One of clubland’s finest gets set for Rainbow’s 10th Birthday in Birmingham
Interview : Rob Chadwick
EZ, welcome to DMCWORLD…a real honour having you on here dude. So, I know you have just got back from Snowbombing in the Austrian Alps…how was it…?
“Hey Rob. This was my second time at Snowbombing and it was even better this year. I played at a bigger venue (The Racket Club) this time round and the atmosphere and crowd was amazing. I am playing at quite a few festivals and large scale events this year so I hope they are just as good as that night…”
I saw you at Bestival last year on the Battleship, that was pretty mental…
“Bestival 2013 was another highlight last year as it was my first time playing for them and I was booked to play two sets there. I kicked off at the Wagamama stage event which was on a smaller scale with a couple of hundred up for it ravers then went onto the main stage. My jaw literally dropped when I saw the amount of people I had to play to. I came on after Annie Mac who had them going crazy so it was just the case of following suit and it turned out to be one of my favourite festivals of the year…”
Have to kick off the interview by giving you an opportunity to comment on the devastating loss of Frankie Knuckles, a true legend in our dance music scene…
“The legendary Frankie Knuckles played a big part in mine and pretty much everyone’s career who were DJing from back in the day and into the scene I guess? It’s such a sad loss and for me, I used to play a lot of his music in the early days of my DJ career being into that Detroit and Chicago house sound. His music paved the way for dance music back then and today…R.I.P. The Godfather Of House…”
A massive gig for you on the horizon at The Rainbow’s 10th Anniversary in Birmingham in April alongside the likes of Eats Everything, Heidi, Catz & Dogz and also Gorgon City – how long have this duo been on your radar?
“Yeah looking forward to this one, it’s going to be a big show and happy to be a part of an anniversary like this. With the Gorgon City boys, I met them last year at a festival…they are great guys and their music is really relevant to a lot of people right at the moment, so you can see why they are doing well. You know, it’s really refreshing that a lot of music has elements of garage from back in the day.”
In 2014 with modern technology, it’s pretty simple for a wannabe DJ to learn the art. You have a wonderful story on how you perfected the longer mix as a 13 year old bedroom DJ…
“Haha! I basically started out by using one belt driven turntable and a cassette deck; maybe some of the younger guys won’t remember a cassette deck. Being into electronics and computers at an early age, I was able to work out how to change the pitch of a track playing on the cassette deck…and the rest is history as they say lol. It was quite a strange way to learn but it worked out in the end.”
You are a self confessed Mantronix fan. Why these guys in particular?
“Mantronix for me had a blend of everything…hip hop, house and electro – and this is why I liked their sound. It’s a shame they are not around anymore, but they helped shape the music that I like and the sounds that I incorporate into my sets today.”
Big news for the radio community with your brand new 3 hour midweek show on Kiss. Tell us what you bring us each and every Thursday…
“Yeah, so I am on a new time of 9pm – 12am every Thursday night now and it just of gives me more time to broadcast new and old music that I represent. It’s based around UK Garage, House n’ Garage, Bass music and a few tracks from other genres if they sound good and fit in. The last hour is where I go back in time and play tracks which have shaped what a lot of key DJ’ are playing in their sets today.”
You were once quoted as saying that Daniel Beddinfield’s ‘ Gotta Get Thru this’ was the track you wish you had signed….
“Well, I actually got that track from Daniel himself. I think I was one of the first if not the first to get hold of it actually; I was playing it out and getting such a good response from it. Daniel asked me if I had a label to push the track out on and at the time I was in the middle of starting one but it just wasn’t right there officially. The rest is obviously history. It’s a shame and obviously I regret it but you win some you lose some…”
Ah, but it’s going really well for you right now EZ…
“Yeah, very well. I’m very busy right now and playing in venues all over the world. I never thought back then I would be playing in countries like Australia, USA, France and Italy – and the big festivals like Glastonbury, Global Gathering etc. The new producers are incorporating the elements of Garage music from back in the day and being one of long time players from the scene, it’s helped to keep doing what I do. Also the likes of the Boiler Room sets, my weekly Kiss FM UK radio show and a busy club diary has helped me big time and given me a platform to showcase some of my technical abilities during my sets.”
You’re an avid Spurs fan, tells us your thoughts on their season?
“Oh it’s just another season man! Another up and down season like always. We started off well with AVB but then that got a bit much for him and I think it’s the same with Sherwood. I just want the season to be over now so we can focus on a new manager and a fresh start. We should give up on Europa and Champions League ambitions as we just aren’t good enough. I have high hopes for next season!!”
Who are some of the producers from around the world doing it for you right now?
“A lot of the music that I play within my sets today are from UK producers such as Cause N Effect, DJ Q, Route 94, Flava D, Disclosure, Gorgon City, Tuff Culture to name a few. In comparison to my sets from back in the day, it was a mixture of UK and US but right now the UK sound is strong which is good.”
What is coming out from you next studio wise?
“Ahh the age old question. I do plan on getting back in the studio but right now the bookings are just taking me all over the world. So plan b is get some software on my laptop, a portable midi keyboard and when I’m on my travels, MAKE SOME MUSIC!!! So watch this space…”
http://www.djez.com
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