If being the founder of one of the
coolest and most respected record labels in the world isn't
enough, James Lavelle is also half of UNKLE and has created
countless remixes over the years for the likes of Garbage,
The Verve, South, Blur, Beck, Cornelius,
Radiohead, Massive Attack, Buffalo Daughter and countless
others.
He started deejaying at the age of 14, dropped out of school
at 16, and at age 18 he borrowed £1,000 from his employer
at the time (Honest Jon's Records in London) and set up
MoWax.
MoWax has grown from a small-time
operation with a few select artists, to an international
operation with a huge range of influential artists including
DJ Shadow, Money
Mark, Nigo, DJ Krush, Attica
Blues, South, Blackalicious, Quannum, Divine Styler and
heaps more.
A lot of the MoWax back catalogue is highly saught after
by collectors due to their limited runs and impressive artwork
- but mostly because of the amazing music.
"I'm into a whole concept, it's
a whole scene. I'm totally involved in it. We cover hip-hop
fused music. We want to do this rock hip-hop thing. We are
gonna launch a mad hip-hop/thrash fused band, a young Beastie
Boys kind of thing. I'm into the total energy of the Beasties
and that whole kind of skate thing. I want that energy and
total madness surrounding the whole idea." - James
Lavelle
"I think I first met James at
an open-air theatre. He was dressed as Bat Girl and I was
in a Cat Woman costume. What he is doing with Mo'Wax is
very substantial and rich in variety, that makes his work
so original. And lastly a message to James: you need true
love. I do hope you'll find it someday." - Mike
D (Relax Magazine #46 December 2000)
On a last note, you can get your
very own James Lavelle action doll, made by Nigo (the same
person who created the Beastie Boys action figures). You
can make him battle the Beastie Boys or join forces to triumph
over your evil smurf collection - the choice is yours!
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