The don of Drum&BassArena rolls out another mouth watering album
Interview : Dan Prince
The Risky welcome back to DMCWORLD. Well Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a Drum&BassArena Winter Selection CD nestling in our stockings, the new album features 36 tracks including 14 exclusives. To kick off, talk us through some of the exclusives you’re delivering us…
“With all Drum&BassArena albums the exclusives play a major part of the tracklist and this album is no different. We’ve got a super range of exclusives on this album, from The Prototypes’ huge unreleased VIP version of their Shogun Audio release ‘Abyss’ to Serum’s dancefloor smasher ‘Tight Spot’ to Russian outfit Teddy Killerz with their heavyweight speaker destroying ‘Bronson’.”
How many tracks did you consider for the album and what were the first few you knew you just HAD to have on there?
“For this album which has a harder edge to it, there was A LOT of tracks to consider, as there are so many great tracks around at the moment. The first tracks I knew I had to get for the album were the exclusives, so contacting those artists straight away was key.”
One of the main reasons you began the site was to help the evolution and progress of this ever changing genre. So taking a step for a moment and casting your eye around the Drum & Bass scene in 2013, what are your thoughts on it all. Is it in a healthy state?
“The drum&bass scene is in an extremely healthy state at the moment, from highly talented producers in what seems like every corner of the globe right now to established artists topping the charts in the UK. I’m already really looking forward to seeing what the next year brings.”
Who are some of the producers and DJs that have excited you this year?
“Wow, that’s a tough one Dan, really hard to list them all but a few that have would be Audio, Mefjus, Rockwell, Hybrid Minds, Etherwood, Wilkinson, Mampi Swift, Teddy Killerz, Phace, Misanthrop, InsideInfo, BTK, Andy C, A.M.C, Emperor, Friction, Joe Ford, Nickbee, Hamilton…I could go on and on for the rest of the day.”
Your favourite 10 tracks of 2013…
“There have been so many great tracks this year that it’s impossible to list just 10 but some of my personal faves include…
‘Mythos’ by Mefjus & InsideInfo
‘We Could Have Been (feat. DAblo)‘ by Alix Perez
‘Music Is Better’ by Break
‘Headroom VIP’ by Audio
‘Contemporary’ by Mefjus & Icicle
‘Sick Of It All’ by Rockwell.
December 5th sees the fifth annual Drum&BassArena Awards at London’s Electric Brixton. How much pride do you get putting on this event?
“The whole team take a lot of pride putting on these awards and it’s great to see an incredible turnout from the scene every year.”
How many people are involved in organising a show like this and when does the preparation begin?
“Everyone works really hard behind the scenes to make this happen and to make sure the whole process runs smoothly from the voting to the event itself. I’ve got to give huge props to the events and marketing teams we have in the office, they do a sterling job every year.”
Funniest story from a past Award ceremony?
“Haha, there’s quite a few, not all repeatable. Let’s put it this way, you’ve got loads of the industry who might not have seen each other for a while, too many laughs (and drinks) to be had, time for everyone to let their hair down and celebrate the great scene we are involved in.”
For some of our overseas readers coming to the UK for the first time, where are some of the killer clubs you’d recommend them checking out in London at the moment?
“Lots of choice in London…Fabric, Brixton Electric, Village Underground, Fire, Scala, Brixton Academy, Great Suffolk Street Warehouse, Building 6, the list goes on…”
Tip for stardom in 2014?
“2014 is looking like it could eclipse this year, look out for our feature on Drum&BassArena in the new year for our tips on the ones to watch.”
So we come back to your gaff after the club, who are some of the artists you spin us to mellow the mood in a Back To Mine style…?
“Mellow the mood…? That wouldn’t happen! But on the off chance it did, then probably Logical Progression by Bukem.”
You hail from Sheffield, locating to London when the business needed you to. Where were some of the early events/clubs/raves etc that you were jumping about in back then?
“Now you are testing my memory! Early events in Sheffield would be at places like the Unit, Leadmill, Occasions etc.etc.”
The tune you can’t get out of your head at the moment?
“Kathy Brown & A.I – ‘Somebody To Love’ (Kyshido Remix).”
Biggest artist album of 2013?
“My personal favourite is the ‘Force Of Nature’ LP by Audio.”
A genre of music we’d be surprised you love?
“1992 Old Skool Hardcore!”
And finally, what is the worst job you have ever had?
“Fortunately I haven’t had a bad job because I started Drum&BassArena pretty much straight out of University and then co-founded AEI Media a few years after that.”
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