Everyone, everywhere has been abuzz about the release of Mushroom Jazz 7, the latest installment in Mark Farina's signature compilation series. Since the first volume became an outta left-field hit back in 1997, Mushroom Jazz has set the standard for mixed comps, with a crossover audience encompassing far more than just the House scene.

I got the chance to interview Mark (Facebook, iLike, myspace, twitter) ahead of the release of Mushroom Jazz 7 on November 9th, and his appearance here in Chicago at SmartBar (3730 N. Clark, 10pm-late) this Saturday, November 6th with supporting DJs Diz and John Simmons.

Tell me about Mushroom Jazz 7 - in some sense it seems like it's the "last comp standing" as so many other series have either gone down or are limping along. What do you think it is about MJ that sustains this level of interest?

It's seems like we've had quite a bit of longevity. It's hard in this market to keep them going so I'm proud that there's interest being that this is not specifically House and more of a sub-genre. Lots of chill CDs are popular but not a lot of series by a particular DJ has made it to volume 7, so I'm fortunate. It seems like Mushroom Jazz has kept a certain vibe throughout the series and developed even more of a select niche over time.

You have some wildly different artists on here, from King Kooba to Andy Caldwell and some New Jacks like Dave Allison, Giano, Derek Dunbar and Joshua Heath. And this is a concept that, if we speak broadly, has been going for 18 years. How has the sound changed, from that chill hip-hop and downtempo stuff of the early MJ to the one we hear today?

I tried to use people from the past and some new people. I have a lot of House connects but also lately some downtempo music from people who usually do more uptempo stuff. It's great to be able to get tracks from people you know. That's how things have changed because in the beginning, especially as a downtempo DJ, I didn't know a lot of people and I strictly bought vinyl. It's harder to license that way as opposed to getting stuff directly from the artist.

These days for Mushroom Jazz I try and license stuff before it's even been released on any label. I think its still got the same sound as the earlier compilations, I just get the music from different means. I try to provide the same vibe but move it forward as the times change.

I seem to measure moments in my life by what issue of a magazine I was working on. Do you seem to divide your life by installments of Mushroom Jazz?

I think that with all my mixes, they have different time points in my career. The original Mushroom Jazz was my first downtempo CD and I was excited to do something different. It was an interactive CD and sorta came at the boom of the SF music scene and computer technology so it was a great combination. When my first CD, Seasons, came out I was still going back and forth to Chicago and was just thinking about being based in SF. Something like United DJs Of America was the start of international gigs and me moving out of North America. I think I have like 13 or 14 mix CDs now and they all chronicle different periods in my life.

It took me a minute of glancing at the label to notice that MJ7 is the first that isn't being released by OM, but by "Mushroom Jazz Recordings". Surprised me as the promo has been tight, just like OM's used to be! Is this the new permanent home of future Mushroom Jazz volumes?

Yes, I wanted to try something different. I've thought about having a downtempo label of my own since Volume 5 and OM is great but I always had the idea and goal to put out my own stuff. So this is the start of Mushroom Jazz recordings and I'd like to make it similar to Giant Step of the old days and Talkin' Loud and Acid Jazz labels like Eight Ball. Through doing lots of mix CDs I find that it's easier to license stuff directly through artists and I like to get stuff new so it's best to sign stuff yourself and not deal with a middle man. 95% of the tracks on the CD or others from those artists, I plan to release on the label. It's just a progression in the life of Mushroom Jazz.

You recently jumped back into the A&R game by reactivating Great Lakes Audio. I think I wrote when reviewing the Uneaq release that, based on my interviews with people, it seems easier to start a label than sustain one (and I congratulate you on being able to do so!) What's different about running GLA in 2010 compared to when it was last active?

Great Lakes Audio had a couple releases in the vinyl days but doing a vinyl label is hard work - much different than now. I didn't have too many releases but I decided to restart the label fully digital with a scheduled release per month. With the help of some people like my manager I can accommodate all the extra work a label needs.

Finding the music was never difficult for me, just the legwork of putting it out yourself. In 2011, we'll stick to a tight schedule and hope to build on the momentum of what we're doing this year and pushing a quality house label.

You tour pretty much nonstop from what I've been able to tell. Is your date Nov 6 at SmartBar officially part of the Mushroom Jazz tour, and will people hear a set flavored by MJ7?

It's going to be more of a housey affair because the theme of the night is house. I try and stick with the theme at events, but I know I'm playing last so I might break it down at the end and sneak in some Mushroom Jazz. But the majority of the night will be jackin' housey goodness.

Mushroom Jazz will be shipped on November 9th; you can pre-order your copy for some bonus goodies at djmarkfarina.net. Mark will also be appearing in Chicago on November 6th with Diz and John Simmons at SmartBar.