We check in with one of techno’s true superstars on the eve of the brand new ‘Pure Intec 3’ compilation mixed by Jon Rundell and Carl Cox…
Interview by Dan Prince
Jon a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you right now?
I’m sat at home in London after some pretty heavy travelling and playing in Lima, Rio and Kuala Lumpur.
The finest piece of new music you have heard today?
None yet sadly, its first thing and I’m sitting here quietly. I like to start the day like that.
Exciting times for the Intec label at the moment thanks to the release of the ’Pure Intec 3’ compilation mixed by yourself and Carl Cox. What is the story behind this double album of killer music?
It began some years ago when Carl mixed the first one in Intec’s first existence. A few years back we decided to bring it back as something to remind people of some of the records we have had out in a more curated way than just releasing them as EPs, and now here we are doing it again as we felt we had enough music again to tell a good story about what we are doing within each other’s mixes.
What are some of the tracks that you just were overjoyed to feature?
Aside from my remix of Josh Wink’s ‘Talking To You’ (a personal proud moment), I was really pleased to be able to weave the likes of Stephan Hinz & Philipp Ruhmhardt ‘Kachel’, Ian O Donvan ‘Gauntlet’, DJ Jock ‘Raw Love’ & Carlo Lio ‘Escobar Season’ to mention a few as I’d put them all forward for us to sign to Carl and he agreed. That’s not to say I’m not pleased to feature the other tracks too because that goes without saying or we wouldn’t have released them.
Loved your interview on savethenightlife.com talking about the whole Fabric disaster and UK nightlife in general. We are really feeling it at the moment and it seems a whole generation are not getting listened to. Worrying times, what can be done?
At the moment it’s about spreading awareness about what’s happening by sharing the best information that is out there on it, and by that I mean the actual facts, not the personal biases you can get at times. It’s not just our industry that is suffering either, it’s all kinds of creative and entertainment areas. I think as a generation we need to come together and show the powers that be that we are here and won’t be swept away.
“Jon Rundell is the hardest working man in the techno world.” Discuss…
I think there are quite a few people out there who claim that title over me! Making music, playing music, talking about music, the business side of the label, the gigs, the travel, researching ideas, learning new production skills, it’s all part of it for me and just feels what’s needed to be done. I just get on with it with no fuss, I don’t feel the need to bang on about what I’m doing, I just do it. I guess that comes from the fact that all I’m interested in is just creating things for people to also enjoy and that’s it.
You played this summer for Carl at his Revolution night at Space in Ibiza, which is now sadly closed. What memories will you always cherish, I can remember one night there where you swapped sets with Coxy as he was ill and you took main slot duties. The look on your face afterwards I’ll never forget…
That one for sure was one of the most treasured. You just never think that would ever happen – and then it does and you’re like, did that just happen?! When I look back on it there are plenty of good memories, from the first time I played on the inside terrace and my old friends came along, to playing alongside musical heroes like Tenaglia & Garnier. One of the most cherished though is the fact that I think I really learned the true art of DJing while playing in any one of the rooms in that club over the years.
I was at the Closing of Space in October and witnessed Angie Stone’s voice seeing us out. What are your hopes for the new venue next year when Ushuaia take over?
To be honest I’ve not given it much thought so far. I’m not sure it will really sink in that Space is closed until I go past it for the first time next summer and there is a different sign above the building. I just hope they put on some interesting parties that contribute towards the island and all its different influences.
What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend…
Slam – Ecclesiastic
A nice driving and eerie techno track perfect for Halloween. Slam are really on form at the moment and it’s great to see more and more people getting into what they are doing.
Bjarki – Planet Earth Q94
Just mental twisted acid really. Great for those really early hours of the morning to drop and go off on a tangent with.
2000 And One – Spunk The Funk
A jacking techno record with a lovely groove and bass to it to go with the warped stab.
Jonno Brien – Rollin
This latest Intec EP has been hitting hard for a while now and full of energy. Really good to hear Jonno going in this direction.
LA-4A – I Feel Lit
Another acid influenced track. Great energy and vocal, with a clever twist in the title using the words. The build of the track and way the lead is effected is class.
What is coming out next from the mighty Intec stable…
The compilation is out in few weeks and we just released a debut EP from Jonno Brien that is a full on acid influenced two tracker. Next up is Drumcomplex & Roel Salemink with their own style, and then Fabio Neural with a three tracker before we round off the year with our Top10 for 2016.
“From a Djing point of view, I’m not that different to others but I’ll always try and find that record that no one has, or play an older record from time to time in a different way.” Do you think this driving ambition to keep the DJ art form moving form is disappearing from today’s newbies?
100%. I think it’s more to do with the pressure of Social Media more than anything. Everyone has to look like they are rocking it all of the time, in all aspects of their life, or they feel inferior or inadequate, because others are making out like they are rocking it and getting attention. It’s just not possible to keep that up all the time, it’s not realistic. Don’t get me wrong, when I was younger I just wanted to smash it all the time too, and was naive about the nuances of presenting music as part of discovery for people. With the internet it’s hard to say if the real art form will survive and be appreciated (or exposed even), but I do hope that perhaps a generation will look for more out of their music as they grow with the scene, whether they are a DJ, a producer or a clubber.
True or false? You have played in Brisbane five times but never stepped on the pavement?
True! (Sadly)
What is the last GREAT…
Film you saw…
The only time I watch films is on long flights…and I haven’t seen a GREAT one in years. Although I did enjoy Legend (the one about the Krays not the one with Will Smith in) recently
Album you checked out…
Kasabian’s last album is really good.
Tourist experience…
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur
What has been your favorite tune of 2016?
Always a tough question. One of the best remixes I’ve heard is a more house based one by Butch of Cassius ‘Go Up’. Best techno record has to be between Radio Slave ‘Vision’ and Shed’s remix of Moderat’s ‘Running’, plus Slam & Mr V’s ‘Take You There’ for an all out banger.
A rising producer star to watch out for in 2017…
DJ Jock. His production level for his age is very very good.
And finally, let’s skip forward 12 months. What do you want to achieve over the next year…
Start an artist album finally, I’ve never done one so it will be a nice challenge to get stuck into.
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Pure Intec 3 mixed by Carl Cox and Jon Rundell is out on November 11th
TRACKLIST
CD1 – Carl Cox
1. Saeed Younan – Drop It
2. Misstress Barbara – Don’t Tease Me
3. Matt Sassari & D Unity – Fired Up
4. Kasbah Zoo – Shifted Control
5. Nicole Moudaber – One Day Later
6. Jon Rundell – Utopia
7. Harvey McKay – Wrong Turn (Gero Jansen Remix)
8. Sidney Charles – Justice
9. Steve Mulder – Kusesai
10. Victor Calderone – Mole
11. 999 feat Amadeas – Find The Answer (Marco Bailey Remix)
12. Carlo Lio – Love Nation
13. Copy Paste Soul – CTRL
14. Josh Wink – Talking To You (Carl Cox Remix)
15. Ramiro Lopez feat Thomas Gandey – Revolution Space
16. Drumcomplex & Roel Salemink – Awake
17. Carl Cox – Your Light Shines On
CD2 – Jon Rundell
1. Dosem – The Path
2. The Junkies – Revolution
3. Harvey McKay – Something Good
4. Danny Serrano – Paragraphy
5. Carlo Lio – Escobar Season
6. Carl Cox – Kommen Zusammen (Joseph Capriati Remix)
7. Stephan Hinz & Philipp Ruhmhardt – Kachel
8. Ian O Donovan – Gauntlet
9. Tomy DeClerque – Restart
10. DJ Jock – Raw Love
11. Fabio Neural & Alex Costa – Dillinger
12. Cristian Varela – Alarm Waves
13. Jon Rundell – Mind
14. Josh Wink – Talking To You (Jon Rundell Remix)
