The Jinks

Jinks Inc., MN2S, Bargrooves

2008.10.16 ::: Words by Andrew Reid

The Jinks (Chris Gau & Dan Savidge) are one year into running their own digital imprint Jinks Inc Records. The label’s gone from strength to strength, and has featured remixes and productions from the likes of DJ Spen, Tiger Stripes, Kajae, Trackheadz and Conan Liquid, not to mention The Jinks themselves!

As The Jinks, Chris and Dan, have been working at breakneck speed in 2008 on both original productions and remixes alike. With remix work for Code Red, GoGo Music, Jaffa Music and Stingily Music already under their belts this year, they have reached Traxsource Top Ten with all 8 releases so far on Jinks Inc. They are currently writing and producing tracks for Byron Stingily’s next album, as well as remixing for Mark Grant’s Blackstone label. Other forthcoming projects include:

Jinkzilla feat Robert Owens - Loosen Up (Jinks Inc) OUT NOW!!!
The Jinks feat Mina Jackson - Spread My Wings (Defected / Bar Grooves) OCT 08
The Jinks feat Michelle Weeks - Shame (Mn2S) NOV 08
The Jinks feat Carla Prather - Gotta Do Better (Defected) EARLY 09

The intensity of the studio work and building of the label in 2008 has seen The Jinks’ DJ schedule take a back seat so far this year. Their residency at The End, London, for Mn2S has continued, and will do so while other residencies have included Below Zero, London, and Dust, London. A Bar Grooves tour is planned in the not too distant future too.

And now the history: In December 2004, The Jinks won the Mixmag Future Heroes DJ competition & took 2nd place in International DJ's Raw Talent competition in January 2005. In the Judge's notes for IDJ's Raw Talent Competition, The Jinks' mixtape was described as "one of the most original we have ever received".

Chris and Dan are old friends from way back. Having discovered a mutual love for all things funky, the pair kicked off their vinyl addiction over a decade ago. Soon they were playing at clubs all around London, by he mid –nineties they had both moved North, Chris to Manchester and Dan to Leeds. They made an impact in both cities, setting up a pirate radio station in Manchester (Twist FM) and DJing at some of the North’s top nights, rocking dance floors with such legends as Marshall Jefferson, MJ Cole and Norman Jay OBE. During their residency at Rough Hill, a weekly Funk night in Manchester, The Jinks began their first foray into the world of production, re-editing classic funk and disco records for their DJ sets.

Seeing the ferocity with which punters lapped up these Jinks ‘remixes’, they realized the potential for creating their own original dance floor destroyers. From that moment on they knew where their days were heading - a lifetime of honing the closely guarded secrets of beat juggling and dance music production.

Having conquered the North, the pair returned South for a Friday night residency at London's now legendary Bar Rumba. After rocking Rumba for 2 years, the pair wanted a fresh challenge, and decided to dedicate their time and energy to production. They have since built up a formidable recording studio The Monet Pit in Ladbroke Grove, and have been hiding away, biding their time in their secret laboratory, cooking up eclectic and funky sets and building fat grooves for their public’s ears

As well as playing all around the world from Hong Kong to Dubai to Switzerland, they are also the hosts of MN2S Masterclass show, a monthly radio programme syndicated worldwide.

The pair took time out of their crazy schedules and chatted with us about spaghetti, old keyboards, and YouTube heroes.

Nocturnal: We have to ask... where'd the name The Jinks come from?
Chris: It's coincidentally both our middle names.

Nocturnal: How did you get your start in house music?
Chris: DJing at horrible clubs filled with toothless hags then pirate radio and then the first single we ever sent to a label was signed- luck, talent or bribery? You decide.

Nocturnal: We'd describe your style as proper soulful house with North American flare and European sensibility. How do you vision your dance floor and sound? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Chris: We love all music... We're trying to make accessible and commercial dance music with a bit of depth. Something you can listen to in a club, in a car or doing the dishes - None of the boring shit: we're rescuing dance music from the blahs.

Nocturnal: What's your process in creating new music? Are you strictly software or does hardware still play an integral role in your compositions?
Dan: We've pretty much made all our music with drum samples, Logic, a Fender Rhodes and a memory moog.

Nocturnal: What's your most indispensable piece of studio kit?
Dan: The moog and Tom "The Missing Jink" Ashe.

Nocturnal: What tracks are forthcoming from The Jinks?
Chris: Got a great track with Mina Jackson coming out on Bargrooves with some killer Hideo Kobayashi mixes, and loosen up with Robert Owens on our own label Jinks INC. Check them out they'll make your life better, your hair grow back and make you last longer in bed.

Nocturnal: In your opinion what other producers out there are really pushing boundaries or making a big impact on our scene for 2008 and beyond?
Chris: Loco Dice, Marlon D, 1200 Warriors, Shlomi Aber, Mark Grant, Rocco, ATFC are all doing great individual music. There's also still all the heavyweights Spen, Dennis Ferrer etc.

Nocturnal: When you look for records do you still go through sites like Beatport or Traxsource or do you just make decisions from recommendations and from the charts?
Chris: Where's the fun on that? You gotta go shopping on your own.

Nocturnal: As the digital revolution continues to dominate, how do you see it impacting our industry going forward?
Dan: It's the future! Adapt or die! We're a digital only label and were doing pretty damn well!

Nocturnal: Are you hip on the whole laptop DJ thing... or do you still prefer those who do it physically?
Dan: Whatever rocks a crowd! We’re not precious about that stuff: technology is a tool that enables you to do what you do best - DJ. We use CDs but that's only cos we'd spill a round of lady-cocktails into the laptop.

Nocturnal: You also run your on imprint called Jinks Inc... what can we expect to see forthcoming from the label side of things?
Chris: We're working very hard to get only quality on the label (apart from us!). So far we've had some great remixes from outstanding producers: DJ Spen, Tiger Stripes, Kajae and Conan Liquid... Mark Grant's stepping up next I believe.

Nocturnal: What advice would you give to kids who want to be DJ/Producers and want to set up their own labels?
Dan: Quit the day job and go at it 110%. It's all or nothing and you have to think long-term. Oh and cut your hair you hippy.

Nocturnal: Lastly here are some quick shots:
Nocturnal: What's more likely... vinyl making a comeback or a non-trance DJ being rated #1 in the DJ Mag poll?
Chris: Ha ha… I think the Jinks topping the poll is what you mean ;)
Nocturnal: Favourite travel destination for vacation?
Dan: Italia!
Nocturnal: Favourite travel destination for performing?
Dan: Ibeeeeefa.
Nocturnal: Most indispensable items you travel with?
Chris: Nun-chucks.
Nocturnal: Favourite thing to do when returning from a long tour?
Chris: See our ladies!
Nocturnal: Dish you cook the best?
Dan: We both make a mean spaghetti carbonara.
Nocturnal: Best friend in the whole world?
Both: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh… each other.
Nocturnal: Most emotional songs for you of all time?
Chris: Naima - John Coltrane.
Nocturnal: Favourite all time vocalist?
Dan: Stevie (Wonder) or Curtis (Mayfield) or this guy:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=R7qR5JZcLbc&feature=related

::: Related Links

::: www.thejinks.co.uk

::: www.jinksincrecords.co.uk

::: www.myspace.com/thejinks