Glasgow in da house. Massive new tune smashing it on Drumcode
Interview by Dan Prince
Welcome to DMCWORLD Harvey, where on planet earth are you today?
“Glasgow ready to hit the studio…”
What was the first piece of music you heard today?
“Weval – Thinking Of.”
A massive couple of weeks coming up for you with the release of your stunning new EP ‘Glasgow Safari’ coming out on Drumcode on February 7th. Please talk us through the history and sounds of the release…
“It’s a good mix of vibes, It’s a 4 tracker EP, so there’s the really chunky sound that am know for with the house vibes and the vocals. There’s also some loopy techno and some tougher stuff in there. I feel it’s a real good mix and they all sit really well together. It took a while to get the track together, not studio time, just to get an EP that Adam and me were happy with. There’s a certain amount of expectation after Lost and Silk Road did so well, but feel really happy with the end result.”
You grew up in a rough area of Glasgow where gang violence was an everyday occurrence. When you were about ten years old however you luckily made friends with some boys a few years older than you who got you into techno…and away you went. Did you keep in touch with any of those guys as your career started to rocket?
“I still know all of them and where they all live and keep in touch, we’re not everyday mates anymore, as people move on settle down and change life styles. But I am still mates will all of them and we all stuff get on great when we catch up and have a laugh and are as nuts as we used to be haha…”
Throw some early DJ influences at us…
“I always liked Slam’s sets and loved the Chemical Brothers’ live sets when I saw them play out. They always inspired me to do what I do when I went to see them. So if you’re looking for someone to blame, blame them ha ha…!”
When was the last time you pressed rewind and listened to a brand new track over again because it was so damned good?
“It was Weval that I mentioned at the start of the interview – their electronica stuff is just superb, it really washes over you and it is just amazing. I also love Com Truise’s Galactic Melt album, god know how many times I have listened to that. At first it just feels like cool 80’s electronic stuff chunked up, but the more you listen you realises the production is outstanding.”
The 5 big tunes in your box this weekend and why?
The Cure – Harvey McKay – shameless plug
IWANNA – Adrian Hour – has amazing energy love mixing it with other tracks
Chase The Dream – Dosem – it has the power that only comes through when played in a club – surprisingly huge
Centre – Dave Angel – Wehba Remix – just a brilliant Remix
Hey Big Girl – Gary Beck – bit of an older one but stumbled across it the other day and it has great a effect on there floor
Tell us 3 bucket list adventures you wanna do before you die?
“Love to do a proper holiday exploring in Japan, one of my mates from Pig And Dan aka Dan was there…looks stunning. Want to own a v8 car. I just love the sound of them, I am a bit of a petrol head. Would love to do a sky dive as well, as always had dreams of free flying all through out my life.”
Your studio is part of your house…what is the last great studio toy you bought yourself?
“Moog Little Phatty.”
The last great film you watched on your DJ travels…
“I am TV series man, don’t watch many movies tbh. I feel we are really living in a golden age of TV drama, so many good ones out there. TV I am currently watching Sopranos the second time round.”
Ten tunes from 1992. A BIG year for you! Which track goes straight on the turntable and what track goes straight in the bin…?
Jaydee – Plastic Dreams
The Prodigy – Out Of Space’ 18. Jam & Spoon – Stella
Gat Decor – Passion
Hardfloor – Hardtrance Acperience
Funky Green Dogs From Outer Space – Reach For Me
Urban Shakedown – Some Justice
Inner City – Pennies From Heaven
Dee Patten – Who’s The Badman?
Liquid – Sweet Harmony
Felix – Don’t You Want Me?
“I would not throw any in the bin…I could not do that to vinyl ha ha!! But these would be right on the turns! I remember jumping about on my Bmx with my walkman listing to Out Of Space like it was yesterday. Unfortunately it was not ha ha…my big picks…
Jaydee – Plastic Dreams
The Prodigy – Out Of Space’ 18
Jam & Spoon – Stella
Gat Decor – Passion
Liquid – Sweet Harmon
Some amazing dates confirmed in your diary in coming months…Ultra in Argentina, WMC, dates across Canada and Fabric to name but a few. Which one has you chomping at the bit?
“Ahh to pick…I think Ultra for 2 reason’s…
One – there shows look fooking huge and am sure the production will be unreal . Two never been to Argentina, so really buzzing about that.”
What though was your best gig of 2014 and why?
“I think Gashouder Awakenings UK Special. It was my first taste of a proper monstrous venue. It was being broadcast live on BE@TV and it’s my Awakenings debut, so there was a lot of pressure. You sometimes don’t know how you are going to respond to that, but I loved every second of if and it was nothing but a beast – and it was good for me to see how I as person reacted to that kind of intense situation and definitely my fave gig of the year.”
A tune nestling in your set that just won’t go away?
“My man Carlo Lio…Cocodrills feat. Ghostface Killah – Cherchez LaGhost (Carlo Lio Remix) [Transmit Recordings]. I have been playing that for months and don’t see me taking that out my set any time soon.”
A young producer to watch out for in 2014?
“Keep repeating myself haha, but can’t get enough Weval’s electronica stuff. The track of there s Out Of The Game, so reminds me of the Stone Roses, but all their stuff is great.”
The best request you have ever had from a clubber?
“Ha ha yeah one time I was playing in Germany and right towards the end of my set where I was playing the heavier side of what I do – what I would consider tough. This tiny petite girl came up to me looking rather hard done by and unimpressed asking me if I had any hard dark techno ha ha, not what I expected her to say ha ha, got to love those Germans…”
A DJ you love spinning back to back with…
“I don’t really play out in clubs back to with many people. One of my mates Scott Byrne who is a resident at a famous underground afters in Glasgow, we used to play back together in the house for hours and get our party on. We both have different style but the journey we went on musically was always amazing and our music complimented each other. Some times we would play something ridiculous and funny and challenge me to some how manage to pull it back from that into techno, to say Scott is bit of a joker is an understatement ha ha. He is also one of the best DJs I know, his sets are amazing. Scott you owe me a tenner for that plug.”
And finally – what is coming out for you studio wise?
“Ahh can’t announce anything yet but have a few big things on the boil, so lots to be excited about…”
https://www.facebook.com/Harveymckayglasgow
