He set a milestone for Maltese techno back in 1998 with the release of Tinnitus, officially Malta’s first-ever CD release of original work, and since then Owen Jay’s career has forever been in the ascendant.
There’s no defined style or formula to what we release; it just has to be good
Readjusting his musical co-ordinates along the way, Jay has played a vital part in the proliferation of deep house in Malta, while also successfully penetrating the international scene and bringing it closer to our island thanks to the particular and perceptive choice of artists he features in the events he organises.
In 2009, with 17 years of DJing and music production experience to back him up, Jay launched the Batti Batti label. He says the idea to set up the label was actually inspired by a friend of his who runs the Inndigital.com download website.
“He encouraged and guided me through the various lengthy processes necessary in setting up the label. The bottom line is that I no longer need to keep sending my music to different labels hoping it will be accepted, and above all, I also have total control over my music.”
In the three or so years that have elapsed since Batti Batti was born, there have been 11 releases, the latest of which is the Basement Tracks EP, incidentally also the label’s first vinyl release.
Featuring tracks from Jay and Melchior Sultana, 1Dan, Nino and Benedikt Frey, the vinyl release (BBR01) is limited to just 300 copies.
The vinyl is available from major shops, including www.northsouthmusic.co.uk and www.juno.co.uk.
www.battibatti.com
Interview with Owen Jay
What is your vision for Batti Batti?
To release music produced by a worldwide network of friends based on trust. Besides Malta, we have artists from Belgium, Germany, the UK and the US.
The label statement reads Deep House Music and Beyond so it’s basically a broad-minded operation. We’re open to other genres as long as they fit in harmony with the release.
We’ve even got some experimental, modular music planned for a future release so there’s no defined style or formula to what we release; it just has to be good.
Batti Batti started out with a digital release platform, in stark contrast to the vinyl format that has been an elemental factor of the DJ profession…
With the majority of DJs now playing music on their laptops, downloads are more popular nowadays and the financial risk of releasing digitally is much less than pressing vinyl. I sought to gain more experience in the industry before taking the plunge. I myself prefer to use vinyl, as it has a better and warmer sound quality, but unfortunately I often have to use CDJs because many local venues don’t have turntables.
Personally, I believe a DJ playing vinyl is more dedicated to his passion, and there’s also the fact that owning a vinyl has a special quality about it – the information, the engraved messages and, of course, that particular crackle when the needle goes into an endless loop after the grooves have run out.
It’s taken three years to finally launch your first vinyl release. What were the main setbacks in producing it?
Being based in Malta makes the process even more difficult, but thanks to my passion for vinyl and the support from the label artists, the dream has become a reality.
The main difficulties arise because the mastering, pressing and distribution take place abroad and I wasn’t present during those stages of the process. On such small numbers profits are, of course, impossible and we’d be lucky to just about cover the costs.
The EP features four tracks from four different artists...
Yes, and they’re all from different countries too. Groove Me is a pure deep house track with 909 drums, jazzy chords and Rhodes piano. It is produced by Melchior and myself.
Melchior is a very talented musician; earlier this year he released an album, World is History, on the prestigious Italian label Irma.
Last year we also released the Memories of You EP together on the Underground Quality label.
Dan is British and had already released Wish You Well on Batti Batti last year. His track Light Bridge features a very deep bass line and warm pads which build up throughout the track, accompanied by sparse and mystic vocal samples.
Nino is from Belgium and a newcomer to the label. We met at Club Tape in Berlin when I was performing at the UQ label night. His music is very atmospheric and spacious.
Last but not least, Benedikt Frey is German. We met last year when he booked me to play at one of his monthly events in Pfozheim.
His music is very interesting, and the track Moving Shadows features off-beat drums sounds, dark pads and an acid bassline. It’s been receiving a lot of attention and support from club DJs in both house and techno circles.
What other activities do you have in the pipeline?
At the moment I’m very excited about the vinyl release. It’s interesting to see how the music reaches different parts of the globe and I’m also glad that many DJs are already charting the record in their Top 10 Charts.
In the coming months there will be two more digital releases and another vinyl is planned for the end of this year. I’m also planning a Batti Batti label night featuring selected acts from the label, but more information about this will be revealed soon.
I’m also planning a solo release, Silent Change, for which a music video has already been produced by local company A Working Picture and is available on YouTube.
www.owenjay.com
bugeja.michael@gmail.com
The Batti Batti story so far…
BB01 Owen Jay – Early Light EP
BB02 Various Artists EP 1 (Owen Jay/Links/Bittersuite/Arc_Typ)
BB03 Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana – Way of Life (Alton Miller and Bittersuite remixes)
BB04 Various Artists EP 2 (Bittersuite/Woody Aki/Demarkus Lewis)
BB05 Jaime Read – Life In The Sea EP
BB06 Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana – Distant Dream
BB07 1Dan – Wish You Well
BB08 Bittersuite – Sea Legs EP
BB09 Caspian – Deep Island EP
BB10 Musumeci – Astounding Science (album)
BBR01 Basement Tracks EP – (Vinyl)