LuckyMe are proud to announce Eclair Fifi’s debut record - ‘Never Let Go’ by Mickey Oliver & Shanna Jae. The first in a series of Chicago House and Latin Freestyle Drumapella, Percapella & Synthapella reissues & remixes.
“I’ve had this record for years – my parents were into Chicago House and it’s been with me forever. Shanna Jae is better known as Paris Grey from Inner City… Goes without saying ‘Good Life’ is one of my favourite childhood records but a few years ago I was caught playing ‘Never Let Go Drumapella’ out at New Years Eve in London and it always changes the energy in a club. I’m a sucker for percapellas and have played them in as pivot tracks in sets since I started DJing; high energy drums, wet vocals and the space to take the set into different directions – ‘Never Let Go’ is a moment whenever it’s played.
When I first approached Mickey Oliver it was through the comments section on his old website that kept crashing. I had to find his email via the site’s code. We were sent a master to work with, recently digitised from the original 1987 tape. Then I had the record remixed by a load of friends I’ve met touring, all picked for their drums. Aden’s is jacking, Strip Steve for his percussive 808 house sound and Airmax97 for a contemporary club edit.
I wanted to compile a series of records and remixes that I have a long connection with since my first days DJing on Interface Radio in the early 00s, long before LuckyMe. To bring it together I tracked down phone and fax numbers, label studio addresses that had been turned into auto trade garages in Miami... It’s been a long time coming to put this series together. I’ve hand-made cover illustrations for all of the vocalists. It’s not just a ‘project’ to me – I can boldly say this is my favourite music and it’s about celebrating true dance music.” – Eclair Fifi. London. 2016
