True House Stories® Youtube & Spotify Video Podcast
TRUE HOUSE STORIES W/ ERIC MARTIN (TECHNOTRONIC)
Eric Martin (Technotronic) interviewed by Lenny Fontana for True House Stories # 064
Part 1
Eric Martin one of the co-founders of Technotronic shares with us in this episode what life in the UK was like in the 1980’s and 90’s. He speaks candid about surviving on the streets of London and his quest to make a better life for himself through music. He would spend countless early mornings talking to bouncers, DJ’s and dancers coming out of the night clubs to learn about the music business and how to work in nightlife.
He hooked up with DJ Jaffa who gives him a helping hand to getting one of his first deals done that starts to get him in the musical production direction. He explains about the sampling issues and the problems that arose in the beginning and working with the early midi studio technology. Eric explains the theory of how hip hop runs in parallel with early house music.
Part 2
Eric in this part talks about the deep underground sound that lived on the streets. He shares what is work ethic was like with in the beginning of his career and the huge influences by DJ’s Femi Fem, Ion Irving, Matt White, Kenny Dope and Todd Terry. Technotronic changes pop music forever and from that fame Eric is then pigeon hold for being known for one kind of sound.
He talks about the business and how tough it can be and having to balance it all. He talks about his experience of giving his mom his first royalty check. His first trip to USA and the world tour with the band and the craziness of being young and experiencing all of it. It’s a must watch.
Eric Martin (Technotronic) YouTube Video Part 1
Eric Martin (Technotronic) YouTube Video Part 2
Biography Eric Martin (Technotronic)
Eric Martin’s contribution to the growth of house music as a global phenomenon is undeniable. Starting as a writer/producer at Zomba/Jive Records, Eric came to fame as a founding member of the seminal 90’s House act Technotronic, co-writing their classic “Pump Up The Jam” multi-platinum album and selling over 14 million copies worldwide.
His first solo project “As Far As I’m Concerned” on Island Records featuring the late Guru of Gangstarr and The Roots is a testament to his musical “routes” to House via Hip-Hop and was short-listed for the Mercury Music Prize.
Eric has written and produced for Jeff Beck, Maxi Priest and the mighty Capleton among others under his ‘Me One’ moniker and maintained a career as a house music producer via collaborations with the likes of Technotronic, Ya Kid K, Shaun Escoffery, Black Sonix and Akil The MC of Jurassic 5.