THE INNER CITY INTERVIEW PART ONE: American house stars hanging loose in the bar The venue: the Kensington Hilton "Yeah, I'm gonna try and keep that International Hotel bar. The atmosphere positive outlook. Give people something is more like an airport terminal. good to listen to," she states. "The music Businessmen are scattered around the bar was so up-tempo and happy feeling with only agin and tonic to keep them anyway, it doesn't make sense to write As 'Ain't Nobody company. It is here, in aquiet corner, sad lyrics." beside asmokescreen effect window, we Are the people back in Chicago aware Better' sees find Inner City — the duo responsible for how successful house music and Inner Chicago dance three of the liveliest, most cheerful house City have become in Europe? records around ('Big Fun', 'Good Life' and "Honest to goodness, Idon't know if supremos INNER the current hit 'Ain't Nobody Better') they've noticed," says Paris. "They play and now an album, 'Paradise'. our music on the radio in Chicago but I Crry livening up Kevin Saunderson, the musical side of don't think they realise that we've had the British top 10 Inner City, is reclining with his feet on top 10 hits in Britain.„" the Formica topped table, he looks as if "The jocks ... they know," says Kevin once more, he's on the verge of falling asleep. waking from his slumber. "Everyone Johnny Dee talks Vocalist Paris Grey couldn't be more making music knows how big house music different — bubbly and full of energy, is here." to Kevin she's one of those people who couldn't With house making such abig impact sit still if you strapped abreeze block to on the British charts it seems strange that Saunderson und her lap! it's yet to break through in the country Paris Grey and And it's not just their personalities that where it originated. make them such an odd couple. Kevin, at "There's dance music in the American discovers the 24, is very much the technological charts, but it isn't real dance music, it's whizzkid, constructing Inner City's music not what's really happening," claims attraction of on computers, samplers and sequencers, Kevin. "It's because there's old folks opposites brought up on adiet of experimental running the show." dance music and afan of European synth "You're right," agrees Paris. "And once groups like Kraftwerk and Depeche they see the word 'house' they think it Mode, for whom he produced the recent belongs in the clubs on aFriday and dance remix EP. Saturday night." Paris, 23, on the other hand, is astrong "It'll take five or six years, like rap believer in "real" instruments. She views did," Kevin continues, scratching his Kevin's technology with scepticism and as yellow-tinted flat-top. "Samantha Fox — ateenager was afan of the pop soul she made ahouse record" ('Naughty Girls sounds of Teena Marie and Janet Jackson. Need Love Too') "and it went top 10. "Yeah, we've got very different views Our stuff is better than that, but no on what music should be," answers the matter how good it is, it won't make the cola-sipping Paris. "But Ithink that's a American top 10. It's got something to do ... No, it's got everything to do with good thing. When you listen to our music being black. A black group, making housc 144444444444 44immemomm you've got Kevin with the techno side music, just won't be successful in and me with the pop side. My lyrics and America, yet. They're not ready for it to the vocals are more pop than house. happen. Hell! They won't let it." Blended together, that's what makes us What's different about Britain? special. We don't want to change it." "I just think it's more open to change The three singles so far have all been and originality," says Kevin. uplifting and lyrically positive. Is that "You don't get put in this chart or something that's going to continue? that," adds Paris. "It's a hit, period." comma:Pi« "When you listen to o .