DJ Sneak

The House Gangster looks back on a long hot summer of original gangster house beats

Interview by Rob Chadwick


How was Carl Cox this week, was it a great closing?

As usual, the ‘King of Ibiza’ goes out with a bang, it was chaos but good fun indeed.  Carl Cox will forever be remembered as one of the best. 

How do you feel your time in Chicago shaped you as the artist you are today?

Even more so lately I am realizing it definitely had a huge impact. I was learning how to survive in the tuff streets of Chicago, learning a new language, learning how to fit into the American way of living after growing up on an Island. I admit the streets were tuff and so was my way of acting and reacting to certain things, I’ve kept that with me. Back in the hood we had passion for things, if we believed in them we would fight to often learn from the experiences.  Musically, Chicago was my school, my stomping ground were I was shaped into what I am today, with the sounds of trains and sirens, the bricks and cold weather. All this builds a tough character. 

You have been an integral part of the electronic music scene for many years now. What would you say has been the most drastic change within in the scene and do you think it is better than it was back then? 

I can only be myself and be honest, I really think what we have today are a bunch of posers, people who are plastic, don’t make their own music, don’t know how to mix or create a feeling while they are playing and most of this I blame on technology and the many trick these tricksters all use to make themselves look good. I dare anybody calling themselves a DJ to pick up a pair of headphones and a bag of records and throw down, unplanned, un-programmed, just cause we want to, just cause you love it! I will tell you, not many have the skills to be that bold. I do not believe things are better than the past because the past was REAL…Real Music, Musicians, Producers, Writers, Singers etc. today it’s all made by a “mickey mouse” cut n past with a lot of money, managers, agents, marketing & promo teams. Much of the passion for doing what we do is gone and has been gone for quite some time. To play music back in the day was a true feeling, not standing there linked, synched with the computer mixing for you, the modern DJ has now turned into a jukebox or iTunes playlist, not a real DJ. 

Tell us about the re-launch of Magnetic Recordings? Why now?

Magnetic Recordings has always been my outlet to release my own music to the public. The label took a chill break while we developed and successfully moved on to another new raw label I’M A HOUSE GANGSTER, which I believe we are doing a great job with, so now we focus on re-launching Magnetic with well over 60 release since it’s launch in 2000. We get better at things which allows us to flex in many directions, it’s a beautiful thing because we just scheduled almost a whole years worth of releases from some great new producers and some OGs to spice it up from time to time. 

Also tell us the vibe of the compilation and also what we can expect next?

The Magnetic compilations are a collection of the best of the best that we have previously released, we shuffle them tunes around, shake them up, add new spice and serve it up. So far the public has been really embracing the move as many new fans are discovering the catalog and the old school people can get the music already digitized and remastered at their leisure. 

How has you summer been this year then? Any memorable shows?

This whole summer has being amazing, many of the shows were so memorable that to pick one or two would be unfair.  The Ibiza shows were on point as usual, playing for Ants, Music On, Carl Cox’s Revolution, Vista Club and a bunch of other unannounced parties and pre parties was amazing. The rest of summer was focused on the many festivals around Europe in The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Croatia and Britain to name but a few…they were all crazy good.  It all seems like a big long movie at times, but when it’s all over and I rest up in my home, many of the great summer memories remind me why I do it every year, let’s go 2016! 

You must have played hundreds and hundreds of shows to date, do you still get those moments where your hairs stand up on the back of your neck? When was the last, what happened?

I try to get them moments to happen whenever and wherever I play, it’s a natural drug that we all produce. Music and the feeling of being in unison with a whole crowd of people is very intense at times and very gratifying. As a DJ who doesn’t do any hard drugs, nor sniff things up my nose, it can be a bit difficult at times to always deliver with a straight head, but it is very possible, it definitely gets you to appreciate the most important part of it all – the MUSIC. One of the last times I got that real strong creep was playing traxx with my man Doc Martin at Sunwaves in Mamaia Romania. An incredible 12 hour set of straight flowing, it was one of my best times this summer. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Movement festival in Turin of which you’re set to play at towards the end of October. What memories do you have from previous Movement sessions and what can we expect to see from your set this year?

Honestly this is my first Movement in Turin but I am ready for it! I have taken part in the Detroit Movement and I know what to do in both places. I did play for the Kappa Fest and recently with Carl Cox & Dixon which was an amazing Party. I believe the Turin crowd already knows what to expect from the House Gangster. Italy knows what’s up!

Turin seems to be a hub right now for electronic music with the likes of Kappa landing earlier this summer. How does Turin for you compare to other European cities for the festival and clubbing scene?

Turin is an amazing party city, so far what’s been happening there is influencing many places around the world to follow suit. I often believe it’s never good to make the picture so big for all to see, it’s better to let the music and parties speak for themselves cause things change so often in this scene. Enjoy it as much as you can, that’s what I say. 

Do you find it hard to bring something fresh to your sets every time, how do you spice it up constantly?

I am a true hunter for great music, I hunt along with a few of my other DJ hunters which often gives us the edge when we play. I don’t share with many but what I share is gold. To stay fresh you have to always keep your ear to the streets, as the streets will always give you what you need. I do think about my sets often, but honestly after it’s begun it all just flows on it’s own, I never plan, I never pre-record, nor have a set playlist cause all clubs, festivals, crowds and moods are different in every town. I love to freestyle and improvise. 

Where do you find most of your music to play out, do you still spend time in record shops or is it mainly digital nowadays?

I’m not telling my sources, but a hint, it’s NOT where everyday else gets their music online. I have been blessed this summer with time to visit a few standing records stores around my travels in Europe – Italy, Barcelona, Berlin and London have provided many great traxx on Wax.  The rest are a collection of music from my own stash of records and shared music among a tight group of DJs that I love and respect. We often do edits and our own mixes of things to play, to not be sounding like the other DJs that be Frontin’  hahaha….

Whats your favourite thing to do before a show, drinks, food, sleep?! Do you have a set ritual that you follow each time?

Simple alone time, some good Ganja and some light music to help me get in the mood. I don’t like to drink nor get wasted to then try to perform, I want to be on point, fresh and ready to do the best I can for the public that come to see me play. I really never want to disappoint or leave anybody ever saying I never gave them my absolute best.

DJ Sneak will play Movement Festival Turin this month – www.movement.it