The North Carolina boy wonder
“More or less I got into electronic music through what I heard in video games. At the age of twelve, like most kids, I wasn’t really listening to much music on my own, and so when I heard EDM in videogames I was pretty quickly sold. I haven’t listened to much else since.”
Have you come from a family of music?
“Not particularly. My dad plays in his church band, and that’s about the extent of it. I have nothing but gratitude for the fact that that music was never forced on me.”
We love this rumour about you at DMC. And that is, when you made ‘Say My Name’ you had never been to a club and had never seen a DJ. Is this true? If so, where did you draw this inspiration from?
“Yep, that’s fully correct. Hahah, that’s a fun one. I was making EDM from ages 12 to 18 without ever having seen a DJ, and ‘Say My Name’ was among the last of the songs I made during that time. Listen, I was from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. At that time, there were no electronic music DJs in the area, and even if there were, I wasn’t old enough to see one anyway. I had to rely on the internet for all the music I heard.”
What are the big tunes you are spinning right now?
“Nearly every song I play at this point is seriously edited in one way or another, so that complicates my answer. Because I’m not playing much of any tune that resembles what you could find on the internet. I did recently do a chart for Beatport, though, wherein I listed 10 indispensable tunes I’ve been playing: http://www.beatport.com/chart/porter-robinson-winter-chart/42759”
In the UK, we have two types of superstar DJs – the ones that just get immersed in their music such as Sasha and Digweed and the others like Carl Cox and Fatboy Slim who just lose it and rave on. You always seem to be enjoying yourself behind the decks…what are your thoughts on the more static DJ?
“I admire both the energetic and the stoic approach. I’m having straightforward, earnest fun while I play, and it’d be dishonest for me to hold back. But there’s definitely something to be said for the more reserved, composed DJ. It’s subtle and badass.”
What are your plans for Christmas?
“I’ll be at home writing music, for the first time in a while.”
What is already lined up for you in 2012?
“We’re organizing a couple tours. I’m finally exploring Europe more extensively (I had played shows in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, but the tour was very limited). I’ll be doing Australia again, and of course, I’ll be playing loads in North America. And more importantly than any touring news, I’ll be writing more music.”
Performing at this year’s Electric Daisy Carnival you admitted was “the best hour of my life” What was so good about those 60 minutes?
“It just went perfectly. I gained so many fans that day. My managers had kept it from me, but they were worried that there wouldn’t be a crowd there given my early set time. When we got there, the stage was just stuffed. Everyone was there, and my set was largely error-free and high-energy the whole time. Ah, damn, it was so fun.”
You have your association with Skrillex now and his label OWSLA, the same way that he hooked up with Deadmau5’s label…a question you have been asked I am sure before, but have you plans for your own label one day?
“It’s hard to say. It would make sense, I think. Skrillex seems to have derived quite a bit of enjoyment (and acclaim) from his label, so that seems worthwhile. And the only thing that gives me greater pleasure than listening to a massive tune is sharing it with someone and seeing them have the same response. I think I’d dig having a label. But no plans.”
Did it take a while for your family or friends to begin to take you seriously with your choice of career?
“Not at all. Although their expectations were modest, they backed me from the beginning.”
Your 11 track EP released in September spanned the likes of Electro, Dubstep and Trance – what were your personal favourite tunes…?
“100% In The Bitch’ is the iconic one, so it’s probably my favorite. It’s utterly devoid of any melodic content, though, so I also have to mention the title track, ‘Spitfire’. Its hard parts are pretty cool, but its melodies are what’s really noteworthy about that tune.”
You have performed with some mighty artists…Tiesto, Deadmau5, Afrojack and A-Trak to name but a few…who have impressed you the most and why?
“I think the best DJ set I’ve ever seen was Pendulum’s DJ set, actually, and I’ve played with those guys just once. I was watching their screen the entire time (that’s one of my biggest pet peeves, I’m such a bastard) and some of the techniques they were pulling off were just mind blowing. Double drops the whole time, and it sounded stellar.”
Your mum used to drive you to the airport – did she ever get you there late?
“HAHA. Yes. We won’t go there. She does a great job and I’m grateful, but punctuality is not her strength.”
What is the biggest tune of 2011?
“C’mon Dan. It’s Levels.”
What was your first reaction to the news that Lada Gaga had commissioned you to remix for her?
“Fuck yes! Then the only question was trying to figure out how to take advantage of that enormous opportunity for new exposure while still creating something credible and cool. The result: a really weird, brooding, minimalistic drop. Love that one.”
For those out there who don’t know, what is your Shock Drop?
“I haven’t used that expression in a while, but I had a few months where the most exciting thing to me was a song whose climax was hard, but minimalistic and unexpected. A few examples of that would be Michael Woods – VMS (the second drop, with just the bassdrums), my remix of Edge of Glory, or Dirtyloud’s remix of Dinka’s “My Love Will Surround You” (again, the second drop). The Shock Drop typically has no white noise, no crash cymbol, and no claps on the 2 and the 4. Just bass sounds and a bass drum. People scream.”
What is your best ‘tour bus’ on tour story?
Maybe the glamor shots in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtCVaddC0Yg
Do you feel any pressure knowing the music world is awaiting your next move?
“Of course, but that sort of attention is ultimately a good thing. I feel liberated to make more iconic, song-y records than before. When I first started, I had to capture people’s attention by making tunes that were super-fucking-hard and DJ-oriented. Now that everything I do will enjoy at least some degree of scrutiny, I can start working on more musical stuff.
What has been the proudest moment of 2011?
“Probably crashing Beatport’s website when my Spitfire EP was first released. Hahah.”
