Hi! First of all, thank you for your time – it’s a pleasure!
The Clubber: Could you tell us how it all started for you? When did you first get interested in electronic music, and how did you realize that that’s what you wanted to do professionally?
I was watching a UK music programme on the TV called Top Of The Pops one day when Public Enemy came on. I was instantly hooked by the raw energy and funk they had, but I was more interested in what the DJ (Terminator X) was doing. Although this music wasn’t strictly electronic at the time as such, it lead me towards a love of drum breaks, and an interest in DJing, which then lead me to the UK rave scene a few years later, and this was when I realised I wished to explore it further as a career.
The Clubber: Since your beginnings, you have been recognized for your uncompromising and unique sound. How would you describe it and what is the main idea behind your work?
Everything for me has to have a swing and a groove to it, no matter whether it’s a softer deeper track or a pounding techno track. I’ve always had this in every single one of my tracks. It’s the funk that drives me I guess, just getting your groove on down on the dancefloor. I never wanted to sound the same as everyone else so always tried hard to make music differently with different techniques, not go for the obvious easy route, its more from curiosity than anything. Of course sometimes, things do come out that sound of that time and fashion, as you’re influenced by it with it all around you, but there is still my stamp on it in the hope that people can hear my music and instantly know that it’s me without having to look it up.
The Clubber: Your new remix of Josh Wink’s ‘Talking To You’ is out on legendary Intec Digital label and received a massive feedback. How did this remix happen and what was your main idea concept behind your remix?
Josh had asked Carl to do a remix for him some time ago and was looking for other mixes to go with it. I basically offered to do a mix on spec for him and that if he liked it then great and if not no worries. By then though he had also been confirmed to play at Carl’s party at Space so we thought it would make a nice tie in around the release to put it out at the same time as then on Intec. I did three versions of the mix in the end, and although Josh was into the second version I’m glad we went with the last one as this seemed to be connecting with me more in terms of where my head was at and also when I played it to people out there in the clubs. Josh is a great artist and a really cool guy, I’ve been lucky to get to know him over the years and every time I’ve spoken to him I’ve learnt something new, so to have been able to now remix him is a big honour.
The Clubber: Could you let us know whether you are planning any upcoming releases for the future? If so, what can you tell us about them?
The next EP is about to drop on Intec next month and is called Warped. I literally just finished it yesterday so have been cutting it fine, but I’m happy with it now and feel good about the tracks. I went through a phase the other year of just releasing whatever came out and basically some of it just wasn’t good enough, I was rushing tracks as I felt under pressure to get them out and hadn’t put the time into them properly due to touring and label commitments. I decided last year to basically take a break from producing and at the start of this year began again and I’m glad I did as I feel I’ve found my way again, and it’s important to always try and release good music people can enjoy.
The Clubber: You will be performing at Sunwaves festival in Romania. What do you expect from the crowd and what will you prepare for them?
This will be my third time luckily so I know what to expect now. Romania has been really amazing to play in, at this festival and in Bucharest at Kristal Glam. The guys that run both are so friendly and knowledgeable about the music that it just sets you up to play well. The people that come and party add massively to the atmosphere, as now with Romania being free of dictatorship you can really feel them freely expressing themselves, it reminds of the UK rave scene and the atmosphere that had, people just getting down without a care in the world, escaping the daily life.
The Clubber: So far, you have collaborated with the leading labels in the underground such as Intec Digital and Desolat but also with legends on the scene such as Carl Cox, Marco Bailey, including remixing the likes of Moby and Paul Van Dyk. What left the best impression on yourself and what is the collaboration you are the most proud of?
I honestly don’t know. I mean, when I look back on all of that I think to myself well that was cool, and so was that, and that, and that. I’d say all are proud moments for different reasons really. To remix Moby is definitely high up on the list though as his Go record was the record that really got me into the electronic dance scene after the first time I heard it. But then to have remixed Paul Van Dyk is also really cool from the level of dedication he has put into his productions. Signing to Desolat was a proud moment too as I’d been sending Dice my music for around 7 years before he finally signed one. Marco I discovered in my early London days as a techno powerhouse so to have been able to get to know him, work together on each other’s labels and play at each other’s parties is also a great thing. And then of course there is Carl, who I basically grew up listening to, I never ever thought back then I’d ever do the things I’ve done and see the things I’ve seen with him.
The Clubber: You have the experience of performing in various different places – in capital cities and small towns at clubs, at open-air festivals and at more intimate events. What would you say is the best setting for a party of your choice?
All are good for different reasons, but I do have to say I feel more relaxed and comfortable in smaller venues. I think it’s because I feel less pressure to ‘perform’ so to speak and I can just play music and reach out and be with the people all in it together. Sometimes you play these big stages and the people are so far away it’s hard to get a real connection going and you feel you have to play certain records to make any kind of atmosphere, but in the smaller places you can wander off with the music and the people are so close to you that they follow you with that music. Room 2 at Fabric in London for me is the perfect room, I’m almost hidden in that booth and everyone is facing in a different direction to it most the time, so I can just get my head down and concentrate on what I’m playing, how I’m playing it and how people are connecting with it, and nothing else.
The Clubber: If you were to choose a favourite professional moment in your career so far, which one would it be and why?
Playing and closing out Space for 4.5hrs is right up there, mainly because I’ve been such a part of that club. I’d never experienced anything like it before, or since. The only thing with it is though that I can’t personally remember too much about it happening. I remember some moments but I can’t pin point exact ones, I focused so hard that it all went by in a flash, and by the end of it I was so exhausted I just sat down quietly on my own in a corner with all this adrenalin seeping out of me slowly, which is why I think I don’t remember it all that clearly. Sounds crazy but that’s how it is, like some kind of outer body experience. Another time that was pretty special was an Intec party we did some years back at XOYO in London, the basement room was so intense that night and everything just seemed to click, the atmosphere, the people, the music we played, everything. It was a midweek party and I went home after and could only sleep an hour, I got up and sat on the sofa for ages just thinking about what had just happened!
