One of the nicest guys in dance music checks in with DMCWORLD
What a summer for one of the world’s greatest producer’s; A huge chart hit with the remix package of his 1992 hit ‘Always’ with Route 94 on rework duty coupled with another colossal Summer Mix featuring MK’s picks for the season alongside some incredible festival and club appearances around the world. Dan Prince grabs five…
Marc a massive welcome back to DMCWORLD…where on the planet are you today?
“Hey Dan! I am sitting on a runway on my way to Brussels waiting for the very strange Miami like thunderstorms to pass.”
What was the first record you heard today?
“I heard a brand new track by Dantiez Saunderson, and it was really good.”
Another week, another HOPE FOR a piece of chart success for MK. This time around it’s the wonderful ‘MY HEAD IS A JUNGLE’ booming out through POSITIVA. Do you still get the nerves wondering where your tune is going to strike…or is a packed dancefloor enough for you with your records these days?
“I never paid too attention to the chart stuff, but I will admit lately, my managers’ are always talking about it, so I do get a little caught up from time to time(I try my best not to)”
It’s Summer and that means it’s time for an MK Summer Mix. What are some of the tunes you just had to have on there…?
“Check it out and have a listen…lots of fun and surprises….
https://soundcloud.com/marckinchen/mk-summer-mix-2014
It’s a good time for house music right now, have you noticed an increase in US clubbers getting into your sound more of late? The word on the street is that as EDM diversifies in the States, more and more people are digging the house vibes…?
“The scene is so healthy right now and it is great to see all sorts of people opening their minds and listening to House, Chillout, Trap. It’s really becoming more inclusive…even the indie scene has opened up to Electronic and house music.”
You have worked with some superb producers over the years including Mary J Blige, Rudimental, Janet Jackson, Rihanna and Disclosure. Who though has been the artist you have ever got a thrill from working with?
“They all have special meaning to me and they all thrill me honestly. I pinch myself sometimes. Quincy Jones was probably the most inspirational and educational for me and so was Will Smith. I just worked with Rodney Jerkins on a new Mary J. song, that was pretty exciting and the new people too. I love working with people like Lee Foss, Anabel Englund, Jamie Jones, Eats, Sam Smith….it’s all amazing to me.”
A quote from Faithless’s Sister Bliss from earlier this year…”I think people will become bored with the stock crude generic sounds of EDM and the artists themselves may be somewhat musically bankrupt (David Guetta even admitted as such in a recent interview) as there is only so much touring you can do before it impacts on studio time and having space to think creatively.” Thoughts on that?
“It is a thoughtful quote and has a lot of truth in it, since I have not been touring for as long as most of those folks, I can hopefully learn from their experience and use it as a lesson. In fact, I am actually planning to be in the studio next week and will be spending much more time off the road making my own record, finishing Pleasure State and my EP with Route 94.”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
“Depeche Mode ‘Everything counts’.”
…always get you dancing?
“Anything by Michael Jackson, Kraftwerk and Prince.”
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
“Cindi Lauper ‘Time after Time’.”
…you wish you would have made?
“Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’.”
In your opinion, is it possible for someone to make it as a DJ in 2014 without any production behind them?
“I think that if you want to do it and find a gimmick you can do anything, Paris Hilton just made a mint I heard. But to be a serious producer and musician who makes dance music, I think you also need to be a DJ – kind of the other way around, production background is really important to me anyway.”
Who is the last GREAT young DJ/producer you have spotted around the world that excited you?
“Right now I would have to say Route 94.”
Some people can carry a tattoo off…some look a bit of a dick – you thankfully carry it off. Worst tattoo you have ever seen on your travels…?
“I may have to sit that one out, too embarrassing!”
What is on a MK rider at a club gig these days?
“Vodka, water, ice, sparkling water, juice, more ice, more vodka and some champers for my friends. And TOWELS, haha…”
Best club in the world right now?
“Hmm…that’s gonna get me in trouble – I will tweet it to you.”
It’s that time again – the DJ Top 100 Poll…will you be pushing your fans to vote or isn’t it that important to you these days?
“I haven’t really thought about it, I just do what I do and if fans want to vote me in, I will be very appreciative, but I like those kind of things to be organic if it’s possible. It would be amazing though I have to admit.”
You recently joined Pete Tong and Annie Mac at the Radio 1 party in Ibiza at Ushuaia. What makes Ibiza such a special place for a DJ to play in…?
“It’s never one thing, but if I had to pick one, it’s the people and place (that’s two right?).”
Favourite beach and restaurant on the white isle?
“Café Mambo. And beach? Beach, what beach?? I am sleeping hahaha…”
Hideout Festival in Croatia – highlight of that gig?
“Seeing fans and friends I have met over the years and just getting to hang out with the. As far as my gig, I remember playing to a packed pool and everyone just looked like they were having fun – I even saw workers watching way at the back looking over the wall, it was a great feeling.”
It’s your birthday – who are the 3 DJs you invite to play at your party and who is the singer dead or alive you have singing you Happy Birthday?
“Jamie Jones, Skream and Eats Everything. As for the vocals, Marvin Gaye or Michael Jackson…sorry couldn’t choose just one!”
Most treasured album in your collection?
“Depeche Mode – first album.”
Proudest moment of your career to date?
“Hosting my own Area 10 stage at WE ARE FSTVL and getting a Number One.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“It’s not one thing it’s about twenty! NEW MK SINGLE, NEW COLLABO w DUKE DUMONT, NEW COLLABO W MARY J. AND RODNEY JERKINS, NEW PLEASURE STATE, NEW ROUTE 94 & MK EP,SHADOWCHILD COLLABO and more coming, I like to start things and then I go to the next thing, then I get inspired and go back and finish one of the other things, I have always worked like that. Amine Edge and DANCE collabo coming soon too.”
For more information on MK see below:
https://www.youtube.com/user/mkofficialarea
https://www.facebook.com/theofficialMK
http://soundcloud.com/marckinchen
https://twitter.com/MarcKinchen
