The Flamingo star just Blowing up everywhere
Ardie, welcome to the DMCWORLD. Your first love musically as a teenager was hip hop. How did you develop a love for the sounds of Public Enemy and Eric B & Rakim in the first place?
“When you are at such a young age, you are more open to various genres of music. Hip-hop just chose me I guess. In that time, when you heard a great song on the radio you record it on your old fashion radio cassette player. The beauty of that time was finding a record you liked which was worth gold. Now you can find anything on internet in a matter of seconds. Don’t get me wrong, I love that, but the search for music has always been my thing. So that’s how it actually started, spending hours behind the radio cassette to record some of the coolest Hip Hop tracks.”
What was it about the Hip Hop vibe that eventually made you turn your back on it to follow the likes of Todd Terry, Lil Louis and the sound of House?
“When you search you will find, they say in my country haha. I was hanging around in record stores, being a pain in the ass to the people working there when this new house sound developed I became very interested in that new sound and of course started to search to these kinds of records. Then there was this song of Farley Jackmaster Funk, ‘Love Can’t Turn Around’ which was such a great crossover between funk and house music, this track made the translation easy for me. So when I was old enough, or at least I thought so, to go to my first House party, I saw the vibe on the dance floor which was caused by this music, I was hooked.”
We know you have a love for digging the crates and fusing the old school funk and disco with today’s house scene, so can you tell us the influence behind the new single ‘Blow’?
“Nowadays I don’t think it’s consciously anymore. I just love a lot of different styles of music. When I’m in the studio my mood, mind and interest in virtually anything with a beat start to come together. I don’t sit around anymore trying to come up with a combination. I am searching for a groove and when something works out, I can mess around with it a whole day. I was on my way to the studio with this idea for a triplets groove and ‘Blow’ was born.”
Tell us how the Flamingo label started up with Fedde Le Grand & Raf?
“I was working at a record company and let my boss and other A&R’s listen to our tracks, trying to get them released. But in that time they didn’t really believe in our sound. That was the moment I decided to start my own small label. I told Fedde and Raf, who I already knew at that time, about this idea to release our own stuff on our own label, without compromising. I promised them to share it as a real company with them when it would become a success. After the release of ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit’ we finally could release ‘the more underground kind of music’ what made people really started to listen to our material.”
What do you think has been the finest release to date?
“Still one of my favourites is Ida Corr’s ‘Let Me Think About It’. It brought everything together music wise.”
What one artist from around the world would you love to have on your label?
“Armand van Helden.
All-time HERO!”
We have the WMC coming up soon, is this the launch pad and testing ground for the Flamingo summer schedule? What’s coming up?
“WMC is always a great place to try out new stuff and listen to other talent whilst drinking a nice cocktail but for me it is more about having fun than doing business nowadays. I think everyone has his own schedule, I found out that professionalising it too much kills the pleasure for me haha. I will attend WMC this year and play and visit some nice parties.”
Not many people know this, but Ardie is REALLY good at?
“Talking too much and making bad jokes.”
What do you think has been your finest studio creation?
“Actually my own studio, it has everything I need to work perfectly!”
It’s your birthday, what 3 DJs do you ask to come and play for you?
“Jamie Jones, Steve Lawler and Daft Punk.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Some old and new stuff!“
1. Funkerman – Blow
2. Manik – My Hood (Armies Of The Night)
3. Mr Cloudy – Cellars
4. Aim – Cold Water Music
5. Shaboom – If You Need Me (Larse Remix)
6. Arjuna Schiks – Waterkristallen
7. Microtrauma – Circulate
8. Darin Epsilon & Tom Sela – Metamorph
9. Legamen – Cyber Zone
10. Heartik – Last Of The Breed (Dosem Remix)
What is your favourite club on planet earth you enjoy returning to?
“Another difficult one!
I’ve played at a lot of great parties and clubs worldwide so I can’t choose but I always enjoy playing at Papaya on the Pag Island in Croatia, it’s a very special place.”
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“Don’t be a prisoner of your own style!”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“A 5”
With an obvious love of the old skool, if we came back to yours after the club, what is the big Funkerman Back To Mine Top 10 you play us to carry on the groove?
Lil Louis – French Kiss
Carl Craig – Paperclip People
Loco Dice – Pimp Jackson Is Talking Now
Guy Gerber – Stoppage Time
Farley Jackmaster Funk – Love Can’t Turn Around
Moby – Go
Mars – Pump Up The Volume
Green Velvet – The Flash
Club MCM – Club MCM
Donna Summer – I Feel Love
What new producers should we be looking out for in 2012?
“Wow, difficult question. There are a lot of new upcoming talents in different kind of styles.
I think you definitely need to check out Taras van de Voorde and Deniz Koyu.”
