Roy Davis Jr. interview – “It’s been a good blast from the past”

We check in with the chief Therapist himself

Roy Davis Jr.’s Undaground Therapy Musik label has hit top gear this spring.

Having just dropped remixes of ‘Watch Them Come’ – a 1999 jam produced by Roy Davis Junior and Jay Juniel as Men From The Nile featuring the heavenly vocals of a then-young Peven Everett – Green Velvet, Soul Clap and Matt N Ricky, they’re pushing forward with new singles from Nico Lahs and the wonderfully named Turquoise Colored French Tourists in mid-April and May.

So naturally, when we got the chance for a brief natter with the main man behind all this quality vinyl, Roy Davis Jr. himself, we jumped at it….

Hi Roy – thanks for taking the time to chat.  First of all, let us know where you are, what you’ve been up to already today and what you’ve got planned for later.

RDJ: No problem, it’s my pleasure, right now I’ve just finished my morning bike ride and swim. Today I will be in the studio, jamming out for my next album.

Undaground Therapy Muzik is really firing in all cylinders at the moment – the remixes of ‘Watch Them Come’ for starters.  How did you pick the remix team for that?

RDJ: Well thanks! It took a while. I had a beautiful time going through the artists that I love and seeing who could flip the track into a new light and do some killer remixes. Next up I chose from the ones I had already from the past, and picked a few new ones to go with the release to make it a complete package.

You’ve also got singles from Turquoise Coloured French Tourists – what a great name for an act, we must say – and Nico Lahs, both coming in the next couple of months, tell us about them.  They’re both good value for money with five and four original tracks respectively…

RDJ: Both of those artists are amazing and they sent me demos that just worked perfectly to what style I like to do for today’s time with a twist of yesterday’s roots. It was just a brilliant superb fit.

You’re in the middle of digitizing the whole of the labels’ back catalogue.  An immense task we would imagine, but we also reckon it must throw up some interesting stuff that you’d forgotten about.  It must be like listening to the soundtrack of your life so far. 

RDJ: Yes, in certain ways good times and bad times which makes the journey surreal.  It’s been a good blast from the past while collecting and remastering these songs and tracks.

You’re back gigging again too, that must be amazing.  How do you think clubbing has changed coming back to it after the pandemic? 

RDJ: I think everyone has been more excited than ever just to get out and about a bit again and have some fun and release some of that lockdown tension.

We’ve heard people are after harder sounds, they’re really up for something that hits really hard having been denied the clubbing experience.  But I’m sure you had your own vision of what you wanted to do once you were able to. 

RDJ: I still think it’s about good music, hard or soft, just vibes of expression to appreciate music and the love for the dance.

There are also label showcases on the way too, we gather.  How are those shaping up?  Any chance of them reaching British shores at some point?

RDJ: It’s all in the works of a Undaground Therapy night with the new artist and friends to come.

Finally, what’s next when all that’s out of the way? 

RDJ: Right now, my focus is getting out and doing a few festivals and shows in the midst of finishing up my album, that’s a long time overdue for me. 

Ben Willmott

Pre-order the ‘Monaco’ EP by Turquoise Colored French Tourists – out on April 17 – and the Holy Day EP by Nico Lahs, due on May 22.