Words-Art Jefferson
Images courtesy of Rae & Christian

If there is to be any conversation on those who have immensely contributed to the musical landscape of Britain spanning the past 15 years, without any questions Rae & Christian would have to be included in this talk piece. As a production team, Mark Rae and Steve Christian have not only crafted what is deemed a classic debut album, but their production credits include remixes for Moby, Jay Z, Bebel Gilberto, Dinah Washington, Public Enemy, Lamb, Omar, Natalie Imbruglia and more. Known for effortlessly weaving together soul, funk, jazz, electronica and Hip-Hop, Rae & Christian are considered to be taste makers of our time.

Upon graduating university, Mark Rae opened the popular record shop Fat City in Manchester with Ed Pitts. Successfully selling Hip-Hop, rare groove and drum break records in the shop, not to mention talking to the regular customers of Fat City which included people like Mr. Scruff and Aim, Rae generated the idea to start an actual record label. After Launching Grand Central Records in 1995, Mark Rae began working in a studio space operated by the management of Simply Red. It was there where he met Steve Christian, then an engineer at the facility. Gravitating toward one another’s talent, it wasn’t long before the two began collaborating, eventually forming a powerhouse production team.

Rae & Christian rapidly created a huge buzz after pressing and releasing a remix of The Pharcyde’s “Runnin'” on Grand Central Records in 1995. Their skills of crafting soulful, jazzy atmospheric rhythms with a Hip-Hop sensibility led the duo to further produce remixes for A List acts in the music industry. Mark Rae and Steve Christian went on to establish themselves as two of the most exciting and respected producers in England upon releasing their 1998 debut album “Northern Sulphuric Soul”. The critically praised record was a collage of organic soul, head nodding Hip-Hop beats, jazz and melodic downtempo, all equipped with lush arrangements, while including guest appearances by Texas, the Jungle Brothers, Jeru the Damaja, Veba and YZ. “Northern Sulphuric Soul” was considered an instant classic.

After the success of “Northern Sulphuric Soul”, Rae & Christian unveiled their second album “Sleepwalking” in 2000. The duo found themselves working with the legendary Bobby Womack, who himself, has labeled the duo as being “unorthodox” due to the versatile nature of their production. Guest contributions also included The Congos, The Pharcyde, Kate Rogers, Tania Maria and Siron. Along with the sound of soul, strings were prominently incorporated throughout the LP, magnifying the sophistication of their production.

With four years in the making, Rae & Christian’s latest work “Mercury Rising” explores creative songwriting steeped in England’s musical heritage, while sonically drawing influences from 70s folk and rock. Recorded in Yorkshire and London, the duo continued to work with a varied selection of artists. Kate Rogers, Ed Harcourt, Gita Langley, Jake Emlyn, Brooklyn’s Masta Ace, Mark Foster and Diagrams’Sam Genders, to name a few, all brilliantly laid down vocals on the record, while world renown DJ Jazzy Jeff along with Agent 86, finely added cuts and scratches – reiterating Rae & Christian’s Hip-Hop roots, atop a palette of eclecticism. “Mercury Rising” is truly a beautiful work of art.

Always progressing forward, Rae & Christian’s latest endeavor adds another notch in the belt of a successful career that has positively impacted the music scene in the UK and internationally.

AJ-I know that both of you used to see one another in the same studio space in Manchester, but when did you actually decide to work together as a group? You two were separately working on different projects at that time, so when did you come to the understanding that as a unit, you could create something amazing?

Mark Rae-Almost immediately, although it was more a question of running and hoping we didn’t trip. I was steeped in DJing and Steve in music so we collided rather easily.

AJ-Although Northern Soul is practically embedded in the city, the sounds of house, drum and bass, etc., also played a huge role in Manchester from the late eighties on. Clubs like The Haçienda were instrumental in terms of places to hear this music. Were you guys frequenting The Haçienda at all?

Mark Rae-Yes we both went when they could barely get 25 people in. I saw Spoonie Gee live and I think Steve went to some of the Nude nights.My favourite club was the Man Alive, the opposite of the Hac.

AJ-One of your early remixes included The Pharcyde’s “Runnin”. Would you say it was that particular record that helped to set off the chain of remixes that soon flooded in?

Mark Rae-Yes it was a good one to start with and it was the first one we did in any form; that and the Nightmares on Wax “ What I’m Feelin’” which followed quickly and both shone a torch on us a little.

AJ-“Northern Sulphuric Soul” is considered a masterpiece, and by all means deserves that title. There was the soul, the Hip-Hop, jazz, the funk sound and electronic all rolled up into one. After that album was released, you guys skyrocketed into fame. You were performing on MTV, the record was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, not to mention “Northern Sulphuric Soul” was considered to be one of the best albums to be released that year. After you guys finished recording that LP, did you instantly know that you had created a classic?

Mark Rae-Momentum is everything and as you asked about the “Runnin” remix, we literally did not stop from that time on. All the guests worked on the first try…we were lucky and we had hit a vein of understanding, vocalists, local scene and international scene (but mostly hard work on drum machines, samples, late nights). Good times.

AJ-You have worked with so many respected artists in the industry, but one person that comes to my mind is the legendary Bobby Womack. He was featured on your second album “Sleepwalking”. What was it like working with such an iconic musician like him?

Mark Rae-A delight and a pleasure. I only spoke to him on the phone as it all happened so quickly after his ex manager was listening in on Dublab radio and heard me mention him. Serendipity again, he is a true artists and all about the music. We were happy to see him get a chance to release his last album, he’s a one off.

AJ-You’ve completed your third studio album “Mercury Rising”. While there are still slight bits of Hip-Hop inspired elements on the album, there are also traces of folk and 70s rock in there as well. Talk about some of the inspirations that you drew from when creating the new record.

Mark Rae-We did not see a natural connection with the journey of Hip-Hop since our time in the spotlight, we wanted to include it but on our terms i.e songwriting control etc. We felt as Brits we would find our own soul in the melodies of this country’s past, so we enjoyed some folk at sampling stage, always with heavy beats. Songwriting had become very important to us. What do we want to say? That has to be honest and we stayed at home to deliver it.

AJ-Listening to the new album, one thing that is evident is the strong emphasis on the song writing. I’m thinking of tracks such as “1975”, where the story telling is extremely vivid, yet the music is so fitting – complimenting the lyrics perfectly. Did you generally have an idea for themes of the songs, producing the music based off of that, or was it free flowing, based on the vibe in the studio?

Mark Rae-We won’t lie, this process is very difficult, the songs are born from a bursts of skill/vision then a mass of craft, then throwing things away. We made the most of what we did have which was time to grow our partnership back together. We had both improved a lot or even grown new skill sets. We were lucky to have Sam Genders for the lyrics on “1975” and of course the fine performance. It’s Fekno, folk techno and hopefully not fuk no! What must be remembered is that a lot of the very skilled singers and musicians all chip in on other songs, it is crafted slowly so we had the chance to let these ideas appear and then execute them. It takes blinkin’ ages.

AJ-Finally, you have always had incredible live shows. Will you be hitting the road with the new album this year?

Mark Rae-Yes we are taking it live.

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