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It's going to be a big year for the label, promotion and now live band and radio station known as VVWI. It started life as the bastard child of Nastydirtysexmusic in Ibiza, became the UK's No1 afterhours in 7 cities, is one of the most successful indie record labels in hard times and still operating as a free party... so it seems fitting it should come around full circle back to Ibiza. It's spiritual home will rather fittingly now become it's actual home as VVWI relocates to Ibiza full time this August.

Enjoy this Ibiza Voice global exclusive as we speak to various members and associates of VVWI about their biggest year and what VVWI in Ibiza will mean for now and the future : 

THE BOSS (Tim Sheridan)
First we grab VVWI's 'evil leader' Tim Sheridan to ask some basic questions about what's what for VVWI. He was very much a fixture of the island since the late 90's until perhaps 2 years ago when he disappeared back to the UK.

Why leave Ibiza??
It was a reluctant move based on circumstance and a measure of planning. I have family who needed me and really... there is nothing more important is there? There was some drama and illness but all is well now thank God. Also the forecast of a Global Depression in the economy was not such a shock. It was clearly predicted in a few proper UK publications like Private Eye and even New Scientist. It was no surprise as our own Music Industry was already quite depressed from the impact of free downloads. If not depressed then a bit miserable! (laughs).

So I had to go and deal with these things and also I was fairly sure that for the last 2 years Ibiza would feel the economic difficulty and would need to change. A good gambler knows when to leave the table or maybe a good farmer knows when to leave a field fallow. So it all worked out ok in the end I think. It was a time for hard work and city-life unfortunately.

Most unfortunately as any who has lived in Ibiza through winters and summers will back me up, you'd need a serious emergency to up sticks and leave. It wasn't purely an economic decision I mean shit! I'm not that smart (laughs). No... I just had to.

You weren't idle. VVWI as a label has gone from obscure home of curiosities to global success. Just a month ago your latest release was in the Beatport Top 10. How did you manage that if as you say, the Music Industry is on a major downturn.
I should say my own view is and always has been that this is merely a period of change rather than an end. Perhaps that answers it? The dull answer is we have become more of a publishing company. Meaning we get our tunes into films and adverts and used in video games and such and work really hard to collect publishing royalties for our releases and artists. Sales are low. Things like Beatport stats are a bit of an illusion it really only takes very few sales to dent any chart lately. I'd measure success on survival, how you get on with artists... you know ; do they want to work again with you and all that... and quality control.

I mean simple things like Mastering. People think it's a plug-in for a laptop, for 'finishing' a track. It's not at all! it's a lot more. A lot of it is about standards. If a track isn't mastered to certain standards in America for example you will never be used in a film whether your tune is the toast of Hollywood or not. It just can't be used if it's not been properly processed.

We do this for every release and do original art for everything rather than generic and even if you have no idea about the workings of the game you can tell we care. We lose a lot of money. Not everything goes to vinyl, not everything will be on a soundtrack, not everything will be big. But we do it anyway. So we don't limit the potential of the track because I very much believe in... and hand-pick... each one. It has to have a chance in a tough world. I'm not sure we've succeeded like you think. Survived maybe.

People are talking about us now and we have attention but in reality we aren't that much better off than when nobody gave a shit (laughs). It's all relative. I've found a simple rule for most career paths is to hang on. Never give up. If you stick around long enough people will see you eventually.
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VVWI is now a live band and soon to be a global radio station. Your band has been covered already by Ibiza Voice. bringing it to Ibiza is quite a thing however. It seems to be a lot of technology and effort compared to a lone DJ and his laptop. Radio too?
It's massive. Meaning a very heavy duty responsibility to the band and my co-workers. Yes the tech side is colossal. More tech onstage that the average recording studio.  But it will be a lot of fun also because no-one in the band project has been to Ibiza before apart from Andy Kayll.

It's a bit like when you are watching a film with a friend and you have seen it many, many times but they are watching it for the first time? you get a vicarious pleasure from their enjoyment? It will be like that. I get a buzz out of showing people around. Jumping off the cliff at Sa Punta (laughs). 

We have made connections with Island musicians and this project is by musicians FOR musicians. It is a jam session when we really get going. Anyone who likes what we do and is up to the quality requirements can jam with us if they want to. We have a bit of a limitation in terms of our MIDI set up. We have to be careful of feedback with guest musicians. But Andy Kayll is a true wizard. If it looks like a wizard, does magic like a wizard then guess what? it's probably a wizard! (laughs). 

Yeah the radio project is a big one. I guess it started from the label. We promo to and get great support from radio stations worldwide. I helped start and run the Kiss FM network in the UK in the 1990's and it seemed a good time to get back into radio now the internet has democratised it somewhat. We have a surplus of great talents and friends to make some great radio. We have guest presenters like Omid16B and Mr.C. We have a regular contribution monthly from our friends in Munich ; Kling Klong and Great Stuff records. We launch on 23rd July at Bugged Out!'s Shoreditch venue "XOYO" which is a great, great space. A free party like always, thanks to XOYO getting in the spirit and thanks to Omid too who will be guesting along with the band. 

However this year is all about our session at Delano Beach Club every Thursday. We start on Thursday 4th August and every Thursday 'til seasons end. I'm very excited to be playing live in Ibiza and I hope the musicians on the island will come and join us and get involved. This is for them.

Welcome back Tim.
For those readers who missed it, a very interesting piece on the concept of 'live' with Tim is to be found here : "It's Alive! It's Alive!" The VVWI Limited Love Orchestra.

THE DJ. (Omid 16B)
Hey Omid! nice to hear from you again. We hear you are going to be a Radio Star with VVWI Radio?
There are very few people in the industry I can't say "no" to... and Tim is definitely one of them... but the idea of actually doing a few shows together sounds like a lot of fun and our characters definitely gel together... so I hope the listeners are prepared for some spontaneous action.

Can we see you in Ibiza again this year?
Yes, apart from doing the 20 years anniversary with DJmag at Space in June just gone, I'm also doing Space closing on the 2nd of October plus some more dates tbc... look out!

Along with Mr.C you are releasing this year on VVWI recording label. About time?
Well I've been branching out a bit this year with releases on Tsuba..., Bedrock....,  Sexonwax....,  Alola...., Discoteca... and veryverywrongindeed was a perfect label for my track "After All These Years", listening to what's on the label its very flexible and versatile, so its nice to have a label with an open mind. I will be doing a few tracks with Richard (Mr. C) which may also see its release on VVWI.

How is your other projects this year?
I'm recording my 3rd artist album under "16B" which should be getting released later this year or early next year... some of the music I've been working on for a lil over 5 years and has so much emotional content its hard some times to listen without dropping a few tears of joy and melancholy...

******

THE BASS PLAYER. (Emlyn Vaughn)
How did you go from Jazz man to disco funk monster in the VVWI LLO?
Well, as a bass player I started out playing disco and funk. The early Red Hot Chili Peppers albums, produced by George Clinton were a great inspiration, as well as Bootsy Collins, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock - who started out in Miles Davis' famous 60's jazz quintet. I majored in Double Bass at Music College, but my first love was the 4 string bass guitar. As different gigs come in the diary I've had to learn all sorts of music, from klezma, classical, disco/soul/funk, some Indian classical music, traditional jazz, modern jazz, fusion, afro cuban, bossa nova, big band, mambo - I'm very lucky because there is a bass in just about all styles of music. I've also been lucky enough to play gigs with some incredible jazz musicians like Gilad Atzmon, Dave O'Higgins and Dennis Rollins. So when I got the call from Tim Sheridan about bass playing for the VVWI LLO, I was very excited and felt it was something I could really embrace, learn and enjoy.

We all know Tim Sheridan as a DJ but as a 'serious musician' how do you find playing his electronic tracks and working with him as the band's rhythm section?
I find playing with Tim has been great. As you say we all know him as a DJ, but the drumming and vocals he's brought to the table have been second to none, as well as producing awesome songs, which are intricately detailed. One of the hardest things to do in performance is playing an instrument whilst doing spoken word, as well as doing the vocals live in 'Freakshow' and the Tom Waits cover 'Step Right Up', whilst playing electronic kit, Tim also plays piano, so the confidence as a performer for me is tremendous. 

Isn't it a bit dull playing house music totally live?
Some of my best musical and life memories are at parties where my band plays music for people to dance to. Over the last 7 years I've put together live bands for the Dirty Disco (The Grand Wazoo & Evil Mambo), supporting the likes of Derrick Carter, Moodymann, DJ Yoda, John Carter to name a few. The feeling of 4 to the floor, repetitive beats, is like meditation. You have to give yourself over to the music, and house music is the perfect vehicle for this - it's like the music is playing me - not the other way around. There are also some musical fundamentals that never change, no matter what the genre. These all require concentration and discipline, the most important is time. Then there is form. Then there is intonation and dynamics, knowing when not to play is also a key factor. So the challenges in house music are different to jazz, but it is definitely not dull, in fact it is the polar opposite.

Your first time coming to Ibiza? what do you hope to happen?
Everything I've heard about Ibiza is exciting. I know it's a very beautiful place with a great community of musicians and music lovers, I hope we have the opportunity to play as much as possible, and enjoy the location and atmosphere. I'm also excited to check out the other great music and culture in Ibiza.

THE WORKER. (Conor, with friend Josh, are University interns working for VVWI)
It's your first time to Ibiza. We'd be interested to hear what your preconceptions are as a young visitor from England.
VeryVery Excited !. For years I've wanted to visit the island, this is my first proper opportunity as I've had commitments to my studies in previous years.

I've been watching many videos and reading interviews about life in Ibiza and it sounds perfect! Sun, music and work... what more could I ask for? Every year there is a new story that Ibiza has "lost it" but this seems to be shattered every year by the comments of visitors. I myself am looking forward to visiting the island and have high hopes for the summer!

What will you be doing working for VVWI?
I will be working for Tim promoting the LLO during the week. Then on the Thursdays setting up the event,  running and generally helping out. 

What is it like working for 'evil leader' Tim Sheridan?
Its brilliant, Tim is so experienced and has vast amounts of knowledge within the industry, we as interns hang onto his every word and take everything into account. I don't know what you mean about 'Evil' ? its been a pleasure to work with Tim and I haven't experienced this side of him, I'd change 'evil' to 'focused'.

Just kidding! What can we expect from this live MIDI band of the VVWI LLO?
Its live... anything can happen!! The band is superb, they smash the dance floor every time they play. Its great entertainment watching the band perform as you have so much to watch. There is a stage of nodding heads, flailing arms and legs as the ringmasters perform to the audience. The visual asthetics to the show are brilliant this ties up perfectly with the audio produced by it! It is a must-see performance.

Check Tim and his VVWI LLO from Thursday 4th August - Every Thursday @ Delano Beach Club

VVWI Online