A conversation Tedd Patterson & David Harness
Last month at UltraMaroon we met a few legends of the Detroit House scene. This month we’re sticking with the theme of legends, but going from the midwest to the coasts.
Our April show will mark Tedd Patterson’s third time playing at UltraMaroon, and this time we decided to change it up by asking him to bring San Francisco based David Harness along for some B2B fun. Ahead of that, we asked DavidXDaisy to help us get to know them both a little bit better!
David Harness and Tedd Patterson are powerhouses of house music, representing both coasts of the US – David on the West and Tedd to the East. They are artists that truly embody and live house music, having shared their talents across the globe and proven their power to captivate audiences on any dance floor. Together they will be bringing years of friendship and collaboration to the decks for a B2B session on Sunday, April 16 that is sure to be yet another moment in this incredible season of moments at UltraMaroon.
David Harness
DXD: How did you get your start in nightlife?
DH: I started back in 1989 at a local gay bar in Monterey, California called the After Dark. A friend of mine told me I needed to play at the AD, so I sent a cassette to the owner and was hired.
DXD: What do you feel defines your sound as representing the West Coast, specifically the San Fran scene?
DH: I have such a diverse audience in SF. My sound adapts with who I am playing for and how the crowd is vibing. It can be deep, inspirational, dark, disco, tracky, and always soulful. I am always telling a story through music.
DXD: What do you love most about the queer dance scene in San Francisco?
DH: The San Francisco kids know how to get down. It’s such a melting pot from the beautiful gay coalition, to the straight kids, as well as the burners. You have to see it to believe it.
DXD: Tell us about Moulton Music.
DH: Moulton Music is a Bay Area label that is all things house music. You can find deep, soulful, jackin’, tribal, and everything in between. A lot of people think that the name of the label was because of the producer Tom Moulton, but it was the name of the studio where all the Bay Area house producers had their own studio in The Polk District of San Francisco. The building, which is no longer there, was at one point The Disco Station KSFX in the late 70’s, and before that it was KGO ABC TV – all of that being on Polk Street which was the epicenter of gay life before the Castro was The Castro.
DXD: One of your parties that stands out is Taboo, which Marke Bieschke described in a 2018 interview with you as, “one of the most intimate and diverse dance floor experiences I’ve known.” What was the scene at Taboo?
DH: Taboo was such an experience. Liquid/Pink was a small spot in the Mission District, and the party was every Tuesday night. It took only fifty people to pack the spot. The music was very soulful with the vibe dancing as one. It was a cross between Body & Soul and The Paradise Garage. They reacted to music dropped and would sing and chant all night!
DXD: Another standout event of yours would be the Mighty Real pool parties. Last year’s Pride Weekender featured David Morales, Derrick Carter, DJ Heather, Tedd Patterson, Robin S, and yourself. What was your experience of having such a creative force of artists all playing together in San Fran that weekend for Mighty Real?
DH: It was one of the best events that we had put together and it was the start of doing the event both Saturday and Sunday. The excitement for me is having my DJ peers and the fans all want to come back and do it all over again – musically and spiritually. It really is that type of energy!
DXD: UltraMaroon regulars may recall your set from SFB’s Spray Fire Island in the Pines. What do you think makes for a great beach/pool party set and what may be different that they will hear from you at UltraMaroon?
DH: All together is the vibe of the crowd and the dance floor creates the blueprint of music and story of us DJs bringing the heat for that said crowd and floor!
DXD: Someone From Berlin describes this episode of UltraMaroon as a “variation on the theme of learning from the OGs of House” after our March episode with Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale and Al Ester. A word that resonates from our conversations in that story is, “soulful.” That is a word that you often use to describe your sound as well. What do you feel is the state of soulfulness in house music today?
DH: I have seen it go through its highs and lows, but overall it will always be around. DJs young and old have to know how to present it to the audience. Sometimes that can be the hard part depending on who you're playing for and what the DJ is playing. Sometimes it’s that natural feeling.
DXD: This episode features Tedd Patterson and you playing B2B for us in what is sure to be another moment for this season. Tell us a little bit about how you met and have worked together over the years.
DH: Tedd is my best friend. I honestly can’t remember how we met, but what I do know is that we have had this sister, auntie, brother, uncle friendship for more than twenty years. We can act like damn fools when we are together. We are always bouncing our music to one another for thoughts, ideas, and inspiration.
DXD: Top 3 things you love seeing at parties?
DH: Happiness, people getting down, and ain’t nothing wrong with a little eye candy too, hehe!
DXD: What is a set/track/artist that has been inspiring you lately?
DH: Disco edits have been my inspiration. It changes day by day. Music is such a powerful thing.
DXD: What are you most looking forward to for your upcoming Sunday at UltraMaroon?
DH: Rocking the decks with Tedd, as well as meeting and making new friends and turning that UltraMaroon OUT!
Tedd Patterson
DXD: How did you get your start in nightlife?
TP: I had an obsession with disco and scored a job at a local gay bar in Savannah, Georgia in 1979. I left Savannah in ‘82 and moved to Atlanta.
DXD: How would you best describe your sound?
TP: I wouldn't. I'd rather leave that up to the listener. But I’m usually rhythmic, soulful, and percussive in delivery.
DXD: Before moving to New York, you established a weekly residency at Colorbox in Atlanta, a club often noted as RuPaul and Lady Bunny’s haunt before they too moved to NYC. What was the scene at Colorbox during Atlanta’s club scene heyday?
TP: Colorbox was a small 200-max capacity bar in Virginia Highlands – post RuPaul and Bunny. It had a little stage at the back of it with a small sound system that created some bass magic when the place was full. My friend CiCi and I created our own party on Tuesday nights out of boredom for a few local friends who were restless and bored during the early week. I was experimenting with acid house at the time (circa late ‘87) and became a bit more obsessed with a more soulful blend of house as time progressed and other people heard about what we were playing – mostly local college kids, some being from NYC. Techno, house, and acid house were my obsessions then. Think Inner City, Ten City, Nitzer Ebb, Clivilles & Cole, and Pierre. We had no idea why we became so popular so fast, but after a month there were lines down the block and the order of the day became house.
Ru did honor me with a performance for my birthday. He performed a sick mashup of, “I’ll House You,” by The Jungle Brothers and, “It’s My House,” by Diana Ross. It was magic for those of us that knew him and intimidating to some others to see this 6’4” half-drag/half-punk boy with a mohawk on the mic giving us shows. He was always shocking, and that was the magic of Atlanta in the 80’s. We were buddies back in the day and he had just moved to NY to do what he do. We had met years before at “Weekends,” an alternative club that me and Larry Tee played. Ru was the gogo dancer there. Bunny may have also been a part of that scene, but I met Bunny years later. I always knew who she was, but we became friends after I moved to NY in ‘92.
DXD: You served as a Billboard reporter from 1985-1991, which should have been the same time as one of our headliners last month, Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale. Were you two crossing paths there during those years?
TP: There were 100 Billboard Reporters back then. We were familiar with each other because the community was smaller back then. I knew of Stacy through NY record promoters, and they all spoke fondly of her. She was a force even back then. When I moved to NY and took on a position of record promoter at Emotive, I would communicate with her periodically because I serviced her with promos. I have nothing but respect for Ms. Hale.
DXD: Your DJ career has spanned the full gamut of NYC nightlife, including Limelight, Crobar, and Cielo. Can you identify a club or party that was a favorite for you and why?
TP: If I had to choose one, I'd choose Cielo. It was small enough to feel like I was playing for my friends in my living room. Sonically, it was heaven. I liked the idea of playing a big room sound in a small room. The first few years of Cielo were my favorites because the house music community at large seemed to be vibrating to the same vibe internationally. We were in sync. Deep house, techno, tribal, etc. weren't all divided into as many separate communities like it is now. My take: Cielo, the first seven of my thirteen years there.
DXD: Beyond NYC you’ve played regularly at some of the world’s most iconic venues, including Ministry of Sound in London and Pacha Ibiza. Do you play any differently for those crowds than you do in NYC?
TP: I'm rehearsed and obsessed with variety. I love techno, house, deep house, tribal, and soulful; but it can always bore me if I'm stuck listening to any one of them for a long set. I like shifting gears and leaning into the direction of the crowd or circumstance. I lean and go where I think I could bring something interesting and fun. If the crowd in any particular place allows me to take them to the limits, I go there. If not, I don't. To answer your question directly, it has been my experience in the past that most times the clubbers in Europe will bring the party to the club and I can easily plug into it and do my thing. A lot of times in the USA, the clubbers come to the club expecting me to deliver the party to them. Lately though, the USA is really shifting for the better. I experiment more where I'm allowed.
DXD: You have an extensive production discography with such labels as Nervous, SoSure, Moulton Music, Stereo Productions, and more. Where does your musicality stem from?
TP: I'd say I fell in love with music early on as a kid. I was a radio-slave for the lack of a better term, and loved motown, philly funk, soul, and rock. My four siblings and I all played instruments in concert and marching band all through school. I was always listening to, dancing to, and skating to music – specifically disco and its derivatives. I'd say it comes from there.
DXD: You released a remix production of Teena’s Tears by HRNS with David Harness in December. How did that project come together?
TP: David and I are besties. We talk a lot and we coach each other through ideas we’ve started in our separate home studios. David sent it to me to hear his great new idea he was loving. I loved it. I wanted to test it out locally so I added some percussion on top (just a sprinkle of salt to energize it a little) and sent it back to him. Months later he said, “I wanna put this out.” I was like, “You should!” Moulton Music jumped on it. Love them.
DXD: You were part of a killer lineup last year at David’s Mighty Real Pride Weekender, and will be joining them again in June. What do you enjoy most when you get to play out in San Fran?
TP: I love San Francisco! They are so receptive and joyful. It's one of my favorite cities on the planet to play, and I've played in a lot! I've been going since the early 90’s. What I enjoy most is playing there with David.
DXD: You and David also recently played B2B for HMD at Knockdown Center, and will be doing so again for the April edition of UltraMaroon. Do you feel playing a more intimate environment like Blue’s lounge requires a different approach than such a large space like Knockdown?
TP: Every approach is different. My job as the artist is to assess the situation, do what I do, do it creatively, and keep the fun of the party at the forefront. A small environment can add to the intimacy of the tribal shared experience. We are both artful in that way.
DXD: Top 3 things you love seeing at parties?
TP: Smiles, balloons, hugs.
DXD: What is a set/track/artist that has been inspiring you lately?
TP: Little Richard and Donna Summer.
DXD: What are you most looking forward to for your upcoming Sunday at UltraMaroon?
TP: Fun!
Thank you David Harness and Tedd Patterson! You can catch them playing B2B this Sunday, April 16, along with an opening set by Mascari and a closing set from resident Someone From Berlin. Doors open for Happy Hour at 5pm at Blue Midtown. Get your tickets here!
Follow David Harness on: Instagram | Soundcloud | DavidHarness.com
Follow Tedd Patterson: Instagram | Soundcloud
Xx,
DavidXDaisy
