New mix album ‘Knee Deep In Sound’ smashing it up. A superstar year for Barnsley’s finest
Interview by Dan Prince
Daley welcome to DMCWORLD…Another incredible year continues you for you young man, next month sees your new mix album ‘Knee Deep in Sound’ released on your own label and Ultra. 4 Hot Since 82 exclusives, new material from a number of acts you’ve A+R’d and several new gems you’ve signed especially for the release. Talk us through some of the new stuff everyone is gagging to hear…
“Of course. So yeah we are releasing our first KDIS comp which is super exciting. The label is still really young, actually only 4 releases to date but it’s going from strength to strength. I really love the flow of the new music on the comp and really happy with the exclusives from myself. I have a few new jams, ‘The Core’, ‘Time Out’ and ‘Restless’ as well as loads of other new artists. It’s going be a great project and can’t wait to get the music out.”
You launched the new label Knee Deep in Sound back in March and quickly notched some superb releases; ‘Don’t Touch The Alarm’ instantly achieved Essential New Tune status, Okrain & Cuartero soon followed. You must be loving this new role as label boss? What is coming out next from the label…
“Running the label is such a joy. It really is. I’ve always dreamed of owning a decent record label so I’m over the moon. As l mentioned earlier we are doing some great stuff, new artists like Several Definitions Kamero etc.”
It’s amazing how many times it takes just one teacher at school to take a pupil aside and give them hope to turn things around for that kid. Yours was Mr Edwards your art teacher who years after leaving school and shortly after a whirlwind US Tour, you took your little brother to school and knocked on his office door with admittedly, tears in your eyes. What on earth did you say to each other?
“Aww what a great story eh? Mr Edwards, what an absolute legend. I would love to see him again. We didn’t say too much to be fair, his class was still busy so we had to keep an eye on the little brats…I can say that he was or looked super happy to see me though. I was a little made up and that doesn’t happen too often. He treated me like a person instead of a pupil, he never talked down to me. I needed that too as I’ve always been a little bit older for my age. I was being quite the lad before he started mentoring me, and he really sorted me out and for that l will be forever grateful.“
I was with Dave Seaman in Ibiza this summer. Dave hails from the grey council estates of Garforth and he was telling me how proud he was of you as a fellow Yorkshireman who has done good…which I loved. You made a name for yourself DJing around Barnsley and then Leeds at the ever messy Glasshouse – who are the DJs and producers from back in the day that you still knock around with?
“I didn’t actually know that Dave was a Yorkshireman. Wow. I love Dave now hahaha!! Dave’s a great guy so thanks mate. I haven’t ever really hung around with any other DJ/producers, well not that you know of anyway Dan. My close friends all dabble a little with DJing and production so l guess we’ve always bounced off each other which is cool.”
A lot of superstar guests like to keep their childhood’s secret, you though have no qualms of talking about your difficult early years looking after your mum, sorting yourself out and getting to school. What was the first extravagant thing you did for your mum with your new found earnings?
“Well people will tell you that know me that l wear my heart on my sleeve, that’s just how we are in Yorkshire and that’s why l will always live here. People are super grounded. I don’t think you should shy away from your background – and if you turn negative vibes into positive ones then l always think getting that story out there to the public can give hope. I’m a very normal lad just doing what l love. Anyone can do the same. And funny enough as l’m writing this, my mum is going on holiday this weekend courtesy of myself. Bless her.”
Some incredible parties you were involved with this summer including your nod to the days of acid house ‘Taken’ where your fans were blindfolded, kidnapped and taken to a secret rave. Great idea, did it all go to plan?“
“Taken was great. We tried something different and I was overwhelmed by how people embraced it and really entered in to the spirit. It was an unknown location which was super important, I was ‘taken’ too, on the bus blindfolded with everyone else, so much fun! It’s a different take on the clubbing experience and we have exciting plans up our sleeves so stay tuned! Check out the video…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-0lnbfhFJw
You popped your Bestival cherry this summer…give us a story of that little experience… .
“Bestival was super cool. It’s the first time I’ve ever been there – never mind playing so was great to finally tick it off the bucket list. I must say l did have a wicked time and our stage was going off. I even got a chance to have a walk around the festival and see what was cooking. I hope l get chance to go again next year.”
Your tune from summer 2014…
“My tune of summer 2014 is – Butch & C Vogt – ‘The Infamous’ – Robyte K vs Shield Re-Edit. Pure summer vibes and played everywhere from DC10 to Space.”
What is the next future studio project you are getting stuck into?
“Well I’ve just finished the comp and 4 new tracks on there as well as a remix so I want to see how these hold up first. I’m just about to go on my USA tour for 3 weeks and obviously I’ve just finished my UK tour so there isn’t much time left in the year to get much else done. I’m sure there will be another few tracks on the go though.”
You have had brilliant 2014. Let’s skip forward 12 months…what do you want to have achieved this time next year?
“In 12 months time l hope l can look back just like l have this last 12 months too and be super happy and proud of what I’ve done with myself and the music. I would also like to have the label in a great position and have some of the new artists I’ve signed blow up. And also l would love to have slept more hahaha.”
Have you ever been starstruck?
“Hmmm star struck, to be honest l’m not that kind of person to be star truck so I’d have to say no. Although l was once playing in L.A last year and turned round and Paul Oakenfold was in the DJ booth waving and wanting to say hi. I thought that was very cool of him.”
It was the DJ Top100 Poll this week. So many producers who then turned to DJIng are now littering the top slots, I’m from the camp that people should learn the art of DJing and then head into the studio?
“I’ve heard the same but still l haven’t even looked at the poll yet. It’s just numbers isn’t it and more reasons for people to start bitching about something. I say just leave them all to it. I hate people that bitch about this and that. I pride myself on keeping my own thoughts to myself. Let them do their thing and we will do our own thing.”
Some cool dates arriving in your diary, you are hitting the States then zipping down to Mexico and then Australia for the Stereosonic festivals. Do you ever have to change the music you are playing depending on the location or are we now one nation under a Hot Since 82 groove…?
“This is a question that l get asked a lot as l’m really doing some great stuff now in North America etc. The answer is clearly NO. I don’t have to change anything, they are super open minded and will listen to anything l put down. I think people outside of the States are surprised by this. I’m loving going out there, it excites me and l cant wait to get back. 3 weeks of love.”
A very cool summer in Ibiza for you – Radio 1, Sankeys, We Love, Paradise, La Familia…many people’s favourite party of the summer though was ANTS down at Ushuaia. What took top honours in your book this season?
“To be honest every show has been amazing. You have to pinch yourself and think wow ‘am l really doing this?’ After so many years spent coming here as a punter l’m still amazed that’s it’s now me up there playing. Carl Cox was a highlight but l really do love playing Ushuaia. For me Ibiza was built on dancing in the sunshine and you can just do that at ANTS. Great party, great music and great DJs.”
Your favourite DJ who like spinning back to back with…
“It’s always cool to play with my partner in crime Steve Lawler. We’ve got to be really cool pals and bounce ideas off each other.”
The record which…
…reminds you of your childhood?
“EIther Kate Bush – ‘Running Up That Hill’ or Marvin Gaye – ‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’.”
…was the reason you fell in love with dance music in the first place?
“Was probably through the Prodigy’s debut record ‘Charlie’.”
…reminds you of having your having your heart broken?
“Masters at Work – ‘To Be In Love’.”
…gets you thinking, shit I wish I’d have made that!
“Hmmmmmm, some early Michael Jackson record.”
Another question I have always wanted to you ask you – two absolute legends…who was more of a king in your house growing up…Daley Thomson or Arthur Daley?
“Arthur Daley of course , what a rascal hahaha.”
And finally…when was the last time you had to look at your kitchen wall and told yourself…’Don’t Worry…Be Happy’?
“Probably after some hectic tour and coming home in absolute bits with no food in the fridge. You have to look up and think “come on Daley” that was one hell of a tour!”
Nice one pal.
“Thank you mate.”
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‘Knee Deep In Sound’ is released on November 17th via Knee Deep In Sound and Ultra. Check out the ‘Womb’ free download here…
https://soundcloud.com/hotsince-82/hot-since-82-womb-knee-deep-in-sound-free-download/s-4xZhy
“The plan was to always release a mix album, but since I started the label I’m getting so much amazing new music sent through and the more I worked on it (the comp), the more I wanted to sign the majority of the music! So I’ve ended up with nearly every track being on my label. Kinda crazy, but great!”
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