The Detroit techno legend pulling no punches
We know that the WMC is more about profile and the party rather than business deals, is it the most important date on the dance calendar still?
“Yes it is, but it fell off a couple of years ago. One of the reasons that it’s going strong again is because of the new generation and new ways of promoting and the visibility your brand.”
As thousands of next generation clubbers descend on the big events, do you feel the spirit of house music is being lost to a crowd looking for that instant anthem hit?
“In some ways, yes but I also think that the younger generations attention span is a bit smaller as well because I had a guy come up to me a while back and asked me, ‘didn’t you play a song twice tonight’? And I said ‘yes, that’s how you break tunes’. They don’t quite get it because they are use to hear a DJ play epic tracks and hands in the air, instead of a track growing on you the more you hear it.”
Have you had to change your musical direction in the last year?
“No not really but in the year 2007 I did. It was then when I went to digital DJing and I downloaded my first tracks. Another whole world opened for me because I heard so many different sounds that I wasn’t getting when I was still playing all vinyl sets. The last year or so it has been all about finding track that are on the groove tip. It’s all about the groove.”
Is Miami losing it’s trademark cool and sexy house music vibe?
“Didn’t know they had one to be honest.”
What are your thoughts on the Dennis Ferrer ‘Mansion’ Miami club story – he was basically kicked off the decks for not playing commercial enough…
“How in the hell did this happen? The club owners don’t know what they are into because they let the guys who basically pay for the tables and bottle service and the girls who show up in short skirts damn near naked dictate what they do next. Obviously their management has a very limited perception of what is really happening in music. They might as well play prerecorded sets from all of the commercial DJs and they would save money or better yet, bring in a jukebox so people can just choose what they want.”
With clubs and charts being dominated by dance music worldwide, shouldn’t we be rejoicing it’s success rather than being bitter with crossover?
“I’m not hating on the fact that this happens but sometimes if you know the behind the scene of the club and their policies and you know it’s BS then you may have an argument. As far as the charts goes, it’s different stroke for different folks.”
The party you looking forward to the most in Miami?
“The Saved Party at Set on Tuesday the 20th, The Planet-E & Flying Circus parties on Wednesday the 21st, The VIVA & No Sugar Added parties on the 23rd. Why? because these are all the parties that I’m playing.”
What are your Buzz tracks for WMC 2012?
“My new track called “Circus Act” coming out in May on my Label Blackflag Recordings. That’s all I can give you now.”
Have you noticed a big dip in industry folk not attending these last couple of years?
“Not really if anything they have been coming back just to see how it’s going with the new generation and how they perceive it.”
What are your thoughts on the IMS in Ibiza?
“It’s another avenue to celebrate our music.”
