Hi Christian. Hear you are rocking Australia right now? How is it – what have been the highlights out there?
“Yeah just got back yesterday, the Electro scene is really healthy out there and the kids are really up for partying. I noticed they still like it hard out there but are really getting into my sound. Seeing it was my first time out there as a whole it was a lot to take it in, playing with Steve Aoki in Perth was crazy and just seeing some of the cliché tourist spots was really cool. The food out there is really nice and their girls are at a high level ha, must be all the hot weather!”
So, another early starter to the DJ world – a mere 12 years of age, what got you into this crazy world…? A musical house you grew up in?
“Yeah my dad is a music manager looking after acts like Dem 2 and rapper QT, so I was brought up around Garage and Hip Hop. I was lucky enough to meet Public Enemy and be on MTV with Queen Latifa as a kid. I remember calling her clean your teeth up on the show. My older sister used to go to Drum N’ Bass raves as well, so I was always listening to the mix tapes she brought home.”
Growing up what DJs mixtapes were you buying?
“Well I brought more of Garage and Drum N’ Bass mixtapes when I first got into the scene, from Andy C, Bad Company, Calibre to Ez and Side Winder mixpacks.”
What albums were you listening to as a teenager?
“In my early teens, I used to mainly listen to dance music but in my later teens I started listening to everything. Band wise I bought albums from Battles, Velvet Underground, Jesus and Mary Chain to Blood Brothers and the Macabees.”
And what clubs that you were hearing about as a nipper that made you want to get into the music scene?
“I started going to clubs like One Nation, Heat vs Fever, Slamming Vinyl, and as I got a little bit more into the scene clubs like Renegade Hardware and Technicality.”
What did your parents think of your choice of profession – then… and now?
“They are really supportive in what I do since the day I started and still are. I feel sorry for them having to put up with all the noise I have made in the house!”
Your first release came under the name of Infamy at the age of 16 – hugely influenced by your love of Garage, Drum N’Bass, Hip Hop and House. Around that time, who were the big tunes thumping out your speakers back then?
“I was really happy about that when it happened, the record at the time was really influenced by Evol Intent (who are now go under Treasure Fingers), Macc, Source Direct, Paradox, Breakage, Technical Itch, Dom and Roland and Dillinja’s earlier stuff when he went under Basic Influence.”
You have remixed some great artists, Ladyhawke, The Virgins, Rochelle and The Qemists to name but a few – which has been your best remix you have pulled off?
“Ah I’m not to sure what one I’m most happy with, maybe more recent remixes because I find my production gets better as time goes on. I really liked the Yo Majesty remix I done and the little boots remix, I got some good responses from them.
So hooking up with Norman Cook’s legendary Southern Fried Records for your new single the Bad Man Horror EP’ – 4 fucking massive tracks – talk us through it…
“Thanks, I’m really happy with the release, got a mixture of sounds on the EP which I’m happy about. Also got a lot of time for Southern Fired so I’m glad it all come together.”
Best club you have ever played at?
“That’s a tough one, played at so many good clubs. Can’t put my finger on one but C.Y.N.T was wicked, The Junk Club in Southampton is always fun. Stealth in Nottingham was banging as well.”
Big 10 tune in your box right now that you are playing?
“In no particular order Dan…
1 – Nadastrom – Ghetto Pass
2 – A1 Bassline – Here come Da
3 – Mom And Dad – Judas (Sonic C remix)
4 – Fake Blood -Mars (Jack Beats remix)
5 – Dero -1,2,3,4 Animal mix
6 – A1 Bassline – 8oh8
7 – A1 Bassline – Bad Man Horror Theme
8 – Silvio Ecomo & Chuckie – Moombah (Afrojack remix)
9 – Digital Manges – Manges (Sharkslayer remix)
10 – Will Bailey – Hit The Club”
Armand Van Heldon, Radio 1’s Annie Mac, Rob Da Bank, and Trevor Nelson plus Kissy Sell Out were all over your ‘Girl Thing’ EP – what was the story behind that tune?
“Well it was my take on Garage at the time and wanted to make it more with an Electro influence. I met Saffi at a small music festival close to where I live, a few weeks later I wrote a few backing beats for her but it was more R n ‘B at the time. Nothing really comes from it. I had the acapellas from the tracks and decided to do something with them a bit more up beat. I done an EP around Girl Thing and started the project A1 Bassline, the name coming from the free synth in Cubase, which was a bit of a stupid joke between my sister and me. I got her to do all the ‘A1 Bassline’ snippets as well which was tongue and cheek. Palms out where to the first people to blog it and then Meal Deal got in touch and wanted to stick it out on a 12″ which I was really into the idea, it all went from there really. Seb and Alex from Meal Deal did a great job on it. My sound has changed slightly though from the EP, all my tunes are around 128 now, but still have a Garage influence.”
What’s next coming from the A1 Bassline studio?
“I’m working on a new EP which hopefully should be done by the New Year and a remix for Fugative coming out on Ministry.”
How did the Nike hook up happen? – and are you a Nike or an Adidas fan?
“I got the link through Carrie from Cassette player (I got a lot of time for that girl!!) I done the song for the Nike 5 football tournament and it went from there. Not just because I’m hooked up with Nike, but I have always been a Nike fan ha.”
DMC run the World DMC Mixing Championships, we have seen some amazing heroes lifting the golden decks over the years, who have you sited as the best DMC has championed?
“Yeah I have always followed DMC from when I was young. I thought that’s all what record players where for ha! Craze was always my favorite, I played with him in the States, I was actually pretty star struck which is rare when he asked me for some of my beats.”
You have toured the world twice over – which countries / clubs and festivals have stood out?
“The States is always fun. I played at E.D.C and Nocturnal, which were both, mental. Mexico is also a crazy place to play, got some crazy stories from there. But the kids out there are really up for it as well. Any place I club that it can smoke in as well – I will always remember, ha!”
So you are putting on your birthday party at your house, which 5 DJs would you like to play?
“Terminator X
Grandmaster Flash
Craze
D Bridge
And
One Man”
And finally, what is the best thing about being a DJ and producer?
“I think just the lifestyle is amazing, you get paid to travel the world, meet new people and do something you love.”
