Kult Records is one of the most successful New York based underground dance labels. Part of the genius that Kult consists of is Co-Owner Eddie Cumana. He not only co-owns but he also operates the label himself, and still continues to make music. He has over twenty years under his belt as a Label Executive, Professional DJ and Producer, Songwriter and Sound Engineer. He's graced us with official remixes under his well-known alias "Dynamix" for artists like Pink, Toni Braxton, Natasha Bedingfield, and even Cindy Lauper just to name a few. Street Walkers NYC got the chance to sit down with Eddie and talk with him about his career, Kult Records, and then some. So without further ado, I'm pleased to introduce you to Mr. Eddie Cumana...and don't forget to hit the READ MORE link to see the rest of our Q&A, links to him and Kult Records.
SWNYC: Tell us a little bit about how it all began for you...
EC: Well the year was 1984. I grew up in a family of djs having three of my cousins being djs and they were a serious influence on me. Around the age of twelve with my saved up allowance money I managed to buy my first pair of turntables and a battery powered music mixer. I went at it 24/7 driving my whole family crazy with "noise pollution" [He laughs]. Once old enough to enter the clubs, I absorbed the punching kicks and hypnotic bass grooves that were popular at one of my favorite hang-outs Disco 2000 at the Limelight in NYC. My love for underground music led me to look for work in the industry. I was lucky enough to be one of the founding staff members of King Street when it opened it’s doors in 1994. Since 1991 I was also playing with equipment and making my first records... My first release was on Nervous and it was "See The day" followed by “Boulevard East” released on King Street. I went on to do many releases for record labels such as Avex (Sony Japan), Arista, Ministry of Sound, Maxi, Nervous, UMM, King Street till 1998 then I joined KULT...and the rest is history.
SWNYC: Has house/dance music always been your passion?
EC: YES!!! House music has always been my passion. I love all types of music and enjoy listening to many different styles but house music is what a listen to the most. To sum it up in house music terms, "house is a feeling, its a spiritual thing, a soul thing..." I was listening and witnessing the movement being born and grow when it all began back in the late 80's before people even called it house music and I have been hooked from the start. Producers like Mr Fingers and Ralphie Rosario plus Artists like Adonis and Liz Torres really ignited my passion....
SWNYC: Is there a formula for your musical creations? What inspires you to make music?
EC: Listening to other peoples music from anything old or classic or any of today's stuff too all inspires me if its good. This may sound funny but October and November seems to be the most creative time of the year for me. There is something about autumn that inspires me and I just get so many ideas that I need to get out. So I guess its time to harvest the crops! I don't have a formula for making records, (yes i sequence and that's a formula I must follow isn't it?) But in terms of how I go at it creatively, I just build up my tracks organically, feeling the vibe and trying stuff. I go from what I envision sounding good in my mind to materializing that on the board and continue while eliminating anything that might not work. I love "designing" my own sounds so sometimes that takes me a lot longer than actually making the record itself as i get stuck on tweaking a sound for a week.
4.) How did you get involved with the Kult Records family?
I came to work at the label in 1998 and never looked back. In retrospect I can say it was my destiny in many ways. I'm currently KULT's co-owner and I am also the general manager along with what I like to call "The Head of The Quality Control Department" (I pretty much fix anything that's technically off).
SWNYC: So what's it like running a label like Kult Records?
EC: Well worth it and very rewarding. First of all its freedom for me as I am my own boss. I can work deep into the night and sleep deep into the day If I feel like it. In addition, this job has given me the chance to meet, work and collaborate with dance/house music's biggest stars. Even some of which I grew up dancing to. I live it and I breath it! Also, another amazing aspect of running a label is that its great to meet people that know and love the songs you signed and worked hard to release and its mind blowing to hear all the tales of where they where when they first heard that one track they are raving about or how its their favorite record and or the played it at their wedding or even their Church function! (Well that was my Cissy Houston Gospel House tune! It got played in Church! Can you believe that? From being a hit at Twilo, to being played at Churches across the US....I was and I'm still stunned). One time, someone drove 4 hours to come to the KULT Records party to meet one of our artists to tell him that our song saved his life. That he went from being suicidal to using the song as a mantra to gain strength. To know that one was part in a project that was able to have that kind of impact with the music it releases on one's soul and save him....is just the best feeling one can have. And aside from lots of dancing there were lots of tears that night on Nocturnal's terrace but all rejoice and danced the morning away to KULT's party headliner DJ Vibe.
