The coolest DJ on Radio 1 gets set to Elevate in London town…
Set in the dark, industrial surroundings of Shoreditch’s Village Underground for the very first time, Friction presents the next instalment of his much loved Elevate sessions on Saturday 1st February. Featuring a selection of artists handpicked by Friction himself, Elevate will fuse together performances from some of the scene’s most talented artists in an intimate setting. Recognised as one of the most revered names in the game due to his impeccable three-deck mixing, Friction tops the bill with an exclusive two hour set. This will serve as the perfect opportunity for him to dive deep into his record collection and experiment with sounds from the past, present and future. Having experienced an incredible 2013, the next twelve months look set to be just as strong. His BBC Radio1 show was recently nominated for ‘Best Radio Show’ in DJ Mag’s Best of British Awards, whilst his latest production ‘Long Gone Memory’ has been hugely popular having gained vast support from the likes of Chase & Status and Skream & Benga. Elevate will be the perfect setting for Friction to show why he is undoubtedly one of the world’s standout DJs…
Interview: Dan Prince
Ed welcome to DMCWORLD, where in the world are you right now?
“I’m in Brighton at home!”
A massive date in everyone’s Drum & Bass diaries coming up next weekend, the mighty ‘Elevate’ at London’s cool Village Underground club. You are renowned for carefully hand picking the artists on your bill, talk us through why Koan Sound, Rockwell and Dimension made the grade and are stepping up this time round…
“I wanted to use ‘Elevate’ as a way to invite friends from the music scene to come and play – people who I’m really feeling! Loved what Koan Sound have been doing over the last couple of years, they totally have their own sound – which isn’t really identifiable as a genre. They are going to be massive! Rockwell are signed to my label ‘Shogun Audio,’ he’s working on his debut album at the moment – an artist very much making music in his own style. Dimension is an act signed to CYN music, and he’s making some excellent dancefloor D&B across the board. It features a lot in my current sets.”
You are a massive Arsenal fan, a little while ago DMC were called over to North London to teach a certain Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain how to scratch. You seen this crazy shit yet…
http://dmcworld.net/dj-tv/entry/dj-tv/alex-oxlade-chamberlain-a-cutmaster-swift-1.html
…has he a future on the wheels of steel?
“Yes of course! He plays for the best team in the world, so not surprised Alex has hidden DJ skills.”
DMC are of course the company behind the World DJ Championships that have brought us the likes of A-Trak, Cash Money, Qbert and C2C. Were you never tempted to enter the battle?
“As much as I appreciate scratch DJs – and I’m a massive fan of hip hop and Turntablism, I’ve always been a ‘mixer’ at heart. So wouldn’t want to embarrass myself really.”
Your latest production ‘Long Gone Memory’ has seen huge support from the likes of Chase & Status and Skream & Benga, your latest studio adventure comes in the form of your remix of Stylo G’s new single ‘Move Back’. Tell us about the remix…
“I was in the process of writing my album. During this time, ended up getting quite a few remix offers. One of the artists I really wanted to work with was Stylo G. A UK Dancehall artist, whose work I’m loving at the minute. Thought it was really catchy tune, and wanted to make a little Jungle anthem out of it. So that’s what happened!”
True or false : The first vinyl you bought was The Prodigy – ‘Charlie’?
“Yep, that’s true Dan.”
What is the big 10 you are currently spinning…
1. Metrik & Friction – Legacy – Hospital
2. Dimension – Pathogen – CYN Music
3. Joe Ford – The Moment (ft. Tasha Baxter) – Shogun
4. Drumsound & Bassline Smith – Phantasm – Technique
5. Stylo G – Move Back (Friction Remix) – 3Beat
6. Kove – Gobble – MTA
7. DVBBS & Borgeous – Tsunami (Friction Remix) – Ministry Of Sound
8. Route 94 – My Love (Sigma Remix)
9. Nasty Habits – Shadowboxing (OmUnit Remix) – 31 Recordings
10. Dub Phizix – Salford John – Dub1. Metrik & Friction – Legacy – Hospital
You are a Brighton boy through and through, admitting that the “hustle and bustle” of London isn’t for you. Who are you big music mates in your home town?
“Have a few down here now, probably too many to mention! But an interesting fact is Breakage from Digital Soundboy moved down recently, so we’ve been hanging out a bit.”
Who are some of the up and coming DJs/producers we should be looking out for in 2014?
“All my guests for the Elevate night, this Saturday at Village Underground!”
You have set the world alight with your DJing for nearly 10 years, your three deck vinyl journeys are nothing but mesmerising. So what finally saw you move onto your new 4 CDJ set up?
“I used to love vinyl, it was always my thing. But it got to the stage where it became too high maintenance. I was turning up to shows which weren’t being set up correctly to play vinyl, needles were skipping, you’d get loads of feedback on the sound – all of which meant I wasn’t able to do my thing. So wanted to switch how I performed and do something a bit different. That’s when I went into the multiple set up.”
You set up your Shogun Audio label with the idea to simply create a cutting edge electronic dance music label. What is coming out next from the label?
“Next release is a brand new signing, a young man called Joe Ford. He will be debuting soon with single ‘The Moment.’”
Any news on the artist album?
“Basically continuing with the album, trying to keep working at it. I keep thinking I’m nearly there, then change my mind…”
True or false : Back in the days of your school discos it wasn’t uncommon to find you dancing to The Happy Mondays ‘Step On’…?
“That’s true, I got into dance music via listening to Indie and Grunge.”
Over at DMC we hear you are quite handy in the kitchen? So if we popped down, what is your signature dish you’d cook up for us?
“I’m handier in a restaurant, would rather take you out for dinner – and pick up the bill!”
Is there a music genre that has a fan base so enthusiastic as the Drum & Bass crew? Man they are protective!
“No there isn’t. The D&B fans are the most loyal and passionate around! I’ve said it many a time, they just love the music more than anything I’ve ever experienced!”
Going back to the three deck subject…was there ever an occasion after you had wowed a crowd with your mixing when the next DJ went on with a pre-recorded set or use of technology that only took the press of a button to play his music, that you just had to have a word with them?
“Yes and to be honest, it’s becoming something of a regular occurrence now. But didn’t say anything, no. One of those situations where nothing needs to be said. It’s what I do as an individual, rather than worrying about others.”
True or false : You got talking to a guy on an airport shuttle bus in Spain and it turned out he used to do hardcore reviews years go for your Informer fanzine?
“Yes it was something I set up about ten years ago, to try and force my way into the scene. It turned out the driver was a massive hardcore DJ. He remembered writing for the magazine, but didn’t clock that Friction was behind it!”
Your Radio 1 show goes from strength to strength scooping ‘Best Radio Show’ at the DJ Mag Awards last year, hey even Pete Tong now calls you “one of the big dogs”! Why is the show so important to you?
“Was very unexpected when I first took it on. Wasn’t expecting the call and wasn’t something I’d been thinking about. Had a full DJ schedule and an album to write, so the show wasn’t on my radar! But it was something which I couldn’t turn down, and which I’ve come to love! Have grown into it, great to be able to pick up brand new music each week, put it in a show and present it to the world.”
What is coming out next from you studio wise?
“Hopefully another album track.”
So we head back to your after the club, what are some of the Back To Mine artists you spin us to mellow the mood, know you were a big Dre and Massive Attack fan back in the day…
“Trying to think who I’d listen to now! Lots of different hip hop really, a bit of Kendrick Lamar or London Grammar. Plus loads more, listen to a lot of music!”
And finally young man, are Arsenal going to win the league this season?
“I sincerely hope so!”
http://www.thisisfriction.com
http://www.twitter.com/frictionshogun
http://www.soundcloud.com/djfriction
http://www.shogunaudio.com
Elevate – Saturday February 1st @ Village Underground, London
Starring…Friction, Koan Sound, Rockwell and Dimension. Hosts : Linguistics/AD