Jamie Bull

31-07-12

HomoElectric started back in the late '90s as a queer spin-off from legendary Mancunian disco Electric Chair and is currently headed by the inspirational Luke Unabomber and resident deejay Jamie Bull. In recent years they have taken their club for a spin in East London with hugely successful residencies at The Shacklewell Arms and Dalston Superstore. Body Talk resident Rokk chatted to Jamie about music, nightlife and the sound of E minor...

Rokk: What was the first record you remember buying?

Jamie: My first album was Abba 'Super Trouper' (such a cliché, sorry). I was four at the time and I distinctly remember the man behind the counter asking me if I wanted it on record or cassette. I chose cassette, and I still have it.

Rokk: How did HomoElectric come about?

Jamie: I think HomoElectric started for two reasons. Firstly, as a reaction to an increasingly commercial and homogonised gay scene. Musically it had lost its 'underground'. There was a feeling that previous gay generations had their own great underground music scenes... the ‘70s had disco, the ‘80s had Hi-NRG and proto house. What did we have? Britney? Secondly, it wanted to disregard the notion that on a Saturday night your straight mates went to club X, and your gay mates went to club Y. We were after something more inclusive.

Rokk: What does love feel like?

Jamie: Love feels like an E Minor chord, some cowbells, and a smile from a stranger.

Rokk: Describe your perfect night out…

Jamie: Hours of dancing to E minor chords, cowbells, and smiling at strangers. Do you see a pattern here....?!

Rokk: What’s the worst thing you've been asked while DJing?

Jamie: The most insulting one was when a girl said to me “Can you play something different because it makes me want to open a vein.” I asked her what she would prefer to hear, she replied “Rick Astley.”

Rokk: How did you get into DJing?

Jamie: I was seduced by my first visit to a nightclub. I went to an under 18’s night, I was 14 at the time and loved hearing the 12" versions of the current hits. Whilst everyone else spent their time snogging I spent the night peering into the DJ booth. By the time I was legally old enough to be in a club I had learned how to mix and harvested a record collection. I got my first proper gig at Uni in the Students Union's nightclub. It's all I've ever wanted to do and being in nightclubs is where I feel at home.

Rokk: What can we expect from HomoElectric in the future?

Jamie: 2013 will bring change in location for the Manchester nights as our venue Legends is being demolished. As for London, I'm remaining tight-lipped for now, but it will be focusing on building on the success it's having.

Rokk: Name your Top Ten HomoElectric tracks?

Jamie: My top 10 HomoElectric tracks of all time are (in no particular order)...

Todd Terje - Eurodans