Jay Haze was in London for a gig at Fabric, solo then back to back with Ricardo Villalobos for afters. I’d heard some bad news – Haze had been left with little to no studio back in Berlin after a freak fire, and I arrived at the hotel wondering whether this might be my first interview no show. But within minutes, the industry’s most talked about character arrived in the lobby, not bling-blinged out like 50 Cent on a world tour, but dressed in plain jeans and a T-shirt.

The dark side of Jay Haze Pt. 1
The dark side of Jay Haze Pt. 2

Jay Haze, my respect 4 you.



very good answer.

My name is Jay Haze and...

I just want to be really honest to all you,

I'm a badass pioneer.

Fuck everything that is popular. Out.

lol, two of the most ridiculous posts I have read on here in succession

keep it up kids

Can't work out if he's well grounded or just an arehole but at least he has an opinion - good read I thought

He sure talks a lot.

I think he's right, the man speaks the truth, which hurts a lot of people. . ..

I'm erring towards the side of arsehole Boxie, one that loves the sound of his own voice.
Also not quite sure why he'd put 100 euros on the table if he was in Fabric LONDON we still use pounds you know, stupid sepo.

sickest interview i read in a while. really didnt understood what he wanted to say with few of his lines, but some lines were legendary.

where can i find the slices interview.

and i also dont understand the point of putting the money on the table

i laughed my ass off at this.

where does this guy get off thinking he is in a position to declare what is good or bad or that he even knows whats going on in the scene outside of his own involvement? sounds bitter about somethin. whats he done himself that people give a shit about?

He sold a lot of LSD when he was younger, I'm sure the buyers gave a bit of a shit about that.

Well I think he's pretty cool... No doubt about that there is a lot of ego rides and fucked up hypes in minimal and other dance music genres.. You get so sick of people bragging about them selves, and especially that sleazy Berliner hype..

Back in the days of psy-trance and hallucinogen, things were based on PLUR and mind expanding drugs. Today its all about money, productions and introspective drugs... But still, there are a lot of nice people around, and Haze probably didn't have the best acid trips...

He even hates on haters! I love a lot of the music he has done, but what a dick.

Fair play to him.

I'm surprised at the negative comments. He actually speaks his mind and validates why he thinks something isn't to his liking.

We all say "this is shit, thats rubbish" and we feel we are entitled to have this opinion - the only difference is this guy actually has said this in an interview.

He hasn't used it as a chance to flog his latest productions, he has given us an insight into the artist, which at the end of the day is the purpose of these interviews.

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posted by playdagame
Fair play to him.

I'm surprised at the negative comments. He actually speaks his mind and validates why he thinks something isn't to his liking.

We all say "this is shit, thats rubbish" and we feel we are entitled to have this opinion - the only difference is this guy actually has said this in an interview.

He hasn't used it as a chance to flog his latest productions, he has given us an insight into the artist, which at the end of the day is the purpose of these interviews.

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Exactly!! Totally agree with you!

There really isn't anything wrong with him being critical, it's fair enough to call out what you don't like.

The funny thing is when he gets all "I was doing this before anyone else." That is for other people to say, not him. No one likes a boaster or a bragger, especially one who calls out other musicians in the same breath.

He also seems to be suffering from a bad case of iwanttobeblackitis.

I read it this morning. What a terrible way to start your day. Holden? Why do you have to take a shot, to the kid everyone takes a shot at? Huh?

It just shows how the whole music business is filled with short minded, stupid people, who can only criticize...

boo jay haze boo!

he either likes to hear himself talk or is not just very articulate.

however, he's got opinions and you gotta give him respect for saying something other than the standard bullshit.

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posted by thomar
he either likes to hear himself talk or is not just very articulate.

however, he's got opinions and you gotta give him respect for saying something other than the standard bullshit.

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Exactly.

quote:

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posted by vanegz
I read it this morning. What a terrible way to start your day. Holden? Why do you have to take a shot, to the kid everyone takes a shot at? Huh?

It just shows how the whole music business is filled with short minded, stupid people, who can only criticize...

boo jay haze boo!

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Exactly, and it's especially bad beacuse 1) I don't think Holden has ever claimed to be good with records (which he is good, but that's a different matter). Holden hasn't built himself up so there's no need to shoot him down and 2) He does something that is completely different than Jay does. A whole different spectrum of music.

What about respect? Forget all the hype. Put things into perspective for once. Don't dis an artist just because you don't enjoy their music. Never talk bad about someone's professional work with the media, it's just low. Very low... IMO

Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)
My name is.. [scratches] Slim "Hazy"
Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)
My name is.. [scratches] Slim "Hazy"

quote:

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posted by thejass
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)
My name is.. [scratches] Slim "Hazy"
Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)
My name is.. [scratches] Slim "Hazy"

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He is a cool guy, but he made a fatal mistake taking a piss of James Holden... He is by far the most original and best producer of contemporary electronic music the last 3 years... I mean, Villalobos and Luciano is nothing compared to him!!!

DJ wise as well.. I went to see James Holden at the End in London, and he is just amazing!! He plays tunes no one else would have played if they had a crowd screaming for something harder... He just took it down, chooped up beats even 100 bpm stuff... Awsome DJ and producer...

.

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posted by theskypatrol
There really isn't anything wrong with him being critical, it's fair enough to call out what you don't like.

The funny thing is when he gets all "I was doing this before anyone else." That is for other people to say, not him. No one likes a boaster or a bragger, especially one who calls out other musicians in the same breath.

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well to be honest, i really dont think there are a lot of people in music that will give you credit you deserved. and as i remember jay did started the minimal way before it got popular

Dude put out his first music in 1999. Mike Ink, hawtin, sahko put reverb on snares long before that.
how much soul you got with hip hop success in a country like germany?

Hardest thing to swallow in this interview is Jay telling us how good his music is. turns you off from enjoying the music he makes

he comes across as a bit of a cock. "m_nus is overrated", "i can make any kind of music good", "my new fuckpony album is the bomb" and several hundred references to how he was raised by the streets and is therefore more real than anybody else around

Yo wazz up bro!!!

I think the point he was trying to make by saying that "M_nus is overrated" is that it's reached the point where even crappy productions from the label are getting acclaim. He argued that the whole Bay of Figs album was absolute rubbish, and I have to agree. I couldn't believe the title song was #22 on RA's best tracks of 2006. To me, that either suggests that 2006 was a horrible year (which it wasn't), or it supports Haze's point that people are just soaking up whatever M_nus puts out, regardless of quality, which is the definition of being "overrated".

Regardless of who he attacked and how much he seemed to selfishly promoted himself at the expense of others in the interview, he's a really entertaining read and, truly, I believe he is sincere with everything he said. That doesn't mean that he's right about everything (like saying that Holden doesn't know how to work records), but the honesty of his opinions, feelings, and sensibilities is refreshing. There's nothing plastik about this guy. He is real, but, sure, an ass.

Whether or not he is "real or not" doesn't hinge on the number of toes he steps on in a interview with an internet publication.

well he comes off really cocky.

but he is somehow right about the m_nus hype, people are just soaking up whatever M_nus puts out, regardless of quality, as someone said.

Jay, respect for speaking the way you do. Really! You put out the words you want to, you're honest, naked.
Its really good that you dont care what people say about you and you are able to deal with people saying 'bad' words about you because you said 'bad' words about them. The way the circle should be.. (although i also ask myself how it can be that you dont care about it but still do know what they say about you..)

You're totally aware of marketing, that's good to. Cool that you're not into hypes, so cool to make a dubstep record, cool to make more chicago mnml tech funk&soul infused house (maybe in 2 years you can say you were one of the first who did this..ahem) (which are absolutely not hypes, nah..). (btw: i love the soul in a bottle record)

I'm not the best informed technomusiclover but i do know something and do have an opinion about it. You make very cool music, fuckpony/the architect, for example and a lot of stuff on your labels is wow. A very good and sensitive nose you have. You also make very very boring music. Your live-set at Shanti in 2005 is the most boring music i have on my computer, i actually keep it to listen to sometimes to know what i dont like in minimal tech music. That robag and others love you for the snare-reverbs while others like mike ink and sahko did that earlier (according to others info..?) says more about robag whruhme and the rest than about you.. You can't help it when they love you for that.. You did your thing, did it well and deserve respect for it. Nothing wrong with that.

2 thing(k)s that i do mind or wonder about though:
first of all: you talk constantly about artists not talking with their hearts and only being friendly and correct. well.......... THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IN THE INTERVIEW, THE question where you could really really stand out from the rest
--------------->>>>>>>
How do you feel about what’s going on politically around the world? Especially as an American living abroad.

you dont give an answer at all. NOT AT ALL! You started to talk about other people and you make some vague almost 'philosophical' comments about what politics are..

So tell us how you (and indeed most certainly since you're an american) really deeply honestly feel about the horror that the americans are putting us into!

Its a fact that the americans together with us europeans and you australians, well we western people, are putting the world into horror! And it's actually not needed. Still it happens, it seems that it has to happen. We know whats going to happen the coming years, if nobody stops it. (i dont say i have an answer how to stop it or that i know precisely what is happening..)
You will certainly know people who once in a while say that they're still sometimes in a way angry on the german people because they didn't stop or didn't make sure WW2 had not happened...
Well.. I would like to ask You JAY HAZE and all of you readers here: aren't we being part of the same thing happening right now?

What the fuck are you fuckin doing to stop this fuckin fucking around by western people with middle eastern grounds and people where we dont have any rights to fuck around with!! Huh? Within 40 or 50 years our grandchildren have to swallow the fact that we didn't stop this mess.
Think about it!
You fuckin easy talkers!

Music, performances, parties, dont have to be about politics and stuff, but it sure is allowed to be about those kind of matters! Not only in cases about helping people when a big disaster has happened..

Second, but i'm just curious, i certainly dont ask this because i would not like you or would like to find something to stick you with..:
you started collecting musical gear when you were young and it sounds as if you collected a lot: where did you put this when you were poor and homeless, on the edge of being murdered, and had no connection with your family?

I sincerely believe you can make any music good, i hope you will go on! You're good. Man you are selfconvinced, selfsecure, its almost hurting, but you deserve it and you have the right to make us happy with your vibes. Thanks for hailing Mr. Matthew Herbert who is in the circle of real 'masters of all masters'! Thanks for being positive about ricardo and richie, we musiclovers are and shall always be glad with these kind of people.
In a way i'm kinda sorry for my long comment but i guess that this time i just had to talk my heart out, just like you did. I've never lived on the streets, nor in a fancy house. I have a little bit talent for rhythm, so i can mix a little bit, its a nice hobby which costs a lot of money, its the cheese on your bread. I'm happy though because i live and follow my heart and feelings.
Although i think this interview isnt that special at all, its still interesting. Many thanks.

Please leave politics out of this. It has nothing to do with politics, strictly music. I can't respect Jay Haze after such an arrogant interview. Mr. 'Haze', if this is how you really feel about other people's music. Then it is you, who doesn't have a soul. Your blatant comments about James Holden and Richie's label (M_nus), have shown us, that artists are not what they seem to be. How can you be such an Asshole? I can't relate to your life on the streets, but im pretty sure your decisions are the cause of your misfortune. Another one bites the dust?

oh it seems that the james holden remark was taken away from the interview.

No - still in there as far as i can see.

don't get me wrong dudes, i think jay is a genius. his music is absolutely incredible. (except for his new hip hop stuff, meh). but u cant deny that he comes off as quite an asshole in this interview.

at the same time tho, thats not neccesarily a bad thing is it? Miles Davis was meant to be a complete asshole also, and it just added to the mystique and grandeur of the guy. I particularly liked the part in this interview when he talked about paul van dyke and how just cos they both make music doesn't mean that he should feel obliged to talk to the guy. its an interesting read alright

When you make unprovoked statements like Haze has in his interview(s), it's either because A) he's ripping on the work of others to feel better about himself, or B) he knows that such statements will draw alot of attention to his name. This interview is just a shrewd promotional tactic, similar to many of the hip-hop feuds over the past decade or so.

i apologise for having talked about my own political opinion.

apart from his music, because we are talking about words in an interview.., i want to 'judge' the realness and strength of this 'superstar' by his real important answers and comments, most certainly when he critisizes other artists for not giving hard honest comments -> for me that would be an answer to the question the interviewer had asked about the global politics at the moment! i couldnt care less about wether jay haze likes the way james holden spins records or not. so to me jay haze is just a normal person who happens to have talent for good producing/djing/performing, nothing less but absolutely not more than that. there are plenty of those, and thats okay. we also need such people.

i think this poor dude has real issues......i love his productions... but really... did u guys read everyline he said... he doesnt said anything about himself hes just bullshiting about m_nus like a teeneger and fucking everything and everyone... is that because hes really insecure about himself??.. i think hes really unrespectful and he answers totally diferent things that the interviewer asks... and also who cares about troys age? who ask him... i thik hes a little lunatic.. as someone said before too much lsd maybe... what a shame that someone that makes such a cool music has such a putrid mouth... no doubts why hes not really succesful with girls!...

and respects for what??? for someone that doesnt respect shit???

i really dont understand these guys that say my respects... r they so angry with life and with the world??..thats why this world is like it is... fighting with everyone trying to b better pushing others down... for people like u that respect someone that wants to fuck everything up ... he shouldnt be call haze but hate.... yes respects for... JAY HATE!!!.... great ... how

out of all the techno acts with the prefix 'Jay' in their name (Haze, Dee, Men) I would say Jay Haze ranks somewhere in the middle

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posted by guevona
i think this poor dude has real issues......i love his productions... but really... did u guys read everyline he said... he doesnt said anything about himself hes just bullshiting about m_nus like a teeneger and fucking everything and everyone... is that because hes really insecure about himself??.. i think hes really unrespectful and he answers totally diferent things that the interviewer asks... and also who cares about troys age? who ask him... i thik hes a little lunatic.. as someone said before too much lsd maybe... what a shame that someone that makes such a cool music has such a putrid mouth... no doubts why hes not really succesful with girls!...

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ha ha ha!!! quoted for truth!

Aren't all producers and DJ's slightly arrogant, don't they have to be to really belive that what they are doing works and people will like it. It is the same in any profession - if you are an architect you have to believe that your idea and design is better that the competition otherwise you don't get the contract. Jay Haze seems the same .
However he seems to add to this in a way that could only really come from a yank, self-righteous and slightly ignorant, as if the only way to be generous or have a rounded open minded view of the world is by having a tough life. Some people in the world are well read enough to have balanced views without being poor or down and out.
PEAS

overall nice ready
Fuckpony is just phockingphunney

hehe This guy make me laugh. He's so desperate to appear cool he should still be in the playground. The thing with him he's got a big mouth but he's not got the chops to back it up, the fuckpony album was just bollocks and the rap stuff, give us a fucking break.

It's like A- ha slagging off the Beatles.

just my 2p worth

absolutely - all this interview is about is wanting to be controversial for the promotion. period.

i've never met the guy but it was highly amusing hearing about someone so much without every having met him. it had never happened to me before so i was intrigued. it always followed the same pattern.... people would tell me that they were working with him - either in the studio or somehow with his label or whatever. a couple of months later i would see them again and they would tell me how they'd quit because this guy was impossible to work with - totally on his own ego trip to conquer the music world, wanting to be famous so badly that he completely missed the point, diatribe after diatribe about himself. one person went into the studio to work with him and laughed later telling me how they didn't do anything because the entire time was spent listening to him talk about how f-ing amazing he is.

i started minimal music - ha! ha! i'm a bit chicago.. "i've found a better connection with hip hop culture" what exactly might that connection be???? "i've made a killer dubstep album that will turn some heads"... "mine was the most talked about slices interview".... what the f has that got to do with the question? jeeeeeesus! you can smell the paranoia. someone give him a valium. actually, come to think of it, i want to hire him as my PR agent. "i was collecting synthesisers before i even started making music"... what for? to hang on your wall?

that's what i love about americans - doesn't matter what you say as long as you have an OPINION on everything. that's the main thing. such bullshit.

one very important question mr haze: have you started paying the artists on your label their royalties owed yet? i hope you're blood has run cold right now. i heard you're moving to london - all the best to you. you won't get away with ripping people off - especially in the uk. i don't think people in london will be as tolerant of you as they have been in berlin. they don't take shit in the uk.

what was that famous quote?? ah yes, "shit finds it's own level". the karma police are after you right now, my lad. people like you burn out quicly.

slow down and have a good hard think about yourself.