The Adelaide boy wonder bringing his sweet house music to Ibiza shores
Hey Sonny, welcome to DMCWORLD. And what a year you are having! Where in the world are you right now?
“It has been really crazy! I am in Ibiza at the moment where I am living this summer.”
Before we get into the diary and tracks you’re bombarding us with, let’s kick back to Adelaide where it all began. You played in a lot of bands when you were in your teens, indeed punk rock came calling first. Can you remember some of the bands you were in back then?
“I was in a lot of bands growing up, a lot of them were just garage bands, doing a few small gigs. One was called Burnout and the other Hateframe. I started a live house band when I was 20 called “The Operators” doing funky house with live bass and saxaphone! Which was a lot of fun.”
Hip Hop came calling when you were 16, it seems like you had a very varied taste growing up. Who were some of your early musical influences?
“Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Jay-Z, so many to name!”
And then came house and the Electric Circus Club! Tell us about the moment the house bug came along and bit you right in your ears…who were the DJs and what did you think of this new sound?
“Derrick Carter, Inland Knights, Lawnchair Generals. I was really taken by house, especially the Chicago style. I loved the jazz elements and live basslines, I have studied music my entire life, it was really cool to hear real instruments incorporated with electronic music.”
Was the plan to become a DJ or a producer? Or both?
“I got into production and DJing around the same time. I started playing hip hop on vinyl with 2 Stanton 1200 replica’s and a Vestax battle mixer. I started doing production in High School, I was producing the soundtracks for drama plays on my Casio keyboard. I didn’t really have the intention of becoming a house DJ or anything. To be honest I really wanted to just make music.”
What was your first break into the music industry?
“I think my EP on Drop Music called “The Beatdown” EP. It did really well on Stompy and Traxsource, and had DJs like Mark Farina, Fred Everything and Derrick Carter playing the tracks.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
Sonny Fodera ft Amber Jolene – Hold It Down
Cajmere & Oliver $ – We Can Make It
Fantaboys – Pump It Up
Sonny Fodera – Trainsurfing
Midland – Trace
Darius Syrossian and Hector Couto – House Is House
Nice7 – Time To Get Physical (Sonny Fodera Remix)
Scarface – No Other
Workin Happily – Feel It (Cajmere Remix)
Joey Negro and The Sunburst Band – Taste The Groove (Hot Toddy Remix)
When was the last time you played a hip hop record in a club?
“5 months ago! I used to do a residency in Melbourne playing downstairs at 161, all I played was hip hop/funk for 3 hours straight! Was great to dust off some of my old vinyl.”
You played at Coachella earlier this year, spinning in the Heineken Dome with Kenny Dope, Mark Farina, Roy Davis Jr, DJ Sneak, Gene Farris and co. How was that experience, what were some of the highlights?
“It was amazing! The Dome was heaps of fun! Great visuals and a great sound system, plus getting to meet Gerard Butler and meeting Paris Hilton was a real highlight! Loco Dice and Jamie Jones were amazing in Yuma tent. Hanging out in Palm Springs was crazy, an amazing experience. Met so many good people out there too. I got to meet the guys from Jurassic 5 and see Wu Tang for the first time! Looking forward to doing it again.”
Frankie Knuckles has been giving you some props lately, he has also remixed a track for your label Beatdown Music. You were just about out of nappies when ‘Tears’ came along…
“Yeah I am stoked! Frankie is such a legend. It is really cool to get props from the godfather of house! He has really been supporting a lot of the releases on Beatdown. He also remixed a track for my label which did really well on Traxsource. I have actually never met or spoken to him! I can’t wait to meet him.”
As you said, you now live in Ibiza in the summer. How did you end up on Balearic shores?
“I have lived out here before and I thought it was time to come back. The weather is amazing and the beaches are unbelievable! Plus the good vibes in Ibiza. It can get a little crazy sometimes, and you really need to have your head screwed on but I can see myself coming back over the next 20 years.”
Who are some of the producers around the world you are giving high fives to right now?
“Darius Sarroysian, Pleasurekraft, Nice7, Cajmere, Jamie Jones, Dusky…”
What is coming out next from Beatdown Music?
“The 50th release! I am doing a solo EP to celebrate this milestone and it should be dropping in the next couple of weeks – fingers crossed…”
Talk us through your new ‘Hold It Down’ track on Soul Heaven Records…
“It is a new track I did with Amber Jolene, which I am really excited about. It has been getting a really good response! I made it back in Melbourne just before I left Australia, and it’s more on the garage tip.”
You will be playing at Soul Heaven’s stunning weekly residency at Ocean Beach Club on July 13th alongside man of the moment Tom Crane. Is this your first time down at Ocean Beach?
“Yes it will be! I am really looking forward to it! I have been hearing a lot of good things about the club.”
Will you be changing your normal set in anyway as this is a day time party?
“I think I will definitly playing a little deeper than my normal club set.”
Away from Ocean Beach Club, you have some massive gigs coming up in Ibiza. Where can we catch you this summer?
“Ushuaia Towers on July 22nd, Boom on August 31st and DC10 September 4th.”
Has the politic side of things got in the way of your gigs in Ibiza, some DJs are not allowed to play at DC10 and Sankeys for example…
“Not really, and everything seems to be pretty relaxed.
What has been the biggest record of the summer for you to date?
“Cajmere & Oliver $ ft. Dajae’s ‘We Can Make It’.”
And finally, what do you miss the most about your home country?
“Tim Tams!”
Sonny Fodera headlines the summer pop up Soul Heavn Pool Party @ Ocean Beach, Ibiza, on Saturday July 13th from midday onwards. He joins monthly Soul Heaven residents such as Joey Negro, Sy Sez,( Soul Heaven A&R), Tom Crane (Ocean Beach), Andy Ward, Tom Flynn, Sound Blast Stereo and Luke Pompey.
Soul Heaven Summer Season :
Saturday 13th July: Sonny Fedora, Tom Crane
Saturday 20th July: Sy Sez, Sound Blast Stereo
Saturday 27th July: Luke Pompey, Sound Blast Stereo
Saturday 3rd August: Joey Negro, Tom Crane
Saturday 10th August: Tom Flynn, Sound Blast Stereo
Saturday 17th August Barb & Q (Barb & Q = Barbara Tucker jamming on the mic + DJ Q 2 hour DJ set) & Tom Crane
Saturday 24th August: Andy Ward
Saturday 31st August: RiskSoundSystem
Saturday 7th September: Tom Flynn, Sound Blast Stereo
Saturday 14th September: Sy Sez, Sound Blast Stereo
Saturday 21st September: Joey Negro, Tom Crane
web: www.soul-heaven.com <http://www.soul-heaven.com> ; www.oceanbeachibiza.com <http://www.oceanbeachibiza.com> / facebook.com/oceanbeachibiza <http://facebook.com/oceanbeachibiza>
twitter.com/oceanbeachibiza <http://twitter.com/oceanbeachibiza> & twitter.com/soul_heaven <http://twitter.com/soul_heaven> http://twitter.com/PhutureTrax1