Production wizard - Dave Spoon Digital @ Turmills preview interview!! Posted by Greg Lynn on Apr 3, 2007 - 1:08:54 PM

Had the secondary school where DJ Dave Spoon attended not had a dusty old TB303 and Juno 60 synthesiser stashed away in the cupboard for him to discover, then the world of dance music might have been very different to what it is today; the genres of House and Electro would be severely lacking and there wouldn’t have been an awesome string of fresh productions and remixes or his highly unique DJing style for our ear drums to be treated to.

Simon Neale , otherwise known as Dave Spoon had his first exposure to music listening to his dad’s record collation. He would make mix compilations out of them (the tapes still exist to this day) using Police and Rolling Stones records. Dave was lucky enough to attend a school that invested heavily in musical equipment. This was also about the same time that House music was becoming big in the UK and had grabbed Dave’s attention. After becoming acquainted with the aforementioned TB303, soon his House and Breakbeat produced sounds could be heard coming from the school hall.

His obsession with drum machines and synths continued and whilst not really being influenced by other records and trends; but being inspired by quality production, and always wanting to make a wide variety of styles, led to him creating a very distinctive and original sound, long before he was a recognised DJ.

Dave’s big break came when in 2004 when his 21^st century EP was signed to Mark Knight’s Tool Room records. The tracks on the EP went down an absolute stormer on the nations dance floors and got played by the likes of Roger Sanchez, Steve Lawler, Tall Paul and Pete Tong. Success followed with the next EP ‘Sunrise’ with it being signed to Seamus Haji’s ‘Big Love’ imprint and its tracks gaining support from Deep Dish, Axwell and Steve Angello across the globes dance floors.

Last year Dave Spoon chose to concentrate more on the production and re-mix side of things, but today now sees him as an in-demand DJ with this month him playing all across Europe with one gig really sticking out being Trackitdown present Digital marking their three years of running at one of London’s most famous clubs Turmills on Saturday the 21^st April.

Europe ’s largest and most innovative dance down load store certainly doesn’t believe in doing things small! Having supplied 50,000 music loving punters across all 4 corners of the globe (that’s 209 countries!) with high quality music; them now being fed by four and a half thousand labels, and currently supplying the world with 125,000 tracks doesn’t really call for a small celebration either.

That’s why their third year of success is marked by a line-up with the best headline acts performing across 3 rooms playing everything from sizzling Electro, House to get you grooving, hands in the air Trance, thundering Breaks, Drum and Bass, Hard Dance and Techno to get you stomping; and just who do you think is headlining in the main room…..? Yup DJ Dave Spoon!!..........oh and guess what? Turmills just happens to be one his favourite clubs! That’s why we thought we’d ask him a few questions about how he is preparing for the night………

Simon, birthday party events are always great parties and Trackitdown presents Digital is looking like no exception. There is a great variety of music going down that night and there are some other super brands involved. What are you most looking forward to about it?

I’ve only been there once or twice but they’re nights I remember really well. So it’s great to be on the other side of the decks in another of London’s legendary clubs. I’ll be checking out what else is going on too… my musical background is very mixed!

The directors of Trackitdown: Nolan, BK, Ed Real and everybody else involved have put their hearts and souls into the site over the last few years. How does it feel knowing that you are playing a crucial part in the celebrations?

It’s an honour; the site has always gone from strength to strength and is always somewhere I look for new material. Trackitdown brought quality artists like Miles Dyson and his Plasmapool label to my attention to name just the one!

You’ve said before that Turmills is one of your favourite clubs and that you love the music there; it being all about the vibe, no matter who is playing. What else do you really like about the venue?

The history, I love visiting venues with a huge history. I’m a bit old skool so it’s great to imagine some of the parties that went off in there in the 90’s when I was really getting to grips with the scene and getting to know what was what! I’m not a big clubber though, I never have been, but this club has had a huge influence over house music and amazing guests and club nights over the years!

The main room at Turmills where you are playing at Trackitdown isn’t actually that big; but that gives it a really intense and up for it atmosphere. How are you going to make the best of that and really work it with your music?

I never plan too much… some think DJ’s plan a whole set but it’s impossible to do that unless it’s a live performance or something. I have a few things up my sleeve musically but you’ll have to wait and see. It’s all about the moment!

One of your productions ‘At Night’ ended up getting cained in clubs around the world. Even Tiesto and Paul Van Dyke have treated their dance floors to it! You’ve got a new vocal version coming out soon featuring the delightful vocals of Lisa Maffia. How do you reckon that one is going to end up going down?      

I was surprised about the way it went down as an instrumental. It’s done really well and I couldn’t have anticipated the Trance crowd playing it either! The vocal version is set to cross over, but we’ll see how it goes down. It will have a completely new lease of life with Lisa’s vocals on. It’s had it’s time as an underground record and I feel lucky to have the attention it’s gained.

Your whole host of re-mix projects include S&V’s ‘King Coaster’ Bump’s ‘I’m rushing’ and Richard Grey’s ‘Warped Bass’ but one that   really sticks out is the highly uplifting ‘Take Me Away’ what kind of your own personal stamp did you want to leave on that track?

I stripped that one right back, and re-wrote almost all of it. I used a tiny bit of the vocal and just made it more underground. It’s slightly dated now, but one of my favourites! I always like to try new things and most of my work is different from the last. I like it that way!

You take pride in the fact that you’ve been brought up using Hardware for production. What is your view on the fact that a lot of production is now done with software emulations?

Yeah I think experience with real hardware is priceless; even if it’s integrated with software nowadays. The sounds you immediately get from original synths n drum machines are so raw and almost alive. It’s hard to explain unless you are a bit of a geek like me! The software now is amazing though, don’t get me wrong! Reason in particular has helped me immensely as a virtual studio.

On your website, you’ve got a feature on their called “geek corner” just what is that all about!?

That’s just a laugh really! A joke between a few of us studio geeks that’s all… not for everyone I understand! My site is really out of date now to be honest. I used to do it myself but time doesn’t allow me to now. It will be re-developed towards the end of 2007 and I’m hoping my brother will run it for me.

When you first arrive in a club; do you take in a lot about the kind of atmosphere, the type of clubbers, the time of night etc, so that the tunes you select will go matching it all perfectly?

Of course, I like to do my best and if I ignored those things it would be impossible. I like to see what kinds of tunes are really rocking it. Usually the residents are great to listen to as they know the crowd inside-out! It’s not about copying them or anything, but listening to the elements in certain records that lift the place.                          

When you’re in a DJ booth that is really close to the crowd (like it is at Turmills); does that make your job easier because you’ve got that intimate edge with the dance floor?

It does yeah, it nice to be able to talk to people and say hello for real too! I’m looking forward to it.

You’ve also had the prestigious residency at the Toolroom Knights events with one in particular being at the Ministry of Sound. How did that go for you?

Yeah it was great; those parties always go off really well. Toolroom have really grown big time and I’m lucky to be a part of all that. They’re a great bunch and the parties are making an impact everywhere.

So what else is in store for Dave Spoon in the future? More productions? Anymore globe trotting sets? Starting up your own label maybe?

Yes more productions and a limited DJ schedule as the studio takes priority. There are a few more remixes coming but I’m taking a short break from doing them to concentrate on original material for my album for next year. I’ve been doing a couple of secret collaborations too so watch this space!

And finally come the morning after 21^st April at Trackitdown presents Digital, what killer tunes of yours are really going to stick inside people’s heads to remember the night by?  

There’s some of those remixes which will hopefully do the business… plus a new track or 2 that are unnamed. They’ll get an outing for sure, plus the collab’s I just mentioned. ‘At Night’ still seems to be my signature record still so maybe that too, people kind of expect it to be played but it’s cool, I’m not bored of it yet!

Remember to catch DJ Dave Spoon dishing up the tunes at Trackitdown present Digital @ Turmills – London, Saturday 21^st April 22.00 – 06.00!

©Greg Lynn 2007

Feature by Greg Lynn