The Plug
Your new mix for Cocoon is out now, what's the story behind that?
“Well, they have done CDs since season one I think, and then started to do the pre season releases and inviting other people in. So they called me up sometime around February, and asked if I wanted to do it. I haven't done a mix CD for a while, and wasn't sure I'd do another really.
“You know, I guess it's because everything is quite accessible with the internet, so there's not that much of an interest in mixed albums anymore. But since it was a party CD for the nights I thought why not.
“It's kind of nice to do an 80 minute mix every now and then too, so I agreed and had quite a tight timescale, but managed to get it in. I wanted it to reflect what I'd do at a Cocoon night, and so considered that sound more than harder techno or whatever.”
The opening is certainly very Cocoon.
“Yeah, I mean I always thought my speciality was taking things from a kind of middle ground and building up to something. So I always try and have that progression where you take people somewhere. For me that's always been important.
“And that's how I'd build a set at Cocoon, because that type of club environment is perfect- if you have four hours to play with then you want to take people on a journey. That's what I tried to do here, reflect a longer set, with a 20-minute or so build up of tension, then unleash it for a while, before taking it back down again.”
Track wise, was it a case of choosing your current favourites that would work for the album?
“Well, I thought to myself ‘OK, what do I want to do here?' On all my mix CDs in the past I have tried to represent myself a little bit, but not be self-indulgent. I hate it when half a mix is tracks by the person who mixed it. So maybe I'll put one or two of my own tracks on, in this case it ended up being one.
“I also want to represent the people around me, the Swedish family, like Cari, so I think there are about six or seven Swedish productions on there. That's a bit of an identity thing; these people are related to me directly in music, especially the Drumcode guys like Paul Ritch.
“Then there are a couple of things on there that weren't released digitally, so that makes it interesting. There's a Skudge track from the album, which never went on Beatport or anything. Also a Function tune on Sandwell District that was limited to vinyl. Plus I wanted the whole thing to have a more of a housey, or tech house feel, with it being Cocoon and Ibiza, so there's some pretty funky stuff on there too.
“I had all that in mind, then spent some time collecting the tunes to use, and there are a couple of bits on there I have really liked but wasn't playing much that were great for bridging the gap. I also didn't want to just put the ten biggest techno tunes on. I wanted a few hits, and then things that would work well together. It's fairly close to what I wanted, even so far as finishing on a more mellow note with Terrence:Terry”.
The Issues
So, the Ibiza season is underway, and your dates are coming up fast. Any thoughts ahead of arriving on the island?
“It's always hard to say before the season starts for you, but I think it's still very healthy out there, with a lot of things going on. I have a few shows that I'm looking forward to. The island has changed quite a bit in the last ten years, a lot in fact. There are more high quality hotels, and there is more quality, or at least high-end food too- I'm not sure on the quality!
“But, you know, there are nice places catering to different tastes out there, which is great, and still some authentic stuff, if you know where to look. I love being out there, and altogether I'll be there for three or four weeks this year, in between weekends, so around 20 days in total. I think most DJs like being out there, and everyone has a bit of a relationship with the place.
“Cocoon will obviously be the highlight- such a great party, still, and it's always full, and always goes off. Doing the mainroom should be interesting, though they have got Richie [Hawtin] and Ricardo [Villalobos] on the terrace at the same time, so there's quite a bit of competition, but if the club is full it's full.”
Drumcode has been releasing quality thick and fast this year, from youngsters like Joseph Capriati to old heroes such as Slam. Why?
“I think it has been a gradual process. A few years ago, around 2005-2006, I slowed DC down, and the whole thing was feeling a little washed out. Then I started to put it back on the map and here we are today.
“So really it has been about working together and getting the team right. I finally have a good team so there are more people to get things done, with more coordination. We do pretty much everything under one roof too, apart from bookings, so yeah it's about teamwork, loyalty, and I don't know what else to say really.
“I guess if you keep the quality high then producers come to you because they want to release with the label. Then you realise a certain sound, and people want to produce that sound. And, before you know it, there are a lot of great releases lined up.
“We have found our group of artists now, which I am happy about and that's how it will probably stay. I'm not going to sign up too much stuff. Sometimes it's nice to throw in something a little different, or have someone come in from a slightly different genre. I don't want to have it labelled as ‘man techno only'; I don't think that's going to work in anyone's favour.
“So I'm trying to have artists with their own individual sound rather than ten that sound the same. Still though, all the releases you can tell are on Drumcode. I don't know, we are doing well right now, and I'm happy about it.”
It's also the label's 15-year anniversary in 2011. What celebrations are planned?
“Well we start touring in September, and have a compilation lined up with a track from each artist, pretty much, along with a few surprises. So we are doing the dates, which will take in most clubs we usually play at in Europe. There's also a Drumcode party at Amnesia in Ibiza in September, so there's a lot going on.
“That's all something I wanted to do more of anyway- label showcases, nights, festival tents. It seems to be the model that a lot of brands now look to- in house, do your own thing, family style parties. And I think crowds like it a lot, as it means they know what to expect.
Finally then, what can we expect from the next couple of months?
“Well we're doing the radio show now, which is going to be one year old in August. That's going really well, and is a good way to show people what we're about- everything is recorded live, using microphones if it's on tour, and studio mixes otherwise. Apart from that Ben Sims has an LP coming up in September, which we're looking forward to, particularly as it's his first ever artist album, and of course the 15 year parties, which is probably enough to be going on with for now.”
