The Sub Club SoundSystem rolls in to Glasgow’s East End this weekend. Ahead of this long awaited event, we sat down with some of the artists to chat about previous festival experiences, gifts, expectations and what they’re looking forward to most.
1) Prior to attending festivals as an artist, were you one for attending as a punter?
Are there festival memories from your youth, or recent past, that you’d like to share?
Domenic: Never went to a festival until I DJ’d at one…
Harri: Me too.
Krysko: No. The first festival I ever went to was when we did the Radio 1 stage at Glastonbury in 2002 as Tribal Gathering presents… Before that I’d never been to one. It was like an old Radio 1 Roadshow, but much, much more ‘intoxicated’ shall we say. We drove down in a Winnebago van and they parked us behind the Radio 1 stage. At some point on the Saturday (I think) we drove the van out onto site, managed to get quite far actually, we drove past the opera stage with the music blaring out, and then crashed it into a tree. We got to a gate with stewards, being told we’d be kicked out if we didn’t return immediately to our area. A lot has changed in 13 years.And I’d like to say there will be no crashing of camper vans this weekend. I promise.
Kappa: Ha, well the first festival I went to was Bloodstock, Derby, in 2005. I was a big rock fan and went with a few pals. We slept in our leather jackets by a canal as we hadn’t booked a hotel and by day roamed the streets of the city drinking a famous Spanish lager and swinging plastic Viking swords to the annoyance of the locals. I got a photo with Alexi Laiho from Children of Bodom which takes pride of place in a drawer (somewhere). Played at Rockness a couple times and TITP, they were both actually really fun.
Denis: Yes, most definitely. I’ve been to a few, most recently Bloc. at Minehead which I thought was pretty weird. I like big festivals. Seeing guys like Robert Hood and Jeff Mills on such a huge scale is absolutely phenomenal, it’s not something you can see at home. They both played the closing day of Dekmantel last year and it was scandalous!
Spittal: Rockness in 2009 was special for loads of reasons, still one of the best weekends of my life. It’s a hard one to narrow down, as it wasn’t anything in particular, it was just the whole experience was bang on.Was always a dream to play up there because of that weekend, but it wasn’t destined to be.
Nowicki: I almost got robbed in Gnaoua Music Festival in Essaouira, Morocco. A free festival located on the coast of Morocco with all sorts of mad DJs and bands. There was a group of young boys who managed to nick a camera from one of the guys staying in the hostel. It was attached to his wrist and they swiped the strap with a knife and ran away with it. Later on they formed a human pyramid and one of the kids climbed to the top, backflipped onto the sand in celebration of his new gadget.
2) What’s your top 5 festival tunes?
Domenic: I have no idea what a festival tune is.
Harri: Me neither.
Krysko: It’s a tough one that, as they’re so varied nowadays, you could be in a muddy field in Scotland playing to 8,000 nutters or in the sun to 500 music aficionados in an open air club in Croatia the next. Off the top of my head, for the muddy field of nutters I’d say –
Clark – Jak to Basics
Laurent Garnier – Crispy Bacon
Fiedel – Ferro
And for the sun – Romanthony – Hold On (Roman’s Remix)
Les dance – Jean Claude Gavri Retouch
Omar S – I Wanna Know (feat. James Garcia)
Kappa:
Flora Cruz – Let The Sun Shine Out (Jerome Sydenham’s Vocal Dub)
Hugh Masakela – Don’t Go Lose It Baby
Modeselektor – Silikon
Skye – Ain’t No Need
Kid Creole & The Coconuts presents Coati Mundi – Que Pasa Me No Pop
Nowicki: That’s a tough one but here are some that spring to mind.
The Pharcyde – Runnin’ – A local resident DJ played this in Sonar by day in 2010 – J Dilla’s creative use of sampling on the beat is quality.
Pleasure – Joyous – A good sax is always good in the sun.
Raoul K – Sene Kela feat. Laolu – Beautiful House record with uplifting African vocals.
Afrika Bambaataa & The Family – Bambaataa’s Theme (Assault on Precinct 13) – Italo-style disco from the Block Party king.
George Clinton – R&B Skeletons (In The Closet)
3) What’s your five essential festival items as a performing artist?
Domenic: My tunes, beer, denim hot pants, cowboy boots, clean underwear.
Harri: Same.
Kappa: Backups of records across audio formats in case of emergency obvz! Sennheiser HD 25s, comfy shoes, tonto in water bottle and Rennies.
Spittal: Just take your good spirit and you’ll be all good.
Nowicki: 2 x technics 1210’s, a good mixer, cold beer and a buzzing atmosphere filled with sound people.
4) How is the summer shaping up for you, have you got any European gigs or festival appearances you’re looking forward to?
Domenic: Looking forward to Electric Elephant and Zoo Project.
Harri: Couldnae make this up… same.
Krysko: It’s looking life changing actually. Our first baby is due at the end of May, so we got the timing right on that one! Firstly it’s Parklife where I’ll be doing back-to-back with Paul Woolford… and some idiot called Greg Lord. Following that is Electric Elephant in Croatia which is one of my favourites. Then Beatherder, where it’ll be my 10th year there. And finally Secret Solstice in Iceland.
Kappa: Not famous enough to have any big international gigs to be honest!
5) With not long to go, can you let the Subculture faithful in on a wee secret. What can they expect from your set?
Domenic: Polite trance and speed dubstep.
Harri: And a bit of psychobilly 3 step.
Krysko: I think I’ll leave my options open, but a block party is a block party, and it’s the perfect opportunity to play stuff you wouldn’t normally get the chance to in a club.
Kappa: A mix of old and new but my tip is my cohort’s new tune, Beta – “Endless Plains” which has an otherworldly level of synth pads and percussion. Also this has to be in: Ata Kak – Obaa Sima
Denis: No tricks, No secrets. Disco heat start to finish. Can’t wait.
Spittal: Sunshine disco music.
Nowicki: I never really plan my sets, just see what I feel like playing on the day and pack 100 or so records.
6) If one of our SoundSystem attendees were to present you with anything, gift-wise, to remember the festival by… what would you like?
Domenic: Monica Bellucci’s phone number.
Harri: No idea who she is, but I like the sound of her.
Krysko: A road map of Scotland please. As I’ll be driving over with Derrick Carter to a gig miles away later in the evening!
Kappa: A wee photo with the DJs and organisers would be very nice to remember it by.
Spittal: A hand shake and a fan boy picture with Derrick Carter would be a cool present.
Nowicki: A voucher for a record store so I can fund this vinyl addiction..
7) Will you have time to stick around and catch anyone else on the line up? Anyone in particular on your rave radar? Who are looking forward to hearing?
Domenic: Gerd Janson, Krysko and Derrick.
Harri: It all looks good to me.
Krysko: It sounds like such a cop out, but everyone. Seriously though the line up is brilliant. From Derrick, to Bicep, Gerd, Leon, the Dixon Avenue boys,
and all the residents. Not just great DJs, but all very sound people. It’ll be good to catch up with them all.
Maybe catch a bit of the newcomers, Harri & Dom – I’ve heard they’re alright!
Kappa: Del Carter and our own Hector aka Denis Sulta will be a treat. Also these troops called J.E.S.U.S…
Denis: Oh absolutely. Very keen to see Gerd Janson on the wheels of steel on Saturday.
And If I make through till the Sunday, I’ll be dancing up the front to J.E.S.U.S like a schoolgirl at a 1D show.
Spittal: Bicep have a track out on my label this summer, and having only spoken to the lads online it’ll be cool to finally have a chat after a few years of contact in the cyberworld. Gerd Janson has also had a bit of input on a Move D track on the same release, so I’ll be buying him a beer or two as a thank you.
Krysko is as sound as they come, so it’ll be cool to see him again too.
Nowicki: I’m a big fan of Gerd Janson’s Running Back record label but haven’t had the chance to see him DJ yet so I’m looking forward to that.
8) What’s your expectations of playing at Sub ClubSoundSystem? (Our brand new festival, 5 mins away from your second home.)
Domenic: Carnage.
Harri: Yep.
Krysko: Nothing but high expectations. In all seriousness, there’s few places in the world that have such a respected musical heritage in this scene. From the club and all the grade A fantastic people that run it, the residents and guys that run the various nights there, and to the heart and soul of the place – Harri & Dom. It just feels like going home for me.
Kappa: High because it’s Subbie! Good sound, nice crowd, underground tunes with a healthy dose of sunshine – here’s hoping!
Denis: I think it’s going to be class. These bigger events in Glasgow create a great buzz in the city.
I’m a big fan of the recent Sub Hub pop up, it was something new and cool. Glasgow needs shit like that.
I’ve never been to the festival site before and I’m dead excited. Lets just hope the weather’s good.
Nowicki: This will be my first ever festival to play at so I’m absolutely buzzin for it. The line up has a good variety of local and international DJ’s too. I can’t wait.
9) You have the chance to programme any line up of bands and DJ’s you want at an all day music festival…bands or DJ’s can be past and present (dead or alive) in any location you wish.
Where would this be? Who would the artists or DJ’s be and what would be the running order on the day?
Domenic: Live running order; Steve Reich, Voices From the Lake, Can, Tangerine Dream, Lalo Schifrin, John Martyn, Sonny Boy Williamson, St. Germain, The Meters, D’angelo, Chaka Khan, Maurizio, Larry Heard,
Floorplan/ Rob Hood, Underground Resistance, Model 500, James Brown, Luther Vandross,
Prince, Marvin Gaye…. DJ-wise too many to mention. And the venue would be Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria.
Harri: Tooks the words lot oot ma mooth.
Kappa: Abida Parveen,Arthur Lee, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Max Roach, Paul Chambers, Daphni b2b Moodyman, Dom Cappello b2b Carl Craig, Donna Summer & Moroder, The Elgins, Groove Chronicles, Harri + Desmond Dekker + Lee Perry, Larry Levan b2b Thomas Bangalter, Lord Kitchener, Kate Bush, Neil Young, Notorious B.I.G., Optimo + Divine (Live), Ramones, Prince b2b Nile Rodgers, Yello, Theo Parrish b2b Sylvester, Tom Waits b2b Beefheart (Funk Jam), Underground Resistance FULL band and Zappa + Vangelis.
Nowicki: I really like the idea of discovering a remote island somewhere and setting up a wee festival.
It would probably be somewhere in Indonesia and would have a comedy/woodstock style theme during the day (George Carlin and Robin Williams whippin out the patter and Jimi Hendrix and Richie Havens on the guitar licks). After dark Tangerine Dream, Funkadelic and Ron Hardy would perform. The capacity would be no bigger than Rockness. Hippy vibes yo.
10) What’s been your favourite Sub Club experience?
Krysko: There’s one clear winner, when we did the Sub Culture V WHP night, me & Greg with Harri & Dom.
In 15 years, it’s my favourite ever time playing in a club.
The other time was when 20 of us from Manchester came up for a lads weekend at the DJ Harvey night… now that was a strong few days.
Kappa: Henrik Schwarz… nuff said!
Denis: Crowd surfing on my birthday at Subculture this year was pretty good fun but
playing at the Dixon Avenue Basement Jams takeover with Marquis Hawkes, Dan Monox and The Wasp was certainly my most memorable moment hands down.
Nowicki: Every experience is different and it’s always seems to be getting better but Mr Ties playing for Big Foots was amazing. He doesn’t give a fuck; the mixing wasn’t great at points but the selection and general party atmosphere he created was a boldyin. I love his spontaneous approach, it’s definitely influenced me.
11) If there was an afters lined up with the full crew, would you have any party tricks to showcase ;) ?
Domenic: None.
Harri: Me Neither
Krysko: My mum always told me never to go anywhere with strange men!
Kappa: I can touch my toes on a good day and maybe sing them a song or two if I’m very, very drunk.
Spittal: I don’t know about my own party tricks, but Harri had some party tricks in Aberdeen a couple weeks back haha. And Dom has seen all my party tricks before.
Heads Up! 200 Saturday tickets remain for our Sub Club SoundSystem Bank Holiday Weekender. There will be no tickets available on the door so if you don’t wanna miss out on a 10 hour Courtyard & Block Party Subbie style then just click HERE or RESIDENT ADVISOR.
Full Line Up: DERRICK CARTER DOES DISCO // BICEP // GERD JANSON // LEON VYNEHALL // HARRI & DOMENIC // AUNTIE FLO // KRYSKO // DIXON AVENUE BASEMENT JAMS // TELFORD // HAMMER & JUBE // DENIS SULTA.
Sub Grub also on offer from DEVILS DELI.
Heads Up! Less than 200 Saturday tickets remain for our Sub Club SoundSystem Bank Holiday Weekender. There will be no tickets available on the door so if you don’t wanna miss out on a 10 hour Courtyard & Block Party Subbie style then just click HERE or RESIDENT ADVISOR.