Some DJ careers are built on hype. John Digweed’s career is built on substance. One of the planet’s most popular DJs, his sets never fall out of favour with clubbers the world over, as his relentless global gig schedule testifies. From ethereal, swirling cinematic soundscapes to energy-infused bass-bothering tech growlers, a new generation of clubbers are learning what we already know – that there’s nothing quite like being locked into a John Digweed set. But the real beauty in John Digweed’s story lies in his unflinching belief in the music he plays. And with new music comes new chapters in an already astonishing career. Dan Prince speaks exclusively to John ahead of a massive month for Bedrock with a brand new compilation and a huge London anniversary allnighter.
Hey John welcome back to DMC towers – where in the world are you right now?
“Hi Dan, I’m currently on the way up to London to watch England take on Ukraine in the World Cup qualifier.”
You’re not into football JD!
“Well it doesn’t help that football is usually on a Saturday which limits my opportunities to watch it, but I was invited and I thought well you can’t immerse yourself in music 24 hours a day every day, so that’s where I’m off to. Looking forward to it.”
Where are you off to at the weekend?
“I am back in Barcelona at Aura Beach Club on Friday and Madrid at Macumba on Saturday before flying off to America for four dates. Barcelona is always great, the last time I was there was for the Sunday daytime club elrow which was just insane.”
Cool. Well you have a very busy few weeks coming up with your Bedrock Anniversary which you are celebrating with a huge party at Fire in London and you are also bringing us a stunning double Bedrock 14 CD…
“I’m really happy with the 21 tracks I have selected for the latest compilation. We’ve got a great mixture of Bedrock favourites and fresh new producers that just goes to show how committed we are to finding the best electronic music out there.”
It does indeed. I am amazed at the amount of different countries that are represented on the album…
“It’s crazy isn’t it? We have producers from Canada, America, France, Israel, Spain, Germany, Australia, Greece and the UK all on board and the end result has showed that we don’t just have one linear style that attracts a really wide audience.”
Tell us some of the highlights of the album…
“I’m really pleased to get Eagles & Butterflies on there with ‘Stimmer’ and also ‘Kolleckt’. The latter track came to us a demo and landed on Scott the label manager of Bedrock’s desk. He called me up and said ‘John have you heard this track, it’s brilliant, we have to sign it’. The only problem was that there was no contact information on the disc so he had to do some real Columbo detective work to trace it back to it’s creator. So there’s a couple of lessons for all you budding producers out there, do send your tracks into labels as we do listen to them – but just remember to label them clearly!”
I’m loving the Kurtz & Bombe ‘Never Sleeping’ tune, you find that during Miami week I take it?
“I did yes. They were in Miami last time I played The Vagabond in August and one of the guys approached me during the day when we were sound checking at the club telling me he was DJing and had some tracks he wanted me to listen to. And this is the track, I couldn’t get the contract out quick enough! It’s always handy shoving a CD into a DJs hand, it’s always good to have a pile of them to stick on in the car in the week.”
Great to see Stelios’s remix of Liverpool’s rising star Jemmy on there…
“Yes another great piece of production from Stelios who can do no wrong at the moment, it’s another track that has been kicking around for a while that was actually about to be signed by another label but they decided to drop it for some reason. I snapped it up and it has been a big record all summer. Also great to see Electric Rescue on there, he has quite a tough techno sound but really energetic and also Marco Bailey with ‘Whispering Leaves’ – it’s a perfect CD closing record, really uplifting.”
Why do you think Bedrock is the only label that truly embraces brand new talent from every corner of the world?
“I can’t speak for other labels, all I know is that I think it is important to bring new people through all of the time. That’s why compilations are an ideal platform for them, giving them a chance to shine amongst famous names like Quivver, Guy J and myself, they can then go on and do bigger and better things on their own. I’m very contented in the knowledge that Bedrock is 14 years old and still ticking on nicely.”
Who do you think has been your best discovery at Bedrock?
“I’d have to say Guy J. He is on fire at the moment with two amazing albums under his belt and a string of consistently incredible singles.”
How many records do you get sent a week and do you have any help going through them all?
“I get through over a hundred tracks a week and I am still A&Ring for the label, although Scott will send me any huge tracks just in case I have missed it. That number increases of course when a compilation is coming up and I have to cast the net a lot wider. In reality, we are only able to release two new tracks a month on Bedrock and I’m comfortable with that number. With the network of producers we have, it only allows us to bring through a few new faces a year.”
Have you ever missed a big hit and how can you be sure you are releasing the ‘right’ records?
“I am sure we have missed the one or two over the years but that’s what keeps it exciting. As for the procedure of releasing a tune, I like to play the suggested new release out three times in different environments to make sure it is 100% right for us. I have to do that to make sure it’s simply not a record that I like on the first listen but on second hearing, isn’t really worthy of spending a load of money on.”
Which brings us to your massive anniversary coming up on October 6th at Fire in London with Edu Imbernon making his Bedrock debut alongside yourself, Apparat, Amirali and a whole host of others. Why did you choose Fire as the venue for this landmark event?
“The arches are reminiscent of Heaven which is the spiritual home of Bedrock, there are five rooms which has enabled me book some different and exciting artists and it’s a venue which is on everybody’s lips at the moment.”
Who are you looking forward to checking out on the big night?
“Apparat is a great addition to the line up, that room with Amirali is going to be brilliant. I’m really pleased to have Rory Philipps on the bill too as I think he is an excellent DJ. Maxime Dangles and Electric Rescue have done a few small things in London before but not on this scale so this will give them a great opportunity to showcase their music on the big stage. And of course I’m delighted to be able to be playing for seven hours which will allow me to really play a whole range of tunes insterad of cramming them into a two hour set.”
What has been your anthem of the summer?
“Wow, let me have a look through what I have been playing, there’s been so many good records this summer. Okay one record that has been a brilliant end of set record that sends the dancefloor ballistic is The Japanese Popstars track featuring Green Velvet ‘Matter of Time’. It`s a bit of a mental record and you have to finish your set with it as it`s a hard one to follow.”
I was in Ibiza at the weekend and on my way to the airport I saw the posters advertising you on at elrow’s night at Privilige with Toni Varga and Oscar Aguilera – what was that like?
“Dan, check out the video link. I showed it to a friend today and I said to them, check this two minute clip from the weekend out – it was like that for two hours. It was absolutely brilliant.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL1d464ooaE&lc=_SPYcNOXyj8XGMMGJNW1qy9pw-7OTk1LzF3RqHzNGuQ&lch=email&feature=em-comment_received
Where else has rocked on the white isle this year?
“Carl Cox’s night at Space was amazing, as always. Carl is just getting better with age, he is unbelievable. I went to his 50th Birthday party near Brighton earlier this year and I was watching him thinking, you’ve got more energy than everyone here put together.”
What makes his night so great in Ibiza?
“For a night to be successful in Ibiza in 2012 you have to pull in an international audience, there is no getting away from that fact anymore. Carl’s night pulls in not only the Brits but also Americans, Italians, Germans, Dutch – the dancefloor is a complete mix of people who all know and love Carl’s brand and music.”
Well Bedrock has that international audience and roster – why don’t you do your own nights in Ibiza?
“It’s a question I have asked myself over the years, but it would mean I would have to spend a whole summer to-ing and fro-ing to the island which is something that has never appealed to me. It works for some people but not for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing there and I love being in Ibiza, but I just think that if I over stretched myself the island would lose it’s appeal to me. It would also limit a large chunk of my year and I have a lot of commitments touring these days which would be affected. I like the fact that if I want to go and do a show at the last minute I have the flexibility to do that. Saying that, I’m not ruling anything out and I may do it in the future.”
Great, I’ll send you a pitch over to put on the nights for you next year…
“Ha ha ha, I knew that was coming Dan.”
Has Ibiza lost any of it’s magic?
“Dan, you went there on your honeymoon so you know the answer to that! What I would say though is that it is really split right down the middle club wise now. On one side you have the real party DJs and nights such as David Guetta, the Swedes and Erick and then on the side of the fence you have the techno DJs and cooler House DJs. I think it’s great that people like Marco Carola, Mr Hawtin and Jamie Jones are doing their own nights, it’s really good that the underground has it’s own presence and identity instead of the old days when all the DJs were pushed together. It may dilute things, but it shows that people have taste out there as those nights are roadblocks. You’re also going to get people trying out nights and DJs who they aren’t familiar with and perhaps get converted to new music. Which is what it’s all about.”
What about the festival season, where has stood out for you this year?
“There has been so many brilliants events this summer. Time Warp in Mannheim was amazing, Big Beach in Tokyo with Sven Vath and The Chemicals and 20,000 people was unreal, Ultra in Korea, EDC in Las Vegas and New York were incredible. I also did Governor’s Island in New York back in August which was a really good event.”
I heard good reports from Governor’s Island, what was it like?
“About 5000 people turned the island into a beach club for the day, it was really good – Danny Tenaglia and Pleasurekraft were also on the bill.”
Any old faces from Twilo days?
“There were a few there I recognised, most with wider midriffs than I remember!”
How is the Danny Tenaglia retirement going?
“He hasn’t retired, he’s just locked his passport away and stopped doing international gigs. Since he announced his ‘retirement’ earlier this year he has been busier than ever playing in the States.”
I heard the Movement event in Torino was pretty wild?
“That was a real surprise to be honest. I DJ’d at the Awakening Festival in Amsterdam, jumped on a plane and found myself a little while later being driven into an industrial area which looked really bleak. We then turned a corner and all of a sudden it was bedlam. Carl Cox and Fatboy Slim had just been on and I stepped onto the stage to 10,000 people – there was just one arena so everyone there was in front of you.”
And what about the UK festivals – did you have a good swim at Creamfields?
“I have never in my life seen rain like that in the UK. It pissed it down the whole drive up but we had no idea what the conditions were going to be like. I closed the Pryda stage and the tent was packed right ’til the end. When I went to leave the only way I can describe looking out of the tent was like that little cave behind Niagra Falls you can go in and see all the water falling from behind the Falls. On the way to the artists car park we passed loads of clubbers who were wandering around in jeans and t-shirts completely sodden up to their knees in mud. It was such a shame to see the weather spoiling such a great event. Put it this way, if I’d have seen Noah building his Ark there, I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid – it was that bad.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
1 Pig and Dan – Crazy
“Hypnotic tech house from the duo who can do no wrong.”
2, Kevin Yost – Persistance ( Guy J remix)
“Guy J delivers an amazing throbbing groover than is just relentless.”
3 Butch – 303 ( Paul Ritch remix)
“Old skool acid with balls – Paul Ritch turns out a monster.”
4, Carlo Lio – For The Love Of
“Great grooving percussive houser from Canada`s Carlo Lio.”
5, Japanese Popstars – A Matter Of Time ( Green velvet remix)
“Massive end of night stormer, mental noises and efx from mr velvet.”
6, John Digweed & Nick Muir – Raise ( Electric rescue purple mix)
“Totally banging techno mix from electric rescue which will tear up any dance floor.”
7, Guy Gerber – Steady feat Jaw ( Midland remix)
“Another stella remix from midland who turns in a fantastic version of guys track.”
8, Tom Middleton – Penrose Steps
“Tom goes way out there with a really quirky houser than will work on so many different floors.”
9, Kurtz and Bomber – Never Sleeping
“Fantastic slow groove and vocal that really works and builds on the floor.”
10, Julian Jeweil – Zoulou
“One of the stand out tracks from Julian’s new EP which has been rocking my floors all over the world.”
Have you discovered any new clubs in 2012 that have rocked?
“The new Kristal venue in Bucharest is really good, it’s a beautiful old theatre and well worth checking out.”
I have never been to Bucharest, is it worth going?
“It is, but if you are heading that way, I would also recommend Budapest. That’s a stunning city.”
How has America changed over the last 12 months?
“Well obviously EDM is still the buzz word in the States with people like Live Nation involved now organising huge events. What’s interesting though is comparing the cultures of when the UK rave scene started and how the American scene has started now. When we’d all be on our way home after raves in England in the 90s, we’d all be talking about the new music we’d just heard and hungry to hear more stuff we’d never encountered before. In America the clubbers just want to hear all the big hits from all of the big DJs, which is a real shame.”
You don’t do the jukebox thing John, how are you coping with that?
“No I don’t. I will continue to play great music and try and educate people on the way. If you believe in what you play you can get away with playing new music, I don’t see the point in playing a record that everyone has heard 50 times before knowing with a flick of a switch you have automatic hands in the air, it’s boring. Because the scene is so en masse at the moment in America, these people have got to go through the phase of realising that there is other music out there and there are different styles. You have also got to remember that the club scene in America is nothing like Europe, you have to be 21 to get into clubs over there so the only way the young kids can gain access to music is at these big festivals, so it’s kind of a difficult for the USA to have a similar club scene to Europe.”
I see that you are playing at the 20th Birthdays of Cream and Renaissance in a few weeks in the UK…
“It’s like the 90s all over again isn’t it, you just don’t get double up nights any more in the UK. I was booked into Cream in Liverpool and then Geoff at Renaissance wanted to do a special event for their 20th with Deetron and Radioslave so I am going to the Gibb Street Warehouse in Birmingham after which has a late license and will enabled me to play both events, I’m really looking forward to both of them. “
It’s interesting that you are not advertising Bedrock as birthday number 14, yet Cream and Renaissance have no qualms publishing how old they are. Do you not feel it weird that the dancefloors at these two gigs will be full of people, some of which who wouldn’t have been born when you first played there?
“With Bedrock we are just putting a massive party on and it doesn’t matter how old we are, just come down and party. My ethos is always to look forward – it’s never been about world domination with Bedrock. All I can say about Cream and Renaissance celebrating their 20th Birthdays is that I think it’s great that these established names are still around putting on great events and are proud of their history.”
Your Transitions radio show is still going incredibly well. Doesn’t doing a weekly show with your schedule prove a little waring at times?
“Not at all. It’s really important to me. I am playing to 14 million people every week bringing them brand new music all of the time. Sure, you have to be disciplined and determined to do a weekly show when you are all over the world, but I make sure I have a routine and it all runs smoothly. I do the music whilst travelling, get home, do the voice overs and it’s done.”
What are the plans after October for you?
“I have another collaboration with Nick Muir coming out in a couple of months. It’s nearly completed but we haven’t got a name for it yet. And then it’s back on tour, I am off to the States and then Asia in November.”
And finally John, how do you feel about Wikipedia lists you as…”English DJ, record producer and actor”. How do you feel about the actor bit…?
“Put it this way I don`t think Robert de Niro has anything to worry about.”
Bedrock 14 compiled by John Digweed
(Bedrock) BED14CD
2xCD unmixed DJ-friendly format & Digital
Release 08.10.12
Pre-order now for a special signed limited edition slipcase version
exclusively at http://www.bedrockmusic.bigcartel.com/
Listen to John Digweed’s CD1 minimix here:
http://www.mixcloud.com/johndigweed/john-digweed-presents-bedrock-14-cd1-min
imix/
CD1
01. Eagles & Butterflies – Kolleckt
02. Wiretappeur – Iridescent
03. Maher Daniel & Nikko Gibler – I’ll Wait For You
04. Pig&Dan – Crazy
05. Paneoh – Vetabom
06. Christian Smith – The Judgement
07. Marc Marzenit & Henry Saiz – Sirens Land
08. Quivver – Fakes and Bullshit
09. Guy J – Mish Mash
10. Marco Bailey – Whispering Leaves
CD2
11. Kurtz & Bomber – Never Sleeping
12. Jemmy – Quarry Bank – Stelios Vassiloudis Remix
13. Eagles & Butterflies – Stimmer
14. Stelios Vassiloudis – What’s That?
15. Jamie Stevens – Indigo
16. John Digweed & Nick Muir – Raise – Electric Rescue Remix
17. Solee – Resistance
18. Maxime Dangles – Unsteady Curve
19. Robert Babicz – Eastside
20. Electric Rescue – Stucked Ship
21. John Digweed & Nick Muir – Trezzz Intro
Lock N Load Events presents…
BEDROCK ANNIVERSARY
SATURDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2012
JOHN DIGWEED
(EXTENDED SET)
APPARAT (DJ SET)
AMIRALI (LIVE)
EDU IMBERNON
MAXIME DANGLES & ELECTRIC RESCUE
MARK FANCIULLI
RORY PHILLIPS
AL TOURETTES
JOHN BARBER
+ ROOMS HOSTED BY DELIVERANCE, LOWBIT & ROOM2MOVE
Fire & Lightbox, South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1RT
Open from 10.00pm – 7.00am
Fully licensed bar until close
Nearest Tube: Vauxhall (Victoria Line)
Tickets on general sale now:
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08444 771 000
www.residentadvisor.net
