The superstar from Down Under makes his Defected In The House series debut
Having made Sonny Fodera a key part of their family in recent times, UK stable Defected now honour one of house music’s coolest superstars by asking him to make his entry into their hallowed In The House series. This is one of Australia’s finest exports at his very best with three discs of exclusives, remixes and tips of his hat to some key influences in his exploding career. Dan Prince gets the world exclusive…
Sonny a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD…where on planet earth are you today?
Thanks for having me back! I am currently in Rio De Janeiro, just at the airport about to fly to Curitiba where I play at Field Club in Papanduva then Club Vibe.
A belated Happy New Year to you sir. Let’s get the festivities out of the way first, did you have a good Christmas? Any naff gifts, where were you on New Years Eve and what was the midnight tune?
Was an amazing Christmas, spent time with some really close friends, Boxing Day was at Motion at Digital in Newcastle with Patrick Topping and Richy Ahmed then played Ministry of Sound NYE for Defected then flew to Brazil NYD to play Green Valley!
Congratulations on ending 2015 with a Top 20 finish in the end of year best selling Beatport chart moving up a massive 57 places from the previous year. A good year for you, but do you think it was a good year for dance music?
I am stoked! This I am super happy about this, I think it reflects a lot of hard work I have put in over the last year. I think it is definitely a good time for house music, also I have noticed a lot more of the younger crew out now which is great!
You were in the UK on Boxing Day playing Digital in Newcastle. a) was it a good night b) how friggin cold was it?
Yes was defiantly cold! It was sold out was great to hang with Patrick and Richy, I really have so much time for them they are great guys. The crowd was mint and the whole vibe was off the hook. The after party was dope too.
So you have hit the ground running this year with the release of your new Defected album Sonny Fodera In The House. Three albums including six Sonny Fodera exclusives. Please give us an insight into these musical treats…
Invisible – is an instrumental I was working on last time I was in Brazil on tour, I was messing around with some Defected acapellas. Simon Dunmore actually suggested I edited this, the acapella is bomb, so I just put it on the top and worked really well.
The Definition – This was a beat a made in 2013 when I was living in Ibiza, I was going through some old tracks recently and found it. Not sure why I never did anything with it, the bass sounds great on club systems. I was messing around with the little by little “bang the box” acapella and it just worked!
Over This – I was in the studio with Shannon Saunders vibing out a few ideas, she started freestyling this hook (which we used as the main part of the song). I then messed around with the acapella and got this cool groove happening with a big bass sound I got from my Moog Minitaur. Been getting a great reaction on this track.
Always Gonna Be – This track I made in June 2014 with Alex Mills, finished it on tour in Australia and played it for the first time at Chinese Laundry in Sydney Australia. The reaction was amazing! I have always wanted to work with Alex, she is a super talented vocalist, this was the first project we did together. We actually have a lot more on the way so stay tuned.
Shake – I made Shake back in 2014 when I first moved into my studio in London Fields. I used the Novation Bass Station 2 for the analog bass. Really loving playing this track, been working well in my sets now for a while.
Go Get It – I actually gave this out as a promo for a while on my label Beatdown and never proper released it. I decided to put it on the In The House comp because I feel it reflects my DJ style.
How much pressure on an artist is it being asked to do such a prestigious series? I mean, how long does it take to plan and execute?
I guess this has been in the works now for about 2 years, but I only started working on the compilation about 6 months ago. It has been a little nerve racking and there was defiantly some pressure towards the end. But I feel like I have delivered a solid product, the ITH sampler is doing really well on Traxsource and Beatport.
Gotta ask, what was Simon Dunmore’s immediate reaction on first listen? Completely happy?
Yeah he was really happy! He said it really reflects me as a DJ and producer which is great. This is exactly what I wanted to do have that bounce with the compilation but still with that vocal feel.
2015 was a really defining year for you. 6 appearances at Amnesia in Ibiza, festival headline sets, collabs, remixes, big releases. Phew. How on earth are you gonna top that this year, what’s coming up studio wise?
2015 was amazing! But to be honest 2016 is looking even more busy! I have an amazing tour lined up for the In The House compilation with shows in Australia, USA, Asia, UK & Europe. I have a track coming soon on Lee Foss’s label Repopulate Mars produced with MK and my album is coming at the end of 2016 on Defected. Also a remix on Strictly Rhythm and a few more tracks on Cajmere’s label Cajual records.
What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend, please give us a few words on each…
Sidney Charles – I Need You = Big tech house roller with a huge drop, vocal is amazing.
Thugfucker – Disco Knome (Tale of Us remix) – older track, decided to play it last week and the reaction was crazy! If you haven’t heard this check it out.
Mystic Bill, Sonny Fodera – Invisable (U Won’t C Me) – This edit has ben getting a crazy reaction! Make sure you check it.
Get Real – Mind Yo Business – Claude Vonstroke and Green velvet what more do I need to say? Super duo with their first release.
Inland Knights – Long Time – What a tune! About 10 years old still goes off.
An up and coming DJ/producer to watch out for this year…
Simeon Belle.
And finally, Sonny Fodera In The House features 42 tunes. If you could pick one tune to play this weekend, what would it be…
Gershon Jackson – Take it Easy (Sonny Fodera, Mat.Joe remix).
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Sonny Fodera In The House is out 29 January on Defected Records – http://store.defected.com/catalogue/defected-presents-sonny-fodera-in-the-house_28713/
Tracklisting :
CD 1
01. Gershon Jackson – Take It Easy (Sonny Fodera & Mat.Joe Remix)
02. Sonny Fodera – Invisible
03. Mystic Bill – U Won’t C Me (Accapella)
04. Sonny Fodera feat. Alex Mills – Always Gonna Be
05. Sonny Fodera feat. Shannon Saunders – Over This
06. Martin Ikin & Low Steppa feat. Elisabeth Troy – About Time
07. Sonny Fodera – The Definition
08. Little by Little – Bang The Box (Accapella)
09. Dale Howard – Vacant
10. Eats Everything feat. Tiga vs Audion & Ron Costa – Dancing (Again!) (Original Mix)
11. Sonny Fodera – Shake
12. Catz ‘N Dogz – Get It Right (Claude VonStroke Remix)
13.Sonny Fodera & Cajmere – Off On
14. Fernando Campo – Kin Kirby (Original Mix)
15. Mario Cruz – Little Thing (Doorly Remix)
16. Sonny Fodera – Go Get It (VIP Mix)
17. Sonny Fodera & Gene Farris – We Work It
18. Will Clarke – Turn It Up (Original Mix)
19. Tom Misch feat. Zak Abel – Beautiful Escape
CD2
01. Sonny Fodera & James Shoji feat. Janai – All The Reasons
02. Rudimental feat. Will Heard – I Will For Love (Sonny Fodera Remix)
03. Click Click – This Is Soul
04. Sonny Fodera – OCD
05.Mark Fanciulli feat. Joe Le Groove – Control (Accapella)
06. Mat.Joe – Swipe The Card (Original Mix)
07. Sonny Fodera feat. Yasmin – Feeling U (Deep Mix)
08. Janet Rushmore – Joy (Sonny Fodera Deep Mix)
09. DJ Roland Clark & Sante Sansone – House Nation (Riva Starr Edit)
10. Tim Deluxe – Feelings (Ice Cream Dub)
11. Seven Davis Jr. – Friends (Detroit Swindle Friends On Acid Remix)
12. Emanuel Satie – Your Body
13. Franky Rizardo – Keep My Cool
14. Claude VonStroke – Make A Cake
15. Josh Butler feat. Lono Brazil – The Essence Of House Music (Dario D’Attis Remix)
16. VRRS – Need Luv
17. Sole Fusion – Bass Tone (House Nation Mix)
CD3
01. Sonny Fodera & Cervendos feat. Lauren Faith – High
02. Sonny Fodera – Putting It Down
03. Sonny Fodera & Cervendos – Let’s Go
04. GotSome – Just A Feeling (Sonny Fodera Remix)
05. Sonny Fodera – Where You At
06. Bontan & Sonny Fodera – Want To Know
07. Sonny Fodera & Cajmere – Show You
08. Sonny Fodera feat. Amber Jolene – Hold It Down
09. Sonny Fodera – Trainsurfing
10. Sonny Fodera – People Forget (Original Mix)
11. NiCe7 – Time To Get Physical (Sonny Fodera Remix)
12. Harrison Crump feat. Tierra Nevaeh – No More Lies (Sonny Fodera Vocal)
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