The Manchester don releases new album on Music For Dreams, created in the Caribbean
Interview by Dan Prince
A massive welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you right now?
At home in Manchester. Morning coffee and e mail time.
What was the first piece of music you heard this morning after rolling out of bed?
Nev Cottee’s new album, ‘Strange News From The Sun’. Very good waking up music.
Huge news for you this week with the release of ‘Music For Dreams’ – a 12” vinyl sampler for your new ‘Island’ artist album that swings our way in August. Please give us a few words on your new musical babies…
1. Tendacayou
Named after the spa up the road from us. Get in the steam room and relax
2. Speedboat
Late night smuggling soundtrack
3. Dominica
At sea, reminiscing over a bottle of powerful rum
4. Mangrove Dub
Hanging out in the swamp
5. Mosquito
It’s a non stop battle with these little fuckers all the time
6. Shoreline
The most interesting things happen at boundaries
7. Rasta Beach
Always some interesting characters here
8. Le Rayon Vert
Just as the sun dips below the horizon you can see a green flash very briefly, if you are lucky
9. Thank You Wally
The whole album was in part a homage to Wally Badarou; it felt appropriate to acknowledge him
You spent three months on the island of Guadeloupe last year. Why the French Caribbean (stupid question?), what was your studio set up and how did the surroundings help shape the long player…?
My wife was making a TV show for the BBC in Guadeloupe so I took the opportunity to spend a few months there while she was filming. I set my studio up in the spare bedroom of our villa – I used only small half-rack pieces of equipment that I could fit in my suitcase. A couple of old synths, some effects and a small 4-track cassette recorder. This is definitely some of the sunniest, relaxed music I’ve made; I think that is certainly because of the environment!
“This music is not only for sunsets, but also for late-night smuggling adventures; for tropical storms and rum-soaked afternoons; for pirates, playboys and people like you and me.” Discuss…
I’ve been on quite a few islands around the world now and there is this common vibe that seems to be present on them all… people are a little looser, the weather is a little weirder and there are always a few castaways…
We love talking to fellow Mancunians at DMCWORLD, especially as we are all now based in Ibiza where you have spent many a happy summer. When was the last time you were on the white isle and what memories pop in your head when you think of this Balearic loony spot?
I was last there just a few weeks ago; my folks bought a flat there in 1979 and I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years so I’m not short on memories. The earliest memory I have is of me and my brother getting measles in San Antonio!
It is widely reported that you earned your DJ stripes staying a step ahead of the riot police, at lesbian sex parties, squat jams and 3 day mushroom fuelled bush raves. How do you plead?
Fairly guilty.
What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend?
I’m playing at a mega swanky private cocktail joint this weekend so it’s a fairly sophisticated big 5 this time:
Tatsuro Yamashita – Dancer
Francis Cabrel – Tourner Les Helicos
Len Leise – Stars For Jorge
Jacob Desvarieux – Sweet Florence
Basso – Leisure Suit
You claim your label Rüf Kutz provides us with ‘peakers for tweakers’. Who has the best tweakers you’ve ever seen?
I just got back from the Gottwood festival and I have to say that was a pretty peaking bunch of tweakers right there…even 4 days in they were all still going strong. I sleep easier knowing that there is a whole new generation of munters reporting for duty.
How long have you known Music For Dreams’ boss Kenneth Bager…?
A few years now – he first got in touch after I did an edit of Dire Straits’ Private Investigations… I was in Copenhagen a year or so later and we met up and had a coffee and a chat and the friendship just grew from there. Kenneth has been a really great mentor to me, I love him.
Tell us about your residency at Soup Kitchen, why is this gaff so bloody good?
It’s in a basement first off which is always a bonus – there’s something about going downstairs from street level that brings a vibe all of its own. Most importantly though is that it’s owned and run by people who genuinely have a love for the culture; nearly every single night I put on there you see at least one of the owners in the club having a good time too – they love the place as much as anyone else.
Not many people know this, but Ruf Dug is really good at…
Dealing Blackjack. Tekken 2. Cooking omelettes.
It’s your birthday. Who are the 3 DJs you invite to play and why?
Moonboots – because he will play the most lovely music and then later on start swearing at people. Good vibes.
Andi Hanley – knows all the very best records to play at the wrong speed and he owns some fucking amazing speakers and maybe he will bring them to the party.
Mori-Ra – ultimate Japanese digger, he will inject some much-needed classiness into proceedings. Check his Japanese Breeze mixtapes…
A marvelous summer of fun in the fields awaits you…Farm Festival and Moovin Festival just two of the outdoor gatherings you will be playing at. What is your best and worst ever festival experience?
Best – 4 December 2002, seeing a total solar eclipse in the middle of a 5 day festival in the middle of the Simpson desert in South Australia, thousands of kms away from anywhere.
Worst – about 12 hours later. Too horrific to go into here.
And finally what are the productions plans for later this year?
Another collaboration with Samrai to follow up the UTTU 12 we had last year, a Vaporwave album for Dream Catalogue, another Cherry Garcia record and as much else as I can manage!
https://www.facebook.com/rufdug
RUF DUG ‘ISLAND’
MUSIC FOR DREAMS
12” VINYL SAMPLER
RELEASE DATE: Monday 22nd June 2015