Better know a DJ: Sound Cartel

Marshall Jones and DJ Nugz of Sound Cartel have been a part of the house music scene for more than 20 years combined. They’ll be playing Friday at Talulla’s on Franklin Street with friend Ian Lee, of Orlando. Diversions sat down with Sound Cartel to find out what to expect Friday, how house music is received in the Triangle and what the genre means to them.

Diversions: What about the Triangle stands out as opposed to Orlando or Chicago?

Marshall Jones: I’ve heard from other people who don’t live here that they’re amazed that there’s a scene for house music here.

One thing I think that keeps us — our niche is that we have the three colleges located here, so a lot of the people are international and they understand the music and that’s the pretty cool part. I think that’s what keeps us apart from everybody else.

DJ Nugz: Yeah, they’re more into the house scene and international. You know, house is more international, so a lot of the students already have some inclination of what it is.

Dive: Does anything about Chapel Hill stand out, compared to the rest of the Triangle?

MJ: It’s my roots, you know? There’s nothing like having a residency on Franklin Street and knowing that the street over, Rosemary, was pretty much where we all started.

Dive: You’ve played with a lot of different people, and been involved with a lot of different projects. Does your style change depending on who you’re working with, subconsciously or otherwise?

MJ: When we play together, our styles compliment each other so well, so it’s kind of like we don’t have to change up. I guess when we play in other areas, we have to feel the area out, feel the crowd out, and you just go after that vibe. So really, I think it changes every venue you play.

Or as far as any other people you work with, it can change. But I mean for me and (Nugz), he kind of taught me how to DJ. He was one of my teachers, so he knows what I do. So our styles compliment each other.

Nugz: Yeah, and it’s really house-based — like original deep, soulful, funky — you know, disco elements. We can range anywhere through that whole thing.

In my opinion, I think it’s based off the original house sound.

MJ: It definitely is. It’s got more soul, more instruments.

Out of individual elements that we bring, he has a more Latin-influenced sound. It goes back to our roots. He’s more Latin and soul, and I’m more funk and soul. And we both understand jazz. It’s kind of like all our styles just fuse together and compliment each other.

Dive: What advice, or starting point, would you have for people who haven’t listened to house music before?

MJ: Oh man. We probably have a list of DJs they can check out. Check out Roy Davis Jr., Mark Grant, Andre Harris, DJ Excel, Mr. V, Jellybean Benitez — who else?

Nugz: There’s definitely a lot. A lot of DJs, a lot of sound that people can relate to. It can also help to have an open mind to it. Since it’s not in the mainstream, for a lot of people Electronic is like listening to something alien, something new. And you’ve got to have an open mind.

It’s kind of like when you heard classic rock, when you heard Led Zepplin for the first time, when you’re a teenager and you hadn’t heard anything before that. You got to have an open mind an be willing to understand the sound — willing to feel what house music is about.

MJ: It’s funny how some people go to a club nowadays and want to hear what they hear on the radio. And you can’t do that anymore.

It’s like, really? A club is supposed to be a place where you hear cutting edge sounds that you’ve never heard before and you leave the club just drenched in sweat because you were dancing all night. That’s the essence of it. That’s what it was about back then, and that’s what we’re trying to do now.

I tell people, if you want to understand house music, come to one of our shows, or go to a show of a DJ we recommend. Or pick up a CD, or download a mix, because that’s what it’s about. Why would you want to pay $20, or even $5, to go hear Lil’ Wayne when you can turn on your radio? If that’s the case, you know, just stay at home and watch MTV, save yourself some bucks.

But if you really want to get something out and have a good time and hear something you’ve never heard before, come to one of our shows. It definitely will change your mind. The main basis, like Nugz said, is have an open mind. That’s the only way music can change and grow and we ain’t got to hear the same songs over and over.

Dive: Tell me about Friday night, here at Talulla’s with Ian Lee.

MJ: We were one of Orlando’s best house duos, and still are. It’s funny because he came for my birthday and was going to do a show, but we got snowed in. This is the re-do. Ian, he’s just going to rip it up. I think, for the area to see somebody of his caliber will be amazing. And it actually will enhance things a lot, because the man’s awesome.

How it’s different between me and Nugz? There isn’t really much difference. It sounds definitely a little different, but as far as work mentality, we’re both the same.