Hed Kandi Serve Chilled: Electronic Summer with label boss Carl Hanaghan
Carl, welcome back to DMCWORLD. A brand new Hed Kandi double CD bringing the swimming pools of the Med alive this summer with your blissed out, lazy soundtrack. Talk us through the release, what are the highlights and the surprises…
“For me, Serve Chilled is one of my favourite albums to compile as it’s a bit of a challenge! It means I have to move out of my comfort zone of four to the floor beats and explore a whole new world where musicians thrive to produce some incredible downbeat records. I’m certain, most of these records start as experiments! With this album, the direction is electronic but it’s very important that these records retain the soul and vibe of the Balearic shores. My highlights from the album include Essay’s ‘Old Times’, Shur-I-Kan’s ‘Anyone For Love’ and the latest single from the Deadbots, ‘Heartbreaker’. If I was watching the sunset in Ibiza, this would be my soundtrack”
You are returning to Es Paradis in Ibiza for your tenth residency next month, what can we expect each week – who are we going to be smiling like fools at behind the decks this time around?
“We kick off our residency on the 2nd of June and we are very excited to have New York’s finest, Treasure Fingers, performing at the event! We are looking to bring in a few more surprises along the way, who will perform alongside the crème de la crème of Hed Kandi resident DJs. I’m really looking forward to heading over there this year, I think I may be smiling like a fool back!”
What is the Hed Kandi Top 10 you are spinning right now?
Chris Kaeser, StoneBridge & Krista Richards – Love Me
Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl ft. Georgi Kay – In My Mind (Axwell Mix)
Avicii – Silhouettes
Mark Knight – Alright
TJR – Funky Vodka
Ben Westbeech – Same Thing
Darryl Green feat. Shena – The Tears In My Eyes
Rae – Another Day (James Talk & Ridney Remix)
Jonas Fehr feat. AMPM – Vice Moves (Let Me Go)
Patrick Hagenaar – Golden Nuggett
What sets a Hed Kandi night apart from the rest of the nights on the island?
“Ten years on the white isle is a very long time and even with changes to the current music trends, Hed Kandi has always been known for it’s niche sound, which has evolved but remains true to the brands ‘good times’ ethos. As we’ve grown, we’ve moved venues to enable us to really put on a show that is more than just DJ’s playing one record to another.”
Where do you get your performers from – what will be going on inside the club this season?
“This year our show is being put together by Logan Schmitz (of ‘Logan Presents’) who is also responsible for the shows that Matinee put on worldwide. He will play a very important part of the whole Hed Kandi experience this year and is already working hard with the performers, dancers and everyone else in-between, rehearsing, to put on the best birthday party anyone could ever have.”
What do you think is the all time Hed Kandi Ibiza anthem?
“There are many, for me though, StoneBridge feat. Therese ‘Put ‘Em High’.”
Tell us about The Lovely Laura, what will she be doing this summer?
“Laura will, as ever, be our leading saxophonist in Ibiza and she will be making an appearance every week. If you’ve not seen her perform then you really need to come along and see her. She has such a huge impact to our show and her introduction is a camera to the air moment.”
What is coming next from the Hed Kandi studio…
“I’m currently working on the next compilation album, Beach House. Beach House is my favourite release of the year, I’m sure many will agree. We are also working on two Ibiza compilations. We are celebrating our birthday with the ultimate Ibiza album, ‘Ibiza 10 Years’, which will drop early July and in August we will be releasing our upfront Ibiza collection, showcasing this years biggest tracks direct from the white isle.”
What are your views on Ibiza in 2012? Trance DJs are commanding 100,000 euros a gig and beyond, the US Hip Hop fraternity are continuing their invasion whilst Hed Kandi continues to do what the UK does best. Beautiful people, beautiful music in a beautiful setting. Why does your night just get better and better and what are your thoughts on clubs down the road…?
“I welcome the new audience that Ibiza is attracting, I know that last year there was a huge influx of American visitors which just goes to show that Europe is the number 1 place for clubbing and Ibiza epitomizes everything that dance music stands for. Hed Kandi at Es Paradis has most definitely benefitted from the influx and popularity of the island. I don’t heavily welcome the expensive fee’s that are in place to enter some of the other venues on the Island but at the same time, the demand is there, so why would a business not charge a premium. The clubs look at DJ’s as a businessman would the stock market, the bigger the name, the more they’re worth.”
Over the years – what one moment stands out for you standing out on your dancefloor?
“It would have to be my Ibiza debut for Hed Kandi. I loved every moment of it, from playing the first record to the last, and the last was something of an extremely special moment. I played ‘Love Is In The Air’ by John Paul Young, which as I bunt the CD was worrying if it would work, but let’s just say the gamble paid off and everyone in the venue was smiling all the way home”
What one vocalist would you one day love to get on a Hed Kandi release?
“Beyonce…now that would be one incredible voice to work with.”
Which DJ epitomises the Hed Kandi vibe?
“It would be rude of me to pick out just one DJ. The Hed Kandi resident DJ’s as a collective can all expertly craft the dancefloor moments that people live for.”
When did you first fall in love with dance music – what were the early tunes you remember jumping around to?
“From a very early age, I can’t remember exactly how old but I was encouraged by my parents to buy vinyl from around the age of 10. Around 1997 I then started to have a true passion for it and at this time I got my first pair of turntables, I was buying a lot of vinyl from within different genres, one week I’ll be into my Trance, the next week my UK Garage but then I stumbled across house music and it was from here that I found my sound. Artists such as Daft Punk, Stardust, Roger Sanchez Joey Negro and ATFC where all key players around this time in my life and inspired my career.”
What was your first break into the music industry?
“I was studying in Guildford and my university conducted many master classes with industry professionals. One week, Simon Dunmore from Defected came in to discuss A&R, running a record label and everything in-between. From this I got the chance to undertake work experience at Defected and if it weren’t for this I wouldn’t be where I am sitting today.”
How did the Hed Kandi job come about?
Hed Kandi was bought by the Ministry of Sound at the start of 2006 and at the time I was working in the A&R department. With this merge, the brand started to grow. Hed Kandi was looking for new talent to join their DJ roster. Having been a fan of the label for such a long time I had to get involved. I was very fortunate to have been one of the chosen few to represent the brand at events worldwide. From this, I got involved in A&R for the label and have been working on compiling the albums for the past 2 years.”
Were you a Ministry of Sound regular?
“Yes, absolutely. I spent my 18th birthday at the club and continue to visit today. The club really does know how to put a line up together and it’s very inspirational.”
And finally, for all of the Ibiza virgins heading off to the white isle this summer…
“Best beach – La Salinas. Best bar – Mambo’s or Savannah’s to watch the sunset.”
And one thing to definitely to do in Ibiza in 2012…
“Definitely attend a Hed Kandi party and make sure you go for a road trip to discover the islands hidden hideouts.”
Hed Kandi – Serve Chilled: Electronic Summer, a double CD of blissed-out electronica for hazy, lazy listening is out now.
www.hedkandi.com
