Jose Luis Seijas: When I listen to South African house I always think it sounds like you!
Little Louise Vega: (laughs) I went out there in the 90s at an event with about 30,000 people, and my muisc was also on the radio a lot, so I guess it helped to inspire a lot of the artists and producers that were making House music at the time...the took what I was doing and incorporated it influence into their own sound.
JLS: how do you keep reinventing yourself
Well, I guess we are creative people, so its about coming up with different musical styles and different ideas. With Anané it comes naturally. She started DJing about nine years ago and we thought about doing an event together and that's when created Sunset Ritual because we wanted to take the party to the beach, and that’s when we did the Blue Marlin in Ibiza. Tthat went on to become Ritual, which is about taking clubbing out of the clubs, onto Roootops or whatever. So its about keeping things evolving and that keeps things fresh.
JLS: Anané you were a singer before and now you are Louie vega's partner, not just his wife but his actual DJ parter, that is a big jump!
Anané Vega: (laughs) Well before I jumped in a worked a lot behind the scenes. I started as a singer-songwriter with Louie, and being married to a DJ that was never my intestion to be a DJ, but it happened on its own, when I visited a firend in NYC who invited me to play at the Sub Mercer club underneath the Mercer hotel, and it kind of turned into a residency. I’ve been a music collector all my life, and I also threw underground parties growing up in Rhode Islad, so it was always part of what I did. Being from Cape Verde, my natural instinct is towards African sounds, which is influenced by everything else from my upbringing, soul, house, jazz and ofcourse and the Latin thing. So then I got a residency, I felt free to throw all these things together to create my own vibe and this went on to create a label Nulu music, which signs and promotes African music, like signing up Black Motion from Pretoria, South Africa, but also Mozambique, Angola, Congo. I’ve just signed up two new South African artists. So Louie and I have our own projects and also come together on projects like Ritual or this event in London.
JLS: It's nice to hear how you got here, the work and the passion you put into it, especially in an era where everyone wants to get instant reward!
AV: it is true, you are right by bringing that point, and I think actually I would say that key is not Louie reinventing himself but rather he has staying true to his passion. And it happened that a new generation of people have discovered his great repertoire!... That’s what keeps people around for a long time, because when you stay true to your instincts then you're here to stay, beyond the fads and novelties. We are both doing the work that we both love, we support each other and inspire each other and that in itself keeps us going. If you have a strong foundation in what you do and belive integrity, you Can keep going in the face of the saturation and the speed of things that come and go.
JLS: what can you tell us about the new show you are bringing to the South Bank, is the band the same as the one you brought to London a few years back?
LLV: Soul Frito is a bit more condensed now. It’s more groove orientated and a lot of fun, its for dancing. We have Anané and Josh Milan singing and we mix it up with Jazz, Funk, Soul, Disco, Latin...we mix it up.
JLS: Is this show part of a tour or just a warm up concert for the big summer you seem to have year after year
LLV: we did this show because it's a big opportunity to sell out a theare in London. Its our first time in a theatre, rather than a club, in a prestigious arts venue in a major city. The Royal fetsival Hall holds 2,300 people. Then I’m hoping to do a mini tour to present the new album, in more venues around Europe.
JLS: And whats the recording plan for this project?
LLV: It's more a jazz album but very daneacble, I'll be bringing in have some big Jazz musicians, I’ll be going to Plhiladelphia with Jazzy Jeff and his musicians, I’ll be going toe Detroit with Moody Man, Carl Greg and their musicians. We’ll be bringing them in our world and in a kind of Jazz-based up-tempto record.
JLS: will you be releasing this on your label, you seem to be very active via your label as well, not waiting on anyone to put your music out there!
I’m going to talk to my friends who have labels do the marketing. As far as agents and the gigs we have that covered and a plan, I will have a partner to promote this around the world.
JLS: Looking at your careers and how long they are, what advice would you give to an aspiring act/dj so they can have long careers too..
AV: You have to work hard you and have to expect to work hard for up to 10 years before you may see any results. I have this conversation with young producers who send me music and say they’re frustrated and can’t find a label. I ask them 'so how long have you been this' and a lot of them say 'well for 2 years' and I say '2 years? That’s nothing!' It’s not their fault, because we live in a fast-paced world, and with social media, people expect success will be fast. But our advice is to give yourself atleast 5 years of working without any recognition or money and just put in the work and stick with it for a very long time, because anything that comes fast goes fast too! But if you keep puching, keep learning, and it will come…
JLS: Which are the most inspirational songs in your life
AV: I would choose 'Nos Vida', song that I wrote dedicating to Louie and our son Nico. Also Gil Scott 'Make it happen', whicb is all about if you want it to happen you have to hold on and believe and 'Sodade' by Cesaria Evora. She put Cabo Verde on the map. My mum used to sing this around the house when I was a young girl and we first came to the US, we made it again with Louse. It always brings a tear to my eye when I sing it because its about leaving your country behind and when you go to a new country it brings resilience to your character.
LLV: It would have to be Donald Fagen I.G.Y ...' What a beauiful world this coule be...what a goriousl time to be free' great lrticist and as a producer, I always looked up to him. Then Stevie Wonder ofcourse 'Always'. And lastly, I gotta give you one of my uncle Hector Lavoe's songs 'Todo Podoro'. My uncle write a lot of those lyrics too....
After Louie Vega's hugely successful performance at Royal festival Hall last year, he returns with Elements of Life to the same venue. Anyone who missed last year's extraprdinary concert, make sure you don't miss this one! Tickets here
