Getting set for Trade 2Wenty 4our:The Longest Birthday at Egg
Interview by Nicky Trax
Hey Tom welcome to DMCWORLD. A big Trade 24th Birthday coming up tonight, what has been your biggest night at Trade to date?
“Hi Nicky. Wow, so many! The Trade Birthday two years ago now was such an amazing event- I think we’re all planning to smash that one!”
What can the Trade crowd expect from your set, have you been working on any special birthday bombs for the party?
“I’m always working on something, whether it’s a production or a remix, finished or (most likely!!) still work in progress, I’ll be testing out the latest beats at Trade. Also, DJing with Traktor gives me so much flexibility to mess around with tracks, that different crowds inspire me to do different things with tracks – extend them, mess with them, loop them, destroy them! – that no two sets I play are ever the same.”
Is there anyone you are looking forward to catching at Trade 24: The Longest Birthday?
“Always look forward to hearing my Trade faces Smokin Jo, Daz Saund, Malcolm Duffy and Steven Sharp Boys, but also looking forward to checking out the Filterheadz!”
How are the UK crowds doing in 2014, are we still up there with the best – do you still get goosebumps seeing their appreciation?
Firstly-UK crowds party- fact! Secondly- the Trade crowd is loyal and musically clued-up, so you need to be on top of your set. And of course knowing and feeling that the crowd is into what you’re doing is the best inspiration!
Proudest career moment to date?
“I did a remix for Beyoncé’s “Partition” that I’m really proud of. I LOVE the original and it was one of those mixes that just fell together and I can’t get tired of hearing it! I love when that happens! The mix has been really well received and that’s such a cool thing. When you do what you do, and other people feel it, that’s the best!”
What are you up to in the studio at the moment remix wise?
“I’m currently working on not saying yes to anymore remixes! But it’s not going very well…!!”
Okay let’s rewind for a moment. What is your earliest musical memory growing up?
“My father plays guitar in a pub rock band. So I grew up with music all around me. It felt natural for me to pick up whatever instrument was laying around when no one was looking and start messing around. I couldn’t play properly so I wrote my own music. I guess I’m still doing that today!”
When were you first infected by dance music?
“I became interested in making music when I first heard a synthesiser on a DEVO record. I had never heard that sound before and it fascinated me. So I grew up listening to electronic music and really liked harder moodier industrial music, like Nitzer Ebb and Depeche Mode. In 1991, a friend took me to the Sound Factory in NYC and I heard Junior Vasquez for the first time. I doubt anyone could have been in that club that night and not fallen in love with what he was doing. It was in the air. I’ve been a house-head ever since!”
What was your first big break in the industry?
“My break really was when Danny Tenaglia played a track I gave him called ‘Revolution’ at the WMC in Miami in 2001. It was like THE track of the night and I came back from Miami to an inbox full of emails from Pete Tong, Deep Dish, Xpress II, all asking me for a copy of the track. Things got crazy pretty fast from there.”
Who are some of the people you have REALLY enjoyed working with in the music business over the years?
“Danny Tenaglia really championed my music and supported me and I’ll be forever grateful for that. He’s the guy that really made me stop and think- maybe I could really do this seriously. Also Rob Di Stefano from Twisted Records was always a big supporter and looking back I think I really needed that.”
What’s the driving force behind your music career and what still drives you?
“That’s a good question but I don’t have a good answer! It’s just part of me, and I imagine any DJ would say the same. I’ve done this for so long, it’s a daily part of my life. I have wondered if some day I might grow up and not want to spend my weekends dancing in dark warehouses, but so far that hasn’t happened!”
Throughout your phenomenal music journey what has been your biggest challenge?
“Not being able to pee until the end of a recent 5 hour DJ set!”
Who is the most inspirational and influential person in your life and why?
“John Waters. I find his view of the world inspiring. What some people see as problems, he sees as eccentricities to be celebrated. He’s 68 years old and has
a more refreshing view of the world than anyone I know. And actually I will take this opportunity to NAME DROP! I met him while DJIng in Baltimore and he took me to the Wagon Wheel bar where they filmed Pecker and, YES I got tea-bagged!!”
And before you leave us, can you tell us something you think we should all be listening to before we head out the door to Trade 24: The Longest Birthday?
“You should warming yourself up to my live mixes on my Soundcloud page! soundcloud.com/tomstephan
***
TRADE 2WENTY 4OUR:The Longest Birthday is on Saturday October 25th from 2pm onwards at Egg London with Filterheadz flying in exclusively from Belgium plus Tom Stephan, Pagano, Hannah Holland, Smokin Jo, BK, Daz Saund, Severino Panzetta, Jamie De Rooy, TheMenWhoFell2Earth, Massimo Paramour, Nick Tcherniak, Pete Wardman,Ian M, Ross Homson + Ben Carr, Guy Williams & The Sharp Boys featuring Tonnic at Egg London. Tickets available from: www.moreonthdoor.com and more info on www.egglondon.net or https://www.facebook.com/groups/500885966709662/
