Fri, 30 Apr 2010 / 1 CommentIt was only in 2002, at the age if 16, that you decided to dedicate yourself to the profession of a DJ…
It was only in 2002, at the age if 16, that you decided to dedicate yourself to the profession of a DJ…
What was the starting point that brought you to this decision? Did the fact that you grew up around Detroit influence the decision a lot?
I don’t think it was a conscious thing, like “hey i’m going to be a pro dj” I was just a kid with a hobby playing music in his bed room. In America listening to dance music isn’t really cool, so in a way its something your extremely into or not. I think growing up in Detroit had something to do with my ideas about dance music, but at the same time being from Detroit doesn’t give you this view that you can make a living off djing. Seeing Kenny Dixon jr (Moodyman) in a rusted out car doesn’t really paint of picture of a “well paid career”.
What was the biggest force that pushed you into believing in a future as a DJ?
Again it was a hobby, I went to university for design and advertising, and over time it just kind of happened that I was a professional DJ. Its still funny to me, that I play records and make music as my job.
When was it that you actually realised the level of your international success?
I think last week, when this video interview I did for Dj Mag had like 27,000 hits in two weeks. This time last year I could hardly pay rent, so it’s a new thing.
How would you explain your success as a producer, having released on many of the worlds most famous labels like Wagon Repair, Minus, Bpitch, Circus Company? What are the important factors in creating productions that stimulate the interest of top labels?
I think I’ve released on those labels because of friendships I’ve made with the people who own them threw the years. I think as a producer you just have to do what’s good for you and not follow trends, just make your music and be a nice guy, then see what happens from there.
Like many artists, you chose to move to Berlin, the city in the vanguard of electronic music. What are the things that make the city so special? Regarding this, do you think that in the future, also other European cities can grow to that status (for example Zurich)?
I moved to Berlin because I had some many friends there and it was an obvious jump from America. I think any city has the chance of making something happen, it all depends on the people of that local scene and what they want to do in a cultural sense. You see people in Italy, tying in art with music, or in London there are these kids who are really excited and making crews and throwing parties. I think its just about a small group of people wanting to create something then doing it. Not just following the standard ideas of how things are done, but instead making something new.
You travel a lot and are taking part in the best festivals around the globe. What do you think a festival has more of, than a night in a club?
I think festivals are funny. its a lot of people and in so many ways it allows you to maybe showcase music to people who normally wouldn’t see you play. That’s cool, but at the same time you cant really play how you want at a festival because there is so many people. You cant have that interaction with a crowed the same way you do at a small club. But if you can make a festival feel like a basement party, your the fucking don.
You have already managed to perform in many Italian cities. Which of those was the one where you felt most comfortable and where you would happily go back to?
I love Italy, the food the women, people are crazy and really open, I think my favorite cities have to be Florence, and Bologna I have the most friends there and every time with the Tenax and Kindergarten crew were having a great time all the time. But I just became a resident for Circoloco at Dc 10 this summer, so I see Rome becoming a lot more fun… Maybe Looking forward to perform at Elettrowave 24 of July as Visionquest Live with my Detroit brothers Shaun Reeves, Lee Curtis and Ryan Crosson… that’s going to be awesome as first ever live appearance together!!!!!
You are still young yourself, but if you had to choose a few names of some upcoming talents (european or non-european) with which you had the chance to perform or hear them perform and whom you think we will see in some of the biggest line-ups in the future, who would they be?
Right now I cant speak higher of Nicolas Jaar the kid is 19 and to me is making some of the best music on the planet. He has such a profound and different take on dance music that only grows by the day. I think in the next 10 years he’ll be electronic music biggest star. Much like Ricardo, the man everyone looks to when it comes to musical production.
A lot of videos are around on the internet which show your performances, but lately we were really interested by your video interview for DJMagTV at WMC. We saw a Seth that had nothing to lose, that was ironic, that loves all kinds of forms of fun and doesn’t care about the judgement of others. Listening to your sets, we get the same feeling. Is it correct then, that we see your music as a mirror image of your character? Can we say then, that most of all music is fun?
Hahaha, we’ll that was me, being me, and I think music is so fun, I can be serious but only when It comes to ideas, and wanting to make things more interesting but even that comes with a dash of fun. I think dance music has got so serious people forgot were having a party. I think one of the best things one of my friends has told me while we were on a vacation. He say’s “hey Seth you cant get stressed about relaxing”, the same goes with having fun. “You cant be too serious about having a party.” As taste makers I think some Dj/artist forget they have a cultural role within the “scene” and things get about getting big and egos. And less about going out and having a dance and making a party. So I think it is correct that music is an mirror to character, and for me i’m an oddy fun guy, kind of like 1+1=7 you know, or that type of thing.
