Sensu are back in the club for the last time this year. December 18th is the last Friday before Saint Nick shows his big fat face, so they are having a party. Butch is someone who has been on their radar for quite some time so it’s with great pleasure they finally announce him as a guest. Not only are his tunes absolutely top of the pops, he is quite the looker too.
As the night approaches and for anyone who doesn’t know and wants to, we thought we’d get to grips with some selected musical highlights from his career. So we are treating you to some of the best interviews, mixes and live sessions from his weird and wonderful world on the web…
Later in 2014 he caught up with Deep House Amsterdam about his source of inspiration…“Love, light and life just interested me so much that I dared to knock at the door of the cosmos.”
As much as he’s a whole world of of knowledge and a bit of a scholar, he’s also a stand out music producer. Here’s some of Sensu’s favourite selctions from a truly remarkable back catalogue…
Butch and Virginia – From Above (Area Remote) – Memories of Ame playing this this at the Ame and Dixon B2B set waaaaay back in the Sub Club room when the Wee Chill was at the glass house.
Butch – Tic Tac Get Up [8Bit Records] – A lovely warm track that may have slipped under the under the Radar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgxE762nLVU
Butch – No Worries – Perhaps his signature track. Making expert use of the Disco classic First Choice – Let No Man Put Asunder
Butch – Dope – His newest offering is indeed dope. Maybe his best yet.
Butric are Butch and Ricardo Villalobos, big fans of one another’s music, who got together on the fly to record in Ricardo’s studio in Berlin. Here’s what that secret rendezvous produced…
“Let’s make a hit: First we need a phat bassline. Some glossy chords next, please. Yeah, give those chords some slick changes. Yeah, right on. Oh, nearly forgot a BIG bassdrum, yeah, there we go!”
Butch’s DJ sets are second to none, so in anticipation of his Sub Club debut, here’s some selected highlights from his mix archives. To be precise 12 hours and 35 mins and 56 seconds of music to get you through the week…
Joining him on the night behind the proverbial wheels of Sensu steel will be the consistently festive residents Barry Price, Junior and Alan Belshaw. Sweet as a roast chestnut. Advance Tickets are on sale HERE.
Butch takes us through his step by step routine & programme of how to build a better you and become a winner in the game of life…
Alright, good Sub-Club peeps, I got you! Often I am asked “Butch, how do you do what you do?” And then the people who ask, ask what they really want to know: How can they do what I do?
Have a look at my typical day, when I’m not on the road and figure out, how I became an overnight success in as little as 8-16 years…
I get up around 8 or 9 in the morning. Slowly. I’m fucking tired, how do you expect me to act? I yawn, scratch my hairy balls and probably pull the cover over my head once or twice. Do I jump out of bed with a big fat grin on my face? Fuck no! But after a while I get up and that is already one of the secrets to my success, other guys and gals I know don’t even manage that on a daily basis. So, yeah, already +1 for me!
Then: coffee! Ahh… Shower, blablabla, other stuff you don’t care about and then kiss my harem good-bye and off to my fleet of cars to choose which one I want to drive today. I usually pick the one that burns the most fuel, because, hell, I love burning money.
Then it’s off to the studio. Now it’s about 11ish, I guess. Then I stay there. And work. I’ll take a little break, go eat sometime around 3 pm, then come back and make a video or post something on social and then get back to my real work: I make music. That’s my job. I love it. So I go to the studio, every day and make music for about 8 hours, every day.
Then I go home, get merry, pleasure my harem, play Xbox and go to sleep. Next day: repeat.
Do that for 8 years minus the harem, the food and the cars and then and only then you may also be an overnight success. Until then, stay beautiful and peace out! I gotta get back to work now.
If you want to hear more from Butch come and join us at Sensu at the Sub Club on Friday December 18th. Butch is someone who has achieved great things, someone who has used their skills to create a world-changing phenomenon. Musically, socially and spiritually, he’s one of kind!!!
Advance tickets for this one off personal appearance are on sale HERE, then more on the door from 11pm.
The renowned Amsterdam DJ, producer, live performer and label owner with three critically acclaimed albums to his name, Tom Trago steps up to Subculture on Saturday December 5th. Alongside is fellow Dutchman Young Marco, keeping things nicely mixed up and off kilter. Ahead of the weekends takeover we chatted to the guys about their early days, studio kit, label tips, and Amsterdam’s Night Mayor…
Tom Trago:
1. Hi Tom, since you were 15 music has been your life. Tell us how you got so in to it and who were your early musical influences?
Started off playing the piano at home, my mum teaching me this and then when I was 10/11 it wasn’t cool enough anymore and I got into skateboarding and stuff. I then got really influenced by the music in skateboard videos, which at first was like garage punk and later underground hip hop. That’s what kinda got me into DJing. Around my 18th I kinda picked up playing music , piano and producing a lot of hip hop beats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx5ra_pp9Ng
From there on my discovery from Disco and all other genres from Soul to Afro. I just bought a new piano actually. I am super happy with it. It really cheered up my life, when I wake up and play a little. I am happy it’s back in my life on a daily basis.
2. What did it mean to you when the local luminaries at Rush Hour signed your first track?
Rush Hour released my first ever track, back then it was a really big deal, I couldn’t even believe it that they really wanted to release that because I didn’t judge the quality enough to get it released then. But if I heard it now I can understand why they released it but back then it was a big thing. At an early age it opened me up to the international crowd in a way. I released records from when I was 24/25 onwards so the last 8 years were helped by that.
3. You’re well known for your love of collaborating with musicians, vocalists and producers from Amsterdam and beyond. Hypothetically speaking please name 5 people (dead or alive) who would be on your collaboration wish list?
Peven Everett – I think he’s a dope vocalist. He’s defo on my list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1qRwRmXIiM
Defo work with Young Marco again, He’s also on my list.
Quincy Jones – Once, but more as a producer.
Arthur Russel, he died but is defo on the list also. Wild Ideas.
Moodyman, he would be on there.
4. Your Voyage Direct label is often referred to as being more ‘like an extended family of like-minded musicians than a regular imprint.’ Please tell us a bit about the label and what’s lined up for 2016?
The label is all about local music, we’re just trying to support the local scene and show what’s happening here. Maxi Mill is dropping an album in 2016.
Also music from Elias Mazian. Young kid on the scene puts out really cool stuff and already put did a release on Voyage.
We did a compilation this year which went down really well. We also pressed up three EPs from that compilation and we’re probably gonna do that again. In spring next year we’re going to do a European Voyage direct tour. In the meantime I will be doing a release on my own label, jus dropping some bombs here and there.
5. On the 10th of September this year Sub Club launched it’s first ever record label – Nautilus Rising. The debut EP features cuts from Lord Of The Isles, Alex Smoke, Stephen Lopkin, and Vince Watson. From your previous experience, do you have any tips for us…
Having a constant output is quite hard sometimes. So lets say you don’t do six releases in three months, and then have noting for four months. For instance put out maybe six a year but on a constant pace. So that every two months there’s something new and hot coming out. To maintain that you have to put in some A&R work and planning. If you don’t do any stuff for like nine months people will forget about you. So it’s quite important to keep it running and fresh!
6. For many children in The Netherlands, the most important day during December is 5th December, (The night of your Subculture gig) when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents! What did this celebration mean to you as a youngster growing up in Holland? Did you actually double up the celebrations on December 25th too?
We only had Sinterklass in my family and for me as a kid it meant a whole lot of presents. You put your shoe out at night and the next day all you see is presents!!!
7. The Dutch capital is unique in that it has its very own Night Mayor, Mirik Milan. While Amsterdam isn’t a 24 hour city, it does have a pretty lively nightlife. Mirik is very positive about the benefits of the night-time economy and hopes to create a 24 hour area within the city. What does Amsterdam’s liberal outlook on partying mean to you?
Mirik is a good friend of mine. As for 24 hour I am a big pro on this subject, I am totally down with it. It just makes the night a lot more comfortable, so not all clubs close at the same time, and put everyone out on the streets at the same hour. That’s what happens most of the time in many cities and what creates fights and a lot of noise. The way it is now, clubs can decide for themselves. It’s way more open now. I love going to a club really early in the mornings and on Sunday afternoons. This is a super good thing for the city. It’s about to get cultivated now!
8. Can you tell the Subbie techno tourists 5 things that they must do on their next visit to Amsterdam?
Visit the new Trouw, which is called the De School which is opening up the second week of January.
9. What are your expectations of returning to Glasgow, and are you looking forward to playing all night b2b with Marco at Harri & Domenic’s Subculture?
Yep I am super thankful to be back again because I have much love of the whole Sub Club Glasgow Crew and we have been partying over days the last few years, Me, Jack (Jackmaster) and his brother. It’s like a close family and it feels like coming home when I come to Glasgow. Especially the Sub Club, I‘ve had great nights there. I am down with the dons, can’t wait to be back and especially with Marco because he’s a good chap.
Young Marco
1. As an Amsterdam native DJ, producer and certified mover n shaker, you’ve been on the forefront of the city’s bustling underground scene for nearly a decade. Tell us how you got so into it and who were your early musical influences?
Well shortly after I moved to Amsterdam I started doing some parties here, which were a disaster mind you, I’m a horrible promoter, but I met a lot of likeminded people through that time, like the guys from Rush Hour, and the red light guys. Antal and Christiaan from Rush Hour, and Tako from Red Light were definitely big influences for me early on. But Amsterdam is pretty small, so you run into a lot of people pretty quickly, and there has always been a very healthy scene here.
2. You were a resident at Trouw for a few years. Tell us a about your time there and how did the club and music scene change during that time?
Well, Trouw, was of course a very special place, I still feel gutted when I ride past the now renovated ugly building. I think for the time it was open, it really became the nucleus of that sense of community in Amsterdam. Plus it created and educated a whole new crowd, which is what I think clubs should be all about. A huge group of kids started going out at Trouw and their favourite DJ is now Prosumer instead of someone horrible, but the closing of Trouw left behind something great actually, that same crowd, there is now a huge group of kids in Amsterdam with a very openminded taste in music. The party’s I used to do that failed miserably would probably sell out in a day these days…thats amazing!
3. Production wise your renowned for your love of drum computers and 90’s new-age synthesisers. Talk us through your studio and your favourite pieces of kit?
Well, my whole studio runs via MPC, thats my sequencer, so if I had to pick a favourite it would be that. I used to use an MPC2000XL and recently switched to 2500 cause I was tired of using Zip Disks, it is 2015! And then I got a bunch of synths and drum-machines and fx, but I don’t really get attached to gear. Most of the stuff I have is all cheap and underrated, no expensive moogs, or ego boosting modulars. I think all my favourite electronic music was made by people with no musical training on the crappiest gear, so I try not to fuss about it too much.
4. How do you see your career developing over the coming years? Are there musical goals you have set yourself outside of dance music?
I don’t have goals, I’m just doing what I do. Play records in the weekends, make music during the week. I think that used to be my goal, and I’m doing that right now.
5. This year, like Sub Club, you started your first ever record label, which launched with a compilation of your own remixes. How difficult was the section and elimination process here?
Not too difficult, I just wanted it to flow like an album or a mix. So it was a decent listen all the way through. Pretty much I just made a mixtape with some remixes I made. Some of them I would hear in a club and go, hey I know this track, and someone would tell me “its your remix asshole!” So if I can’t even keep track of this shit, might be a good idea to bundle em up somehow, for posterity’s sake. ;)
6. The Dutch capital is unique in that it has its very own Night Mayor, Mirik Milan. While Amsterdam isn’t a 24 hour city, it does have a pretty lively nightlife. Mirik is very positive about the benefits of the night-time economy and hopes to create a 24 hour area within the city. What does Amsterdam’s liberal outlook on partying mean to you?
Mirik is doing a great job, and also the current actual mayor has been very progressive. A lot of things have changed for the better the last 10 years. There are already a few clubs with 24 hour licences and they have a really boosted the possibilities in the city. I don’t know about a 24 hour area though, that might attract horde’s of people wanting to go there for the wrong reasons, but who knows…
7. Picture the scene, It’s a cold winters night and we’re travelling through the unearthly Afsluitdijk landscape over the A7 and right across the Ranstad district. What 3 tracks would you play for our journey?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy5A7fOY0MA
8. What are your expectations of returning to Glasgow, and are you looking forward to playing all night b2b with Tom Trago at Harri & Domenic’s Subculture?
I love Glasgow, I think the mentality is quite similar to Amsterdam. Last time Sub Club was with Olaf from Trouw, which was killer. And Tom is a good friend so thats gonna be fun, hopefully there will be some Buckie in the booth.
Advance tickets for this Saturday’s Subculture are on sale HERE or from RA.
This coming Friday Stay Fresh have got the stunning Honey Dijon joining us at Sub Club for another jet-set jam down. The Chi-town native plays some of the freshest parties in the world, from the Panorama Bar to A Club Called Rhonda where she effortlessly seduces dancers with her unique mix of disco, house and techno. Refusing to stick to one style she’s made her name as real party DJ, perfect for a Stay Fresh vibe, she’ll surely be able to show the boys a thing or two on how to rock a party!
Ahead of the event, the Stay Fresh crew had the pleasure of a catch up with this weekend’s leading lady. Here goes…
Hey Honey hope you’re as excited as we are for your return to the Sub Club! We wanted to catch up with you ahead of the gig so your fans can get some of your insider knowledge and get to know you a lil better.
One of our founders Marco has just recently moved to the big apple for work and he needs some insider advice to the infamous party scene out there. Can you give us your opinion on the best parties in the city right now?
I think Output does a great job at bringing in good international talent. It’s great that this one venue has three rooms, from the main floor to the side room called Panther Room and the rooftop. Actually there is another small room as well near the side entrance that you can dip into that makes you feel like you’ve been to another club but haven’t really lol. Also the Resolute, BLKMKT Membership and Bunker parties are pretty solid as well. I also do a weekly party when I am in town called 11:11. I love it because I play from 11pm till 4am and i get to spread my wings. I play mostly disco and house classics but sometimes I like to switch it up and play a bit more current and pumping. 718 Session is without a doubt one of the last remaining parties that gives you the feeing of proper NYC. People of all ages, ethnicities, and sexual orientations dancing together under one roof solely for the love of music.
https://soundcloud.com/honeydijon/radio-dijon-july-2013-podcast Aside from NYC where is your favourite place to play?
Berlin. It’s the epicenter of dance music at the moment. The crowds there are so musically educated and open because you get the best of the best there not only a weekly basis, but a DAILY basis. Some of the most talented artists are based there and you can you can hear good quality and interesting music practically every night of the week if you so chose. I always have to bring my A game, I mean I always try to bring my A game every time I step up to the decks no matter what city I am in, but Berlin is pretty special.
Who’s your favourite DJ right now and why?
Well I think it’s really hard to have a good impression of other artists these days. Most DJ’s only play for two to three hours and for me that’s not enough time for me to get a complete sense of their personality and musical depth and range. When I started clubbing most of my favorite dj’s had residencies and would take me on a journey. Sadly, that rarely exists anymore the exception being Harri and Dom at Sub. I will always love Derrick Carter and Danny Teneglia because I have had the pleasure of hearing them for 5, 6, or even 12 hours in the case of Danny. I appreciate what Seth Troxler does, HNNY, and my favourite producer Mr G.
https://soundcloud.com/egglondon/danny-tenaglia-live-at-boiler Stay fresh is known for our unique party vibe. We strive to bring the essence of a house party in to a club environment. Can you give us your top 5 house party tracks and why you chose each one?
1. Hit N Quit It Cratebug
This has been my biggest track this year. No matter what crowd I am playing for, or how big or small the venue is this track brings the house down each and every time. It’s definitely a new classic for me and the epitome of the perfect party tune.
2. Fly Life Extra Basement Jaxx
Can you believe this track is almost 20 years old? It is probably one of the most innovative house tracks ever made with exquisite use of filters. The tension just builds and builds and when it releases the room just erupts. I drop it occasionally but it’s a classic that never seems to age.
3. You Can’t Hide From Yourself – Teddy Pendergrass
One of the best disco and soul tracks ever produced. The lyrics, the music, Teddy’s vocals. One of the things that I love about music from this era is that all of the music was made live. You can feel it! The intro has been sampled to death but that’s because it’s legendary!
4. Knights of The Jaguar – The Aztec Mystic
One of the most beautiful, euphoric, melodic tracks also made. Again almost 20 years old but sounds like it could have been made yesterday. Timeless music has no expiration date as far as Im concerned. When those strings come in its almost better than sex lol!
5. Church Peven Everett – ( Sting International)
I think it’s quite difficult to make simple, hypnotic tunes with soul and depth. The organ and xylophone just gives it so much emotion. I could listen to this for hours and never get bored.
Advance tickets on sale HERE.
On Thursday we welcome Northern House pioneer and good pal Graeme Park back to the mix. Parky has been playing and plying his party wares across three decades of dance music, never losing or lacking enthusiasm for the sounds that set a club off like crazy. We love the guy and his ridiculous record collection so this night comes with a firm Sub Club seal of approval.
In support will be another good Subbie mate, Glasgow’s Woody who’s up there with the best the city has to offer when it comes to selecting some classic cuts.
Fresh off the back of his Digital Groove summer residency at Space Ibiza, ahead of the event Woody has pulled together a selection of 7 of the greatest dance tracks from his musty archives of house history…
Roy Davis Jnr – Gabrielle
This tune made me fall in love with house music. I’d never heard anything like this before and I instantly wanted to hear more music like it, quickly.
Sex-O-Sonique – I thought It Was You
I was 18/19 when I first heard this song. In the back of a car on Radio 1 on my way home from my football. I had to find out what it was and when I did I played it all the time. Hearing Spencer Parker play it when he played at Sunday Circus a few years back was pretty special too.
Underworld – 2 Months Off
This was the first tune I heard the first time I ever went to Space. Walking through those doors and hearing this tune was unreal man, I instantly fell in love with Space and it’s been great to have been a part of that club both as a clubber and a DJ.
2000 and One – Spanish Fly
This tune was kinda like a bit of a game changer for me. I heard Affi Koman play it at a Sunday Circus and asked him after it what it was called. I played it at my Saturday night residency and it didn’t go down too well and even the manager asked me to stop playing it after I’d played it a few weeks in a row to try and break it. I knew then that I was starting to drift musically from the club I was Dj’n in and even though I played there for a year or so after I knew it wouldn’t last, for me anyway.
Slam – Lifetimes
This tune was my introduction to Slam and it’s been a brilliant love affair ever since. From The Sub Club to Space, I’ve seen them everywhere and they never disappoint.
https://youtu.be/-xxlMBsdu8I
Kink – Existence
This became a massive anthem for me during my Liquid Cool residency which was brilliant for pushing new and more underground house music. I think this tune just shows how far we pushed the night musically.
Kerri Chandler – Bar a Thym
I don’t think I really appreciated this record that much when I bought it but I soon realised that I should be playing it more and it’s one of the tunes that’s stood the test of time by staying in my record bag or should I say RekordBox. Still playing it till this day. It’s not aged at all, I’ll always love this tune
https://youtu.be/pw5j9VOqy9A
Woody recorded this mix ahead of Thursday. Here’s what he had to say about the mix… “I wanted to do a mix that was where I am just now musically. I always like try and fit a whole night into my mixes but it can be hard but I was happy with this mix and the music in it…”
With New Order in town earlier in the evening, this is the perfect chance to keep the party going. Entry is FREE before midnight…
Two of Glasgow’s stalwart producers and DJ’s settle into the Sub Club’s homely booth on Wednesday night, and in true friendly Sub Rosa fashion we sat them down for a chat. Here’s what they had to say about influences, plans and eating honey…
1. As far as we’re aware this will be your guys first time actually playing the Sub Club headline slot by yourselves, whereas before it was only at the Autonomous Africa Boiler Room before the club opened. How do you guys feel about finally getting to make your proper Sub Club debut?
We played at the end of the night aswell for a bit and have played live there before as part of other projects but really looking forward to settling in for a couple of hours behind the booth and working the room to our full potential.
2. Being a duo that is half English, half American and both living in Glasgow, do you think the combination of backgrounds and values impacts your sound and the way you go about doing things in terms of making music?
Yeah for sure. We both grew up listening to really different music, even just basic stuff like what was on the radio – as far as electronic music goes there was really mainly hip hop and RnB on the radio in the states whereas Tom was exposed to UKG etc, these kind of experiences that you’d never think of as a kid really coloured my expectations of what is music, especially dance music. And living in Glasgow has just expanded my expectations even more- the city and what people are in to and listen to at parties is so diverse and really amazing – people really care about what they subject their ears to and that’s definitely shaped lots of how we make music.
3. So for Sub Rosa you’re planning on bringing a few bits and bobs and doing more of a live set than you normally would, is this going to become more of a regular thing or just something you two have been experimenting with lately?
I don’t really want to give too much away, but we’ve been experimenting with playing with drum machines alongside vinyl and CDJ’s when we’ve been playing out. Maybe we’ll bring some more equipment down… It really just depends on how we are feeling. It’s always great to play with drum machines in clubs, they are so much more immediate than records and it can be really exciting if the moment is right…
4. What else have you got lined up for the future? Is starting a label of your own or perhaps even a full length album something you have considered before?
We’ve got a 12” coming out with Rubadub in the Future and waiting for the Test pressings for our 3rd Mister Saturday Night release. Really excited about both… and finishing some remixes that’ll be out in 2016.
Woo Ha is a big Subbie Favourite!
5. Apart from making solid releases for Mister Saturday Night and various other labels, what do you guys like to get up to outside of the studio?
Eating honey.
And that’s that! General Ludd will be taking the reigns on Wednesday 18th November. Come along and you can see what all the fuss is about. ENTRY IS £4 B4 12 / £6 AFTER.
This Saturday, Innervisions, Moodmusic and Drumpoet Community contributors Frankey and Sandrino roll in for a double-dynamic DJ & Live Subculture session alongside Harri and Domenic. Ahead of their Sub Club debut we chatted Bar Piano, vinyl myths, rainforest noises and the world’s best Goulash.
1.Thanks for talking to us today guys. Please tell the Subbie reader who you are and what do you do?
S: I’m Sandrino. a passionate music collector, digger, listener & DJ.
F:I’m Frankey and I do music pretty much all my life. Started playing all kinds of music on instruments in different settings. From bands over Orchestra to Jazz, Big Band or simply Bar Piano. Then I got into electronic music production and ended up DJing electronic music for many years.
2. You’ve had established solo careers for well over a decade. How did you meet and what brought you to work together?
S: I hold a residency at a club in Germany where Frankey used to play regularly. We met, we became friends and then we just tried it out :)
F:I think we were always surrounded by the same kind of people of the local music scene. Me coming from a more Techno / Progressive Background while Sandrino has already been into more relaxed, deep and warm stuff. I think the impulse to start working together came from Sandrino, which I’m thankful for, because it kind of brought back some musical elements of my pre electronic era into the electronic dance music we´re doing today. Sandrino also had a much clearer vision of the music he wanted to do, which helped filtering out the right musical elements of the very wide ranged Music world I was living in…
3. On that note, how important to you is the role of the resident DJ?
S: The resident is the base of a club. He knows how to open it, to keep it, to close it, and if necessary everything at once during the night. Its a pity that this culture got lost a bit in the last few years. It seems that more people/promoters think that it’s better to have as much names on the bill as possible. I don´t think so, I believe in the concept of having the resident + one guest for the night. Frankey & me love to play long sets. Its very annoying to pick just 20 tracks from the collection for a two hours set. There is not much room for experiments. This is also why I am very excited to meet & hear one of the most legendary residents ;-) Harri & Domenic!
4. Talk us through your DJ + Live set up. Does this hybrid approach involve a lot of studio / rehearsal time for both aspects of your club show?
F:In general I feel that it´s true, that the amount of studio / rehearsal time is equivalent to the quality of the performance. At the same time, we try to keep it simple, to have full control and safety from the technical side. The Live Act includes of course Ableton with controllers for all kind of loops & effects and a keyboard to perform some Synths or Piano live. For DJing we use 3 CDJs with USB Sticks and that´s it.
Honestly I don´t understand why people put themselves into the stress of using Laptops and Controllers to DJ. I simply can’t see the benefit. Same goes for Vinyl: I know a lot of people disagree, but a vinyl never sounds as good as the digital file. Of course it’s more sexy and I understand the physical & haptics aspect of it, but sometimes people trying to explain to me, that Vinyl sounds better, and that´s simply not true.
5. You have both come from fairly different musical backgrounds, are there any stand out influences from your early days? Any music artists in particular?
S:I often thought about it and I always come to the same conclusion that there isn’t any stand out influences. I like music in all of it forms and sometimes a jazz song from Chet Baker makes me feel the same than something from DJ Koze…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffzJAC_wZtk
F:I feel like I am inspired by all kinds of good music. That can be singer songwriter stuff, Hip Hop, Jazz or whatever. The wide range keeps everything fresh, so I never get bored! ;-)
6. Frankey, does being classically trained help you out when it comes to producing electronic music? Do you still get enjoyment out of playing the piano when you’re not working i.e. in your spare time. How often do you play and what sort of thing?
F: To be honest, the last 10 years, the electronic music took nearly all my time and I almost didn’t play the real piano anymore. But I started missing it more and more, so the piano came back into my house a couple of months ago, and I´m really happy about it. It´s such a different feeling to feel the sound / vibrations coming from the wood and the strings instead of playing some perfect sampled computer piano. At the moment I´m playing the piano score of the soundtrack of “Memoirs of a Geisha“ by John Williams.
7. What did your 2014 Innervisions debut release mean to you? Was this a landmark event for your career?
S: it was the first song we wrote after a longer break. i felt that the song is something special (at least for me/us). it guess it made a couple of people following us :)
8. Acamar is a firm favourite of everyone here at Subbie HQ. Talk us through the chord selection and how you so cleverly combined these dark loops with some spaced out rainforest noises?
S:Thanks a lot :) happy to hear that. Its hard to find the right words here. Frankey already worked on the Arp and the rest just came from inside :)
F: In the beginning I just wanted to make a real nice but complex Arp Theme, where my musical background maybe comes a little bit into play. The Chord selection was inspired by a Track of Bobby McFerrin, who I absolutely admire. But after that, I quickly made an average drum groove and average baseline , which were not really good. Then Sandrino came into play, knew exactly which elements to keep and which ones to renew or throw away. Pretty quick he had a vision how that track could sound, which elements to add and so on. Compare to some other Tracks of us, Acamar took quite a while to be really finished.
9. What’s your expectations of your Sub Club debut and of Glasgow in general? Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to?
S:I heard a lot of Sub Club, especially about the vibe & the crowd. Some of my colleagues always say that a visit at Sub Club is one of their annual highlights. It makes me very excited & curious :)
F:Not sure what exactly to expect, but I heard Sub is the kind of the best club in Scotland, so I guess it´s gonna be an awesome night ;-)
10. We heard you’re both into quality food and nice wine. If you were cooking for a special occasion what would you make and would it be white or red for the vino?
S:Actually I try to reduce meat but I’m proud to say that I’m doing one of the wolds best goulash :-) My goulash with a bottle of good red vine and I’m in heaven…
F:That´s not exactly true for me. I’m more into bad food and beer. but Sandrino knows…. ;-)
11. The likes of Watergate and Tresor are well known and popular, but I image you guys know of some hidden gems in the city. Can you tell the Subbie techno tourists 5 things that they must do on their next visit to Berlin?
S: Berlin is very versatile, so its a city for everyone. It really depends what you’re up to. But here’s just a few tips…(there’s a lot more!)
1. A Pizza at Pizza Nostra in Prenzlauer Berg[my friend Guiseppe from Napoli is doing the best Pizza in the world. if you’re there ask for the pizza he´s doing for me :-) ]
2. Hanging out at the Spree (during summer) with a cold beer in your hand.
3. It’s always good to take a bike and just ride through the city to discover your own Berlin, but also to visit the classical sightseeing spots like Brandenburger Tor, the Holocaust Memorial, the Museums Inseln, East Side Gallery…
5. Record shopping can also be fun as Berlin has a lot to offer: definitely go on a Thursday to Muting the Noise,Hard Wax, Oye…
12. In contrast to the sounds we all like to listen to at clubs and parties, would you be happy to share some personal home listening vibes with us? What do you listen to once you kick back and relax after a heavy weekend or hectic tour schedule?
F: Fink, Bobby McFerrin, german HipHop, Sevdaliza, Romare, Lapalux, Nils Frahm, James Blake, Sela Sue, Ed Sheeran, Metallica (to name a few…)
S: this are just a few of my all time faves:
1. Grupo Moncada a band from Cuba. I was in a local record store to look for a Fela Cuti Album I wanted to have for my collection and somehow i left the shop with this record :) Music always finds you…
2. The LP Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder…simply amazing! The Song Ai Du makes me going crazy :)
3. The Blade Runner Sound Track by maestro Vangelis especially the Blade Runner Blues is a song i can’t get enough of…Crying and laughing at the same time!
4. The Album Hotel California by the Eagles :) one of my dads faves, so it naturally became also one of my faves.
5. And for sure one of my all time faves is the legendary Oxygene LP by Jean Michele Jarre…
Advance tickets on sale HERE or from RA, then more on the door from 11pm
FLY CLUB are excited to welcome Chester back this season after he played for them last year. They first spotted him playing some magic disco records in Strathclyde halls of all places when the PR team were doing a poster run, the FLY crew are delighted to see their favourite upstart playing lots of cool places since. They caught up with him briefly ahead of his return to FLY CLUB on Sunday…
Can you tell us what you have been up to since we last met you?
Still blundering through uni and life. Though I don’t work at Todds anymore and don’t DJ there anymore. I work at Bar Soba in the Merchant City and sometimes play at the West End Venue and somehow filled in for Harri at Mitchell Lane a few weeks back. I’ve picked up a few more residencies as well with Basement Sessions and Don’t Drop. I’ve started writing for Synth Glasgow and I write a music column in the Strathclyde Telegraph called Scotland’s Sound. I’ve also got a radio show on Strathclyde Fusion called dancefloorpolitics on a Thursday evening from 8:30 – 10.00.
What got you into playing music and who is your biggest musical inspiration?
A pal back home from Forfar called Sam Glen introduced me to real house music when I was into Ed Banger Records and stuff. I wasn’t really that interested at the time, but now I’m playing all the tunes that he showed me. Guess he is in a way. Apart from that, I think Antal and the Rush Hour crew in general inspire me the most.
Have you ventured into production?
Nah, I’m not organised enough to find the time and I would rather find good music than try and make it.
Are you excited to play alongside David Barbarossa? He’s a bit of a local legend!
I’m absolutely bricking it. If he thinks I did alright then I’ll be chuffed.
Am I right in saying you are a west end sweetie rustler – where are your favourite spots to eat & drink around there?
To be honest I’m not sure what a west end sweetie rustler is but aye I suppose I could be. Chinaskis on North Street is probably my favourite place to eat. My favourite place to drink was 184 Woodlands Road which was the best party flat in the world. Bar/pub wise the Arlington and Distill are spot on.
Do you support Partick Thistle and if not, WHY NOT!?
Nope. Don’t really care about Football but if I had to support a team it would be Forfar Athletic because I love bridies. A bridie is a meat pastry, originating from Forfar, who those who have never enjoyed one.
What is your favourite late night munch after a gig?
A great big battered sausage with tonnes of chips and salt.
If you were trying to woo a girl name three tracks to soundtrack the evening?
DJ Funk – Put Yo Back N 2 It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZIlzw9Pago
I’d start off with the bangers. My girlfriend and all my female (and male) friends love ghetto. I could pick anyone I chose with tunes like this. Maybe.
Peven Everett – Feelin’ You In and Out (Shelter Mix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sswKlgJSQU
Then, I’d show my deeper side. That track could warm the heart of the coldest person on Earth. I guarantee it.
Hot Chocolate – Heaven Is In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShMTuJ4VWuM
Then I’d hit them with the big guns. If this doesn’t get me anywhere I’m not sure anything can.
Listen up these gravy boat vibes which Chester put together ahead of his Sunday dinner…
Sub Club’s soulful Sunday night FLY guys continue your weekend love affair with new resident David Barbarossa inviting Glasgow young blood Chester. FLY caught up with Glasgow’s very own disco inferno David to chew the fat ahead of Sunday’s roast…
Hi David, First of all we’re very excited to have you come and play for us on Sunday as we feel your sound fits what we are trying to emulate perfectly… FLY is a more soulful house and disco party that aims to end your weekend love affair with a smile on your face and spring in your step.
How did you get started and where was your first residency?
The exact specifics of my first jaunt behind a set of turntables have been slightly lost in the mists of time, but it had something to do with being a keen dancer with a lot of records and being asked to join some like-minded freaks in trying – and occasionally succeeding – in turning on Kilmarnock locals to the wilder side of soul, funk, disco and other assorted dance musics. The venue we played in became the site of my first residency. No chance of a pilgrimage there now though as it was the victim of a very real disco inferno.
If you could describe your sound through one song – what would it be?
If I could describe my sound through one song then I would be a much smarter man than I am, so I’ll give it a shot with two. Neither Rim & Kasa’s ‘Love Me For Real’ or the Patrick Cowley ‘Hot Tracks’ rework of LTD’s ‘Back In Love Again’ have never strayed far from my bag when I’ve been going to a party in the last year. I guess they give a good idea of my sound as neither are particularly well known and yet they elicit extreme joy and ecstatic dancing whenever I give them a spin.
We have you playing twice for us this season – next time round it’s your birthday, will you be inviting anyone else along to play with you?
Whilst I’ll be pretty happy sharing the Subbie booth with 3 turntables & Roxanne (that’s the in-house rotary mixer), I’m hoping that I’ll have some pals on hand to support me (in every sense, I’ll probably be enjoying a few rums).
If you could pick anyone to go B2B with who would it be?
I would love to share the booth with Sadar Bahar or Hunee, but I imagine I would be more likely to spend most of the night on the dancefloor than fulfilling any dreams of a B2B.
Where are your favourite spots to eat and drink in Glasgow?
Living in the Southside I’m lucky enough to have No Way Back’s African Chicken & Peanut Soup, Ranjit’s Kitchen’s daal and the Allison Arm’s massive beer selection within walking distance, but I would have to say that I’m also willing to make the trek way out west for a sandwich from Devils Deli and I’ll take a good beer or rum wherever good beers and/or rums are sold.
What would you say your biggest achievement has been in your DJ career so far?
I reckon it was probably the first time I was lucky enough to be asked to take over a whole night at Optimo. I was probably too nervous to really enjoy it to the fullest but the chance to play my favourite records on that sound system is always a pleasure.
Finally, if you could invite 5 folk to an afterparty who would it be and why?
I’m assuming all my best pals and my other half are already invited (or passed out) and that Dial-a-booze is still with us (RIP), so I’ll take Ron Hardy, Larry Levan and Tee Scott so I can have a drunken rifle through their record bags, Ivor Cutler for the laughs (although I’m not entirely sure he would want to be there), and Grace Jones for the stories she would no doubt tell after half a bottle of Lambrini and a few warm cans of Red Stripe.
To get you in the mood for this weekend, listen up to David Live & Let Loose at The Rum Shack…
For Sunday £5 adv. tickets on sale HERE then more on the door from 11pm.
Click HERE for more info on what’s lined up for November at FLY CLUB…
On Tuesday 27th of October I AM play host to a special set from our top boy Domenic Cappello, a theme of his own picking; ELECTRO.
Electro can refer to a myriad of sounds, really anything made mainly or wholly through drum machines and electronic instruments. Some would say it’s closer related to House, Techno, or Hip-Hop but our favourite definition is the old “Kraftwerk and George Clinton meeting in an elevator” aphorism, coined by Derrick May to define Techno, but far better encapsulating the sound of Electro.
Whatever the hell it is or how you define it, you can bet your bottom synthesiser it’s going to be a wild yin.
Here is a top 10 the man himself has compiled to get you in the mood…
1. High Fidelity Three – B-Boys Breakdance
2. Aux 88 – The DJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyGjrimUiEk
3. Drexciya – You Don’t Know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUJtlVKHAj0
4. Newcleus – Computer Age Push The Button
5. Hashim – Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) (Rock Rock Fiysh)
6. Afrika Bambaataa – Looking for the Perfect Beat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa8hdzQ4aok
7. Underground Resistance – The Final Fronteir
8. Aux 88 – Electro Boogie
9. Newcleus – Teknology
10. Pretty Tony – Jam The Box
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLLlzS_PrFI
![barbarossa[1]](https://subclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/barbarossa1.jpg)
