SINCE THE EARLY 1990s, DJ, producer, and collaborator Anthony Nicholson has been blowing up the underground airwaves with his dance music while doing what he does best - producing and spinning. With hit tracks like "Dance Anthology" (Peacefrog Records), "Don't Stop" (Circular Motion), "Dirty Soul" (Trackmode), "The Alter Ego" (Clairaudience) and "Twisted Energy" (Nite Grooves), as well as owning a trifecta of record labels, Anthony has come to be one of the most well-respected music gurus of this generation. As he continues to hold down his residency at Sonotheque's Inner Sound System (1440 W. Chicago, 1st Saturday of every month), his music is constantly being played and sought after by others.
Born right here in Chi-Town, Anthony proudly brings his staunch views and beliefs about music, life, and art from Chicago to Europe, from the turntables to the studio and everywhere in between. He constantly keeps his family at the forefront of it all, and never looks to the future or the past, simply staying in the present.
I had the pleasure of speaking with the colorfully articulate Anthony Nicholson as he revealed his strong opinions on DJing, producing, his labels, and what House Music really means to him.
First, I want to say that I really wanted to come out to Sonotheque on Saturday because I live four houses away from it, but I did not make it. So... I'm the bogus one!
Oh yeah, you're the bogus one. I bet you wanted me to say "Nah, nah!" - but you're bogus.
What neighborhood did you grow up in and how did you start DJing?
I grew up on the Southside in the Washington Park neighborhood. I kinda got into DJing probably around 15 years old. There was a field house in the summertime - older guys would DJ and bring out their big systems, and I just started hanging out with those guys and got into it.
Who do you give credit to for helping you start your career?
For helping me start my career? Me. I give myself credit for starting my career. I give my wife credit for being supportive, and my family. There are people that inspired me, but I'm not going to give anybody credit.
Do you remember the first party that you played at that you got paid?
The first party that I ever got paid at - it was actually a fashion show. That was my first paying job, DJing. It was a series of fashion shows that were paying gigs. One was at a loft on Michigan Avenue. It was for one of the top black lifestyle magazines at the time. It was fun. I was 17 or 18, but I don't want to talk about how long ago that was because then it makes me feel old!
Do you remember the first record of yours that you heard someone else play?
It probably was a record I put out on Movin Records called "Thrill Me," and I think the first person I heard play it - the first time I heard it out - Andre Hatchett played it. Yeah, that was the first time I heard one of my records in a big club.
How did it feel?
I felt pretty good. I felt a sense of pride, but I wasn't too comfortable. Putting out my first record, I still had a lot of work to do and a lot more stuff to learn about producing music. I was happy that it was being played, but in the same sense I was insecure about my music. I'm probably just getting comfortable with the music I put out.
Just getting comfortable now?
Yeah, and that was in 1991. This past year I started to get comfortable with my music and started accepting it.
When did you make the transition from just DJing to producing?
From 15 to 22 years old, I was just doing recreational stuff and then I started working with Ron Trent, and I got more serious and started experiencing more stuff.
