We speak to the man behind the music as a superb set of Deadstock 33s remixes hit the dancefloor
Justin Robertson’s Deadstock 33s acclaimed 2015 album ‘Everything Is Turbulence’ picked up plaudits from leading press, DJs and music fans all over the world. Now Skint Records, the label behind the LP offers up the first batch of fascinating remixes from a broad array of dance music talents. Dan Prince checks in with one of the true mavericks of the dancefloor…
Photography : Nick Mizen and Sebastian Matthes
Justin a very firm handshake welcoming you back to DMCWORLD. Where can we find you today?
Thank you very much Dan, and a hearty handshake to you too! I’m in my studio as ever…
The first piece of music you heard this morning after springing out of bed?
I went to see ‘Bigger Splash’ last night so stuck on ‘Jump Into The Fire’ by Nilsson first thing…good one for springing into action.
Major news for yourself right now with Skint Records releasing the first batch of remixes from your acclaimed Deadstock 33s album ‘Everything Is Turbulence’ from 2015. And what a fascinating array they are too sir. ‘Metal Taste’ and ‘Bajo La Luna’ are first up and see Running Back boss Gerd Jansen, techno titan Oliver Deutschmann and Argentinian house heroes DJs Pareja in the mix hotseats. Other than being ace, why were these guys chosen and what are your thoughts on their reworks?
Well we (the label and me, not the royal we) asked them because they are fabulous producers and I knew they would offer up their own fearless interpretations. I think I like remixes best when the producer teases out something you may not have heard in the track yourself, or just adds that personal touch that makes the track their own. They are all top notch craftsmen and judging by the wigged out scenes on the dancefloor when I’ve played them out, they have certainly done fine work.
What/who are the next plans for remixes from the album?
Ah ha…I can’t reveal them all just now but suffice to say there are some very exciting names working in their respective laboratories. The aim is to get an album of remixes ready for the end of the summer. It’s a balance of legends and future legends.
Cool, I can live with that. Following the launch at London’s Neu Gallery you took your ‘Everything Is Turbulence’ Art Show on tour. Themes include magic, possession, the supernatural and alien lifeforms. Is there any truth in the rumour that you picked up your brushes for these pieces of art when your computer broke down and you were unable to make music for a while?
Yes, there is some truth in that, at least in the initial stages. It’s not like I suddenly decided to do art and be an artist but it was in a time of enforced silence that the themes and narrative of the show took shape. I felt my previous pieces lacked a focus, so when I had some clear time to consider matters, it took on a much more coherent shape. Now I balance out my creative life; I have to do something all the time, so I flit between art, writing and music as inspiration takes me, I’m not averse to a bit of multitasking.
Where do you draw your influences from?
Style wise I have quite a broad taste, I can find inspiration in diverse places, but in recent times I think I’ve been trying to tease out a kind of magical imaginary world, but in which you can get hints of themes and issues that relate to the everyday human condition. I am very interested in celebrating the imagination, and having something positive to say about being Human. I think with the prevalence of quite reductive, mechanistic theories, like say ‘Selfish Gene’ theory, or notions of human/cyborg interfaces that are popular with Artificial Intelligence dudes, we lose sight of what it is to be human, and we can become quite depressed and self-loathing as a species. I think being human can be a lot more fun than that. I’m not a pre-programmed fleshy cyborg, and certainly not a kind of virus with shoes. I was quite into trashy sci-fi books as a kid, still am, so I like all those fantastic visions of the future that they depicted on the covers, I like Hieronymus Bosch for the grotesque creatures, Daniel Martin Diaz- his soul of science stuff is magic, Geraldine Swayne’s stuff is ghostly and beautiful, and I really like the ethereal feel of Odilon Redon. The new collection owes a lot to biological field sketching and explorer’s journals.
What is next from Justin Robertson the artist?
I’ve got a big show of 45 new pieces that is scheduled for the first week of June. It deals with themes of science, discovery and imagination. It will be a week of art and music and chat! I’ve made a trippy soundtrack and there’s a book to go with it too, I’m very excited about it! Initially it will be in London for a week, but I’m looking into taking it on the road.
Loved the write up Mixmag gave you for your recent set at The Sub Club in Glasgow, it summed up the vibe of this seminal club perfectly. What are some of the new clubs that have appeared on your radar over the last year or two that you always give ten out of ten to?
So many, that it’s hard to list, but I love I-Boat in Bordeaux and Moog in Barcelona off the top of my head. But every week there’s something fab going on. I’m lucky to be able to play to such a cross section of ages too, it’s a very nice place to be and I’m loving playing so much just now, the music at the moment is the best it’s been since this acid house thing started!
You once said in an interview…“Boris Johnson and his fey buffoonery hides a really destructive agenda in my opinion.” What are your thoughts on last week’s EU stand-off between himself and Cameron?
I can’t stand either of them, I despise the Tories and their selfish agenda, they have learned the PR mistakes of the Thatcher era, and now sneak their extreme policies under the radar with euphemism and disinformation. I am not a fan of unfettered capitalism, we can’t trust the market to work in the best interests of humanity, it’s been a failure every time it’s been let off the leash. This isn’t maybe the best place for an expansive political discussion, but I don’t trust either Cameron or Boris, they are both wankers. On the EU, I’m up for staying in, but I’m still a bit sceptical as I think in recent years it has danced to the corporate tune far too readily. Still it does offer some kind of protection and regulation against the worst excesses of the free market. Can’t help thinking the Out campaign is fronted by little Englanders who want to bring back the workhouse…I appreciate this isn’t possibly the most cogent argument you’ll read, but I’m just trying to be light hearted.
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…
- Panorama channel – Akosua – end of night anthem in the making.
- Oyvind Morken – Invisible Objects EP – a collection of high calibre psychedelic disco/house from the mighty Full Pupp label.
- Mike Ash – 89’s the year – top fun acid with an old school feel, but with a nowadays relevance.
- Shiftwork – sbfm [Factory Floor remix] – tripper’s paradise
- Neil Landstrum – 99% steel – top notch bleep techno from a master of the game
What makes you angry?
I try not to let anger overcome me, it’s very tiring, but I hate the packaging on electrical goods. I always end up chewing it to get it open, it’s very spikey.
What accomplishment in your life are you most proud of?
I don’t know really. I wrote out my discography the other day, and thought …wow I’ve not just rested on my laurels, but you know I’m never really 100% satisfied with the past…and I like to move forward and not get too nostalgic. So I think if I’m proud of anything, it’s that I still love doing what I do and I think and hope that I have still got something interesting to say. Also, winning the high jump at Nursery School still ranks as a personal high.
An up and coming artist/producer/DJ who has impressed you recently…
She Made Monster and Mondowski, agency buddies and DJs with a very fine ears. Chris Massey also produces consistently great dancefloor bangers.
Describe someone outside your field of interest who inspires you and why?
I think I can divide my life into a few distinct categories that interest me. Sound, pictures, words and threads, within those categories I have particular favourites which change depending on what state of schizophrenic disrepair I’m suffering. I’m a methodically voracious reader and have my fads, one day it’s 50’s crime drama, another it might be Dystopian fiction. I find that variety inspiring in itself, and so find it hard to pick one person out to be honest. In Literature I’ve been returning to a lot of Sci-Fi in particular Michael Moorcock and J G Ballard. I reread ‘Cat’s cradle’ by Kurt Vonnegut, which is darkly hilarious, he is a real inspiration too. I enjoy reading a lot of philosophy stuff still too, I studied it at university and still find it fascinating and important, I dig Mary Midgley who is 96 and still going strong, and Chris Bateman is great too. I read a great book about Wilhelm Reich the renegade randy psychoanalyst. He was pretty fascinating. He created an Orgone Accumulator to harness sexy energy. Not sure if that’s inspiring or not as I’m terrible at woodwork and would struggle to make such a device.
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
Dame Maggie Smith in a shower cap.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Fording a swollen river in Yorkshire on a geography field trip, me and my pals took the path less travelled and tried to reach a rickety bridge by scrambling down a cliff face with only an old stick as an anchor. When we emerged the other side a park ranger went from incredulous to furious in a matter of seconds…
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your life and how did you overcome it?
Not having more elaborate haircuts when I had hair, I never did overcome it… and obviously now I never will. But I am considering a wig.
True or false? Whilst DJing at a festival once, someone came up to you and asked you if you’d look after their dog?
Totally true. The stage also had a Mead stall.
And finally…what is coming out next from you studio wise…?
I’ve finished the soundtrack to my new art show, as I mentioned previously, and I’m getting the third Deadstock 33s album together which is coming along nicely. I’ve also completed a string of remixes for Bryan Ferry, DJ Rocca and Andrew Weatherall.
http://www.justinrobertson.co.uk/
*****
Artist: Justin Robertson’s Deadstock 33s
Title: Metal Taste/Bajo La Luna
Label: Skint Records
Release: April 8th 2016
Tracklist: 1. Metal Taste (Original Mix) 2. Metal Taste (Gerd Janson Melodica Dub) 3. Metal Taste (Gerd Janson Chrome II Dub) 4. Bajo La Luna (Extended Club Mix) 5. Bajo La Luna (Oliver Deutschmann Trip One) 6. Bajo La Luna (Oliver Deutschmann Acid Strip) 7. Bajo La Luna (DJs Pareja Remix)
