The Scottish electronic wonderkid absolutely smashing it
Recently signed to Deconstruction, BURNS quickly acquired notoriety via several releases in 2011, a collaboration with Fred Falke (‘You Stopped Loving Me’), the compilation ‘European Sex Music’, remixes for Kasabian, Dizzee Rascal, Gossip, Missy Elliot, Hurts, White Lies and production credits on Kelis’ Flesh Tone album as well as the upcoming Tinchy Stryder single ‘Off The Record’.
Dude, welcome to the DMCWORLD. A Glasgow boy with two very strong parents around you, your mum was an artist and a painter, your dad a professional boxer. They both had a cool and varied appreciation of music, who were you dancing around your bedroom listening to back then and did either of your parents try and push you into their fields…?
“I was listening to a complete mess of music when I was a kid. My Mum loved disco and pop and my dad was into more folk/ rock stuff, we had the radio on a lot too so musically I was all over the place! I don’t think there was a particular favourite artist when I was really young, I think just music in general was always around. I remember hearing Chic records, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson all when I was very young, also my dad would listen to a lot of Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan etc…”
You began experimenting with music at a young age, quickly starting sampling albeit with basic equipment and then stepped up your game at the age of 15 when you started making your own music. What equipment were you using around this time?
“I think I had a very early version of Cubase by that age, I had no clue what I was doing though really, just cutting up audio and using sample banks to make really bad sounding things. It was all part of the learning process though.”
How important was the emergence of the French invasion by acts such as Daft Punk and CASSIUS in the mid 90s to you and your sound?
“I owe a lot to that period in dance music. Daft Punk were very influential although at the same time we had Basement Jaxx over here whom I would say have influenced me more so, dance music was very exciting at that time and it helped me realise that I could try and be successful with club music rather than it just be an underground sound, that blend of underground music with pop was extremely attractive to me.”
So how did the whole tie up with Fly Eye happen?
“Calvin just liked the track and wanted to put it out on his label, Decon were happy to let me do it so we just went ahead and put it out! Simple.”
We hear this is just the tip of the iceberg for your relases on the label…?
“I’m not sure, I would love to put more material out on Fly Eye, it just depends on whether the stuff I make suits the sound of the label. Because I’m a bit messy with how I work and what type of stuff I’m making, sometimes things I do aren’t right for certain labels. But yeah, I’d love to do at least one more release on Fly Eye for sure!”
Are there any of the historic Decon back catalogue you are a fan of now looking back at this seminal label? A smittering of Kylie perhaps!?!
“LOADS! Decon has one of the best back catalogues in the UK! ‘Confide In Me’ is actually one of my favourites – both song and video are genius!”
You have had an incredible 2011 around the world. What have been your festival highlights and best memory of Ibiza?
“Kendal Calling was great fun! Bestival, Parklife were both great. My best memory of Ibiza was playing two shows on the Terrace at Amnesia in September for Cream, it’s one of my favourite rooms to play with such a great atmosphere and getting to play alongside friends too is always great.”
What are the current 4 tunes you are spinning?
Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike – Generation X
BURNS – Iced Out (obviously!)
Style Of Eye – Sexx
Crookers – Hummus DJ Khaled – I’m On One (feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – Sinjin Hawke Remix)
A new addition to the London club circuit launches on October 29th at The Hoxton Pony, where BBM Me teams up with ESM where you’ll be spinning with the very exciting Arveene who is being touted as Ireland’s number one DJ right now. Looking forward to this new night in the capital? What can we expect?
“Yes! ESM is the night I’ve started alongside Arveene. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time since I put out my European Sex Music compilation last year so it’s exciting to see it happening now. We’re doing the one off Halloween special alongside BBM Me at The Hoxton Pony this month and then carrying on with a ESM monthly at The Nest in Dalston starting on Nov 17th. You can expect great line ups with myself and Arveene playing each night and lots of fun and sweating. We have my bro Fred Falke coming over to play on the 17th alongside Starsmith…if you miss it then you’ve fucked it.”
What one album would you never sell?
“Bob Dylan – ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ on vinyl. Just because I’ve had it for so long.”
Your music has been described as ‘a tribute to debauchery, trashed hotel rooms, lovebites, broken hearts and lost weekends.’ What has been your craziest ever lost weekend?
“I seriously can’t remember.”
So with an early love of disco, funk and folk obvious, if we came to yours after the club, what 10 Back To Mine would you play us?
“Erm…straight from the top of my dome…
D Train – Your The One For Me
Garys Gang – Do It At The Disco
Rhyze – Just How Sweet Is Your Love
The Isley Bros – Between The Sheets
Cerrone – Supernature
The Isley Bros – I Need Your Body
Stevie Wonder – Too High
Bob Dylan – Boots Of Spanish Leather
Bohannon – Lets Start The Dance
Jackson C Frank – Milk and Honey
You have collaborated and remixed some fine artists to date, Tinchy Stryder, Fred Falke, Dizzee Rascal, Kasabian, Missy Elliot and Kelis already under your belt. What do you think has been your finest studio work to date?
“I’m proud of the Tinchy single, The Missy Elliot rmx was also one of my favourites, I also really enjoyed doing the remix for Hurts. Theres stuff on the new Kelis album that I’m very proud of too…”
Which one artist dead or alive would you really like to get in the studio and work with?
“I’d love to get in the studio with Kanye West, I think he’s a genius.”
What was your anthem of Summer 2011?
“Everything on the first Weekend mixtape, I absolutely milked that dry all summer…”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“Katy Perry- ‘ET’.”
Whilst you were still in nappies, a certain Slam duo were rocking the Sub Club in your home city. They are still two of the biggest Scottish DJs out there – how old were you when you encountered them and were/are you a fan?
“I dont really know much about them to be honest, I know that Soma is responsible for a lot of good music. I really liked that tune called ‘Lifetimes’.”
What is the finest tune you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“R Kelly – ‘Bump n’ Grind’ – I play the intro from this track in most of my sets.”
What have you got planned for us in 2012 studio wise?
“I’m working on a lot of production for other people as well as my own club releases and the album so there’s a lot planned, production wise there’s a new Kelis record in the works which I’m really excited about. The album is coming along too but it’s a long process and I’m not rushing, I’m just building my profile as a producer and artist so taking each day as it comes with that…”
And finally, what do your parents think of your success?
“They are proud parents, I think they’re happy. At least I hope they are, I will ask then the next time I see them…”
– Burns ‘Iced Out’ is out now on Fly Eye – iTunes link…
http://bit.ly/veYshH <http://bit.ly/veYshH> <http://bit.ly/veYshH <http://bit.ly/veYshH> >
– BBM Me vs ESM Halloween Party @ The Hoxton Pony, London
Saturday October 29th 2011
Featuring Burns, Arveene and special guests
– Download Burns ’European Sex Music’ October Mixtape here http://bit.ly/otHvJC
Tracklisting
Boys Noize – Addonis
Joe Goddard- Gabriel
Beni – Someone Just Like You – djedjotronic remix
Wafa vs Wolfie – Tom Tom Riton remix
DJ Mehdi – Boggin’
Ado – The Ultra
Burns – Iced Out – Calvin Harris remix
Dimitri Vegas + Like Mike – Generation X
Zzt Parties Over Los Angeles – Twr72 remix
Crookers – Dr Gonzo anthem
Nari + Milani – Kendo
Burns + nt89 – Traffic
Maxime Dangles – Dihaiz
Ummet Ozcan – Reboot
