‘Saved’ By The Music
Nic Fanciulli is one of the future ‘superstar’s’ of dance music. Label boss, an amazing DJ, remixer – the world for this thirty year old is at his feet.
Hi Nic, looking forward to hooking up for a beer poolside in Miami. Where were you at the weekend?
“I had a great weekend, was at Ole Wien In Austria which I always love and then shot over to Paris on Saturday where I haven’t been for three years which was great for Club 79. I didn’t finish DJing in Paris until about 8am, jumped on the Eurostar where I found myself sitting next to the footballer Ruud Gullit and was home in a couple of hours.”
Fuck me, I thought my passport was overcrowded with stamps…
“Well I worked out I did about 120 gigs last year, which is incredible really.”
Where is home these days?
“A little village outside of Maidstone, myself and my wife have bought an old cottage, stripped it all out and basically modernising it as we speak.”
Where does this great surname come from?
“Well obviously Italy. My dad hails from Rome and Milan, I was born in the UK, then we moved to Africa where my parents were working as croupiers in a casino, then we moved to Italy and ended up back in the UK.”
Maidstone, a hot bed for cool House dudes…
“Yeah, Mark Knight with his Toolroom empire and Full Intention’s Michael Gray are all here. John Digweed isn’t too far away.”
You were obviously born to be in music. What DJs were you looking up to as a kid that aspired you to want to become a DJ?
“Lee Burridge and Craig Richards were very important to me with their night’s. Laurent Garnier also. But also I was really into the Drum n’ Bass with people like DJ Zinc, LTJ Bukem, Goldie and Andy C.”
What music was blaring out of your sound system growing up?
“When I was thirteen or fourteen I was heavily into Indie, the whole Madchester vibe – The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays, The Charlatans – I then got into House via the likes of Daft Punk and things like Sasha’s and John Digweed’s ‘Northern Exposure’ albums.”
You launched Saved Records in October 2004, a great history and one of the most heart warming factors of the label is that back then you wanted to help the young kids coming through who had the talent but weren’t getting the recognition for their music. Who are you proudest over the years of giving someone a step up to?
“So many. Mendo, a guy who started DJing in his home country of Spain at the age of 15, James Talk an amazing producer from Southampton who has worked with everyone and Andrea Oliva is brilliant too.
What do you think has been the biggest Saved anthem over the years?
“Tough one. Matt Norstrum’s ‘Lucky Drawls’, his records’ just started to blow up. That was a big one.”
So, tell us about your residency at Carl Cox’s massive night at Space in Ibiza. Bit of a DMC exclusive here…
“Ha. Well last year I played for various clubs, but for 2010 I have been offered 5 dates to spin with Carl Cox at Space at his night which I am really looking forward to. You are the first person I have told Dan.”
Great looking Miami about to arrive, the event that ‘Saved’ are hosting at Set looks incredible. What’s it all about?
“Taking place on March 23rd. We think the Saved event is something special. Hosted by Biz Martinez this show will be a fully interactive experience. We have teamed up with Native Instruments and Be @ TV to give partygoers the chance to see exactly what’s going on inside the DJ booth. With the aid of LCD screens you will be able to see from all angles precisely what kit the DJ’s use when and how! What records are being played live and how Native and Pioneer technologies interact with each other, it will be broadcast live to the world from Set in Miami on Be At TV. Joris Voorn headlines the party alongside myself. Room 2 is being taken care of by Matthias Tanzmann and his own Moon Harbour Recordings label.”
Some of the big tunes you are spinning right now?
“Without a doubt, Mark Broom and his ‘Supersnout’ tune, coming off his new album.”
How much were you paid for your first ever gig?
“It was just in a bar before I got the chance to move up to Club Class, I wasn’t paid anything.”
2007 saw you join forces with James Zabiela for your One+One Tour – what was his worst habit on tour?
“His time keeping was pathetic – however, I have got to say, he is the easiest person to tour with, no stress at all.”
What one album would you never sell for all the tea in China?
“Portishead’s ‘Dummy'”
One of the world’s most travelled DJs – what are your favourite clubs around the world?
“Womb in Toko is just ridiculous and my resideny at Avalon in Los Angeles is brilliant.”
And craziest city for clubbers?
“Jakarta and the Stadium club – by far the craziest.”
Under Skylark, The Buick Project and your own guise – you have remixed and released many, many dancefloor smashers. What in your own mind has been the best of the lot? What aree you most proudest of?
“It doesn’t get better than getting a Grammy nomination…the Tracey Thorn/Tiefchwarz remix for ‘Damage’.”
What one artist you would really like to work with in the studio that has escaped you so far?
“Laurent Garnier,.”
What’s next from Mr Fanciuilli?
“Well, Miami, a North American tour in May, the residency in ibiza and working on a new album.”