How and when did you start djing?
I first became interested in EDM back in 2000 after my cousin had picked up a pair of 1200's. I thought they were the coolest things ever, so I began frequenting a local record store and badgering the owner until I was finally hired. Over the course of my employment, I was introduced to a number of local DJs & Producers who would offer up tips and tricks of the trade. That's more or less how I got my feet wet.
What do you think about the evolution of music and clubbing in the last 10 years?
Well, 10 years ago I was in the fourth grade. I've only become actively involved in the clubbing community in the last 5 years or so, but what I've noticed in that time is the music and scene as a whole seem to be shifting in a more commercial direction. I'm fully behind this movement; the larger the audience, the better in my opinion. It will become progressively easier to support the artists, hopefully making this producing thing a feasible career path in the future for the people who don't manage to make it to the top.
What kind of music do you use to play?
I initially started playing Jungle & DnB, but quickly moved towards the housier sounds. My sets now include prog, house, electro, techno and some trance. It depends on the room really.
You are a dj and a productor... which one is going to be the kind of music of your next productions?
My releases for 2006 are all over the spectrum, everything from prog & electro to deep house & trance. Changing it up freque
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ntly is the only way I can stay sane doing this all day everyday.
Tell us the names of your favourite productors, excluding you:
I have a lot of respect for Junkie XL and Shpongle as producers. Their skills in the studio are amazing. I'd have to say BT is my favorite though as far as song writing goes. He's been the most significant influence on the direction I've set for myself.
Where are you currently working and in which club would you like to play?
I'm a full time producer/DJ at the moment, so like most in this profession, I work out of my basement and only surface for air when I'm DJing. I'd really like to play Pacha Buenos Aires. Hopefully during my next South American trip I'll get this opportunity.
Tell us about the most exciting moments of your career and the nicest club where you worked at:
I'd have to say the most exciting moment of my career thus far was the first time I saw my name in a magazine. It's a nice feeling to know that what you're doing is getting noticed. I took the last couple years off to teach myself how to produce and build my name as a musician. As a result, I haven't had a lot of time to promote the DJing, although that was the intent. Now that I have the production ball rolling, I'm working on a couple international DJ tours for mid 06. Ask that question again in summer.
The record that you loves more and at least 5 of your favourites:
My absolute favorite record is Teebee - "Let Go", It's Drum n Bass and has a ton of great memories attached
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o it. There are so many good tracks out there, these are some of my top ones:
BT - The Great Escape
Technozoide feat. Rosy Aragao - Esfera
Valentino - Flying (Sultan and Tonedepth Remix)
Stephanie Cooke - Rain (Let It All Come Down)
Dennis Ferrer - Reach 4 Freedom
D:Fuse - Everything With You (Marteen & Jes's Radio Mix)
What do you think about new technologies and particularly about the relation between internet and clubbing?
That's a pretty broad question. One that I could probably discuss for hours. I'll keep it short. While trying to push my name globally as a DJ/Producer, I have found the internet to be an invaluable resource. I realize that without the type of self promotion that can be done on it, I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am now, nor would I have a fraction of the working relationships I've been able to seek out and initiate online.I'm becoming more and more in favor of this digital movement as I watch it progress. At first, it seemed like a vicious shot to the nuts, and it was. The file sharing, promo leaks and general damage to artist revenues. all pains in the ass. But now, after the initial shock has subsided and having had time to soak it all in, I've pretty much jumped on board. There are just so many reasons why I prefer digital media. I think the biggest ones are not having to lug a flight case around, and the ease of which I can obtain new music and prepare it for club play. A CD wallet is so much more appealing than a heavy ass record box. I haven't played vinyl for probably 2 years now.
Damien Heck
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