Each week we get behind the decks with the very best resident DJs from across the Manchester club scene, chatting about the newest releases, the best clubs and the picks of the month.
Lean is a night that started down south and has like many before, ventured to pastures new and kick started a Northern Revival from the depths of the Victorian pit of musical excellence that is Joshua Brooks. After a sell-out debut with Randomer and Zed Bias, Lean have since taken action to propel themselves into the forefront of clubbing in Manchester. On Friday they host a Swamp81 party with Mickey Pearce and Chunky, two up-and-coming producers that are taking the underground by storm, and are ready to smash the glass ceiling. That's not all though, those Lean Manchester lads have been busy behind the scenes pulling strings to give this New Year's Eve at Joshua Brooks a guest who is one of the most influential garage producers of all time, MJ Cole. Big things behind the decks as we talk all things music and Manchester including dancing like Carlton, 48-hour parties and Factory Records, with Joe Kapiche, resident DJ of Lean Manchester.
Name: Joe Kapiche
Age: 32
Club Night: Lean
What do you love most about the clubbing scene in Manchester?
What makes Manchester so important to the UK club scene?
It has to be how the best clubs have been converted into apartments! Nah, in all seriousness, when I wanted to move away from London, I was thrilled when my girlfriend got the opportunity to work in Manchester due to the musical history of the City. Manchester was the only other city we considered living in, outside of London. My mates come up for WHP events (as well as my night now) as the line-ups are ridiculous. There's no denying that. It's not really my thing as it's a bit too commercial and crowded but since Sankey's has closed and re-opened for the 15th time it's the envy of clubland all over the UK. I'm sure everyone gives this answer but UK clubbing wouldn't be what it is today without The Hacienda & Factory Records. There's a deep rich vein of history there. Some of my favourite artists are from Manchester too, 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, Rae & Christian, New Order, Mr Scruff and newer acts like TCTS.
What’s one of the best club nights you have ever been to in Manchester?
Me and my mate John blagged to our parents that we wanted to 'experience uni life' when we'd just finished our A-Levels which was an excuse to get battered on the free, so we went up to stay with his bro in Mosside as he attended the uni then. There was a Booze Busters shop opposite his house with steel shutters and we got trashed on a crate of Stella before we went out. We went to the legendary Boardwalk Club. I spent the whole night on the dancefloor. Was an awesome night and one I still look back on fondly. I recently saw Depeche Mode at the M.E.N. which isn't really a club night but it was probably the best gig I've been to and it was on my bucket list to see them live.
Favourite place to party in Manchester?
Favourite Manchester bar for pre-club drinks?
I'm not much of a drinker/party animal these days but I found Keko Moku had some pretty exotic drinks down there and the bar staff were alright too. Worst answer ever, but I'm more likely to be burning CDs or having a mix before I head out into town these days.
What's your favourite tune of all time to hear in a club?
Ah man, such a difficult question to answer. I'm going to have give two. The first would be Justice Vs Simian - We Are Your Friends. I was off my rocker in a really bad Indie club in Kingston, SW London (my hood, it's ghetto) and I did an impromptu dance that was a cross between Carlton from The Fresh Prince, the infamous David Brent dance and a Vanilla Ice running-man. About 30 seconds into the dance I looked up in my drunken stupor and a circle of bemused clubbers had formed around me and were clapping me on. Some in hysterics, others in despair, head in hands. My girlfriend still cracks up when I start to do that dance if the tune ever comes on anywhere, be it the radio or in a clothes shop. My other would have to be Aphex Twin - Window Licker. It has everything.
If you could throw a club night with any two DJs going back to back in your own living room for 20 of your mates, who would you choose?
Picks of the month?
Clubnight is Bank with Matt Walsh & Eskimo Twins on 21st at Joshua Brooks. Tune of the month is Seb Wildblood - Feel, on his new Church White label vinyl series.
Finally, if you could choose one club in the world to go to for the rest of your life, which would it be?
It would have to be Revolver in Melbourne. It's an insane establishment. It opens on a Friday evening and runs through to Monday morning. I'm not sure what my longest stint in there was, but it sure took me a few days to recover from my exploits. Highlights of my time at Revolver include getting messy with a cast member of Neighbours, meeting and keeping in touch with Nick Thayer since who, despite his success, is the most down to earth guy and all round top bloke and going to hug a dog tied to a lamp post outside a shop as I left the club and getting bitten on the ear. The flaming mongrel.
