POSTCARDS FROM 88… Steve Mac

There’s no doubt that the summer of 1988 marked a watershed moment in the history of dance, as the house rhythms of Chicago, artistic exuberance of Ibiza, and electronic soundscapes of Detroit surged through club culture. Acid house had arrived.

With this in mind, 909originals presents ‘Postcards from 88’, a series that sees leading DJs, promoters, journalists, club owners, photographers, and of course the clubbers themselves, shed some light on just what went on during those halcyon days, 30 years ago.

This week’s ‘Postcards from 88’ comes from Brighton-based house producer and one half of the Rhythm Masters, Steve Mac.

Q. Do you remember what you were doing as the Summer of 1988 started?

I remember going to my first rave in Cambridge; it was an acid house party in a field. I had never experienced anything like it before. I was very young, 16 years old. I didn’t know what the fuck was going on – people dancing strangely and all looking weird. Obviously, they were a bit out of it. It was the biggest eye opener and I instantly fell in love with it.

I knew most of the music, as I was already buying these records. It was strange, I was a hip hop DJ but I just started buying house. It just felt the same, but faster.

Q. Was there a particular tune from the Summer of 1988 that stood out for you? Why?

There were a few: The Beat Club – Security, Unique 3, Debbie Malone – Rescue Me, Voodoo Ray – the list goes on. All pioneering records – there were so many of them.

Q. Why do you think that people are still so interested in the origins of the dance scene, old school and everything that goes with it?

Because it’s still massively in fashion. Its strange: if you look at other genres of music like punk, new romantic etc, they came and they went quickly. Thirty years on, every club is still playing house music. Of course it’s moved on but it’s still the same formula.

Q. If the ‘you’ from 1988 could give the ‘you’ from 2018 a piece of music-related advice, what would it be?

If it was the other way round I would be making bloody amazing records in 1988, but I was a spring chicken a didn’t know anything about studios. If I was to offer advice, it would be ‘get on this quick, buy samplers and synths!’

[Thanks again to Steve for this week’s interview, and kudos to Shrinechick88 for the YouTube upload Postcards from 88 continues next week. Check out the other interviews in the series by clicking here]

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