Phil Asher was at the beginning of the British house scene and has remained a pivotal part of the scene since then. His production efforts have been released on such prestigious house labels as Slip'N'Slide, Junior Boys Own, Basement 282. Not one to be labeled, Asher's recording output reflects a wide range of influences including but not limited to; Ray Barretto, Curtis Mayfield, Stan Getz, Larry Levan, Tito Puente, Stevie Wonder, Junior Murvin, Talking Heads, and Liquid Liquid. Phil is currently producing tracks with the restless soul collective of Dominic Jacobson aka Harvey Lindo, Luke McCarty, Aaron Ross, Taxi Driver, Felix Hopkins, and Jose Carretas. He is also the co-founder of ten year plus successful club night, Inspiration Information.

Let's start at the beginning. Who were your biggest influences at the beginning?

My Parents and Family were my first big influences, both my Parents worked at Harlequin records, they would bring home Motown, Dusty Springfields, The Young Rascals, and Elvis. As I reached my teens the major musical influence in my musical upbringing was 60's R&B. At secondary School, my friend Ray and I would sell second hand records to the punks and mod's at the school Fair at which time I discovered the Clash, the Jam,and the Sex Pistol's. I stayed on the soul path though. I then discovered Jazz Funk, Level 42, D train, Incognito and Eddy Grant, all at a Club called the Lyceum in the West End. The night was hosted by the late Steve Walsh There was also a small club in Paddington Called Reflections which was hosted by Greg Edwards. A few years passed listening to Jazz, Funk and Soul. I then left school, Walked down portobello road and met Noel Watson , Roy the Roach and Norman Jay M.B.E. Roy Hired Ray and myself to work in his Quaff records store on Portobello, alongside Nik The Record, It was here i met a whole new world of music, real Funk & Rare Groove, Deep soul and most importantly to me, The Paradise Garage Sound and Larry Levan. This led to my biggest musical influence, Disco, which in turn lead to house music.

Some of the people that have inspired me along the way are; my best Friend Ray Whittard, Noel Watson and Maurice Watson, the Lady who used to play before steve walsh at the Lyceum, Paul Trouble Anderson, Peter Harris (KICKIN music; first studio partner), AJ from the Smart boys, Ollie Claridge (Paradise Garage Regular), Marco from the Young Disciples, Kenny Dope, Christian Pronovost, Kid Batchelor, Danny Rampling, Marco Militello, Daniele Baldelli, Larry Levan, Tee Scott, Dave Mancuso, Tony Humphries, Harvey, DJ Red Alert, John Robinson R.i.P., Kerri Chandler, Todd Terry, Larry Heard, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. I've got to stop now, I love that question.

What was it like to be at the dawn of the house age DJing at Delerium in London? What were the big tunes of the day?

I never DJed at Delirium until the early nineties at the Camden Palace, so I can't lie, but being on the dancefloor of Delirium at the Astoria at midnight when Maurice would start dropping tunes like Adonis "The Poke" and Chip E "Like This" straight after "Moody" by ESG, the place would just electrify. The first couple of hours of the night Noel would smash the place up with Rare Groove and fresh Hip Hop like Just Ice's "Cold Getting Dumb", LL cool J's "Rock The Bell's", and JunkYard Band's "Sardines/The Word." Then come midnight when Maurice would take over and the Party heads would come out of the woodwork, not that it wasn't a party vibe before. Big tunes I'll always remember were things like, Original Concept's "Can you Feel It", Chuck Brown and the soul Searchers' "Money", Little Benny and the Masters' "Who Come to Boogie", Spoonie Gee "Godfather (dub)", of course Harlequin Four's "Set it off" and Raze's "Jack the Groove."

What was the idea behind Inspiration Information? Was it just taken from the Shuggie Otis song? How did the event get started? How did you end up working with Patrick Forge? What are the punters like? Do you see a newer generation of kids coming out to Inspiration Information or is there a generation gap?

The idea behind Inspiration Was Patrick's. I lived in the same area as the Notting Hill Arts Club, So at a Good Friends Birthday Party, he asked me what I thought of the idea of a club night that plays right accross the musical board of our collective tastes, I thought about it for 2 seconds and said "Great Idea". "Do you Fancy Deejaying Together there" Patrick Said, and ten years later were still doin it. The name is totally from Shuggie(Otis song). We see the old music we play as inspiring & the new as informative, these roles often switch. The regular crowd we have on a special event night is made up of old friends and long time regulars. We certainly have a lot of younger people coming to check us out every week. The gap is brought closer by the music on the dancefloor. Aaron Ross (1xtra-Fanatix), Leo Greenslade (club YOYO), and Katie Barber (Inspiration Information/Faith) are just a few of the young people who originally came 10 years ago and still do. well Katie has to she's a Resident.

Here is a short list of Artists or songs we love to play:

Sweet Love- Anita Baker
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman- Aretha Franklin
You're All I Need To Get By- Aretha Franklin
Circles- Atlantic Starr
The Mexican- Babe Ruth
Melting Pot- Booker T And The MGs
Walking Into Sunshine- Central Line
The Magnificent Dance- The Clash
Voices Inside My Head- Common Sense
Give Me Your Love- Curtis Mayfield
You're The One For Me- D Train
Changes- David Bowie
Go Bang- Dinosaur L
Love Has Come Around- Donald Byrd
Steppin' Into Tomorrow- Donald Byrd
Fantasy- Earth Wind & Fire
Sing A Song- Earth Wind & Fire
Watching The Detectives- Elvis Costello
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea- Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Wicki-Wacky- Fatback Band
Shakara- Fela Kuti
Misdemeanor- Foster Sylvers
That's The Joint- Funky Four Plus One
Brazillian Love Affair- George Duke
Pull Up to the Bumper- Grace Jones
I Thought It Was You- Herbie Hancock
Chameleon- Herbie Hancock
Reasons To Be Cheerful- Ian Dury & The Blockheads
I Like It Like That- Inner Life ft. Jocelyn Brown
Bodyshine- Instant Funk
Look Of Love- Isaac Hayes
Joy- Isaac Hayes
That Lady- The Isley Brothers
Snakecharmer- Jah Wobble
The Edge- Holger Czukay
I Want Your Love- James Mason
Shifting Gears- Johny Hammond
Love Will Tear Us Apart- Joy Division
Police And Thieves- Junior Murvin
Bad Weed- Junior Murvin
This Is A Natural Dub Stylee- King Tubby MC's
Looking For The Perfect Beat- Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force
Work That Body- Larry Levan feat. Taana Gardner
Hanging On A String- Loose Ends
Is It All Over My Face (Larry Levan Mix)- Loose Joints
Hey DJ (12-inch mix)- Malcolm Mclaren & the World Famous Supreme Team
You're All I Need To Get By- Marvin Gaye
What's Going On- Marvin Gaye
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)- Marvin Gaye
Jungle Man- Meters
Funky Miracle- The Meters
Love Is the Message- MFSB
Here We Go- Minnie Riperton
Every Time He Comes Around- Minnie Ripperton
For The Love Of Money- The O'Jays
Music Is My Way Of Life- Patti La Belle
Don't Make Me Wait (Larry Levan Mix)- Peech Boys
I Wanna Be Your Lover- Prince
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker- Prince
Let's Spend The Night Together- The Rolling Stones
Respect- Rotary Connection
We Live In Brooklyn Baby- Roy Ayers
How High (Larry Levan Remix)- Salsoul Orchestra
Inspiration Information- Shuggie Otis
Just a Touch of Love- Slave
Free Nelson Mandela (Extended Version)- The Specials
Ghost Town (12" Vers.)- The Specials
Macho City- Steve Miller Band
I Wish- Stevie Wonder
Too High- Stevie Wonder
Body Music- The Strikers
I Zimbra- Talking Heads
Come With Me- Tania Maria
Love Thang- Tee Scott
Bostich- Yellow
What The World Needs Now Is Love- Chaka Khan
You, Me, and He- Mtume
Play At Your Own Risk- Planet Patrol

How did you get involved with music production? Looking back on your career are there any tracks that standout as your favorites?

I always wanted to produce. Ray and I did work for Pascal's Bongo Massive. Then I met Luke McCarty and we started restless soul. I've since had the pleasure to remix Earth Wind & Fire, Jamiroquai, Jocelyn Brown, Bah Samba, Roy Ayers, Alison Crockett, 4hero, Josh Milan, Reel People, Peven Everett, and Mark de Clive Lowe amongst many others. As far as favourite tracks, not sure about that, I'm still trying to make one. If I had to choose I'd say Nathan Haines' "Believe."