CityLife

Interview: Modern English - John Robb, Johnny Jay

John Robb (second left) with the Modern English crew

OFFICIALLY, this month sees the launch of Modern English, the exciting new record label set up by Manc music personalities, writer John Robb and producer Johnny Jay.

Unofficially though, those two men insist that the label is something they’ve actually been working on their whole lives – they just never gave it a working title.

“Working on a record label and what we do in our daily working lives, there’s no real difference,” says John Robb, a man for whom hyperbole seems to be his default speech setting.

“If you look at the backgrounds of me and Johnny, it’s almost like we’ve been working on a record label all our lives.

“It’s only now that we’re calling it a record label and making it official. This is what we do, we don’t really switch off.”

This swiftly becomes apparent when CityLife meets the duo on a drizzly February afternoon in the Cornerhouse bar.

Put John Robb and Johnny Jay in the same room, the former, the esteemed music writer and singer from rowdy punks Goldblade; the latter, the veteran producer, remixer and general man-about-town – and the end result is what can only be described as like the Wimbledon final of verbal Manc tennis.

While Robb serves up a dewy-eyed anecdote about the first time he saw The Stone Roses, Jay volleys back with a fruity recollection about his time working with Tony Wilson at Factory.

When CityLife finally manages to get a word in, conversation is quickly steered towards Robb and Jay’s exciting new, and perhaps long-overdue, professional venture, their independent record label Modern English.

Fronted by Robb and Jay, but financially backed by three discreet business partners (the people with the cash should always be secret shadowy figures, Robb jokes), Modern English is, insist the pair, a record label which is essentially summed up by its bold and unapologetic title.

'Inspire and encourage'

Modern in its techno-savvy approach (releases will be in digital format only), and English in its championing of diverse home-grown talent, it soon becomes clear that Modern English isn’t just a label, it’s also a stern comment on the state of the modern music biz from the two men involved.

“Some people might say ‘what’s the point in independent labels in this modern age’,” Jay announces.

“But if a label is done correctly and with the right principles, it can be really inspiring.

“Obviously, the internet is amazing, and it’s really made bands self-sufficient. But what a label does is say to a band: look, you go and write the songs, rehearse and play the gigs and improve.

“We’ll look after all the business, and make sure your music is heard.

“I think Manchester has lacked a label like that for years – probably since the days of Factory.

“A good independent label should be there to inspire and encourage, but most of all, it should be accessible and that’s what Modern English is all about.

“Everyone is welcome to approach us, and we’ll be as honest and helpful as we possibly can.”

It’s a welcome philosophy, although Modern English could just as easily be named Modern Mancunia.

With two such larger-than-life and experienced music personalities – in particular Johnny Jay, who has worked with everyone from Pete Waterman to Tony Wilson to the seminal Eastern Bloc Records – Modern English was always going to be a label with proud Mancunian zeal.

Determined to champion the underdog and break away from the white-bread guitar hegemony of Manchester’s indie scene, Modern English are happier to lurk within the margins, reporting back with enticing examples of this city’s eclectic and much-neglected artistic undergrowth.

Further releases planned

“There’s no doubt that this label is intrinsically Mancunian,” explains Robb.

“But from an outsider’s perspective, Manchester music is very white and male, it’s very guitar-driven and it caters for what the London media want to hear.

“Nothing against Delphic, but that’s why you have a band like them topping all the next big thing lists this year.

“With Modern English, we’re happy to cover the full artistic spectrum of Manchester. So you’ll see releases from guitar bands, urban music acts, multimedia artists, even poets.

“It’s a very true representation of the multi-culturalism and melting pot of this city. When we say Modern English, what we’re really saying is Modern International. “

Such statements can only be backed up by a label’s output though, and judging from Modern English’s scheduled first releases, Robb and Jay are certainly off to a great start.

The first Modern English release will be from spectral gloom-rockers 1913, whilst the second – and the one Jay insists will seriously blow minds and ears – is from Mauritius-born, adopted Manc diva Thallie, one of this city’s most dynamic new urban music talents.

With further releases planned from young poets, visual artists and rap collectives, Modern English might well live up to its billing of a true soundtrack for 21st Century Mancunia.

Not surprisingly though, given the two big characters involved, Modern English’s biggest challenge might simply be spending less time talking, and more time doing.

“You should see our record label meetings,” laughs Jay.

“But that enthusiasm is why we’re doing this. We’ve got so many ideas, and a record label seems like the best place to share them.”
 
For more info visit www.modern-english.co.uk. The first Modern English release, Atlantis From 1913, is out now.