The London based artist’s unique take on house and techno has already touched the hearts and minds of electronic music lovers all around the world, here he returns with a monumental EP on microCastle…
Interview by Dan Prince
Joe a huge welcome to DMCWORLD, did you succumb to the ADE madness last week?
I just returned home from it actually. Feel like I spent most of the time in cabs, but it was good to see friends.
Tell us one thing you are happy to have achieved today…
Spiritual enlightenment, for sure.
So… very exciting times for you right now with the news of you making your long awaited microCastle debut thanks to your ‘Climb To The Sun’ EP. The release is dominated by the title track swinging our way in three formats and featuring the stunning vocals of Haptic, the Australian vocalist you have collaborated with on several occasions in the past. Do you think this is your most accomplished creation to date together? Talk us through the track, there’s quite a story behind it…
I think it might be and that’s really thanks to Haptic. I had made the track some time ago as an instrumental to finish my sets. It worked as a functional club track but missed a certain something to elevate it. Everything Mark had sent me in the past had been really on-point, so it made sense to approach him. What I received was way beyond what I expected, so I’m very happy with how it turned out.
Making his presence felt on remix duties is French artist Darlyn Vlys who is also making his label debut after featuring on the likes of Noir, Get Physical and OFF Recordings. He loved the track on first listen, what did you make of his two reworks?
His renditions are stunning. I’ve come to know Darlyn and his music very well, so I knew it’d be a perfect fit.
You slip into a deeper mode with the EP’s companion piece ‘The Girl Reprise’, I believe there is also an intriguing story behind this track?
This is the second track of a two part series, based on the theme by Claude Debussy, ‘The Girl with the Flaxen Hair’. The first involves more direct references with repetition of the leitmotif from the original, but I think overall, the second version is the more refined one – so we used this for the EP. This is the second track of a two part series, based on the theme by Claude Debussy, ‘The Girl with the Flaxen Hair’. The first involves more direct references with repetition of the leitmotif from the original, but I think overall, the second version is the more refined one – so we used this for the EP.
Tell us 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…
Maceo Plex – Rotor Motor (Original mix) – always a pleasure to play a new Maceo.
Third Son – Refuge (Original mix) – something I made a couple of weeks back and is cropping up at the start of my sets. Minimal melody.
Tim Green – Headless Stride (Original mix) – out soon on My Favorite Robot, I love every release they put out.
Raxon – Sin Control (Original mix) – one of the darkest yet most refined tracks I’ve heard in a long time.
Third Son – Climb to the Sun (Original mix) – sorry, I had to put this in here.
Okay let’s rewind for a moment. Your father was a lecturer of music at university so sounds were around you from day one. What does he think of your music today?
I’m always surprised when my dad makes positive comments about my music. He’s very supportive in general, but he’s all about traditional composition. Maybe I should give him more appreciation credit.
From an early age you played the piano, then obscure wind instruments, guitar before finally moving into electronic music. What made you make that move, who influenced you back then, who intrigued you enough to explore a whole new world?
In the end I guess it was the self-discovery of a sequencer. I remember my brother having fruity loops on his computer at the time. Endless possibilities made sense to me.
What was the most obscure wind instrument you played if you don’t mind me asking?!
I dabbled with the Piccolo, but I was actually quite good at the Clarinet.
Was a career in music always the only objective, were you interested in anything else as a life journey?
I studied Chemistry at university, so music was never the long term goal. The music thing kind of just happened.
Can you remember the first bang on club you went to?
At 18 I had my first taste of Motion Bristol. It’s a great place.
What were your early productions like?
Terrible.
What was your first ever DJ gig like?
Terrible.
Third Son is your third project, how important were parts one and two?
Instrumental (excuse the pun). The first was really important in understanding the idea of making electronic music. The second was crucial in understanding what works in a club and performing in general. I was actually part of a duo, working with a talented friend from university. I owe a lot to him.
Most artists struggle to get a deal, Noir weren’t hanging around though…?
No, I had my first release with Noir Music, which was an exciting time. I have to give credit to my manager, Kal for this. He’s been the bridge between me and labels from the start.
True or false? Your flat in East London has a LED ceiling?
Extremely true. It’s quite trippy.
A piece of equipment you couldn’t live without?
Moog Sub37 .
The best DJ gig of 2016?
Sydney, Australia. I love that place.
And finally, what’s coming next from Third Son?
My live set. And my debut album. And maybe some more Piccolo.
