words: JT

Detroit is not only the home of Motown & Techno but is one of music cutting edge artist-dj-producer's in music today. Stacey Pullen is his name and funky-tech-house has been his signature style for the past decade. The first record Stacey Pullen purchased was a Ramsey Lewis record, a straight up Jazz cat who was Detroit born and raised. Very much like Ramsey, Stacey has been breaking down doors with such full-length releases as 'Today Is The Tomorrow You Were Promised Yesterday' in 2001 on his own imprint 'Black Flag' and compilations with K7 & most recently with Fabric.

Stacey Pullen Cutting Edge DJ Artist Producer Detroit - photo

Stacey Pullen had frequented Industry nightclub and like most International talent he became not only a favorite of the regulars but he himself made Toronto a destination on all his travels. His kind nature and openness to talk to up and coming talent was incredible. You could find Stacey at Play De Record purchasing new and old tunes and talking to DJs young & old. Recently we were able to catch up with the Black Flag himself.

Klublife: Where have you been recently DJ wise? What has been your craziest experience in recent travels?

Stacey Pullen: I'm on my Australia / Asia tour now. I am in Singapore at the moment. The craziest thing is when the airlines lost my records, and I borrowed another DJs records and I still rocked the house.

KL: Production wise what are you working on and when can we expect it to hit the shelves?

SP: I am building my new studio In my new house I bought and I will have a hit record within six months...THAT'S RIGHT I SAID HIT RECORD!


KL: What was the biggest thing to hit dance music In your mind over the last twelve months? Declining record sales, reduced DJ offers, less gigs, more fusion sounding records what trends do you see in the music?

SP: I don't know about other DJs but I've still been working on a consistent level, I don't worry about record sales or trends in music because a good record will shine no matter what and that's what I plan to make.

KL: What got you into the scene to even begin DJ'ing & Producing?

SP: Listening to the Electrifying Mojo and Jeff Mills on the radio In the 80's and going to my 1st club when I was 15.

KL: Do you do anything outside of the business that would be interesting to our readers for instance are you a lawyer, doctor, stamp collector, skydiver… anything juicy?

SP: I love architecture, Interior design and I collect modern furniture, I just bought a 1950's contemporary historic homes and I'm renovating the home now.

KL: Where do you see the whole Dance Music scene heading what are your predictions?

SP: As long as there's good music there will be room for a good party. The eastern European countries have been good. But you can't deny technology and you have to embrace It to move forward.

KL: Your stranded on an Island, what 5 tunes would you have with you?

SP: "Lil Louis "french kiss", rhythm Is rhythm "strings of life", anything from "a tribe called quest", Miles Davis "kind of blue" and anything by Prince!

KL: What music outside of Dance / Electronic do you listen to and what  are some of the artists / producers that you are Into?

SP: It's all about the neptunes you know that! Timbaland, Lil Louis, Miles Davis and Prince.

KL: Blackflag Recordings what is happening with the label?

SP: Blackflag is on tour somewhere right now and they will be back when their studio Is finished.

KL: How was the experience of mixing a K7 mix and Fabric mix different? How has your style as a DJ evolved?

SP: K7 was an artist experiment and I got a chance to make a track by taking samples of some of the records I used on the mix. Lots of studio post production trickery. The Fabric mix is raw... 2 turntables and a mixer. I change every 6-8months I don't care about trends in music, a good track is a good track, when I shop for records, I don't care If It's a progressive track or what that's the journalist making up names so people can identify with. SHIT! I PLAYED BEYONCE 2 NIGHTS AGO AND IT ROCKED! AND NO IT WAS NOT A REMIX! I guess that's why I'm still working, I'm constantly evolving.

KL: What can we expect from Stacey Pullen the artist In the coming year?

SP: More studio time and less traveling or less studio time and more traveling... I can't make up my mind...

KL: How was Movement the festival for you this year? Compared to the years past?

SP: I played on the underground stages because I've played and closed on the main stage for 3-4 years and you know what they say... once you've reached the top, there Is no where to go but down. So I decided to flip the script and played a smaller stage. a more intimate approach, if you will.

KL: What are you excited about the future of the business? Anything that stands out for you?

SP: I always said that this Is my introduction in this business, my 1st step. The good thing about it is that I still have that youth on my side even though I'm part of that old school.

What ever your musical flavor… House, Techno or Funk… Stacey Pullen can deliver on all levels. If you need more proof of his natural talent and diverse musical abilities look no further than his most recent compilation for Fabric nightclub out of the UK entitled 'Fabric 14. Failing that you can catch him later this summer at Summer Magic on Sunday August 1st and The Docks. as the funk tech-master returns to show Toronto why he Is the 'one' & 'the only'!  You can also check into his label at www.blackflagrecordings.com