By pure chance Arty and I had met once before. His now fiance lived above my girlfriends apartment. We actual had passed each other in the same apartment but never spoke. When we met to record 'Deep' on the other side of town, we could not figure out where we had met before. When we did we instantly became friends.”

- Fantasy

Download audio file (Why 1.mp3)

Download audio file (Combo De La Musica.mp3)

"Love it!!!"
- Rahaan

"Nice production, the vocalist is dope!"
- Ashley Beedle

"Great funk single, vocalist sounds like the new Alice Russell! Great double sider, solid release!''
- Nik Weston / Mukatsuku, Guynmamukat

"Nice to hear that our lovely neighbor has more soul sometimes than we have in Finland. Right on sisters and brothers. Well done."
- Lagerman

"Best voice if have heard on a new funk/soul record in a long time."
- Fryer

"Wow I love that! Like a female Curtis Mayfield with Lauren Hill gruff."
- Cosmic Boogie

Download audio file (The Prologue (Original Mix) 1.mp3)

"Sounding like this could light up many a dark warehouse. Traveller bringing some heat again. Will support ... Respect."
- Tristan da Cunha

"Old meets new, chord house like we like it!"
- San Soda

"Fantastic party tune!"
- Roberto Rodriguez

"House your body!!!!!! Another killer."
- Roy Dank / Wurst

"Been playing this track so many times now that we've lost count but it still remains one of the highlights of the sets. Full support from the Basic Fingers camp!"
- Tooli / Basic Fingers

"Superb old school house, it has energy, the keyboards are catchy and the voice full of energy. I will be spinning this one down next Friday. Thanks!!"
- Silvestre / Discofutura

"That's so deep but so...jumpin'!!!"
- Black Mighty Wax

"Full support on this track! I always love the Traveller/Kojak records. Top tune!"
- Mirror People

"Nice one! Proper house vibes."
- Prince Language / Editions Disco

"I can't rate this track highly enough, it's got hit written all over it! BOOM!"
- Alphabet City / Much Love

"Nice tune. Big!"
- DJ Apt One

"House music baby!"
- Roy Dank / Wurst Music

"Not much info from this mysterious white-label style release from Traveller Records.. But just listen to the clip! Absolutely massive huge sounding house cut with ravey 90's overtones, imagine Lone releasing on Hot Creations and you're just about there.. this is gonna slay systems far and wide! be quick tho! Direct import from Finland!"
- Phonica Records

"Another slice of Traveller magic."
- Leftside Wobble

"Love the energy & buzz about this track!"
- Local Zero

"Cool vintage-sounding chugger!"
- Andi de Luxe / Sleazy Beats Recordings

"Wow! Hands in the air anthem, will play this thank you!!"
- Alkalino

"Tune of the last weekend! We heard it 10times and more and never get bored.... Traveller Records in da house!!"
- Oye Records

"Dope! Proper warehouse biz. Will be playing tons."
- DJ Huggs / Disca Bueno

"Can't stream!"
- Bottin

"Such a heavyweight! In my top 10 for the year."
- DJ Flipper / Top Billin

"Ultimate oldschool house banger for 2012.. Quality over quantity.. After the bridge towards the end in C-part gave me the eargasm I´m after as a house head. TRAVELLER THE FINNISH FINEST!"
- DJ 3rrd / HPTY

"As the founding member of the group Citi Heet I was the lead singer of a 3-man rap trio. Along with lead rapper Russ Prez and beat box Steven Flagg, we performed at block parties, showcases and won lots of talent shows. This made us very popular on a street level. In an attempt to compete in a major NYC radio contest for high schools in which top prize was radio play and a live in studio interview. I produced and wrote the group’s first demo “Sally 45” and took the group to a local recording studio where I was honing my skills. We presented the demo to the radio station who were so impressed by the quality of the recording that they thought we were professional recording artists even though this was our first demo. Insisting that we were pros they decided to exclude us from the contest but still allowed us airplay of our track.

Taking it for what it was worth we used that opportunity to land a radio interview with community activist Richard Greene. Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, a supporter of show was tuned in and was impressed by the interview. Earl contacted me and we met in which I sang and danced for his attention. When “Begging Billy” was being created, Rus wrote the rap and Steven created his beat box and I sang the hook. When completed, this song catapulted us. I booked our first gig at Union Square, personally reaching out to DJ Red Alert who broke the record over the radio making it a Hip Hop classic till this day."

Let´s fast forward a few years, could you tell a bit about the recording of the track "Deep" in New York at the time (1990), how did the production come together? Was there ever a physical release of it?

"I wanted to expand my role as a singer and parted ways with Earl and Citi Heet. Being a B-Boy I was deeply involved with New York dance scene. It was only natural that my love for dancing lead me to sing on club and house instrumentals by improvising lyrics live at dance clubs & parties throughout the city of Manhattan. I retained my approach to house music with that of a mc by always seeking the microphone in the major clubs in the city. This made me incredibly popular and I met, worked and toured the city with DJ Moby for a couple of years. This made me sought after for recording vocals with various djs and producers. One of them was Eric Roache who produced my tribal house release “Power to the People” on Grey Morning Records. When it was time to work on a new track I was teamed with dj Joey Llanos who paired Arthur Crank Jr. aka X Man and myself we produced “Deep”. We recorded the finished track and video with Eric. I placed “Deep” in the hands of djs such as David Camacho & Paradise who put it into rotation in the clubs. It was never officially released but it felt like it as everyone loved hearing and requested it be played."

What initially sparked you to start your own label?

"Because of my extensive involvement with other djs, producers and performing in shows, I wanted to make Fantasy and all the music I was working on to be associated with myself. I was frustrated by producers wanting me to only record the tracks they made, giving tracks like “Deep” no attention. Through working on my own style as producer and songwriter I produced “Drop Zone” and premiered an upcoming DJ Kim Lightfoot on one of the mixes on Black Ball Records in 1995. It proved to be the right move causing Cisco (RIP), Japan’s largest music distributor to give me a distribution deal. The song was very successful shipping several thousand units."

What was the (house) scene like at the time in New York, early nineties?

"During this era it was time of lofts, warehouses and private clubs with strict membership only policies. There were lots of “official” clubs, bars and venues but they followed the “law”. The dance party space represented a true underground vibe by moving place to place such as someone’s loft party to ballet studios all throughout the city. The promotions were very simple and there was flexibility of clientele be it age, gender and sexual preference. There was also flexibility in dress code and the cost to get in."

What´s in store for Fantasy in the future?

"For the last several years I have been producing tracks and mixtapes for artists in Philadelphia. From working with and mentoring young artists in my production company Black Ball Productions, it sparked me wanting to return to songwriting, singing and performing. I plan to release more music and a take my stage show across the country and overseas on a world tour."

Thanks a lot for taking time to do this. Any final shout outs?

"Arthur Crank, Joey Llanos, Eric Roache, Brian Ellis, David Camacho (RIP), DJ Disciple, David Mancuso, DJ Lil Ray, Curt Mentor, M. Lewis, Nizer Saunders, Kim Lightfoot, Carlos Sanchez, Basil, Boyd Jarvis, Tyrone Francis, Herb Martin, DJ Paradise, my wife Portia and my children Aysha, Indigo, Laura and Siabrea. Thank them all for the continued support they give and inspiration."

Traveller Records presents "The Deep" 12" EP out October 17th.

Stevie Nicks - "Smiling At You" (Young Edits Going Home Version) from Pyry Lepistö on Vimeo.

Download audio file (Deep - Traveller Rec Main.mp3)

Download audio file (Deep - Traveller Rec Inst.mp3)

Download audio file (Fantasy - Reach Out.mp3)

Download audio file (Fantasy - Reach Out Curt Mix 1.mp3)

"The real deal from back in the days. Before the computers when house was good!"
- Jeremy / Underground Paris

"I'm lovin' 'Deep' very much, also the Behind Club Doors Mix of 'Reach' - both songs have stood the test of time."
- Dr Bob Jones

"'Reach Out' is HOT!!!"
- Rahaan

"Quality house tracks, can't wait to play the vinyl!"
- San Soda

"Wow! I am loving all tracks on this. Authentic, warm house tracks with bags of soul. Proper analogue sounding. Vocals are hot. Massively looking forward to playing these on the radio show and at gigs."
- Red Rack'em / Bergerac, Smugglers Inn

"Old school...I love it!"
- Mad Mats / Local Talk

"Traveller comes through with this killer reissue of vintage vocal NY deepness from Creation, Fantasy and X Man. Pressed up with retro artwork, the label have clearly uncovered a gem in 'Deep', presenting a mammoth gospel vocal that channels the spiritual vibe of messrs Claussel and Chandler - it's near perfect Body & Soul material that puts the shallow house endeavours of certain popular labels to shame. Flipside and 'Reach Out' is just as good, slowly unfurling into a swirling array of Rhodes and harmonious gospel vocals over gentle percussion before bursting into bumping life for the final refrain. If you like that last section, the accompanying Behind Club Doors mix will find much favour with your feet."
- Juno Records

"Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe has got a legacy in the realm of the genesis of house music. His production and guidance has springboarded careers for the likes of Bobby Konders, Basil Harhouse, DJ Camacho and many more, as well as being a mainstay in some of NYC's key clubs. The guy really needs his recognition, and he may just get it from this stunning release for Finland-based label, Traveller. Four brilliant cuts of the most deep, soulful proto-style house music that would have graced the catalogues of such stalwarts as Nu Groove and Bottom Line, taking the ideals of early Larry Heard and Burrell Bros.-style production. Wonderful.
- DJ Mag

"I love that shit!"
- Andrew / Peoples Potential Unlimited

"Big props for Traveller for bringing these wonderful tunes back!"
- Roberto Rodriguez

"Woah!!! "This has soul. Digging it and defo will be spun. Keep up the hard work. 'Deep' is our track of choice. However, 'Reach Out' is intricate and a total hidden gem that releases all the tension in the last stretch of the track. Timeless and proper!"
- Silvestre / Discofutura

"It's all about 'Deep' vox mix here for me, sounds really nice and authentic on the vocal side of things...and a nice level of emotion in the instrumentation.... again I love the vocals on 'Reach Out'. RSPKT."
- Tristan da Cunha

"House the way is meant to sound, full support from Basic Fingers!"
- Basic Fingers

"YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!"
- Max D / Future Times

"Massive re-release of this NYC vocal deep house gem!"
- Phonica Records

"Wow, record of the week by a long shot. Very Larry Heard in spirit but totally orignal with it."
- Leftside Wobble

"House music full of Heart & Soul!! Remembering those old good days!! Full support."
- Black Mighty Wax

"Oldskool flavour with massive vocals. Love the release and will play it for sure. House as back in the days."
- Soul Industries / Ramp.fm

"Stone cold classic house cuts, loving it!"
- Alphabet City

"Massive Release!"
- Ben Perry / Contort Yourselt

"Wow! This is super tight. 'Deep' is amazing."
- DJ Huggs / Disca Bueno

"Proper vintage deephouse this, reminds me of the kind of stuff that used to come out on Distance Music."
- Sleazy Beats

"This just made me go back, proper house! Loving all tracks, thank you!"
- Alkalino

"'Deep' is bringing kinda original Freetown Records back into my world... loving it!!"
- Black Alley

"Can´t hype this enough!!!! Best release of an unreleased track ever. Love the voice, remastering the whole shabang.."
- DJ 3rrd / HPTY