His sounds range from Breakcore, Happy Hardcore, Rave , Sample-pop to whatever else you might image, but always focusing on fun times.
I asked the good man if he wouldn't mind doing a quick interview, and giving us his spin on how to make it as a DJ. Not only that but he was kind enough to regale us with a mix, AND an EXCLUSIVE copy of Nightshifters' next release, in full 320 before it's even out.
Mega!
Can you tell us a little bit about how you got into DJing and the whole scene?
I've been a professional musician for a long time. It only comes as natural that people ask you to do Dj gigs. After screwing a few up, you get a bit more serious, and then when you get serious you want to do better gigs and before you know it you call yourself a DJ at cocktail parties.
What for you were the key moments/things that got you from bedroom DJ to professional/full timer?
Being involved in a community. Throwing parties, helping with parties, playing for free, just being involved in general.
Do you think that it's easier, or harder now to make it as a DJ/Producer?
It's neither really. It just takes hard work and the drive to do it.
Top 5 tips for anyone looking to get in to DJ/producing?
tip 1-3: be passionate about music, any sort of music.
tip 4: spend some time to figure out out to mix and perform your sets professionally
tip 5: always try to have fun at every show, all the time, forever
Top 5 things NOT to do?
1-5: Don't be a dick
What do you think is more important, raw talent, or 'getting to know' people/making the right contacts?
They are both important, but I think having passion and ideas is really key to getting ahead.
Your style spans more than one genre, do you think the same rules apply to all scenes, or are some easier to get on in (ie smaller more niche scenes)?
Yeah, smaller scenes are easier to break into mainly because it's easier to meet people. But big scenes are basically the same- they are just a bunch of small scene's put together. If you want to get involved then just show up and start to meet people. It's pretty easy really.
Do you think the current scene is sustainable with the number of guys coming through, competition for gigs, current state of record sales etc?
Sure, why not? Every club always wants new fresh talent, and music moves quickly.
What would you have done differently, if anything, if you were to do it all again?
Not a damn thing.
With Nightshifters is the anything you particularly look for in a track?
I look for originality and I look for that special something which makes a track fall just slightly between genres. I really believe in the power of openness in music
With your own production is there a particular approach you take (melody, then beats etc) do you have ideas in your head, or just what comes out at the time?
I think having an idea in advance is always good. Of course these change as you work on the track, but having some notion of what you want to do is always great.
Berlin has a great Techno and Electronic heritage, how has this played a part in DJ Donna Summer being where? who he is now?
Berlin's great! It's an incredibly cheap city that is super-open for anything! I'm always inspired by the shows I go too! So many cool people here and it's always fun to meet new folks as they pass through or come here to live.
Favorite piece of studio kit?
I only have a laptop, nothing else! HA! I use Ableton for most stuff, Logic to mix things down, and occasionally I even use my iphone to make sounds too!
Plans for the future, new projects etc?
Well, I'm really super busy in general, as I run 2 labels- Nightshifters and also an experimental label called Cock Rock Disco, so that keeps me quite busy in addition to performing and trying to make music. But in addition I'm also developing new iPhone applications. You'll hear all about it SOON! haha!
Our new releases are:
Nightshifters:
May 12- Rob Threezy - The Change Up
June 18 - Rampage - War
July- Udatchi and Jubilee - Paypur
and on Cock Rock Disco:
Nero's Day At Disneyland - From Rotting Fantasylands- out now!
And just to leave us all jealous... what is the best thing about being a DJ?
The ability to travel the world and get paid for it! I've been to 4 continents and more countries than I can count. I wake up and feel lucky every single day!
And now the goodies:
EXCLUSIVE full quality pre-release mp3:
2/365
p&&l
bang!
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