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Stereoboard Speaks To Electronica Legend John Digweed At 2011 Global Gathering (Interview)
Monday, 22 August 2011 Written by Adam Holden
Stereoboard Speaks To Electronica Legend John Digweed At 2011 Global Gathering (Interview)

For those of you who don’t know the name John Digweed, you should, and give him the utmost respect. The electronic DJ, producer and music entrepreneur is one of the hardest working men in the industry, and that includes all genres from classical music all the way up to dub step.

This is why being privileged to have ten minutes with the man is quite an honour. So, at Global Gathering 2011, the master of electronic house and DJ of the year in 2001 sat down for a short Q and A, after just flying in from playing in Macedonia to perform on his own special stage – Bedrock (named after his record label).

As you can imagine, it’s pretty hard to talk to John about anything but music and DJ’ing!

Adam Holden: How do you define your Bedrock music, are you able to place it in its own genre?

John Digweed: I don’t really want to put it into a genre. I just want to make good electronic house music. I don’t want to have just one sound, I want a bit of everything and give the crowd a bit of variety, which is why I am happy with the line up this year.

AH: So how much influence do you have on the Bedrock stage here at Global Gathering 2011?

JD: I have a lot of influence, but I also collaborate with my management team. We have hosted the stage for about six years now and I think it’s important to bring in new faces and have the regulars too. I love the tent we have here, the low roof is cool and when the sun goes down, it gets that dark room vibe.

(And just to clarify, the Bedrock tent is extremely cool, which contrasts to all other festival tents)

AH: Your work ethic is incredible and you have been at the top of your game for a long time now. How long can you sustain the level of professionalism you put out there at the moment?

JD: If you do something you love, why stop it? I’m not like an athlete that trains for the Olympics. As long as my ears are good, and I love what I do, I’ll continue for as long as I can.

The scene has proved that there is room for lots of other DJ’s and different styles. There are many guys who have been around a long time, but they aren’t hogging the scene from anyone else. Every year there is a new DJ coming through and they are getting their chance to shine as well. With new DJ’s, fans get a chance to hear something fresh and new, and with the older guys, they know they are going to see someone who knows how to rock a dance floor just as well.

AH: Would you always like to be the headline act, or would you consider stepping down in years to come?

JD: Yeah well, if you look at the last few weekends, there were 20,000 in Holland, I just did a massive gig in Turkey, a big show at the Monegros Festival; who doesn’t want to do that (as John smiles from ear to ear).

AH: I have never experienced one of your mammoth sets, how on earth do you do them?

(And for those of you haven’t and are sat at your PC screen feeling quite bewildered at the moment, Mr Digweed is known for producing the occasional monster 13 hour sets!)

JD: Firstly, you need to know your music inside out. Secondly, you need to know how to structure a night!

AH: Do you ever get tired?

JD: Not really, the adrenaline keeps you going. At the end of it your are pretty shattered, but normally I’m so pumped up, I can’t sleep, trying to take in what’s just happened.

ImageIt’s not one of those things where I start to play from one hour to ten hours. You just keep progressing and gradually building the music up. I know how to do a long set just as well as a short set. I like doing both, but you need the right crowd!

AH: How do you plan it?

JD: You just start playing. The longer sets were only planned for 5-6 hours, and they just go on. There is no way you plan a ten hour set, it’s impossible. You just have to know your music.

I might say I want to get to this point in an hour’s time. So you just have to figure out what records to play on the way.

AH: How does your set change depending on which time slot you have been allocated?

JD: It all depends on the DJ before you and what time set you are playing. If I’m playing early and people are still getting ready, obviously I won’t play the biggest banging records. But if I’m last, or at peak time, I will, as that’s what people want. The fans aren’t going to come in and want to be warmed up; they want to go for it!
It’s just knowing how to read the crowd!

AH: Any tips on how you do that?

JD: Well it’s not something you learn at college. You just got to get out there and get behind the decks. Sometimes the best way to learn is by being thrown in at the deep end. You can learn a lot from bad gigs.

AH: You experienced many bad gigs?

JD: Not lately, (smiling away again) but when I was young yeah, of course. Peaking too early and then having nowhere to go. But that’s DJ’ing, you have to learn how to plan, not peak to soon, stagger the set and keep the crowd interested, so when you bring it down and come up again, the reaction is great!

AH: Cliché  question, but got to ask a man of your experience, what’s you favourite gig/venue to play at?

JD: In Argentina, the fans are amazing, and the energy, reaction and passion for clubbing is unbelievable.

AH: Not Ibiza?

JD: No, Ibiza is good and has so many clubs, but Argentina is head and shoulders above the rest of them! I go once or twice a year, but don’t want to go too much, because then you’ll ruin it.

AH: Do you listen to anything else but electronica?

JD: I do listen to other music, I just don’t really have time to. The amount of music I get sent everyday is overwhelming.

AH: Yeah, I have friends who have sent you music.

JD: Haha. (smiling away again) There comes a time in the day when I need to switch off. I don’t listen to as much other music as I would like to. The majority of the time, all I listen to is promos and demos, because if someone has sent me something half decent, I want to sign it to the label.  
 
As we ended the interview, we both headed towards the Bedrock stage, although through different entrances. However, I now felt like I understand why the DJ is renowned for being one of the best in the world. His attention to detail seems second to none and the time he allocates to his career is surely unprecedented. He takes progression and build-ups to a whole new level. It is his meticulous attitude to music that makes him headline material.

And as you would expect, his set was excellent!
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