Mutate
Promoter
There’s a venue in Dublin that’s small and dark with high ceilings and from the outside, looks like nothing special. Inside, it’s more of a place for live gigs with a stage raised up above the pit. Known as ‘The Soundhouse’ — formerly ‘The Pint’ — it’s a space that hosts all kinds of events from hip hop parties to comedy nights. Pre-Covid, one night that found its home at The Pint was Mutate; a techno series that invited a whole load of talent to headline counting Jeroen Search, Ø Phase, Abstract Division and Sunil Sharpe to shake the walls of the decade-old venue. In more recent years, the party bounced between intimate venues Wigwam and Kaizen, bringing over Mama Snake, Volvox and many more to Dublin city.
Since the pandemic, Mutate has migrated online, amped up their mix series and continued their bi-weekly residency on Dublin Digital Radio. Mutate founder Jay can be found on the airwaves alongside residents Brian, Colin, Rory and Niall every second Thursday from 22:00 GMT, in addition to global guests who contribute an hour-long mix.
Looking back to a Mutate event from four years ago, Jay revisits a mad memory featuring UVB. He also shares his ideal Mutate party post-Covid, his attitude to life right now and more…
Craic 🖤Photo: Jay Carroll
Where was this photo taken and why did you choose it? What was the music vibe at the time?
So this photo was taken when I brought UVB back to Dublin in January 2017. I had originally brought him to Dublin in January 2015 for his Irish debut so this one, the second time around, was something very special as he was road-testing his hybrid live set for the first time to a live audience before the upcoming MORD night at Berghain. He thought an Irish crowd was the perfect instrument to gauge how it would be received!
The venue was The Soundhouse, a venue we hosted many a party at. The anticipation for this show was palpable and there was so much hype in the run-up to it. It sold out and the queues were up the quays for it. The crowd that night were extremely up for it. We had clubbers on shoulders, tops off absolutely going for it. It was insane. Roll on 3.30 am and the security jumping on stage, getting clubbers back down onto the dancefloor and waving frantically to kill the music. There are actually some videos floating about of that moment at the end of the night. I think the photo really captures the intensity of the night, you can actually see the enjoyment etched across peoples faces!
I think everybody is familiar with Sebastien aka UVB and what his productions are like, heavy artillery, a touch of industrial but with a groove you can lose yourself to. He was releasing on Bas Mooy’s MORD, Dax J’s Monnom Black and he had just launched his own label, Body Theory around that time so the music style was definitely higher BPMs and a new direction of harder-edged techno was emerging.
How have you been over the last while and what is life like in Ireland?
I have been keeping well over the last year or so thankfully. I have noticed lately that I have more off days than usual because I’m always the positive, sunny-side-up type. I guess after a year of lockdowns it’s to be expected. I have a lot to be grateful for though. I have been lucky enough to have been able to work throughout and pay the bills. There are so many countless families in Ireland who have been out of work and depending on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, so many are suffering both financially and mentally. I am blessed to have my daughter and immediate family within 5km bar my younger sister Roberta, who I am very close to and I miss her company but we keep in touch regularly, she will be the first person I gravitate towards when the restrictions ease enough.
It’s pretty shit that so many cannot see their families due to living outside the restriction limits. This hits so hard because built into our DNA being Irish, I think it is safe to say, an Irish family tends to be an extremely close family. I appreciate what others are going through and have empathy for them, it makes me appreciate what I’ve got so much more. I think life in Ireland right now differs for every individual but generally speaking, it’s like that one f*%king cloud hanging over the country, blocking the sun and won’t just f*%k off! Doesn’t help when you’re reminded of it every day through the mainstream media so it can get a bit depressing. I think the key is to focus on the cloud passing and look forward and be thankful for the little things which get you through the day.
I have to say though I cannot wait to get back into a club, I think when we can all dance again and have a good session, it’ll be the icing on the cake!
As a promoter, you've had to pause Mutate events since March 2020. Has the previous year off from promoting events given you space to think about where you want to go with Mutate in future?
Oh yes! For sure there has been plenty of time to think and take stock of everything. Myself and my Mutate fam (Brian O’Neill, Colin Farmer, Rory Caraher and Niall Cleary) have our bi-weekly radio show on Dublin Digital Radio, which will continue and we’re stoked to be a part of that great community since not long after its inception!
I have held off on making any bookings for events but I have a list of artists I was booking pre-Covid who I am still intent on bringing to Dublin. Right now I won't jump the gun because we don’t know for certain what way the night time industry will reopen and to what extent this year, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility it’ll be the last quarter, all depends on the current Government and vaccination rollout.
I do have a plan to throw a socially distanced Mutate 9th birthday party this year, which for now will be a Live stream and some special guests in a sweet sweet space in Dublin City Centre. It’ll be a full audio-visual show with all the trimmings. Beyond that, there is also the record label that will be featuring Irish artists. The debut release has already been pushed out from last year but it is something in the pipeline for sure.
As a resident on Dublin Digital Radio, you're known to invite a heap of local talent on for a guest mix, including Aero, Ôneyra, Niall Cleary and loads more. Right now, who has caught your attention on the Irish circuit and why?
Wow, so many to choose from at the moment, it seems like there are so many new DJs and producers around these days which is a good thing but can be a little over-saturating at times. They say economic downturns drive creativity and this is so true, throughout history. Gets people to think outside the box. Artists who are doing that for me right now are Doug Cooney, Offtrack, Billy Illand.
Also the Research boys are pulling no punches with the new label and releases! DJ-wise I am biased and have to say my Mutate fam residents continue to raise the bar, week in week out, on the radio show. Gavin Mc Donagh is in his own orbit he is that good, by far the most technically gifted and diverse DJ I know. Some of the guests lately have been insanely good, Ôneyra, Dave O’Sullivan, Pat Jennings, CON.R and Traxsuits to name a few.
Let's pretend for a sec that you can throw a Mutate party this weekend. Where you would host it and more importantly, who would you invite to play?
Oh jesus! Well, it would really need to be an all day/all night job if I can go wild with this. 100% all my residents and the people mentioned in the last answer along with Cailín and AeronXTC. The international guests would then be Abstract Division, Freddy K, DVS1, Oscar Mulero, Mama Snake, UVB & Sunil Sharpe. A nice eclectic mix in there! We’d have to put it across a couple of rooms. Could list a tonne more but it’d need to be a weekender haha!! If it was a smaller venue then you cannot beat the old Pepper basement or Wigwam, as it is now known.
Back to the present moment. Tell us how the photo below is something that brings you happiness or comfort in your day-to-day life right now.
More than ever it’s this little human (my daughter) who brings happiness and comfort in my day to day life! As you can see she brings out the inner child in me, we have such an unbreakable bond and she lights up every day. This was taken on our last trip, pre-Covid before take-off to Barcelona.
Hollierz ☀️Photo: Jay Carroll