The Pondering Blonde

BPM Mag Interview with DJ Sasha

Sasha came into being during the era of Manchester’s iconic Hacienda days. Pioneering the Northern Soul sound and jumping head first into the Acid House movement, Sasha transformed The DJ Life as we know it today with a relentless progressive grace and a partner-in-crime-called Digweed. One would think the man who gave Renaissance Recordings gold status and Global Underground it’s 90’s cool would be too big to tweet ,but that’s exactly where our banter kicks off, after catching wind of a live Twitter interview with one of Ibiza’s well known bloggers the day before we chat.

‘It was pretty good, I’d never done an online interview like that before- the interview (by @Blogibiza) was for Pacha magazine, which is published annually each season in Ibiza. -I’m booked to play several times there this summer.’ Does he like being on top of new marketing and communication trends? ‘I was a bit slow on the upstart to get involved with some of these social networking channels to be honest, I thought it was a lot of people telling everyone lots of trivial things about themselves, and was kind of mundane, but I’ve found it to be a really great way to communicate directly with fans- I can tell them what I’m up to, what I’m listening to- and what I’m eating every now then. ’ [laughs]

A big Football fan, Sasha’s tour to South Africa in July coincides with the final week of the World Cup and he’s keen to get involved and catch a few games while he’s here.  I teasingly ask about England’s performance in the Finals so far and he’s quick to jump into a well-opinioned discussion about the team and various players. ‘Well, I hope they can get their heads together in the next game and click; it would be great to see England still in the running while I’m out there. Really great that I got booked to play in SA over the World Cup- I’m excited to come and be part of it!’

Sasha’s last album, Involver Volume 2 on Global Underground came out in 2008 and the dance world is undoubtedly waiting with bated breath to see in which direction he’ll lead the dance culture heathen next. ‘Yes, I’ve been making new tracks and have a load of new music that I’ve already been playing out at the clubs and festivals… so good news; I’ll have lots of fresh stuff to play out in SA. In terms of releasing an album, I’m not sure when or whether it’ll be full of big, banging club tracks or something a little different, we’ll see…’

Sasha has always been a purveyor of progressive dance and has stood by the darker European house sound from early on in his career. ‘It’s important to believe in your sound. Over the years I’ve trained my ear and honed a certain musical taste.’ His reputation with the older dance heads to this affect is unwavering, although recent years have seen him indulge a more housey tip with elements of electro, breaks;  essentially breaking out of his ‘proggy’ pigeonhole,  inspired by the likes of, Leftfield, UNKLE, BT and more recently James Holden, Tiefschwartz and Swayzak.

Having discovered the likes of BT and James Zabiela, I ask how it is he has such an eye for spotting talent, his management agency Excession is one of the biggest in the world today and manages a top selection of electronic music artists. ‘I don’t know, I suppose they had some kind of X factor or wanderlust; James was so full of energy and so driven, both by the music and how to make it. There are a lot of good dj’s, but they need to have that hunger and desire, be able to make the leap from being a bedroom dj to playing in front of 5000 people. Also, not everyone is cut out for the party lifestyle. There’s a lot of pressure, long nights and of course, a lot of time spent on your own away from home.’

Although notoriously shy about his personal life, I ask how he’s got on, living the ultimate party lifestyle? ‘I’m married and have a little boy, yes you definitely need a strong woman to handle and understand the pressures of this career and I definitely have a one behind me. Over the years I’ve lived quite a nomadic lifestyle- between London, New York, Amsterdam for a bit as well and many airports feel like homes at times. I still have an apartment in New York but I’ve settled in London now.’

To wrap up, I ask what he’s up to this weekend, as you do.. ‘I’m playing at Glastonbury festival this weekend; we’re doing a special Vortech Lighting Show, which I’m really excited about! I only hope that everyone comes to check it out and are not holed up in a pub somewhere, drinking beer and watching the World Cup!

BPM Mag: Cocoon Ibiza comes to South Africa

Last year Cocoon celebrated 10 years of wrapping clubbers in its twisted little game of deviant House and Techno at Ibiza’s clubbing powerhouse; Amnesia. Cocoon founder, and by all means; leading mad-hatter Sven Vath, took his kingdom across the monumental decade line in style with an all out wicked-carnival themed summer season on the island. There were traffic jams, all-night queues snaking around the venue- this party is the one ultimate must-do when making a trek to The White Isle. In fact; clubbers to the island notoriously plan their vacation around squeezing in two Monday nights at Cocoon!

The inside spectacle doesn’t disappoint; black sequinned dancers- beautiful girls, boys and girlyboys- on podiums and gyrating against the walls above the main floor, a 10 foot Robocop shooting lasers and pyrotechnics from within the crowd, and way up front; The Ringleader, Sven, in a black fedora casually pounding out the slickest beats from the more-then-massive sound system, to a sea of never-been-this-up-for-it clubbers.

His line-up for the season was as usual, a who’s who of Minimal Techno on Planet Earth: Ricardo Villalobos, Loco Dice, Luciano, Richie Hawtin, Nick Curly, Martin Buttrich, Mathais Kaden, Josh Wink, DJ sneak and Tiefschwartz among them. The legend of Cocoon not only lives on strong in 2010, but the brand and ultimate symbol of nightlife disturbia comes to avenge South Africa for the first time this June, with lady of the label, Dinky, headlining. The tour will bring the freshest house and techno to both Johannesburg and Cape Town and forge new ground in SA’s growing Techno-club culture.

THE LEGEND OF VATH

Sven Vath was an intrinsic part of the house scene’s development in Germany, bringing American disco and jacking Chicago house to the curious ears of Frankfurt, where he first bled his passion and initiated his meteoric rise up the electronic chain. Papa Sven fell into his role as the decidedly demonic ringleader and set about creating his platform, a Cocoon themed web, for he and his young muso friends to launch themselves. The Cocoon night in Ibiza, the original Cocoon club in his hometown and Cocoon Recordings have become a world-wide statement in electronic music hotness!

SVEN ON IBIZA: Cocoon is a feeling, it is club culture, event culture is how I see it, for more than 20 years now I was always into creating platforms or networks where people come together to create something. There is no place like Ibiza and thanks to Cocoon; Ibiza is still very interesting when it comes to music. I think with our line-ups we’ve inspired other promoters and the island to evolve music wise in a very positive way, so I guess it is more than ever the true capital of electronic dance music!

DINKYLAND

Female dj’s of the world unite! Joining the ranks of talented lady dj’s and producers, alongside Magda, Anja Schnider, Ellen Allien and Shinedoe is Dinky- and she’s not as sweet as she sounds! Dinky is her very own powerhouse- an original gadget girl, electronic composer and a leader in the second wave of greats to come out of Chile. Dinky’s early years in club culture were spent raving it up with Luciano and Ricardo Villalobos, who set her on a path of techno-laced music loving.

Dubbed ‘The Techno Princess’, she initially followed a career in contemporary dance to New York City before finding herself dj’ing around the city and landing fingers-first in music production. Dinky is now based in Berlin, dating Matthew Styles- both are signed to Crosstown Rebels and often play together- and churning out inspired artist albums and EP’s for labels like Vakant, Traum and Wagon Repair. Her own productions portray her unique ethereal essence, a delving divergence from her driving dj and live sets; but both fuse her compassion for music with soul. Here’s to ladies that love techno!

ON HOW SHE FOUND ELECTRONIC MUSIC: Modern electronic music came to me when I was only 12 years old. My sister was going out with Dandy Jack [of Perlon fame] and living in Berlin at that time. At a family dinner he gave me a CD and I got instantly hooked on this music. It seemed so futuristic for me, compared to what we had in Chile at that time. Thanks to both him and my sister, I would always receive goodies – music from Kraftwerk, DAF, and house tapes from Doctor Motte. And then later on, things like the early Plastikman CD. I was really lucky!

ON HOW SHE STARTED PRODUCING: I guess it came when I was 21 or 22, and I moved to New York. At that time it was really difficult to DJ because the police were really tough. There were no clubs, there were places shutting down, so if I was going to get into music I really wanted to produce. I asked for some advice from people; for example Dandy Jack convinced me to buy a MPC 2000. So I bought that at a very young age and I started to learn that and sampling; it’s a very basic thing!

BPM Mag: Interview with Dinky

Dinky is an electronic diamond. From humble beginnings, dancing to Techno with Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano in Chile;  penetrating New York’s underground with her esoteric essence; to discovering her production fingers, moving to Berlin and finding love with Crosstown Rebels star, Matthew Styles, Dinky is the epitome of living the dream. Joining the ranks of Anja Schneider and Magda in the female powerhouse with releases on the best electronic labels, it’s no surprise she quickly blossomed into her role as the youngest female resident for Cocoon. Ahead of her visit to South Africa in June, we visited Dinkyland to find out more!

Where did your fascination with electronic music start?

Modern electronic music came to me when I was only 12 years old. My sister was going out with Dandy Jack [of Perlon fame] and living in Berlin at that time. At a family dinner he gave me a CD and I got instantly hooked on this music. It seemed so futuristic for me, compared to what we had in Chile at that time. Thanks to both him and my sister, I would always receive goodies – music from Kraftwerk, DAF, and house tapes from Doctor Motte. And then later on, things like the early Plastikman CD. I was really lucky!

How did you get into producing?

I guess it came when I was 21 or 22, and I moved to New York. At that time it was really difficult to DJ because the police were really tough. There were no clubs, there were places shutting down, so if I was going to get into music I really wanted to produce. I asked for some advice from people; for example Dandy Jack convinced me to buy a MPC 2000. So I bought that at a very young age and I started to learn that and sampling; it’s a very basic thing!

You’ve lived in Chile, New York and now Berlin; you restlessness has prevented each from ‘claiming’ you to a certain scene or genre of music; how have all 3 influenced your character and music over the years?

I lived long enough on each country to find myself very influenced by the music of each . I was born and raised in Chile and lived there until my late teens , so I feel mostly influenced by my Chilean roots than anything. In New York I found House and some techno, so I have a big influence from that city as well , I was in body and soul every single Sunday dancing to house music. And finally in Berlin where I moved in 2003, I got very much influenced by German electronic dance music specially in Panorama Bar and Berghain where I have a residency.

You originally went to New York to study contemporary dance- have you always had an interest in dancing itself, and how did this lead you to electronic music?

I started to dance when I was around 10 years old , before that I was doing rhythmic gymnastics.  I was very flexible and musical as a child and me and my family thought it was a good idea to start with dance. Dance did not lead to electronic music at all, they didn’t have much to do with each other for me back then but I used some electronic music for choreography .

You’re first record was released on Traum, and you’ve since released on some of the best labels in electronic music- Wagon Repair, Cocoon, Crosstown Rebels- a world first for any female producer, what made you want to make music?

I studied piano when I was a little girl so I always felt like composing songs or scores , I would read music or invent my own scores in the piano when I was little so I guess it was just somehow natural for me to start making music.

As a self-confessed gadget girl- what are your favourite new toys at the moment?

My acoustic guitar! Actually, I haven’t invested much in the studio this year because I have already at the moment all I need so I’m enjoying playing classic guitar mostly.

When producing, your music has been described as a beautifully intricate and layered work of art- a very evident aural expression. Do you have a strong visual tangent that goes with the sounds you create?

Yes I do ,Im very into esoterics and art , I actually also paint and I’m quite extreme when it comes to how my house looks in terms of decoration and space. I’m very visual. I also see sound as colours , I think that has a name in psychology but I don’t remember now..

You’re also an instrumentalist- you play the piano, guitar and strings- how important is being able to play proper instruments for you to ‘compose’ quality music electronically?

I think it’s somehow good for someone to know or to have the ear to play music , to makes music in tune or out of tune on purpose. I think when you start reading and recognizing music from an early age it never goes away (unless you never had the ear) but I also think there is no rules and maybe someone who does not know anything about harmony or pitch can be more free than someone who  is subject to his or her knowledge and academic rules.

Who are some of your favourite producers at moment/ who’ve influenced you?

I really like Tensnake at the moment because I’m a huge fan of Disco music and his tracks are very different but with the disco roots.

Being resident for Sven Vath’s Cocoon party in Ibiza- some would say there are not many dj dreams bigger than that- how does it feel to have your talent recognised on this level and to become part of the Cocoon family?

I could not believe it when it happened in 2004 but I had my fears and some people were a bit… ehm… jealous.  I was also much younger so it was all quite over-whelming , a mixture of excitement and fear at the same time! Now that I finally joined the agency and I am older it feels really natural because I been in contact with them for so many years and know them well … but yes it definitely felt huge back then and I was a bit unsure of everything.

You’re first night as Cocoon, how was that? / Which has been your favourite night at Cocoon and who did you play alongside that night?

It was with Miss Kitten, it was great , really great! I did the warn up and enjoyed it very much  and even though it was around 2004, I think that was my favourite night.

Tell us a bit about the Cocoon club concept and why it has the reputation and following it has…

I guess is very modern and artistic but with a great concept of marketing as well.  Sven supports music that normally would not get exposed because it’s very underground and sometimes experimental , so he uses his popularity and brand to expose very avant-garde artists like dj’s, musicians, dancers and designers. It’s a very visual and complete experience!

Dinky tours South Africa with Ibiza’s Cocoon Night in June.

Wikki Wikki Ching Ching!

Many dj’s would have you believe they were birthed with their fingers melded to a turntable. They weren’t. Very often when their mothers tried to enrol them into Rocket Science School after matric graduation, they said ‘Nah, I don’t wanna go to space anyway, I just wanna party with my friends.’ And as if by some holy transference from God is a Dj himself, it dawned on them; they could indeed make a living from clubbing like a lunatic.

Dj’ing isn’t rocket science. At the very least, it’s a sport, and at the most; a well layered art form. But somewhere in between someone realised it’s a damn good way to make easy money, doing, well- very little. And why not? When the good times are rolling, they can spin right up your alley! Big brands fall over themselves to dish out car endorsements and sneaker sponsorships (‘I just wanna hola to my aMaZiNg hairdresser in Sandton for my aWeSoMe hair extensions!!’ (Sorry about that, it’s in the contract.)) -to latch onto some cool-by-association cred from these ‘major music personalities’.

So some have cracked the code and entered this irrevocable system that is life on the top shelf of SA DJ land- and who’s to say they haven’t worked damn hard to live the local dream? But what about when it comes at the expense of the music industry itself? I’m talking about people with the money to buy their way in. Only in South Africa is it possible to buy- yes buy- yourself gigs at big events and blag your way to some contrived feeling of electronic accomplishment. But then, this isn’t new- it’s just becoming more obviously anti-progressive for the club scene itself.

Money can buy you the marketing, the management- what the hell; the whole friggen hype machine and a stupid kid to make a few tracks with your name on it so you can say you’re ‘IN the music industry’. In fact, make it two; you might need an edgier, techy alter ego, right? Money can also buy you a ‘tour’ to Ibiza, a VIP ticket for Cocoon, and a few shots of liquid courage before walking up to Loco Dice himself and giving him a demo of your skillz. It’s like a bad mafia movie only the ‘stash’ is the coveted disc of crap tunes, the accents are from District 9- and nobody says a thing.

Let me tell you what money can’t buy you. Money can’t buy you originality, style, a rad personality and that coolness that cool people emulate without trying. It sure as hell can’t buy you good taste in music. -For the sake of the ear drums of clubbing societies at large, I wish it could. Mostly; money can’t buy you the insatiable hunger a starving artist feels for his craft, it can’t buy you a genuine thirst for creative success. (And as it turns out, you perverted, mumbling idiot; it can’t buy you groupies or a sex life.)

Hunter S. Thomspon epitomised the situation when he said, ‘The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. [There’s also a negative side].’ Of course; Hunter was being his eloquently sardonic self; he no doubt had friends who ‘gave it all up for music’- sometimes at the expense of common sense- and witnessed their frustration and hardships, while pompous fat cats mowed past their genuine resolution after their own selfish crusade.

There’s a difference between simply dj’s and musicians; the calling for this music life is not a gamble easily satiated by winning a popularity contest, a jackpot payout and a feature on the Ultimix@6. Ultimately the painstaking journey; at times choosing music over food, fashion and fun, are what shapes a true artist; an unwavering passion purged into creative genius. The music always finds its way to the top and will be remembered long after the men who simply played it are gone.

BPM Mag Interview with Protoculture

There aren’t many in the world who can truly say they’re ‘Big in Japan’ but SA’s pioneer of groovy intergalactic psytrance, Nate Raubenheimer, aka Protoculture is one to have chewed on some serious sound sushi up North- and a little Goldfish as it turns out; his remix of Goldfish’s Cruising Through for BPM’s first Remixed competition was picked up by Pacha Recordings last year- and nominated in this year’s SAMA Awards for Best Remix- results still to follow. But nowhere near tempted to trade up for white beaches and Blue Lagoons on tap, Protoculture’s year is going to be filled with a little more jungle fever and a whole lot of Love Technology…

There’s no other way to say it; Protoculture is one of the few South African artists to have truly broken into the global game. His rigorous tour travels take him around the world each year and see him owning the stage at infamous festivals like Glade in the UK. Just his schedule over the next 3 months reads like a dj’s dream date- Maitreya Festival in Australia, Ground Beat in Japan and Soul Vision in Brazil- where he jet sets off to in the next few days with nothing but whipping the locals into an exotic frenzy on his mind!

You’re third album, Love Technology is coming out end of March, give us the rundown.

‘Ye I’m really excited about Love Technology. My second album took a bit of an electro tangent and this album has come back to where the first album started, so it’s kind of like a full circle and I’m really happy with it. There are elements of electro, progressive and a more housey trance sound. It’s good to shake up the psy sound and keep it interesting- sometimes a lot of it does run into each other and sound the same.’

You’ve played with some of the best dj in the world- Armin, PVD, ever tempted to cash in and bang the cheese?

[Laughs] No, I can’t stand the diva vocals! I admire the likes of Armin, he has made a great a career for himself- as a business model, he’s pretty damn good and I think there’s no harm in pushing what you’ve done further if you have the platform to do so. The way he’s marketed, runs his label- he’s a professional at the top of his game.

So hanging out with these guys in the VIP room, what are they like?

They’ve always been childhood heroes of mine, so it’s great to chill and chat with them. They’re just pretty normal guys. They keep it quite tidy these days, back in the day they partied hard. Very hard. Now they play, hang around a bit and they leave. When you’ve been doing this for many years, each party is just another gig for you really.

What is it like on tour, do you get to explore much while you’re there?

Often the tour schedule is just crazy and you don’t have time to enjoy the party or get to experience the city. My wife used to come with me but now she doesn’t tour as much. It’s not a holiday, there’s an itinerary of times to be here and there- sometimes you finish the gig and come off to find a taxi waiting to take you to the airport to go to the next city. One time I was picked up by helicopter so I wouldn’t miss my flight!

You recently launched your own podcast…

Yes, the podcast is called Trance Global Express- its available on iTunes- the first episode was released in January. It’s a monthly 2 hour radio show, featuring my mixes and new tracks and having some fun with the music- I’d been thinking about doing it for a while, so excited to see how it develops over the next few months!
Look out for Protoculture’s new album Love Technology in stores from late March!

BPM Mag Interview with Troydon

There’s always an energetic stirring on the underground when news of a rare pilgrimage home from Troydon starts making the rounds. House heads clamour to shake their hips to his infectious house vibe and pay their respects to the Dj and Producer who traded the City of Gold for the Big Apple several years ago. His 2010 return is no different, so we thought a catch up was due. Here’s Troydon on his latest move- to the City of Angels no less; making music with Diplo and Switch and Die Antwoord!

It’s been a while since BPM last spoke to you; tell us what you’ve been up to production wise the past couple of years?

The last couple of years I was in New York I was doing a lot of engineering at a pretty high profile recording studio, Downtown Music. Things were pretty busy so I didn’t make much of my own music during that time but it was always something I was interested in and I learnt so much having never gone to school for recording or music when growing up. Even though I had to put making my own music on hold for a little while, what I learnt and just the life experiences I gained by working in a studio, will be of great value to me in a number of different ways in the future.

You left SA for the Big Apple several years ago- how has it been as a producer and sound engineer to make inroads into the American music industry?

It’s been really hard work and long hours full of sweat and tears, with the ups and downs as we all face in the music industry, but I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for anything. I think perseverance is key and if you just keep on knocking and knocking eventually things start to open up. I’m still really excited about the prospects of what’s out there and absolutely anything could happen in the future. It’s all possible!

Los Angeles recently became your home town, many reputed dance artists have made this their home of late- David Guetta, Steve Angello… is there something in the night air?

Yes, there is definitely something in the air… But our move happened pretty naturally; while working with Switch at Downtown in NYC when he was out recording I mentioned that my wife (Lisa) possibly had some work opportunities in LA and he said we should do it and offered me to come and work for him. We figured it was the path we are meant to take so we went for it. It’s been about 6 months, and so far we’re pretty happy. It was kinda strange getting use to driving everywhere again though after catching trains around NY for 5/6 years but I am really enjoying that freedom of just being able to get up and go. To me it’s a bit like a combo of JHB and CPT with the city/downtown LA and then also having such beautiful beaches right here too. Plus I love snowboarding and we have mountains about an hour and half away……..bonus!

We’re seeing it filtering slowly in on MTV and the like, how is the commercial music market in the US now opening up to the ‘new’ electronic music sounds?

I really think the latter part of 2009 has shown everyone that the US is most definitely open to it in a big way! I really believe 2010 is going to be an exciting year here for electronic music on a much more credible level than what we have heard so far. There’s a lot of excitement because people have seen what is possible and are hungry to push to try to make things happen.

You have a new moniker called SUBSKRPT and done remixes for Major Lazer, Rusko and Crookers, what is your vision with this alias and how does it differ to your Troydon productions?

This is something that I am really excited about and I think it’s largely due to the fact that I am getting time to make music again! The vision is pretty broad for this moniker and I really don’t wanna box Subskrpt musically at all. Just off the bat the Major Lazer Cashflow remix is Dubstep, the Rusko Woo Boost remix is a club banger and the Crookers remix I did is a bit more poppy than anything I have ever done before. I have also just finished mixing a compilation of Dubsided’s Catalogue and did an exclusive track for that which is pretty much deep house again.

So I guess its all fair game at the moment. Anything that’s good, fun and exciting is what I want to do. This attitude has really made making music fun again and I think you will hear that translate in the material that you hear coming from subskrpt in the future. Check out www.myspace.com/subskrpt for updates as there are a few more pretty exciting things on the cards that I can’t mention as yet ;-)

You are renowned for your Chicago influenced house sound, how has it developed or changed over the past few years? How much do you let yourself be influenced by music trends?

Good solid house music will always be my roots and what I grew up on. I’ll always love it but I think as you get older and more experienced, as far as making music goes, u start to explore and open up to more. I think this is just a natural progression for me. I want to keep growing and I feel that if I just keep doing something that I already know how to do I’ll get bored and that’ll translate in the music that comes out- something I definitely don’t want to happen.

You appear to be less loudly branded and hyped than many dj/ producers, is it your intention for the legend of Troydon to be spread organically?

I think that’s partly due to my personality as I really battle to dance & shout about myself and tell everyone how good I am. It’s something that I need to work on but I’m glad the material I did under my own name has grown organically because it is such a great reflection of who I am. I will however be trying to improve on this with the subskrpt bits. For some reason because it’s not under my given name it makes me feel like I can say things like “the new subskrpt beats are super sick and you need to look out for what’s coming cause its gonna be hot! ”-which is something I would have never said about any Troydon material, haha!

Dance-loving SA is always happy to hear about your return, are you aware that for many you represent an original- and much missed- house music era in our country?

I do indeed and it puts a bit of pressure on me to play music that I’m known for at home. I will do my best to play some good solid house beats for the real old school heads but also throw in some fresh new exciting stuff for the kids that are coming up now to enjoy too. This way the new kids are being exposed to stuff they do not know and the older house heads can get a taste of some of the new stuff but not just get pummelled with bleepy crazy mental ADD music all night long which makes you feel like you could explode!

What advice would you give to local artists trying to establish themselves internationally?

Just make music you believe in and have fun with it. Don’t take it too seriously; enjoy what it means to be able to make music. It’s a true blessing and you should have as much fun as possible when doing it because that energy all comes across in the tracks! Look at “Die Antwoord” when I first watched the clip for “zef side and the ninja one” they were only on a few thousand views. After Diplo put it on his blog it then got on to Pitchfork and now they at like 500 000 views or something crazy!

I am just trying to point out how quick things can break and how well it translates when you can see people are not taking themselves too seriously and are truly having fun with music and art! I mean, tons of people watching those clips don’t understand half of what is going on anyway but they can pick up on the energy which is key.

What characteristics of SA life do you miss- local cuisine, favourite places etc?

I miss all of it! Food, clubs, people, family, weather, lifestyle. I am so excited when I come home and am always sad to leave. This time is even more special for me too because I am officially an uncle as my sister has recently had a baby boy so I am very happy to get to come home and meet my first nephew. Gotta get him spinning records and making music as soon as possible!

Don’t Mind The Gap, Get Innit

Remember the day’s people went on a Gap year, returning with enough dosh to put a deposit on a house or buy a new car? Well, it’s likely those people never left their grotty flat share and ate baked beans on toast every day; kinda useless when you have one of the maddest, interesting cities at your fingertips! If you go overseas you’ve got to experience it and get your nails into the awesome, dirty, sexy culture and live it up! Well, in my almost 2 years as a party-chasing Saffa in London, I certainly did try! Here’s a scratching-the-surface summary of life on the nightshift in London Town.

London really is a melting pot of incredible culture. But you can’t sit in Wimbledon aka Little South Africa expecting it to come to you- you have to chase it and get involved. A round up of our regular (not necessarily all at once!) nocturnal team included several South Africans, a Brazilian, an Italian (and sporadically; her loud Italian entourage), a lone-ranging Turk, a couple of Aussies, two Spaniards, an American, a Welsh lass, and a good dozen curious Brits, among them! It’s a truly incredible thing to be surrounded by so many different people and never a dull moment on a night out!

It has to be said, South Africans aren’t the most stylish bunch; Saffa’s are more likely to spend cash on going out and getting hammered than on new threads, but this is a good thing… We just don’t look as good doing it. The locals are pretty lekker and accept- no, welcome- raving travellers who adopt their city and dancefloors- contrary to belief that they’ve been sulking about immigrants for decades (Those old farts moved to Cornwall ages ago anyway!) But as they say, everyone leaves eventually, and while it’s a bummer for residents to watch international friends come and go; when it comes to the London clubbing community at large, this constant shift and new energy is what keeps UK dance culture so alive and well!

The core club scene, aka those deemed the coolest club kids of all by no-one in particular- they’ve just danced up the year-miles to prove it, is actually kind of small when you elbow your way right into the thick of it- everyone knows everyone and supports everyone. And so you just have to go and party at everyone’s party every weekend- it would be rude not to. (No mean feat I tell you!) When they know you, they put you on the guestlist, let you skip the queue and coat check your stuff for free. It’s the little things that make it home, right?

If you’re still clubbing at Pacha and Ministry of Sound 6 months into your London Life it’s safe to say you probably couldn’t find the underground in a mine shaft- but hey, maybe next time you can tickle the Deadmau5 pantomime behind his ear even? Okay, big room shows are great, and the underground is not without its massive warehouse parties, but there’s nothing like an intimate shindig with your favourite dj just metres away- you can even pinch his bum if you want to… I’m just saying!

Experiencing The End before it closed and witnessing the power of its era in dance music history sucked me right in. I entered a world that crossed the border of Recreational clubbing into the 24/7 realm of Professional Party People. A community ‘headspace’ that speaks EDM- discussing venues, promoters and releases in beats per minute; the same way you might natter to your girlfriend about your day at work, the traffic and what’s for dinner. It’s something else entirely and privy to a well-networked and thriving music scene- totally worth trading your collection of pictures of The Queen to experience first ear and foot! London, you sexy vicious bitch; to be continued…

De Puta Madre: Ibiza

Finally; my first ‘ultimate clubbing experience’ on party-island Ibiza, and just my luck the torrential rains decide to pour down for a week for the first time in 10 years! The island known for its white beaches, blue waters and beautiful people was awash with soggy socialites with nowhere to rest their laurels. Correction- escapism is what Ibiza is all about, so while the gods were not in favour of us spit-braining ourselves an exotic shade of Balearic brown; you can bet we got more than a mighty big ear full of club culture, shimmying to the select sounds of the best dj’s on the planet. Yeah, it wasn’t what they promised on the brochure, but we’ll take it…

Ibiza is certainly an existence unto its own; tailor made to wine, dine and ease the mind; it’s a life size playground in paradise and hedonism is the order of the day. Every single day. I’m told Ibiza workers tune into the news for a shot of reality TV when delusion is on the verge of becoming a K-hole of no return. Yes, I said that. Basically, it’s our answer to Vegas and whether you’re rolling with Kevin, Perry and going large in San An, or riding high on a rubber dingy to the Blue Marlin beach club from your yacht, there’s a place for you to play. Anything can happen in Ibiza… and will. So there’s only one rule; let the magical island vibe guide you and trust you will experience what they mean when they say ‘Ibiza Fucking Island!’

Island politics pretty clearly dictate the type of vacation you’re bound to have based on where you leave you luggage and you need to know this before you book. If you’re going for the cheap beer, T ‘n A and consider coming to, 6 days later with a Northern accent and an I heart Ibiza key ring pierced through your ear lobe as a successful trip- take a left and head West at the next exit. If you want to experience island style Electronic Dance Culture, West side is otherwise only a pre-party pilgrimage for a sunset showdown later in your stay- for a real underground adventure; come with me…

My theory is, if you’re going to do Ibiza, do it properly, and with South Africa’s White Isle representatives, Team Goldfish, as our guides, we indulged a front row tour of the islands best parties, people and Paella. From dancing behind the dj box with Sander Kleinenberg and Trentemoller at Pacha; sunning ourselves next to the gazelles on Salina’s beach- ‘hot’ doesn’t even touch sides in reference to these good looking humans- no wonder the place is repute for couple breakdown!- to discovering audio orgasm with James Zabiela at We Love Space and coining the expression ‘Jesus Jones!’ as the only way to fathom what he did us…

There was also being in the VIP room with Loco Dice, dancing with Satoshie to Villalobos, a tipped hat and German Greetz from Mr Vath himself outside Cocoon and tapas with Faithless while The Fish churned out their Jazzy-Afro beats at Mambo. -The only moment of being truly star stuck that I’ll ever admit to; resulting in my spilling Sangria on my leg which Maxi kindly offering to mop up with a £20 note- that man is an icon and I will forever be a slave to his music! Yes, it’s pretty safe to say we did Ibiza proper.

So, here’s a finger to the rain and sneaky low 5 to a quality bottle of fake tan; party vacation of a lifetime? Absolutely. Worth repeating? Without a doubt. Which reminds me- EDM SA needs shares in a villa- I’m coming round to do a collection. Ibiza Fucking Island indeed.

Have Legs Will Dance

Dance Music Culture. That’s what we call it, and month in and month out websites, magazines and conversation with friends surround, discuss and dissect everything about it from the dj’s and music to the parties, equipment and club layouts. Yes, when you find yourself debating the soundscape of a Funktion1 sound system and whether the dj’s tunes are working the room- you’re no longer an ordinary party-loving patron anymore.

Back in the day the ‘The Lifestyle’ meant you were into some seriously kinky stuff in high society circles but these days it refers to anyone immersed in their subculture and indeed it refers to us in ours. We eat, breathe and dream Electronic Dance Music. We talk about dj’s like they’re our neighbours and plot our nocturnal rendezvous with more zeal than a dancing dervish. And yes, men even plan their party outfits!

But with all the analytics, politics and fashion frolics- there’s a huge industry element lacking in limelight and love: The dancing. The body slamming, club slumming and shoe shuffling antics- our physical offering if you will- brought to action whenever we hear our flavoured beat. Dancing is the club cultured roots that brought us here in the first place. It’s where we met, made and merged party families- because we found other people like us, who understood the music like us- who moved like us. And it just made sense that we moved together.

Even those Skippies on the Funky Floor… sure, they almost knock out half the club with their moves but they’re sweating in glorious, unadultered Fidget bliss; a community and vibe all of their own- this is their moment, their music’s reflexious identity- and they’ve been working up a life-size stutter all week to purge into this release! And before you beat them away with a well-oiled Techno Arm, behold The Krochn; a spastic little dance with fancy footwork infecting Techno floors across Europe- and soon, a dark and pokey dancefloor near you! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Every sound has its soldiers and we all march in our own special way. Even our team of party-stompers have their own rodeo-techno dance- now affectionately dubbed ‘The Hade Ho’ – like Howdy Ho but with a South African twist- well that’s what happens when the Saffa’s make such a momentous discovery!- and there’s nothing like a marathon party familia Ho-down. As my friend Sj so rightly puts it, ‘This is what we came here for!’ And indeed, bender weekenders trying to dance at every great party on offer have seen the word ‘legless’ redefined.

Forget ‘unconscious expressive movement’- okay, ye that too- but first and foremost this is about compulsion. The unexplainable urge to direct your feet to that dance floor and surrender to the music again and again. You know, that moment when you realise you’re in; you’re body starts to ride the groove and you don’t even have to think about legs and arms and rhythm, they all just seem to come together and cavort in the most perfect of soul-touching symmetries.  That is what we do this for. And it’s beautiful. And nothing feels better.

I mean, where or who would we be if we didn’t have dance music? If we didn’t move with gravitational force to throw shapes at these sound shrines each weekend? People just don’t bond the same way over gardening and baking. And then there’s trying to explain this all this to your mother! And we wonder why the world looks at us like we’re crazy!

BPM Mag Interview with Erick Morillo

There’s only one question I can ask Erick Morillo when I finally get him on the line, ‘Dude, you are living the dream- how does it feel?’ It’s taken two days and two trips to Defected HQ to get him on the phone; ‘It’s his first day in Ibiza and he’s on his yacht- with some girls,’ -and he basically can’t get to the phone- or so his people tell the Defected people, who tell me. Villa’s, yacht’s and shiny disco balls; man, its tough being at the top!

Erick Morillo really does live it up in style- P.Diddy ain’t got nothing on this man, I’m telling you!- but then, he’s worked his ass off to get there and still is one of the hardest working artists in the business. Erick lives on world-wide gig rotation, produces up a storm, pops out record-breaking albums and has just kicked his record label, Subliminal, back into action after a two year hiatus. Hell, I hope those girls lathered him in sunscreen and fed him chilled fruit with a spoon!

Morillo’s ready for my call the next day and he’s back in business mode, doing last minute preparation for his opening night at Pacha that evening where he presents the labels awakening with a banging launch party for Subliminal Sessions Summer 09. The Erick-mixed, double disc album promises to entertain you with an invigorated subliminal sound and is already receiving rave reviews. ‘This is my new favourite compilation to date, its balls to the floor and sexy!’ He says.

Erick put the label on hold when digital download took the world by chaotic storm- a clever move that possibly saw him save face where other labels lost strength during the trepid technology transition. ‘The music business was in a bit of a flux, nobody knew what was going on, people were downloading music for free everywhere. I made a decision to slow things down as it just didn’t feel right and album sales weren’t good.’

He’s now gone into partnership with Strictly Rhythm and Defected Records, Erick’s label home for years before he started up Subliminal in 1997. ‘I love what Defected has done the last three or four years, they’ve become one of the greatest imprints around the world and Mark Finkelstein, on Strictly Rhythm, has been my business mentor for many years. It just works and we’re back on track.’

To answer my first question; ‘Yes I’m living the dream- it’s really unbelievable that after all these years I’m still doing this, and enjoying myself, so I’m really grateful.’ He tells me, and sweetly apologises. ‘I was having lessons on my boat!’ Morillo doesn’t think the world economy is going to stop party-chasers from getting their sun, sea and disco this year and is looking forward to a great summer on the island.

This year’s theme is ‘Be Bad’ and Erick is all about bringing out the bad-ass in everyone at his weekly Wednesday residency under that red-cherried roof. ‘It’s about forgetting about all the problems in the world, coming in, closing your eyes and letting go. It’s really cheeky- like when you’re doing something you know you not meant to but it just feels so good!’

And Erick knows all about that- I ask him about his favourite not musical indulgence; ‘Well, I’ve recently been enjoying playing Backgammon.’ He says, ‘Backgammon and sex.’ And with that he’s off to ignite Morillo mania on the dancefloor, a very bad boy indeed!