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INTERVIEW
BY
Tomoya Yamamoto
Tomo: How was Screen yesterday?
Danny: I had so much pleasure. It was my
first visit here and isn't going to be the last one. I was touched
by the crowds response, it was amazing. They were really up for it
and stand behind me trough the set. I felt connection with it. It's
always strange when you go to a new territory, you don't know what
to expect. And when you connect with the crowd it always leaves a
good feeling about the place. I enjoyed it. It was superb. I woke
up this morning feeling very high.
You are one of the best known DJ's in the world.
How did you get there?
Well I've been one of the pioneering house
DJ's in UK, which all begun to me in 1987. Being passionate about
music and really believing what I do. It has given me great pleasure.
I have travelled around the world, which is priviledge as is meeting
so many wonderful people. I have address book full of different cool
people. It has gone so global and touched so many corners of the world.
It's amazing how it has developed during this 15 years. It's still
exciting and that keeps me going. If I don't get excited by and the
music isn't up to standard, then that's when it's all over. But however,
the music is up to standard and it continues to deliver really good
productions. There's so much good records and that's really what motivates
you as well. And playing to audiences that are really into it also.
The clubscene worldwide is full of great crowds of people that love
music and that is important.
What would be the next big thing coming up?
I don't follow the next big thing and I
don't follow the trends. If you say trance has been a big thing, it's
still huge. A lot of people like it. Progressive is also big, it's
popular. I play selection of tribal house, progressive, electro and
U.S. soulful house and I really like playing kind of body and soul
african, latin, jazzy house as well. But however, that's a bit too
mellow for people in lots of places. But I find, as people mature
a bit to the clubscene, they come into it, they want hard, banging,
really fast sound. 17-years old, straight out of school, you want
something hard, "let it all go", something to rip your energy out
and that's why trance is good for us. It's like the power of rock
'n roll and punk was to people. It's a release. That's positive and
we should not ignore the fact that music is a release. Then as they
mature, maybe two or three years into scene, get into their twenties,
then they want something a bit more refined and less banging. It can
be progressive, U.S. soulful or tribal house. But the next big thing
coming... Well I hope it is someway related to house music. (Laughs)
When did you start deejaying? And what got you into
it?
I was 21 years old. I collected records
from the age of 11. I used to spend all my money on records before
even being a DJ. I started working and playing in bars.
Did you play any regular instruments?
Trough the punk years, I learned to play
a bass guitar and jammed with few bands. Nothing really happened.
I knew the basics but I wasn't the the best bass player in the world.
I just stopped and shortly after that I got into playing records.
Bass playing was fun also. Then it was most young peoples dream to
be in a punk band as it is now to be a DJ.
It's good that deejaying is now taken seriously by the media and it's
now recognized as a profession. 20 years ago they laughed at deejaying
because it wasn't the thing to do. Now it has developed in amazing
way.
Do you remember your first vinyl?
"Stoned by laugh" (?) by Supremes. It was
the first proper piece of vinyl which I bought. (not sure of the track-tomo)
What are the best places to play?
Anywhere, where the crowd is responding.
I really enjoy playing in Italy. They have strong clubculture there.
South America, Buenos Aires. Even though they're going trough an economic
disaster, people there have such a spirit. Thailand is good also.
I played lots of free parties there over the years. There's nothing
like that feeling, playing on the beach in the open air. I like playing
in UK. I have residency in London Turnmills the first Saturday of
every month. It's called the Metrogroove. On my future travels I'm
going to play in India in the end of the year.
I don't know anything about the clubbing scene in
India...
In India, in Bombay and Delhi, it's starting
to happen, so I find that interesting. I've been to parties in Goa
which are totally different. More hippie, trippy...
Psychedelic...
In every meaning of the word. I'm really
excited to play in city in India. Indian people have great sense of
rhythm and they are happy and spiritual.
I have to ask, have you played in Japan?
I have played in Japan 3 times. Last time
was 5 years ago. I might go there during my Asian tour. I love Japan
as well and first time there was great. Japanese people understand
the music, they know every DJ and every record being released.
You hold residency in Bed also?
I play there now maybe twice a year. It's
an excellent club in Sheffield. If you study in Sheffield or something
be sure to go there.
You have some records and mixes released. Anything
new coming up?
There's a single being released on Defected
in September, title is "How good your love is?" featuring Jocelyn
Brown, produced by myself and Joey Negro. It's a soulful U.S. filter
house. It has remixes from rulers of the deep and DJ Trish. In the
fall I'm going to make a follow-up production and also there is a
CD compilation released on React- music, turntable symphony. Single
sided CD, more latin, tribal soulful house.
Thanx for yesterday and the interview and all the
best to you in the future!
Many thanks for everybody who came to Screen.
I look forward to come back here again. It's been a great to visit
here in Finland. Lots of respect to you.
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