Below is the Defected Records interview of the legendary Kevin Saunderson and Paris Grey of Inner City.

We speak to all three members of legendary group Inner City as they prepare to release their stunning new record.

December 7th sees the release of ‘Future’, Inner City’s first entirely original material for a decade. Anyone with even a passing interest in dance music will be aware of their legacy, with tracks such as ‘Good Life’, ‘Big Fun’ and ‘Pennies from Heaven’ among the most celebrated tracks ever written.

Comprising techno legend Kevin Saunderson and singer/songwriters Paris Grey and Ann Saunderson, Inner City’s ‘Future’, has been written and produced in collaboration with another Detroit legend, namely Kenny Larkin, with additional production duties provided by the very talented producer/remixer Orlando Voorn. Devastatingly catchy and highly emotional, it exhibits all the soulful flavours and qualities you would expect from these celebrated producers and singers.

Here, we speak to all three members about the reason for their hiatus, the creative process and what the next few months hold for the group.

It has been close to a decade since you last put out an original Inner City record. What have you been doing in the time that has passed?

Kevin: We have not released a lot. We’ve been with our families as we all have kids now and have just been taking a break. We had a big run over the years with what we have produced, so it was about time to sit back, take care of our families and other parts of life. I have done some other things too; mostly DJing and Ann has been writing and singing with plenty of other projects

So it’s not like Inner city never really went away anywhere…

Kevin: Exactly. The voices are here and the writing creativity is still here. As it is with inspiration, sometimes with creativity you don’t push it or force it you just let it happen when it’s meant to be and when time allows it you just feel that inspiration. Therefore, as the time feels right now I believe that the creativity is back.

So is it fair to say that this is a new chapter of Inner City? What is the philosophy behind your plan? Why are you back now?

Kevin: Our philosophy is simple, we love music. We are creative people and we think that there is a void in music at the moment. I play all around the world and you don’t hear as many new songs on the dance floor these days. We know that we had a great impact before, and we also believe that we can offer that again by inspiring some people. But most significantly, we are re-inspired.

In terms of your new track; ‘Future’, tell us about how it came together and what it’s all about…

Paris and I got together once Kevin had sent us some music. It was basically us feeling the music. We were all going through different things at that time, we were thinking of the economic situation and different things that are going on in the world today. We wanted to address that and we always use our lyrics in order to do so. That’s why we decided to talk about what was going on.

Over the last 18 months or so, there has been a real surge in the popularity of tracks which are taking the ‘old school’ sound bringing and it up to date. Is that something that you have noticed? Was it a factor Inner City’s return?

Paris: I’ve always known Kevin as being very forward-thinking. What he takes from the past is usually something from his own experience and his own creativity. Imbibing those elements with what he thinks is missing he’ll then create a new sounds from it. I guess Kevin can speak for himself of how much of an influence the past has had on his music writing

Kevin: I think what you or other people have done in the past always has some impact, however there are also definitely a lot of young artists that are taking direct influence from songs that we or other artists have created. They are either looping them or sampling and putting them back out now. I am conscious of it because I DJ all over the world and several of my records were done that way.

Paris: I think that in some cases, they don’t know how to find it within themselves, so they go back and it’s always easier to back and sample from old tracks. The fact is that its’ within this time and generation. That’s the way younger producers have done it. And when you have a certain ‘sound’ in one record which becomes a hit, then other producers start doing same then it becomes some kind of trend. We have been around since the beginning of this music evolution, so for us creating the energy with these new tracks maybe comes easier.
In terms of the creative process, obviously Kevin does the production and Paris and Ann contribute lyrically and the with song writing. Does one come before the other or does it happen at the same time?

Paris: It always starts with Kevin creating some sort of beat, rhythm and idea. Then he gives it to us and we decide the direction we want to take it. After that he comes back in and it’s back and forth. There have been a few tracks from the past in which we requested a clip track from Kevin and then suggested a melody and lyrics, asking what he could do with it. But mostly Kevin knows where the music is at, more than I say myself. I trust him as far of the direction of the music.

Touching on some of the seminal records that you have been involved with, such as ‘Big Fun’ and ‘Good Life’, why do you think they still resonate so strongly with people today?

Kevin: I think that it’s to do with our music and the way it’s written; in the melodies and the hooks. They are spiritual records and they make people feel good; they touch them from the inside.

Paris: They always came from a good place when they were written. I just remember being in a good mood every time I was listening to Kevin’s tracks, when I heard the lyrics and the melodies. It was not like a forced thing or a struggle. I was walking to the mall when ‘Pennies from Heaven came to me and I was in my room dancing when ‘Big Fun’ came to me and the feeling was just great. At that time I just felt good when I heard the songs, what I felt is what other people feel when they hear the songs today. I believe that’s why they have lasted for so long.

How about your plans at the moment? More than ever, touring has become the significant contributor to an artist’s income… is that something you are going to be doing more?

Kevin: Touring definitely, we went out on tour just a couple of years ago just to get a taster of what it’s like now. We have performed for big and small audiences, and I still enjoy it. The time is now therefore, that’s definitely something that will be a big part of our plans.

Tell us about how the set-up works when you perform live…

Kevin: With live sets it works in multiple ways; Ann and Paris just performing a straight up PA, or with me working my drum machines, using Ableton, my little computer setup and controlling it with a percussion player. It can also work with two keyboards and another percussionist; it can be up to 8 people. We have done it in various ways, but in the last two years when we’ve been performing in the US we usually do the big tunes with lots of live musicians. We hope to bring some of that over to Europe in the future.

Finally, what does the new track ‘Future’ means to you?

Ann: Hopefully it means that Inner City is going to be around for a long time into the future and that we

Kevin: It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad, anything that happened in the past, find a way to move forward, keep a positive attitude on life and things will be better if you do. Future represents that way of positive thinking.

Paris: What ‘Future’ means to me is touring. I like the idea of getting to meet the people that like Inner City’s music. When we go out to photo shoots, to perform or for interviews, I love meeting the people that support us. It’s probably one of the most fun things for me it always has been and it will always be.

Here is the video for the track by “Future” by Kevin Saunderson and Inner City. The vid was shot at Air in Amsterdam. The single is currently available now on Defected Records.