RA talks to New York house master Dennis Ferrer about the machines that line his studio walls, and what it took to get them there.

Dennis Ferrer : P 2 Da J

That's a bad mother fucking tune right there. Late night madness.

You can't take your money with you when you die, so what's the point in keeping up any kind of industry secrets?

Oh if everyone shared the same thought.Respect to DF

really really inspiring interview, i've read a lot of interviews this past year and this one is probably ranking number 1!

good points and advice to all producers!

I often discussed the quantity of records released and how they destroy the electronic genre but dennis made a good point, rarely any one goes through a pre-release screening or listening to the track they made , they just release it on their digital labels.

very good interview!!1 very very good interview !

He's wrong on the MPC, got Guru for years, BPM from motu for some time, and an MPC1000 recently, there is nothing like the MPC, the filters and the way you do things (with your ears rather then with your mice) makes the shit of a difference... I shall have been doing my shit on an MPC since a long time... Buy an MPC, the rest is okay but nothing to compare it with...

"What happens is this: You look for what's missing. What's happening in the scene, and what's missing? What do people need, what do people crave? You have to understand that every record that's come out already, these cats have finished it at least a year ago"

Very true... Dennis is a master of this. When mnml was everywhere in '05 - '06 he was knocking out vocal deep house like there was no tomorrow... and now look at the scene and whose on top?! He definitely knows how to play the game!

Great interview!! Props to Dennis for telling it how it is...

"Why keep things secret? You can't take your money with you when you die, so what's the point in keeping up any kind of industry secrets? Look, if you're a bad motherfucker, you're a bad motherfucker. You shouldn't have to worry about some other kids stepping up to the plate."

great interview!!
he has got a very real approach to things.

"Don't do what you've heard,
do what you think you gonna hear."

...blowing this up and slapping in the studio for a very simple reminder.

"Do you have any particular methods for cultivating inspiration?

Inspiration comes from anywhere. As long as you're open to it; as long as you make yourself available to it... It's basically a lottery. The problem is having enough lottery tickets to give you enough of a chance."

Damn. That shit is deep.

great interview.

as a producer i always get pissed when i see interviews with great producers than never even mention the production process

what does he mean when he says he sends his drums/synths to a pre? how do u do that?

...word

send audio of virtual synth or whatever sound you have in pc out into a pre amp to make brighter or wider etc. once audio is sounding better send that back into your system and record.


very good read! motivating the masses.

great jahb

Outstanding. A living dance music legend

great read, wise words from a true house master, thanks again ra

Dennis is a very talented producer. I remember working with him about 15 years ago on Morph and he was at the same time even making jazz music. D knows his craft, tricks, and equipment by all means. He is one to always watch. He can do anything.

The kind of interview i like.

Superb!

Always look forward of interviews on RA.

Very inspirational piece. Thank you RA and Dennis.

Very interesting and sensible.
And very nice guy, i've met him he actually DOES look like Turk out of "Scrubs"

superb interview dennis

really great interview, very inspiring.

Dennis Ferrer had to cancel his gig in Italy because of back pain- Hope for a speedy ricovery

excellent interview. i really love when producers talk gear and technique. fantastic stuff. he drops some real science here...let's see who's listening.

D is a bad motherfucker!

Love it. Thanks.

very nice read

Best producer of the 0aughties

hitmaker.

i'll join the DF love-in!!

ultimate role model for modern DJs

I don't really enjoy the new Dennis Ferrer stuff, but this interview is pretty good. Thanks.

It's interesting that he said about 2 years ago or so he started going completely software as that's when I stopped really enjoying his music. I don't know if it's related to his process or current state of mind, but it's interesting none the less. I have some records of his from 10 years ago or so that are amazing and I will cherish for awhile.

favorite being Don't Know Why.. on Large.

http://www.djtunes.com/#/dennis-ferrer/large-music-6-0/i-don-t-know-why__533603

very cool interview!

"Of course. There's hundreds of songs on my hard drive which you guys won't ever hear because they're so bad. The problem is nowadays, everybody is putting out everything they make. Nobody sits back and puts it away for a minute. No, everybody's in a rush to do the hottest, greatest thing. And you know what? Nine times out of ten it's garbage. "

So True... I have a bout 60-70 right now i'm sitting on.. and 40 or so i trashed last year. I just like to be creative and try new things.. other wise i'd get bored of making music.. Too many people are popping out garbage tracks in ableton... and cutting way too many corners to get the end result..

Good music...takes work... and a lot of trial and error for dance and electronic tracks.

I learn something new everyday.. and try new things everyday.. and its really just starting to pay off for me..

In the mean time... I'm gonna enjoy the ride.. and the people i meet on the way!


http://www.myspace.com/colinturnbull

really great interview! thanks ra and dennis

Hey Hey !

Truly inspiring and informative. Always willing to listen to anything this man has to say...

Still... He's no Sidney Sampson.

http://www.stern.de/reise/fernreisen/lustreisen-spiele-mit-models-und-masken-1502533.html

Best ever producer ! Cant wait to see what comes from him the future !!!!

great work !!!

Got even more respect for Ferrer after reading this, a proper artist!

London-based bad motherfuckers: Dennis has just been added to the bill for the Nocturnal night at matter on 27th Feb: www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?141573
Thought you might appreciate the tip

i was thinking the same thing. however, after hearing him deejay recently, i feel like maybe he has just gone too mainstream for my ears. whatever it is, i enjoy his older stuff much much more. a good interview though!

The best interview of the year, nice!!

A great interview. Great inspirational answers telling it how it is. The only one thing I couldn't quite agree with is this comment.

"Do you actually feel like there is enough competitiveness on the scene?

I don't think there is enough. I think there needs to be. I think... that's what I do. I'm sorry, when I'm hearing somebody's record, do I say "Oh my god, I love this"? No! My first feeling is "Oh my god, that's incredible—I gotta bust his ass on the next record."

Creativity, if it is going to come from somewhere real and congruent, isn't a competition. If you are truly expressing then someone else's record surely has nothing to do with it.

nice

Quality interview. Quality character!

I love how straight up that was - 9 times out of ten its garbage..so true, thats why we're all trawling through beatport looking for something decent to buy!

very interesting!

great read. great person...and killer music since day one.

real new york style front to back.

always look forward to hearing anything he comes up with.