It’s getting louder for the king of bass
This month DJ Fresh is set to take yet another step up in his illustrious career as he launches his new live show and embarks on the UK-wide ‘FRESH/LIVE’ tour of 2011. The last 12 months has seen Fresh become a household name off the back of his album Kryptonite and the smash hits Gold Dust and Louder. Fresh soared to towering new levels of success with Louder, the track being his first Number 1 and notching up over 500,000 sales, as well as being the first EVER dubstep track to the top the charts. Ever the tastemaker, Fresh continues to push the boundaries of the d&b/dubstep crossover sound – now more than ever. Combining the technique and hysteria of his incendiary DJ sets with the energy and intimacy of a live instrumental performance, the ‘FRESH/LIVE’ show is set to light up the seven huge UK venues.
Dan Prince grabs a minute with this superstar…
Welcome Dan to the DMCWorld. Who were the early artists your were listening to that first hooked you into the world of bass…
“Jean Michelle Jarre and then Prodigy a bit later. I was on the rave mix tape thing back in the early 90s….”
Who gave you your first break in the music industry?
“A guy called Stevie A who ran Scandal FM in Kingston.”
Can you remember the moment when it hit you that yes, you really had cracked it?
“I’m not quite there yet – lol. I guess hearing Andy C rewind my track in a packed club when I was about 19. That was definitely a moment.”
In 2009 Knowledge Magazine described you as ‘perhaps the most influential D&B producer we’ve ever known’. Did you agree at the time?
“It’s an honour to have that said about me. The only thing I can agree with, is that I’ve worked like a lunatic. It has been non stop for as long as I can remember really…great to get that kind of acknowledgement.”
What direction are you moving in now music wise?
“Writing songs, that’s my new buzz really. ‘Tarantula’ with Pendulum gave me a lot more confidence, that was really cemented with ‘Golddust’. Now it’s really the main thing driving my music, though my production is still as aggy as ever. I’m really excited about songs. They add meaning to an instrumental track.”
You have a brand new live show – FRESH/LIVE – hitting the UK coming up. Tell us about the incredible members joining you on stage and what we can expect from the experience…
“We’ve got Paul Kodish from Pendulum drumming, Rich de Rosa, who has worked with Example and several big names and is an incredible guitarist. Fleur who was part of one of the X-Factor finalist bands we met through a last minute acoustic gig we put together for Radio 1. We were asked to do a gig at the Royal Albert Hall for the Spirit of London Awards as a result of that. And MC Messy on the lyrical hype.”
1998 saw you kick this party off with Bad Company when you released ‘The Nine’ – a track that was to later be voted the best D&B tune of all time by D&B Arena. Do you still have the same energy and passion for the scene today?
“Yes, though the scene has become more than just drum and bass, I think the UK underground has really come together over the last couple of years, and I’m excited about much more that just drum and bass now, although I love it as much as ever.”
What new producers and DJs have you checked this year should we be looking out for?
“Zombwoy, Timetakers, and I still think Flux Pavillion is yet to reach his potential…he’s going to be massive.”
What has 2012 got in store for us all from you?
“New singles and an album with some really exciting collaborations…watch this space!”
And finally. You were once asked ‘ are you still an international playboy?’ to which you replied, ‘does a bear shit in the woods?’. Are you still keeping it up?
“Bears don’t stop shitting in woods.”
DJ Fresh tour dates:
11th November – Teeside University
12th November – 2Wentys Naughty Reunion @ Butlins Skegness
19th November – The Big Reunion @ Butlins Skegness
19th November – Engine Shed, Lincoln
23rd November – LIVE, The Arches, Glasgow
25th November – LIVE, Alexandra Palace, London
26th November – LIVE, Butlins Skegness
28th November – LIVE, Manchester Club Academy
29th November – LIVE, Norwich Waterfront
30th November – LIVE, Concorde2, Brighton
3rd December – LIVE, Coloursound, Leeds
10th December – Velvet, Nuneaton
15th December – Rock Café, Tallinn, Estonia
31st December – Countdown 2011 @ Detonate, Nottingham
