Hi Chris, welcome back to DMC, you entered the dance music world via raving it up at legendary nights and festivals such as The Eclipse in Coventry, Amnesia and Perception. What are your favourite memories from back then, best clubs, DJs… craziest moments on the dancefloor?
My initiation into it all was going to a club called Milwaukee’s in Rushden watching Carl Cox and the big boys of the day play a tiny but mental rave club every week. From there we went to the Eclipse regularly, plus the larger raves. Its such a cliche but it really was a life changing period of time for me and my friends.
You hail from Daventry near Northampton which is where Gods Kitchen first started… not somewhere I’d take my mum for a Sunday lunch huh?
No, neither Godskitchen or Northampton are places I would suggest taking yours or anyone else’s mother for Sunday lunch. Unless its my friend Nick’s mother who enjoys a good roast and isn’t fussy about the venue. But the least said about that the better.
So from bedroom DJing, DJing at some of the best clubs in the world and making amazing records – what DJs influenced you early on?
My top all time DJ influences are Derrick May, Laurent Garnier, Terry Wogan, Carl Cox (up till around late ’92) and Dave Angel (for his sets around 1992/93).practiceClubs – Amnesia, DC10, Space. Might be a bit obvious but they all do something different and do it better than just about anywhere else as well.
Beaches – Cala Vadella – I spent days and days there when I was a kid. I took some friends there the last couple of years and they loved it too. Very unspoiled and the same restaurant is there we used to eat years ago. Also Cala Jondal is a really nice secluded beach which isn’t spoiled by tourists as well. Bloody tourists…
Tunes that have come out from the island – 2 of the tracks that remind me of being there when I was young are Joe Jackson “Steppin Out” and Steve Winwood “Valerie” which I still love today. As for newer stuff I suppose it would have to be Laurent Garnier’s “The Man With The Red Face” which was a huge Ibiza track and is one of my dance tracks ever.
You have spun all across the globe, from Japan to New York. Which country has the maddest clubs and WHERE have been your favourite clubs?
I love playing in Spain – they take things very seriously and are really passionate about the music and the clubs. Same thing goes for central and eastern Europe – lovely people and the parties they throw are wicked. Of course my residency at Atomic Jam is right up there and I love playing at clubs like Firefly in Nottingham as they are just big fun parties to play at.
What are your your current top 10 tunes in your box?
Simone Tavazzi (Perc Remix) – Poltergeist – Analytic Trail
Christopher Benjamin – Down The Rabbit Hole – Flux Recordings
Kevin Gorman – Hoodwinked – Mikrowave Recordings
Bas Mooy – Shogun – Audio Assault
Mark Broom – You Got Me Working (Chris Finke Remix) – Flux Recordings
J Soul – Get Ahead (Pig & Dan Remix) – Get Ahead
Subb-An – Sloopy (John Tejada Remix) – Immigrant Records
Purest Hatred – Robbery – Mantrap Records
Speedy J – Edlx Tool (Chris Leibing Remix / Chris Finke Edit) – CLR
Chris Finke – Monkey Nuts – Firefly
Strangest moment when you DJ’d at Glastonbury?
It wasnt actually during my set, but Mark Broom was DJing on Saturday night on the Glade stage before Squarepusher and I ended up MCing for him. Very funny. At one stage I was reading the shipping forecast over a breakdown and the place went right off. I worked out it was 99% timing and 1% lyrics which meant I could make Mark and me laugh whilst hyping up the crowd. I am available for after dinner speaking.
Your Flux Recordings label, great releases – your favourite top 5?
Victor Simonelli – Latin Impressions (Original) – Flux002
Victor Simonelli – Latin Impressions (Mark Broom Remix) – Flux002
DJ Urban – “You Work It” (Joey Beltram Remix) – Flux007
Christopher Benjamin – “Eat Me” EP (Forthcoming – Flux013)
Chris Finke Presents Vol.1 – Flux008
Tell us about your The Drop radio show…
Its a new project I’m doing with Rebekah and we are really excited about it. I’ve been in radio in one form or another for over 10 years, having formerly worked as a radio DJ in commercial radio and more recently presented the Split Radio Show with Ben Sims for 3 years. We did the first show as as tester in February and we worked well together and the reactions have been great so we are doing it monthly. We both do a mix each, a chart (the “Triple Drop”!), introduce a new producer and have a guest mix each month. Its being picked up by some great stations through syndication and you can get more information at www.thedropshow.com
What is next from you in 2009…?
Gigs wise, just playing as much as I can and looking forward to more festival action this year. Its my primary reason for working in music and I love it as much as I ever have done. On the production side of things I’ve just finished a remix for Mark Broom which is going down really well, plus have an EP I’m just finishing off for Firefly Records and another on the way for M_Recs from Italy. I’ve also got remixes and an EP for my label Flux and some other ideas floating about so looking forward to seeing what happens. Im making a mix of stuff from techy house to techno which is the way I play so I’m glad people are getting into my sound.
www.myspace.com/chrisfinke
www.thedropshow.com
www.fluxrecordings.com