Interview conducted by our favourite four-to-the-floor expert, The Insider.

6^TH Borough Project – Craig Smith and Graeme Clark – go back a long way. For over 20 years, together, they’ve been producing quality house jams, and as DJs dusting off long forgotten funk and disco dubs. Both trusted selectors, as a duo, and individually, they’ve spun alongside legends such as Masters At Work, Kerri Chandler, Spinna, Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Deep. In recent years Craig, with Peter Oakden, has run the label, Fifty Fathoms Deep. He’s also just started a new imprint for his own productions called Beyond Tomorrow. As The Revenge, Graeme, has toured extensively and built a strong catalogue of solo productions, via his label, Roar Groove. The pair’s first new co-productions in 5 or 6 years have just been released as the Rhythm & Truth E.P. on Delusions Of Grandeur, giving me the chance to catch up with Craig, who’s an old mate. 

What are you up to today Craig?

I’m just sorting out the artwork for the second release on my new label, Beyond Tomorrow, which is coming out on July 10^th – and finishing off a remix of South Beach Recycling for Atjazz Records.

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard something new from the 6^th Borough Project. How come it’s taken so long?

Graeme moved to Denmark about 5 or 6 years ago and has been studying at university. That’s finished now so he has some time for us to start making music again. We did the odd remix while he was studying, but no real new music. There’s definitely more in the pipeline. We’d love to do another album.

Do you still speak a lot even though you’re in different countries? 

He’s in Copenhagen, I’m still in Edinburgh. We haven’t physically been in the same room for about 5 years! We do still speak fairly regularly on the phone though.

Do you remember where you both were when you had the light bulb moment about 6th Borough Project? 

There was never one moment. We just came together through fate and clicked musically straight away. When we started we just were having a bit of fun in the studio really.

I grew up in Edinburgh, in the `70’s, in just an average working-class family. In my early and late teens I was going to clubs like The Manifesto and The Hooch. They were my favourites in Edinburgh. In Glasgow it was Club 9 and the Sub Club. In those days, in the early `80s, I loved soul, boogie, jazz funk, and the then new sounds of hip hop and house. My first gig was in Edinburgh at The Hooch in 1987. I started making music in 1995, and my first release was in 1996 – El Gordo, on In Demand.

What was your first release as 6BP?

We did a few things as Craig Smith & The Revenge initially, and released a limited CD, with some edits on it early 2008. The first actual 6th Borough Project release was Planets on Jisco Music later that year.

What other projects have you worked on outside of 6BP?

The Soul Renegades with Ricky Reid, and Sound Signals with Saleem McRoarty. Over the years I’ve done solo bits – particularly remixes – but I’ve always been too critical of most of it, so it just sits on a hard drive at home. This is why I’ve started Beyond Tomorrow as an outlet for it all.

You were great mates with the late Phil Asher. What work did you guys do together?

Yeah that was my brother right there. You know the mad thing is that given what we both did, and how good friends we were, in 28 years of friendship we only did a couple of studio sessions. Even though we both deeply respected each other musically, we just loved hanging out together – just being two normal mates, who loved taking the piss out of each other. I will one day dig out the sessions I have and see what’s what.

Phil made a pretty significant mark in the global music community. What will you most remember him for?

He most definitely did. His impact on the scene, both home and abroad, cannot be underestimated. I separated the artist and the friendship very early on in our relationship, so as much as he was one of my favourite artists, he was also just my mate Phil from ‘down the road.’ I`ll always remember him for the long talks, the jokes, and the advice, and for the encouragement that he’d always give my own musical endeavours. He made everyone that he met feel like they were #1. I miss him dearly… and so does the scene.

How did you initially hook up with Jamie and Tom at Delusions Of Grandeur? 

Our very first release – as Craig Smith & The Revenge – was on DOG. It was called The Soul Part II. As 6th Borough, we ended up releasing a further 4 singles and 2 LPs with them. 

The DOG seems like a perfect fit for you two? 

Yeah it’s a great fit for sure. Jamie is an amazing producer – and DJ. He and Tom have done a fantastic job with all their labels. We’re super happy to be back!

Have you got lots on gig wise. Where are you playing next?

Yeah it’s been solid the last year or so. I’m off to Croatia for Suncebeat next week.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever played at?

I honestly couldn’t pick out one. I’ve been lucky to play at some amazing parties, all over the world, in the last 30 odd years from the smallest sweaty basement to amazing big stage festivals, and everything in between. At a push to pick just one I’d maybe say Panorama Bar, but there are so many others, for so many different reasons.

Do you think that what it takes to be a decent DJ and producer is different to what it was 20, 30 years ago?

The fundamentals have always been the same – work hard and learn your craft – but unfortunately now it seems to be all about how good your social media skills are, and how many followers you have – rather than your actual abilities. Also, most events, parties, and festivals have too many DJs on the bill – everyone playing for too little time, so that the art of warm up, or the understanding of how to work a room from open to close is being lost. With shorter sets the majority of DJs won’t take as many risks, or try to break stuff away from the norm. I know everything has to keep evolving, and that we can’t live in the past, but to me these are the key tenants of the culture. Fortunately, though there are producers,  DJs, and promoters still trying to hold dear the original ideals.

Who do you think is making good stuff at the moment?

Anthony Nicholson, Frederick, The James L’Estruange Orchestra, Byron The Aquarius, Ron Trent, Glenn Underground, Rob Redford, Glenn Davis, Fred P, Joe Claussell, Organic Pulse Orchestra, Trinidadian Deep. All the music on Deep Inspiration Records, Afronaut, IG Culture, DJ Wheel Up, Bruk Rodgers, and all the Co Op artists.

Who would be your dream collaboration?

Ron Trent, Glenn Underground, MAW, Larry Heard, Lonnie Liston Smith, Dexter Wansel, Nicola Conte, Lars Bartkuhn, Osunlade, Fred P, Peven Everett, Trinidadian Deep, Tall Black Guy, Q Tip. The List could go on and on.

You’ve been working all of your adult life in music. If you didn’t work in music, what do you think you might have ended up doing?

I don’t think I’d be in a good place, whatever it was. It’s a cliche, but music definitely saved my life. From a very early age it opened my mind, and, once I started travelling for gigs, it showed me the world.

6^TH Borough Project’s Rhythm & Truth E.P. is out now on Delusions Of Grandeur.