From spinning records at a Croydon church hall aged 12 to hitting number two in the UK charts with the 1990 Brits megamix, Michael Gray has never really stopped moving. What began as a teenage obsession, ploughing every penny earned back into disco equipment, idolising his sister’s DJ partner, commandeering every school Christmas party in South London, quietly and purposefully grew into one of the most enduring careers in UK dance music.
Three decades on, the hits still hold: The Weekend and Borderline remain dancefloor staples, and in 2024 Michael claimed the number one artist spot on Traxsource, a reminder that longevity in this game is earned, not given.
Now, with his third solo album You & Me out on his own Sultra Records, Michael Gray is making his most expansive statement yet. Where his 2024 album Optimism picked up momentum, You & Me runs with it, pulling in an extraordinary cast of collaborators including Chicago house legend Mike Dunn, vocal powerhouse Tania Foster, rising star Bran Mazz, Errol Reid of China Black fame, and Jamiroquai’s Derrick McKenzie on live drums. The result is a record that moves freely between discofied boogie, soulful depth and unexpected directions, all without ever losing sight of the dancefloor.
You’ve been a cornerstone of the UK house scene since the early 90s. Looking back, what was the moment you knew this was the path you were meant to follow, and how did growing up in Croydon shape your musical identity?
I’ve known from a very young age that I wanted to be a DJ. I started out when I was only 12 doing under 18 discos at the local church hall which my dad organised. I also did the school discos at the Christmas parties all in the Croydon area. My elder sister Teens partner Andy was a DJ and I looked up to him. I wanted all of the latest equipment, so i would plough back all the money I earned into buying more disco equipment. I had my work mapped out and was earning long before I left school. At 18 I started DJing in Clubs in London and Luton. At 19 I was offered a club residency in Nottingham, which I took before going back to my home town DJing in a club called Easy Street in Croydon. The producing came a bit later. I had also started working for DMC where I would produce megamixes and tried my hand at remixing. I was 20. The pinnacle was producing and mixing the Brits 1990 mega mix which went to number 2 in the UK charts. All the money went to building The Brits School in Croydon.
‘The Weekend’ became such an iconic record that people still play it today. When you were making it, did you have any sense it would have that kind of lasting power?
I started recording some vocals over chords I laid down then wasn’t sure how to fully execute the whole production. I went and co-wrote and produce for a band called Portabella, which I then signed with them to Island Records. I was now refreshed and ready to complete ‘The Weekend’. This track did feel different when I was arranging it and I thought I might have something that could have potential, but you never can really tell.
I’m not sure I particularly enjoyed all of the attention it led to and at times, I was playing gigs and being asked to produce music which didn’t fulfil me. I’m massively grateful, but I never wanted to go down the commercial route and I guess for me this (alongside Borderline & Somewhere Beyond) is the closest I ever got to it. I prefer to make dance tracks that I can play in a club. Although my latest Album “You & Me” has taken me in a few different directions.
Your new album feels like a real statement! What was the creative spark behind it, and how did you approach it differently compared to your previous body of work?
I approached it the same way I always do. I get ideas in my head every day and I just go with them. For this one I was already on a roll after my last album “Optimism” and had the first 3 tracks already by the time that was released. So I guess the momentum just continued. I’ve played some amazing events over the past year or two and my DJ career has really taken off again. So this has also inspired me as you meet with so many different people and hear so many different sounds when you travel globally for your work.
You’ve brought together an incredibly diverse cast of collaborators on this project. How do you go about finding the right voice for each track, and how much does a vocalist’s personality shape the direction a song ends up going?
For some of the tracks, I produce the backing music and I search for a particular voice to complement it, or I already have a singer in mind when I’m producing it. For others I have cowritten with the singers such as Errol Reid and Bran Mazz and the vocals have come together along the way. Then others I just start putting down ideas and it just comes together along the way. With ’shake’ Tania Foster sent me a demo of the song and I produced it from that and with “Gravity’ Lou & Sian Lee sent me an accapella and I built the track around that. If I’ve worked well with a singer in the past, I will always bear them in mind. It’s as much about working well together as it is about their voice. It definitely helps to have a rapport and fun working together in the studio. That shows through in the music.
You’ve described your creativity as having developed further during the making of this album. What specifically changed for you in the studio – technically, emotionally, or in terms of your process?
The ideas just flowed faster than usual and some of them took me in different directions to my usual sound such as “You & Me”, “Universe” and “Shake”. It felt like it came together really easily and really fast. Sometimes you can be stunted creatively for weeks on end and the inspiration just isn’t coming as fast as you’d like. In this instance the ideas just didn’t stop. I’ve already got a few ideas ready for the next one. I definitely think it helps when life is going well generally. I’m really happy in life and enjoying everything that I do.
Sultra Records has grown into much more than just a vehicle for releasing your own music, it’s become a whole brand with its own identity, events and now even its own app! What are the plans for the label and will you look into releasing music from other artists?
Yes, I always wanted my own record label so that I could produce the music I want to and release it as often as I want to without the restrains of another label. I also enjoy playing my own events because you build a following of people who are knowledgeable about the music you produce and you have the freedom to then experiment and play more new music. The community started I guess with my “Thankful Thursdays” on Twitch around 6 years ago, but then after lockdown I ran a few of my own events and I really enjoyed them.
Then around 18 months ago my Fiancee Mel started to help me with the marketing, social media, setting up a Sultra family Facebook group and now the app, as well as helping with some of the admin around the events. That helps a lot as it means I don’t get caught up in the admin and I can continue to be creative in the studio. So it means I’m willing to do more of them. She works full time in her own job as a Director so I don’t know how she does it sometimes, but she’s a bit of a machine! I’ll often wake up on a morning and she’s already done all of my socials for the day before she even starts work! Now with my Son Ethan playing at some of the events, it’s becoming a real family affair and he’s started to support Mel with the marketing side too. We’d love to be able to put on a Sultra event every month and to expand around the UK and possibly abroad too. Watch this space…..
Chicago, New York, London… different house music bloodlines all seem to show up in your work. What’s your favourite era in music and why?
I have a deep love of Soulful vocals which is where the Chicago side comes from but i love the musical toughness of the grooves especially the early 80’s New York sound.
I have always lived very close to London so i see the trends quickly and feel the buzz that comes with it.
You’ve played some incredible venues and events over the years across the globe. Is there a particular night or crowd that stands out as one of those genuinely unforgettable moments where everything just clicked perfectly?
The two events I played at Defected Croatia last year were incredible. Such an amazing vibe. I also loved the opening party for Glitterbox at Hi in Ibiza last year. It was a massive buzz. There are so many that it’s hard to list them all. However, I would say that I like to play my own events the most, even if that’s collaborating with another brand/ venue. Night tales loft for my album launch party was amazing and I love my Sultra events at ACanteen. It comes down to the fact that the crowd know and love my music and it’s a real family feel.
What advice would you give to a young producer trying to build something sustainable in this industry right now, beyond just making good music?
Stay in your lane. Know your sound and stick with what is in your heart. Don’t try and follow trends. Also – use AI if you like – but don’t overuse it. Use real singers, create your own ideas, build your style
Now that the album is out and the launch party is done, what does the rest of 2026 look like for you?
It continues to be a busy one to be fair! I’m already working on a couple of remixes that I pushed back while I released the album. I’ve got a few more tracks that are ready and waiting for release. I’ve also got a hectic schedule of gigs between now and the end of the year both UK and overseas. I’m also managing one of my Sons Ethan, who I’m immensely proud of, and have just signed him with an Agent for gigs. We will be playing a B2B together at Defected Malta in October so that’s exciting. I never expected that by the time my Sons were grown up they’d want to join me at an event never mind play alongside me, so that’s a real highlight for me. On a personal level, I also got engaged to Mel in January and we’re in the process of buying a new house together and we will also be planning for our Wedding next year. So lots going on and I’m really happy.
Download ‘You & Me’ album here