 How long have you been DJ'ing / Producing for? And how have you developed as an artist over that time?
Round about the same date 13 years ago... May 1995 was my first gig DJing. I started producing in 1998 and my first record came out in 1999 on Undefined Recordings called 'Define 20' under Cycloid. As an artist I'm always evolving, you have to with techno as it keeps evolving...
How did you get your start in the industry?
I started producing and DJing alongside Garry Hughes aka Hugh Z / Uzi
Who are your sources of inspiration in the music industry?
Anyone who is making awesome techno is inspiration... I always seem to feed off it. Richie Hawtin and the gang at Minus are always inspiring, Dubfires new tech stuff in sanely kewl and I really enjoy spinning his stuff at the moment. DJ wise Derrick Carter, Carl Craig, DJ Sneak, Luciano, Marco Carola and Hawtin I'd always line up to see those guys.
How much do you base your set on your audience and how much is just what you want to play?
Its always about the audience... But they should be able to let go and trust where I'm going to take them. When the audience is there to listen to what you've got, you can play anything. If your a punter who is standing in front of me, you know why you are there...
What are your thoughts on digital DJ Technology? Have you experimented with any DJ software (Ableton or Traktor)? Do you use CD's, Vinyl or EFX as part of a set?
I think DJ technology is awesome... I’ve coped a lot for using different mediums like CD’s & wanting to move to Serato, but I don’t give sh*t anymore, if your making noise with some pots & pans & ‘Stevie’ on the spoons & your slamming’ the crowd, good on you! Peeps complaining about DJ’s not using records anymore usually can’t DJ themselves! Some parts of my sets I have the tracks on wax some on cd so it varies.
Allen & Heath OR Pioneer? Allen & Heath
Are you currently working on (or recently released) any projects / compilations / tracks that you can tell us about?
I'm about to do my 21st release on US house label 1200 Traxx called 'Up to the Sky'. It has a Wally Callerio Remix on it for the initial release then there will be a remix EP of the track. Projects - Mr. WattO is my latest solo project. I’ve just released three trax for Detroit label Random Access Recordings. Its my ‘Invasion of Micro Machines’ series of EP’s. The latest thing I'm working on collaboration wise is with Sonny Fodera called the 'Subjekts'. Watch out for some tech house action! Compilations - I'm on the new 1200 Traxx compliation mixed by 1200 Warriors and DJ Sneak' new comp coming out later this year.
Favourite.
1. Track of all time? Energy Flash - Joey Beltram
2. Track as of right now? Shin Nishimura - Rock the House & The Track - Fabrice Lig
3. Piece of DJ/Studio equipment? No new purchases for a while actually
4. Event ever played at? Robot Samba (Melbourne)
5. Source of tunes? Beatport / Stompy
Besides DJ'ing / Producing are you creative in any other way? Graffiti
Do you have any special celebrity requests when you play out? Good monitors if its to much to ask LOL
Amonst your peer group (or your genre) who do you rate as amonst the best acts/dj's to see live?
Richie Hawtin / Jeff Mills / UR / Joey Beltram / 2120 / Adam Beyer / Marco Carola / Laurent Garnier / Mike Dearborn / Slam / Sven Vath / Peace Division / Loop Killaz / Dj Rush / Tokyo 3 / H-Foundation / Derrick Carter / Matthew Herbert / Green Velvet LIVE / Cristian Varela / Martinez / Speedy J / Surgeon / The Advent LIVE / James Ruskin
Maybe a tough question. but what do you see as emerging trends in the industry for 2008?
TECHNO... It never dies it's just a revolution for change...
Any final words?...
Check out Tech-Phonics 'We Love Sounds' launch party - Saturday 17th of May @ the Crown & Sceptre and Pharmacy (Poison Apple) - Accelerate Room - Saturday 24th of May @ Channel.
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