by SCOTT C

Amid the musical highs and lows of the '90s, Montreal took great pride in being the home of Ninja Tune's North American office, the label's only satellite outside the London HQ. As a result, Montreal was blessed with huge Ninja Tune extravaganzas, as well as more intimate and impromptu shows over the years, while laying claim to exports like Kid Koala and being a home away from home to Amon Tobin. There's no question that the label's longevity and continued success could not have been possible without the all-important Montreal link, so what better way to celebrate almost 10 years of music than with a full-on party.

Endless Summer hits the city on August 27 at Club Soda, with appearances from Herbaliser's Ollie Teeba, Bonobo, Blockhead with Omega One, and the live debut of Ninja Tune's latest addition to its sub-label Big Dada, Baltimore's Spank Rock.

The madness continues on August 28, when Ninja Tune/Big Dada takes over Piknic Electronik at Île Jean Drapeau, with DJ sets from Bonobo, Sixtoo, P-Love, Luv, Ghost Beard and some very special guests. As if that wasn't enough, the Ninja Tune Garage Sale will be liquidating old stock super cheap right there on the premises, so bring all available dough if you want some goodies.

The Mirror took time to talk to Spank Rock's Naeem Juwan, in his first ever interview.

Naeem Juwan: I'm pretty nervous about this, man. I never really did anything like this before. People have tried to interview me before and it's never really worked out. I don't really like to talk, y'know?

Mirror: Well, I don't think this will be difficult, because I don't really know anything about Baltimore. What was it like coming up in a place like that?

NJ: As far as the Baltimore club scene goes, it's pretty intense. It's a very poor environment and the clubs are really rugged. I remember this one party where they would pat you down thoroughly at the door, and we had to take our shoes off and clap them together to make sure we weren't carrying anything like razor blades or whatever. It's a run-down city, just like Detroit or New Orleans, but it's got its own tough flavour.

M: If you had to describe the Baltimore sound, would it fall into the same rugged classification?

NJ: Yeah. The Baltimore sound is very abrasive, in-your-face music. If you're making honest music, where you're from is gonna come out naturally. I try to make music that means something to me. As an artist, you have to represent where you're from.

Signed, sealed

M: How much experience do you have in the music business?

NJ: I guess it's been a hobby since I was 14, but I always took it seriously, thinking I was gonna be signed by the age of 16 (laughs). Y'know, I've been recording for a while, but this first album actually happened by mistake.

M: The Big Dada deal?

NJ: Yeah. Maybe not by mistake, but I was very surprised. I was just making music for fun, not trying to push it to anyone, really.

M: That's better than being signed at 16, man! They're supposed to come looking for you!

NJ: (laughs) Well, a lot of people don't believe that. A lot of people get really serious about trying to make it.

M: Had you heard of Big Dada prior to dealing with them?

NJ: Umm, no (laughs). Not at all. I realized I was familiar with some of the artists they had. We asked around and heard nothing but great things about the label.

M: You're in good company. Lots of left-field hip hop madness for sure.

NJ: It's funny (laughs) - I used to joke with those guys when I was first talking to them, "You have no idea who you just signed..." I think they only heard, like, four songs before it happened.

M: It only takes one, but this sound - the gritty, dirty, eight-bit party shit that you guys are a part of, is making people crazy, and it's great to see.

NJ: I'm still trying to figure it out myself. It's really cool that people are into Baltimore club music, with rough electronic drum sounds, not very polished shit. It's a reflection of the world today. People feel careless, hopeless and displaced, and they're missing strong leadership. They want to have fun. That's how Baltimore is, and that's how the music came about.

With Ollie Teeba, Bonobo, Blockhead and Omega One at Club Soda on Saturday, Aug. 27, 9 p.m., $20. Endless Summer continues at Piknic Electronik with DJs Bonobo, Sixtoo, P-Love, Luv, Ghost Beard on Sunday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m.–9 p.m., $5

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