Blame it on the Bellboy

Having moved from his natural home of Aberdeen to the cosmopolitan environs of Camden, London, Bellboy label owner, long serving producer and one of dance music’s best kept secrets, Chris Cowie is now ready to launch a new assault on the music industry that has ignored him for so long.

Cowie, who has a staggering two hundred productions to his credit under a dizzying array of guises – take your pick from Vegas Soul, X Cabs, F2, DeNiro, Scan Carriers and Dawntreader – has released on his own Bellboy and Hook labels as well as imprints like Soma, Limbo and Music Man.

While Chris says that the reason he records under so many identities is because: “In the past I was releasing nearly a record a week so it was a case of thinking up names for every new EP.”

His various nom de plumes also represent the diverse musical styles he makes, be it looped techno, deep tech-house or dirty progressive house and trance. As he says, “I love music, so it’s impossible for me to sit in one small corner. “

However, if you’re searching for an introduction to the Scottish producer’s vast back catalogue, then the best place to start is the forthcoming Best Behaviour compilation. A double CD collection of his deeper, less abrasive material, the album nonetheless manages to flit effortlessly between a number of styles, taking in sensuous house, moody and emotive techno, Timo Maas style funky progressive house, and, on ‘Mindfield’, even the odd torch song. In short, Behaviour positively teems with electronic soul and, though nothing short of brilliant, only covers a small part of Cowie’s musical achievements.

“If I’d wanted to I could have done an eight CD package of my work,” Cowie jokes in his rasping Scottish accent, not unlike a younger yet equally acerbic Billy Connolly. “One of the reasons I’m doing the compilation is to re-launch myself as Chris Cowie,” he explains, “so there are about four or five new tracks on Behaviour, but it’s still like a greatest hits package. My first love is techno and I included the deep side of things on the album so it could be enjoyed at home. There are only a few Jeff Mills style tracks on it,” he says with a cheeky laugh, “but usually they’re better for driving or dancing to!”

So, while Behaviour provides a timely snapshot of his career to date, it also explains why DJs as diverse as Jeff Mills and Laurent Garnier, Danny Tenaglia and decidedly more mainstream DJs like Seb Fontaine and Nick Warren have been keen supporters of Cowie’s work. While Chris says that his work “is like for a bridge for the big league guys who are getting back into playing underground music and even techno,” Cowie’s refusal to confine himself to one style of dance music has meant he has ended up at best misunderstood and at worst ignored by much of the dance music industry.

“It’s funny because I release on an underground techno label which has no connection with me but is supported by the likes Jeff Mills. I don’t think they’d be playing it out if they knew I was behind it though.” Of course it’s exactly this kind of snobbery that has also seen Cowie categorised as a trance merchant, largely due to the fact that he has released on and runs Hook, Bellboy’s sister label.

“Hook was a trance label and I’m proud of what it achieved, “ Chris admits, adding, “at the same time, it was never a cheesy label. However, because I run Hook I’ve been categorised as a cheesy trance producer. This means that certain techno DJs have refused to even listen to any of my productions. Mind you, maybe it has something to do with the fact that Bellboy is a crap name for a label!”

His cooler than thou peers may have given him the cold shoulder treatment, but it’s not like Cowie has let it hinder his progress. The Scottish producer has already started looking towards the next stage in his career, which began with Hook and Bellboy’s operations moving from Aberdeen to London and the release of Best Behaviour. Cowie hopes this development will continue with collaboration with Danny Tenaglia and a new artist album scheduled for release early next year.

“Danny seems is a very genuine guy and it’s just a question of finding the time,” Chris says, adding, “now that I’m based in London it’s easier to meet up. We moved here because it’s where we do most of our business and I want to pursue my DJing career more – it wasn’t so much because I play gigs in this country, but it’s great for using it as a base for other places.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m going to turn into a superstar DJ, jetting all over the world; I don‘t want a shot at the world title but I’d still like to be included in the championship.”