I'm On A Boat

As a DJ, producer and label director, James Canning has spent the last decade helping define the local underground music scene by providing everyone with alternatives to the mainstream.

“The whole idea behind Respect Music is just to offer an alternative of substance to people. Without passionate people like ourselves, and finding people that align with us, it would really be hard for people to hear new music.

“I hope that we’re a bit of a beacon because it’s just strength in numbers. The more people we have onboard helping us get the word out there, the more like-minded agencies and radio stations and promoters that we can work with as well. And there’s a few of us, but we’re definitely outnumbered to the masses who are after the top 40.”

As most of James’ time is taken running Respect Music and its associated projects, it isn’t often he gets a turn behind the decks. So when the opportunity arises, like the Involved Boat Party, he makes it special.  “At this stage, it’s going to be very diverse. I only play, at the moment, five or six gigs a year at sporadic events here and there. So obviously because I don’t play that often, when I do I want to make sure it’s got some bang to it. It’ll be across the range from hip hop, funk influence, into your Latin, Afrobeat and maybe finishing off with some tribal house. Just really moving through a diverse array of quality music.”

The next year will also bring big things for Respect Music.  “We’ve just been teaming everything up for 2011 and I’m hoping to get our online store and digital retail network in place before December. And start dropping a few of our tracks. We’ve been sitting on so much material for the last two years; the classic producer-perfectionist where it’s ‘never-quite-finished’ scenario.”

When appealing to specialty markets in a music industry that’s ever increasing in size, James says collaborations are the only way to go.
“We’re looking forward to collaborating more and more with peers in the industry from all these different niche markets. Funk, soul, jazz, Latin, whatever it is, really. We’re looking at doing other stuff with other labels because you’re really broadening your network when you align with other labels. It opens you to different areas of the market.”

CATCH JAMES CANNING AT THE INVOLVED BOAT PARTY ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6.