Hi Carl, an amazing career sir, you have brought so many millions of smiles and weary legs to people around the world over the years…
“It’s been a trip, I feel honoured to have been to the places I have been to, people I have met and records I have played.”
So where are you living right now?
“I am at my Melbourne house at the moment, due to my gigs I rotate around the world between here, my house in England and my house in Mallorca. Australia summer time which is obviously your winter which is my base to play Asia etc. and Europe for my Ibiza residency and festivals. And when England gets too cold, I’m on that first plane to Mallorca! Four weeks was enough in England this year!”
You were ahead of your pack with your three deck mixing, the new modern technology that is available now that makes it easier to DJ, what do you think about this route music has gone down? Has the fun been taken out of DJing?
“Not a chance. With anything that you want to do with your life creatively you have to have the soul, passion and belief. So many of my friends have come along to gigs or house parties or even back to mine and they’ve all wanted to try and DJ…and the majority just freeze or do a really bad job. DJs are performers, it doesn’t come naturally to anyone. One day you are spinning to 200 people, the next 200,000 – not many people can do that.”
You have played at every sensational club in the world – ten times over. What club’s do you love going back to even today?
“Hmmm, Pacha New York is a very cool club, obviously my Tuesday residency at Space, Zouk in Singapore is still rocking the house, Fabric in London and even though I think they should have built the DJ Booth somewhere different, Matter also in London – believe me, this is going to be one of the important club’s in the world in the future…”
Who has really rocked it for you guest wise at Space this Summer?
“You know what about Space, every DJ who takes to the famous decks there knows that they have to really step it up. The crowd are too knowledgeable about their music and it is really an honor to play their. This Summer, hand on heart, I can honestly say every guest I have had on with me has been amazing. Paul from Pendulum, Christian Smith, Tom Pooks from France’s Tech-House sets were just brilliant, DJ Marky – I could go on and on…
What tune has never left the Cox box in 2008?
“Hey great question, so many stunning tunes have been released this year. One that stands out though is the John Mundell remix of ‘Man Alive’. That has been creating havoc everywhere.”
What new DJs are doing it out there? Who should we be looking for in 2009?
You know, because the competition is so fierce in clubland around the world, it will take someone pretty amazing to break through these days. So the new emerging superstar is Nic Fancuilli of course, I would love to have him on Space. We have built up a really strong vibe at the club and I know he would love it – but he’s just too busy. So if someone is going to break through, they’re going to have to surpass what Nic’s doing right now.”
Your releases started in the early 90s with ‘I Want You’ on Perfecto and has since spanned comps, albums and of course more singles… what has been your proudest release moment?
“It has the F.A.C.T. album which has sold over 250,000 copies and is still being bought today. When I made this album I was trying to show everyone what was going on around the world musically, what the future was going to be – it was such a defining record for me to make.”
I have partied with you at some of craziest clubs in the UK – who is the maddest promoter you have come across?
“Easy, Dave Beer and Ricky Magowan – absolute lunatics but cool guys who know what they’re doing… most of the time!”
Back in the day, what was the best rave you played at?
“It was the first one I played at. Sundance’s ‘Midsummer Night Dream’. Nobody knew who I was, I was an unknown but the promoter’s trusted me. So Doug Lazy came on, then Paul Trouble Anderson, Cry Sisco and Noel Watson and then at 10 am on I came. I laid down a three deck Carl Cox set and got everyone back into the party spirit as it had been a long night! This was the moment my career exploded…”
What is your favourite album of all time?
‘It’s Stevie Wonder’s ‘Songs In The Key of Life, released back in 1976 – wonderful”.
What is the Australia club scene like at the moment?
“Pretty healthy to be honest, people always want to go out over here. It’s taken a while but we now have promoters defining a sound for Australia instead of relying on other DJs and musicians coming in and showing what they can do. The Crookers and TV Rock for instance are just blowing it up…”
Phuture’s ‘Acid Trax’, a big moment when you first heard it? I remember you told me it changed your life?
“Oh for sure, – it was a song that didn’t conform. It drilled into your brain and never left.”
You played the opening night of Danny Rampling’s ‘Shoom’ what was that like?
“Yes I played there twice, one of the most important club’s in history. Craziness…”
I first saw you at The Manor in Matchams, memories of that loopy place?
“That club was off the Richter Scale. Looking back at the photos of those days everyone looks about 15. What I enjoyed about playing there mixing it all up. My sound was so energetic, Jungle, Drum & Bass, Techno… it created euphoria, it was so exciting.”
What’s next for Carl Cox? What joy will you bringing to our lives next?
“Well the next thing I am about to release that I am really excited about is a year in the life 2008 of Carl Cox – we haven’t decided on a title yet. It’s an insight into me. Interviews with myself, my family, old school friends plus films of my gigs throughout the year – people don’t realise I have a family and it will show another side of me.”
