Twenty years after first linking with Sasha to release the seminal 'Renaissance Mix Collection' series, progressive-house pioneer, John Digweed, is still packing clubs and festival stages, still releasing cutting-edge electronic music on his acclaimed Bedrock Records imprint, and still loving every minute of it.
Scenestr sat down with the ‘DJ's DJ’ to chew the fat on social media and why it’s important for DJs not to be arseholes, ahead of his headline appearance at January’s Rainbow Serpent Festival.
You’ve been coming to Australia for years, and are confirmed for an appearance at Rainbow Serpent; what’s your opinion of the local scene and how it’s developed over the years, and who are some of the local producers/ artists you keep tabs on?
I have been coming to Australia for over 20 years now and it always used to be clubs that you played in and the club scene was really strong. I think all the big festivals that grew out of the club scene in the last ten years have had an effect in some shape or form on club culture as it's harder for them to compete with the massive line-ups that appear even though the DJ sets are only 60-minutes long.
For me, I have preferred on my last few trips down to Oz to focus on club-show tours as you end up with a room full of your hardcore fans all bang-up for it. I have heard really good things about Rainbow Serpent from fellow DJs who say it has an old-school vibe mentality and atmosphere. With a likeminded crowd, it makes it so much more fun for me as a DJ to take the crowd where I want to. So really looking forward to the gig in January.
As someone who is routinely nominated as a ‘DJ’s DJ’, what advice would you have for young up-and-comers?
Play from your heart and play the music you love. Don’t be an arsehole! As nobody will want to work with you if you act like a diva after been in the scene for five minutes as there are plenty of DJs to choose from these days. Your fans are key; without them you have an empty dancefloor. Never forget that.
Like many DJs nowadays, you’re an enthusiastic user of social media. Do you feel pressure to be online and visible?
In the past, DJs used to get their coverage in magazines and on radio shows. These days you can connect with your fans directly with all the different, social-media platforms. I try to post what I think is relevant to my fanbase with a few, random posts thrown in there just to mix it up. Fans tend to engage more when it feels more personal rather than shoving 'here is my next release/ gig/ flight' all the time.
God Within’s 'Raincry', which featured on you and Sasha’s 'Northern Exposure' 1996 release, was one of the first electronic tunes I connected with. What are a few, classic tunes that never leave your bag?
I really tend to play 90 per cent new material when I am out playing and only occasionally I might dig further into the playlist for a classic at the end of a long set; these change as I always try to surprise myself as well as the crowd.
Your ‘Live In….’ series is consistently lauded, most recently your South Beach instalment. What goes into deciding the locations in which you record these compilations?
I never choose the location. The party and the recording choose it. The fact we have had two CDs from Argentina and Miami is purely down to how great those parties were. I really want to give people the best possible live CD, so thats's how I go about choosing the location.
Bedrock Records has charged along when so many other independent labels have shut up shop. On the technology and social media tip again, how have rapid advances in technology (digital downloads etc.) helped Bedrock survive? On the other side of the coin, have the same advances made it harder for independent labels to survive?
Well there is less chance of ordering too many CDs or vinyl in the digital age, so you have less stock issues. But the royalty statements from the likes of Spotify are pretty crap to be fair.
The most important aspect is getting awareness of your releases as the sheer number of tracks that are released every week is unbelievable – you need to make sure people see your product. Guy J has a new album release, so it's really vital that every magazine, blog, electronic website is carrying a story about the release. As a label we also have to push different avenues to bring in extra revenue like merchandise etc. We are still here so must be doing coming right.
What’s a few things you never miss doing when you’re in Australia?
I love catching up with old friends and eating amazing food. Unfortunately, this trip there is very little time do anything except travel, play and sleep. :(
You tour far and wide; where are some of the more exciting territories for electronic music nowadays?
Argentina is one of the best places in the world in terms of reaction and energy from the dancefloor. It really can’t be beaten – the reaction is the same at 7pm as it is at 6am.
Rainbow Serpent is known for spectacular light and laser shows; what’s the current format of your show, and how important are visuals to you as part of the overall experience?
I think if it's done right and has a clued up light technician it can be amazing. So many times the lighting guy thinks he is at a Metallica concert and just seems to turn every light on. The dancefloor should be a place where you lose yourself; not be lit up like a supermarket. I am not a showman-type DJ, so prefer to put the music front and centre.
John Digweed Tour Dates
Sat 23 Jan - Electric Gardens Festival (Sydney)Sun 24 Jan - Rainbow Serpent Festival (Lexton, Victoria)
Mon 25 Jan - Shed 9 (Melbourne)
