Big album about to blow up on Get Physical, huge remixes of ‘Love’…what a year
Interview by Dan Prince
Chris a huge welcome to DMCWORLD…where on planet earth are you today – we can’t keep up with you, LA, Ibiza, Bournemouth??!!?
Thank you DMC. I’m currently sat at LAX on my way to Panama to play tomorrow night!
The first piece of music you heard this morning after rolling out of bed?
Guns n Roses – ‘Patience’…whenever I’m not in the studio, this is always my vibe.
A really exciting 2015 continues for you in the form of your remix EP for ‘Love’ released this week on Noir Music. Four remixes including two from yourself, please talk us through these very different pieces of work…
My remix is actually the original version of the track I ever made, I heard JUDGEs voice on Santes track and new I had to have him on the record, the down tempo remix is something I made for myself and Noir decided to include on the package which is ace.
So let’s cut to the chase. You love a nice tatoo, what was your first and is there one lurking on your body that you may need to have removed?
My first is the one on my back, it’s a James Dean quote that says “to fast to live to young to die”. And I have none that need to be removed!
We’ve been hearing the rumours on a mini album coming up on Get Physical…what can you tell us?
It’s actually a full album and the only artist album they are releasing this year, which is a real honour for me. The guys at the label are amazing people and it’s an honour to work with them. Get Physical has been one of my favourite labels for a very long time…
Let’s rewind for a moment, it sounds like you have hailed from something of a musical family, your mum used to drag you along to concerts when you were young. Who were some of the artists you were witnessing at those events?
Yes amazing times as a kid and amazing memories seeing the likes of Guns n Runs, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith…you can’t beat live music.
So when did dance music first appear on your radar?
Daft Punk were the ones for me and a huge inspiration still to this day.
You started DJing at the age of 16 – what was your musical style like back then?
I was into anything melodic! Trance, techno etc.
Your black list of contacts grew insanely over the next few years; you started your own club night, you worked at a PR agency, A&R’d for a Radio 1 DJ, spent time as an agent/manager and booked events for Dance Magazine. Did any of those roles really appeal to you or was it simply a case of deep down you knew DJing and Producing was your destiny?
How do you know all that about me! You must have done your homework Dan!! Music always moved me and I found myself working within the industry in different capacities. Ultimately I connected most with the creation of music which still inspires me most to this day, it’s the thing I wake up to do every morning and that makes me so happy.
Okay spill the beans, who was the Radio 1 DJ and what were like to work for?
It was Judge Jules, amazing to work for him. His show was huge back then on Radio 1 and a dream to be working with him, he shaped the UK scene for a long time.
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…
Oohhhh so many! Two new ones from my album on Get Physical, the next release of mine on my label and Me Woods is still doing it for me. Oh, and a record I always love to play is Dixon’s remix of the XX.
We love your story concerning your first break with Bedrock – please tell the readers of the tale which so nearly could have seen you slip completely out of Digweed’s grasp…
Bascially I sent some tracks to Scott who is the A&R at the label with no names on them, he loved the music but had no idea who had sent them to him. It took them a month to track down that it was me, it almost never happened.
How many tracks have you started that still lay unfinished? We hear there is quite a collection?
There are a fair few! Most are just for me to enjoy I think!
You love making music whilst on the go! What is the strangest place you’ve found yourself creating beats?
I make them everywhere, some of my best records were made on the go. Airplanes are always a winner!
So much good new music about at the moment, who are some of the new producers emerging that excite you right now?
My favourite producer from the last few years is easily Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys.
Where have some of the stand out shows been for you this summer…Secret Garden Party rocked, Ibiza has been magical again…
Secret Garden Party was amazing, Mexico, Columbia and Do Not Sleep in Ibiza were all amazing.
We enjoyed your feature in DJ MAG USA a few months ago when you picked the 10 tunes that most influenced you. So out of that list of artists you chose, dead or alive, who would be the perfect 4 dinner guests you would like to have round yours?
Axel Rose
Lana Del Rey
Keith Richards
Kurt Kobain
Not many people know this, but Eagles & Butterflies is really good at?
Boggie Boarding.
A record in your collection you’d rather we didn’t know about…
All the Maria Carey records!
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
The album and 2 EPs on Get Physical with some amazing remixes, a really tasty remix on Noir and a new one on my label.
*****
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