involved with music since high school. Making my own music is something I always wanted to do. I’ve been working on production now for about 10 years ever since I graduated from MI (Musicians Institution, Hollywood, CA.)
Who or what was your biggest influence to get you into music? George Vibe – One of my biggest influences was Depeche Mode and all the electronic sounds that they would put together to make good music. Later when I heard Masters At Work and what they were doing with House music incorporating Latin beats and flavor to their music, just blew me away.

Jerry Martinez – Biggest influence, Depeche Mode!
Who have been your biggest supporters? George Vibe – My wife, family and partner Jerry Martinez. The local legends from Los Angeles, AJ Mora, DJ Orlando, Jerry Flores, Dwayne Taylor from Paradox records. Dwayne gives me good feedback. Jesse Saunders (Broken Records), Joe Rated (Creative Imagery) Nick Alvarado (InSoulWeTrust.com), Jason Macias, Spy, Tony 4Real, George Beltran, and other local DJ’s from Los Angeles. Jerry Martinez – My family and friends.
What is your latest album or single? Funky House Tribe – “Release Your Self” out now on Groove Theory Music, Distributed by Broken Records. You find it released intrasource.com, Beatport.com, Stompy.com, Masterbeat.com, and iTunes. We have a new Remix that is also available now on the single “We Need Peace” by DJ Lamech also out now on Groove Theory Music.
What was your aim for this single or album? Funky House Tribe – We wanted to make something that people can relate too and dance too. The featured release track “Release Your Self” has a moody, Jazzy feel. It has a catchy sax beat on the track. We love Jazz.
Was this your first project? If no, how many other projects have you done? Have you also collaborated with other Artists? If no, would you like to? If yes, with whom? Funky House Tribe – “Release Your Self” is our first official release. We have tracks that we’ve done in the past and remixes for other producers and artists. Honestly, we’re not sure if any of the past remixes were ever released. You can go to our website www.FunkyHouseTribe.com and listen to some of our old tracks that are not going to be released. Maybe sometime in the future we’ll put them out. We’ve also collaborated with Jerry Flores and done several projects with him. On our newest project out now “We Need Peace” by DJ Lamech also released on Groove Theory Music, we have a Remix on that single with Jerry Flores. The Funky Chunky Remix on that single is the one that FHT and Jerry Flores remixed. We definitely want to work with other producers and artists.
How much work and sacrifice was put into completing this project? Funky House Tribe – It’s a lot of work to put an E.P. together since we both have full-time jobs. George Vibe – It’s a lot of sleepless nights and time away from my wife. But it’s all worth it in the end. It’s her support that keeps me going.
Which are the tracks you had fun with in this production? Tell us why? Funky House Tribe – “Release Your Self” is the track that I think flowed so good from beginning to end. It was an idea that progressed to more than what we anticipated. When you get into a zone, everything just flows. When you are putting a song together and it’s feeling right and sounding right, It feels so good. When you take a step back and listen to the final draft, you feel like you just accomplished something special.
Which are the tracks that really mean something to you in a personal level? George Vibe – For me, it was Epocas Boas which was released on the “Release Your Self” EP. Epocas Boas means good times in Portuguese. It’s a happy song with good organ sounds. One of our new tracks that will be out on our new E.P. coming out soon, has a true salsa, Latin feel that brings me back to my roots.

Jerry Martinez - Each track has a different feeling and a different flavor. I love them all. I can’t just choose one. For example, if you have 3 kids, and someone asks you, which one of your kids is your favorite, you can’t choose because they all mean something too you. They all have something special that it makes it impossible for you to choose.
Which are the tracks that you are simply experimenting with or trying something new? Funky House Tribe – We have a new track that we are working on with a talented guitar player named Mary Madison that has live guitars and kind of a rock edge to it. Ary is an airline pilot and each time we get together, we try to get as much done as possible. From the past tracks, they are all pretty much straight forward. On our last release, we have a moody jazzy track, a happy club track and a deep track. We are into all kinds of different House music.
Are your tracks getting aired on the mix shows, radio, or other? If yes, by whom? If no, would you like for MOB DJs to pick your single up for their next mixshow project? Funky House Tribe – I know that our tracks have been played in radio stations Europe. Our songs have also been played on online radio stations through the www.inSoulWeTrust.com network. Local DJ’s from Los Angeles and Las Vegas have played our tracks in their local clubs and lounges. MOB DJs are more than welcomed to play our music, please do. If MOB DJ’s want to pick up our tracks, they can go to Traxsource.com, Beatport.com, Stompy.com, Masterbeat.com, and iTunes.
Who is your favorite current recording artist or band at the moment? Why? George Vibe – Two of my favorite artists at the moment are Jimpster and Dennis Ferrer. They both produce a very unique sound that is deep and groovy. When I’m at a club or event and someone plays one of their tracks, I start moving to their beats. There are many producers and artist out there that I really appreciate what they do. I really like all the stuff on the Vega label, Marlon D. and Jellybean Benitez have really good music too. I’m a fan of house music in general.

Jerry Martinez – Depeche Mode is and always will be one of my favorites. I’ve always loved the way they incorporate live instruments with electronic instruments in a live performance. David Gahan (lead singer of Depeche Mode has a very distinct voice. I am a big fan of Daft Punk as well. Both George and I have a lot of the same interest in music. I really like live performances as well.
In your own words, what is your music all about? Funky House Tribe – Our music is music that makes you want to move. It’s music that you loose yourself in and lets you find your inner soul. Our music is very universal and people from different parts of the world can relate to it.
If you could change how the music industry does things, what would you change? Funky House Tribe – Well, I honestly don’t think you can change anything in the music industry anymore. Technology has evolved so much that it has made things easier for producers and dj’s all over the world. If you don’t keep up with technology, you’ll be left behind. For example, programs such as Serato, Final Scratch and Torq; when these programs came out, DJ’s were reluctant to use them. They felt that vinyl records would soon disappear and become a thing of the past. We then came to realize that those programs are all tools to make our job easier. You still need to have the skills of a DJ and know how to rock a party. The program is not going to mix the music for you or put it on beat for you. You still need to know how to mix. The same thing goes with production. There are a ton of programs out there for production. Some are very inexpensive and very easy to use that I’m sure that someone with a creative mind can create some banging music.
How difficult or easy has it been for you to make the right connections to get your music aired? Funky House Tribe – Everything is a struggle when you are starting out but if you are persistent, things will happen for you. Persistence is the key to success and you can’t be afraid to talk to people to make your contacts and connections. You can’t give up if this is something that you want to do. If you love music like we do, you can lose yourself in the studio.
Tell us a current day in your life as an Artist? What tasks do you do to get closer to your goals? Funky House Tribe – A day in the life of a producer. Some days we can go into the studio and get started on a track and if the feeling and mood is right, we can bang a track out in a few hours. There are days where we sit in the studio and brainstorm all day and not come out with anything. Everyday is different. It all just depends on how the day is going. To get closer to our goals we need to keep doing what we are doing now. Networking with different producers and artist. Promoting our selves as much as possible. Persistence!!!
What do you see yourself doing in the next 5 years? Funky House Tribe – Still producing music and making people dance!!!
Tell us a little more about yourself, what are your interests? Likes and dislikes? George Vibe - I’m a movie freak. I also love traveling. I love spending time with my wife and going away with her for the weekend. I like being around people that have the same musical interest as I do. Positive people. One of the things I don’t like is people who act like they are better than everyone else. Like they are on top of the world when they are not. People that are fake and pretend to be your friends when they are not. I’m humble and very easy going. I like to be treated the same way I treat you.

Jerry Martinez – Other than making music, one of the things I really enjoy is mountain biking. Mountain biking helps me relax and clear my mind. It’s challenging and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish riding a 15 or 20 mile trail. We try to challenge ourselves everyday when making music. We just hope that people like what we are doing.

Artist: Funky HouseTribe
contact: George Vibe and Jerry Martinez
website: http://www.funkyhousetribe.com
myspace: http://myspace.com/funkyhousetribelosangeles
email: funkyhousetribe@gmail.com
Reside: Los Angeles, California
Phone: (562) 413-4431

Music Downloads:
Download Funky Jazzy Disco Vibe
Download Keep On Movin
Download Epocas Boas
Download Release Your Self (Edit)

***If you are a Band or Artist and like to get interviewed by MOB, please contact us.

DJAM

It was a real pleasure doing my first MOB Interview with the Funky House Tribe. George and Jerry are really great musicians and I think you'll be hearing big things from them in the very near future.

Thanks again to the guys for taking the time to sit down with me and telling the MOB all about the Funky House Tribe.

MOB DJ's make sure to be on the lookout for more upcoming releases from the Funky House Tribe on your favorite Dance Music Purchase sites. :)

Much Luv...DJAM

Benzo

good job sir!
that was fun to read

djscatz

cool interview. i wish i could download these files. but i get this error page:

DJAM

4racer

I liked the interview! Thanks for presenting this group to us DJAM!!

Note I don't normally spin this kind of music. But I wanted to talk about the track called: "Keep on Movin." I feel the all the instruments don't quite match with each other. Also the beat felt a bit too "breakbeat-ish" than I am usually used to hearing from house music. Also there wasn't a profound bass line. I know that the synthesizer was doing a repeatable melody, but it wasn't low enough to make a good solid woofer move. Also the intros and outros need a bit more work. Also the vocal effects need a bit more of a touch up. And I felt that this mix still needs a bit of more processing work. So it all comes together and doesn't sound like all the instruments are foreign to each other. Know what I mean?

That was the one I downloaded, I will download the rest when I am at home. Hope you appreciate the critique. -- I don't know if critiquing their work was part of the goal here in this interview-- sorry, if I screwed that up.

DJ Andre

DJAM

George Vibe

Whats up guys, this is George Vibe from the Funky House Tribe. First things first. I want to thank the people who have read the interview and hope you all got to know a little something about Funky House Tribe. The track "Keep On Movin" is a track made by Funky House Tribe and Jerry Flores and it's a Remix of an original track by Sandy B. What we were targeting on this track was a funky feel. We've gotten a lot of reviews of this track, good and bad and we appreciate the constructive criticism. It only makes us better producers. We wanted to do something different with this track, make it a little more on the afterhour feel. We gave it a funky snare, and the bassline is not to defined as some other tracks you've heard in the past. We concentrated on the synths because we liked the way they flowed. It was experimental and influenced a lot by the styles of Kerri Chandler. Kerri Chandler uses snares in a weird pattern that gives his songs a funky twist. Not all his songs have that particular snare patterns but a lot of them do. We pretty much liked the way it sounded. I personally appreciate the criticism.
Now, the tracks that were posted for download are available for dj's to use on their mix shows. By all means please do. If you can plug us on your shows, even better :)
for anyone that does have a mix show, I have a new house mix available for download on our website listed above at the end of the interview . Feel free to download it, it's free. Thanks again MixingOnBeat for this great opportunity to be interviewed by your representative DJam. Thanks for the luv !!

DJ Andre

Thanks for coming by George. If you ever want some good critique to your productions, or at least an ear-over, have DJAM present your track in the Music Network Underground, and we'll give it our best shot.

If I do put one of your tracks through a mixshow, I may request from you to make me a voice drop introducing yourself in my mixshow. For example: "Hi this is Funky House Tribe, and you're listening to.. " This way when I put one of your tracks.. they at least know the group/artist name.

4racer

Thanks for the explanation. But I still think the way the intros/outros are laid out seem to need some work. Perhaps the volumes were too loud for the first and last 8 measures at the ends? Because when I transition from your song to another song, you can tell the difference in compression. Do you know what I mean?