Throughout the years DJ RUSH has committed himself to the art of rhythm & drums. Born in the big city of Chicago, his music is heard throughout the world, including such famous tunes as Spitball, I Love You, and Mutha Fucking Bass. Although much of Rush's work is used for many mix compilations, some of his most famous moments have come from his live performances. In 1989 Rush had his first residency in a club called the Reactor in Chicago playing 70's disco for a crowd of 800, including 10 hour non-stop sets for party kids. He then continued to play for the famous Medusa club, Power House, Music Box, and Warehouse. Quickly becoming a central figure in Chicago's house scene, Rush's uniqueness and individuality has always been portrayed in his productions and djing. "Not letting the music control me, but letting the music guide me"

The following is from an interview we arranged with The List in Edinburgh during October 2002. The interviewer is Henry Northwood.

1. How did you first get started in the dance music industry?

I grew up listing to music and at the age of 11 I went to my first big dance event... The location was call the Rink Zone on the south side of Chicago. Every Friday night I would put on my tight Floods(jeans above the Shoes) and truck on down to the club with my sister. The music was so incrediable, the people going crazy, smoke machines and lights. I would dance for hours and hours and later I would stand there and watch the dj and wonder why did he buy these cool records from, because I only knew about my neighborhood store which didn't carry they sort of records he was playing. Later hmmmm you say about year, my mother and I went to a shop that sold gear. She bought me a pair of sl1200. I was like god in my area, so young and with a pair of 1200. I started to dj for my school, and at a local club around the corner from my house. Later I started to hear other kinds of music and this was my turning point 1985... I knew for sure this was my calling, I wake up to music, listing to music while in school, cut school to go to a friends house to play music.. You couldn't tell me different...

2. Your music is pretty hard to classify how would you describe it?

I wouldn't say my music is hard. It's "ENERGY" records are really powerful if you know how to use them. I try to get the most out of my records when im playing...The faster I play the harder they sound, the slower I play them the more relax and soft they sound. I do have my days when im consider to be hard, but my music is more than that. It has feeling, sex, and a story behind it.... Some people can't understand the story and this is ok, because it's not for every one to feel...

3. Do you prefer the production side over the live/DJ side?

I like both producing and dj/live... I dj more than I produce. Im not your average producer. I don't spend my days in the studio trying to come up with the next hit, or the next incrediable sound. I only produce when the time is right for me... Im djing every weekend and this is fun and my way of relaxing. I use my weekends to clear my head, have fun, and meet new people. This is why I say my music tells a story... I play the way im feeling.... I think it's important to do so. I only play live once a year for 1 month... The reason only for this is , because Im an entertainer in a way, I have different sides of me that you can only get or see when im live. When you hear the different characters in my songs, you think hmmmmmmmmm that Rush. But it's more than that it's a part of Isaiah. Isaiah is a special person and I show many sides of Isaiah in my live act so this is something special and I think people should also see that side of me, not only hear...So in all I like doing it all...

4. Does your flamboyant sense of style effect your show?

Ha Ha Ha this is my show, reason why I can't help it if im in touch with my sexaulity, it doesn't make me less of a man or a bad dj/producer. I think it has help me on the way... Im just being myself and people can feel this when they hear my music or talk with me. Im giving you me and not giving you something im not.....Most people are still closed minded and say little thing behind my back, but it's all good because im happy with myself and my life.... JUST ENJOY THE MUSIC and not worry about how im acting....This is what people need to learn...

5. How did that get started?

How did what get started huh? being Flamboyant... oooh my god you're being a mess kekekekekekekekekekekekekekeke... I have always been like this have you ever heard of I was born this way... If I should change my ways to fit into society then I will not be happy..... I want to be happy and to be happy is to be yourself and let your inner self shine....

6. Live vocals is pretty unusual for techno, how and why did you start
doing that?

Back in the days when the kids was using samplers in 1985(chicago) I didn't have one, for some reason I had drum machines but no damn sampler... So I wan'ted to make tracks like... Like this, It's House, Jack my body so the only way to do it was to just say it over and over and over again until you just fell the fuck out.... Then I use to just sing about everything.. to get the kids going and it sounded so cool to have your vocals blasted over the whole party.... I never thought it would become so popular in my music, and im still like wow, because I have so much to say and I will talk until the day I die......

7. Do you think techno needs more personalities?

Yes, because people take it to serious and forgot how fun it is to make and enjoy this kind of music.... If people would just let go and dig deep inside themselves and express themselves more and stop worrying about magazines, buyers and lables then we can do some much and hit so many areas....

8. Why do you think places like Chicago and Detroit have been such hot
beds for innovation in dance music?

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGG...... hmmmmmm.. well I can only speak for Chicago... Music coming from Chicago has always been raw and dirty and people never heard of such music like this before, while the europeens was listing to there krafwerk, Dep.Mode ect.... We was in our own little word doing something totaly different... When the club scene hit, and the world heard the song Gotta have house by Marshall Jefferson, and Jamie principle... It was a need for a change, so the Uk started to catch all the stuff from Chicago, because we was the only city doing this sound. Still today the kids in Chicago are sticking to traditional ways of making music and you can hear it and feel it and this is special and the people want this..

9. What can we expect from your Scottish show?

        E    N      E     R     G   Y!   

10. What's next for DJ Rush?

Well I never plain my next move. I just let the music guide me and when that stops then i'll stop, so for now im just going with the flow and having fun....