The coolest don in techno unleashed the superb ‘Voodoo’ EP on Bedorck. Exclusive interview
Interview : Dan Prince
Dave welcome back to DMCWORLD, where in the world are you today?
“Thanks for having me, Dan. I’m currently in my studio in sunny Swindon, I’ve just finished up two new tracks to test in Belgium next weekend for Warm’s 10th Birthday.”
I was in two minds about this interview. Me being a lifelong Evertonian, you a die hard Arsenal supporter whose team has just beaten us to the post for Champions League glory next season. Close one eh??
“You shouldn’t take anything negative from this season really, they’ve had a good year and have a great new manager. All the best for next season!”
You have The Buzz Chart people jumping around again, this time it’s your incredible ‘Voodoo’ EP swinging our way on Bedrock. Please give a few words describing the sound of your three very special tunes…
Tomahawk – “Well, I sold my 303 about two years ago and you know how it is after you sell something you’ve had for a long time, you want it back straight away. I came across this 303 plugin by Audio Realism and started messing around with it, then realised it sounded pretty close to the real thing. You need to add some distortion and other tweaks, but yeah it sounded really close to the original.”
Give It Up – “This is just a groove based track, it started with a really chunky bassline and skippy old school snare patterns. I built in other percussive elements and a big build up, just to just take it to that next level in a club!”
Voodoo – “This was just an old track sitting on my hard drive for about 3 years and when I went back to it, I realised it had some really strong elements and a jazzy feel, which I loved. So what I did was revamped the whole track and brought it back up to date. Just so happens Pete Tong chose this one for the Essential Selection too!”
Bedrock seems like a perfect home for you right now…?
“I think John’s got a really good ear for electronic music, you just have to look at the labels catalogue to see this. I do love the way they promote their music and look after their artists, it feels like a very welcoming family to be part of and they have a very professional approach for an independent label.”
A recent quote from you…“Well I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” It’s a fair point Mr Angel, we can’t stop ‘progress’ but there will always be a huge side of the DJing world full of true DJs who know the true art of this noble profession…the underground will always be there for us, right?
“I’d like to think so, Dan, but when you see credible DJ’s like Nick Warren getting thrown off the decks for not playing commercial enough, where does that leave the underground?”
Where have some of the stand out gigs been for you these past few months?
“Definitely the Bedrock 15th Birthday party with John Digweed in London, last October. Fire Club is an amazing venue, it has an old school feel about it. Plus is was a great crowd and an all round top night.”
You used to be a porter in a swanky apartment block where quite a few famous people lived. Who was the best tipper?
“Well, I guess you could say it was definitely the owner – who at that time was Mohamed Al-Fayed – he used to give us a big tip, once a year at Christmas. Other than that, I’ll always remember Roger Moore’s wife tipping me well.”
What is the song that…
Reminds you of having your heart broken?
“To be honest Dan, luckily, I’ve never had my heart broken.”
Always gets you singing along in the car?
“Either Pharrell Williams ‘Happy’ or Paolo Nutini ‘New Shoes’.”
Reminds you of your dad?
“’Forever My Darling’ by Johnny Ace.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
Funny you should ask, I’ve just done a new Top 10 on Beatport – Here it is: http://www.beatport.com/charts/dave-angel-voodoo-chart-may-2014/271644
You once said…“a DJ has to have a piss every time before he goes on the decks, and if somebody tells me that’s not nerves they are full of shit.” – you still get nervous before DJing?
“Absolutely, sometimes I’m in the car and I don’t want to speak to anyone until I get to the gig.”
20 years ago your favourite 5 DJs were Colin Faver, Fabio, Grooverider, Oliver Bonzio and Frost. Two decades later, who makes that list in 2014?
“These guys are still doing it for me – John Digweed, Laurent Garnier, Stacey Pullen, DJ Marky and Colin Dale.”
Your favourite ever moment at a festival…
“I suppose my favourite moment would be my first big festival for a promotion called Technodrome way up somewhere in Scotland. Just the excitement of seeing so many people dancing to my music for the first time, unforgettable experience.”
It went through a period of lacking love, but now the techno scene is stronger than ever. Is this the healthiest it has ever been?
“It’s definitely having a prominent period right now with the explosion of electronic music in America and the rest of the world.”
Throw a couple of names at us, some up and coming producers we should be looking out for in 2014…
“I’m not sure about up and coming, but Harvey McKay is hot right now! Full Intention seem to be putting out some great records again, my good friend Jamie Anderson, Pig & Dan and Hot Since 82 are all names I’m supporting at the minute.”
Okay we all have one. Your guilty pleasures song, a tune you love but really shouldn’t…
“Haha, now you got to blame my daughter for this one!! It’s Katy Perry ‘California Girls’. We had to go out and buy the single for her and I’d always play it in the car with her. It’s got Snoop Dogg on it though, in my defence!!”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“I have a release coming up on Tronic with some hot remixes, I think for the summer. Then I have another EP coming on LA based label, Halocyan Records, with 3 brand new tracks – that’s going to be a vinyl release I believe. Other than that I’m just busy in the studio working on loads of new material, every day. I have about 8+ tracks that need finishing right now.”
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