Fluxcore Magazine Interview With Darien J
19th Oct 2007
In March 2006 he started Stylistik, a club promotion in London and has since branched into producing original material and hosting his own radio show. Catch him on Thursdays in London on Passion 98.1FM and keep an eye out for his debut EP The Dubstar EP out in November 2007 on Tony Thomas Cubism imprint. I had the great opportunity to interview this impassioned artist via email and got some insight into the world of minimalist house music.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CT: How's your radio show going? Darien J: The radio show is going really well and although it's late night midweek, I'm surprised at the positive response from listeners of a station that is well known for it's funky and electro house DJs. The show also keeps me fresh and makes sure I'm on top of the new releases every week. CT: What inspires you about minimal house? DJ: I love the fact that the minimal stuff puts more emphasis on the whole DJ set rather than the individual tracks. It means that it's down to the technical ability of the DJ to keep things interesting and build the atmosphere through longer mixes,looping, FX and the like rather than just playing big tune after big tune in the same style. I find the tracks within the minimal genre are more experimental too and can touch upon lots of other genres without becoming too full-on enabling the DJ to take the crowd on a journey with all kinds of twists and turns. It can be jacking, Detroit style one minute before dropping into real proggy, almost trance like territory the next. When it comes to production it's like there are almost no rules. A track can have elements from any other genre, from hip-hop to hardcore as long as it doesn't get too in-your-face. The success of Samim's huge 'Heater' track this summer is a great example of how you can throw any kind of sound into the mix with it's excellent accordion hook. CT: Anyone can be a DJ nowadays. The real art of DJing has been lost and the new era of DJs are more song mixers than anything else. I'd say that goes in hand with the listening of the audience as well, is minimalist bigger in Europe than other parts of the world? DJ: I think there are more people into the minimal sound in Europe especially Germany and the UK although there are many producers breaking new ground in places like Canada and South America too. I think in London, because there's such a concentration of DJs and producers in a relatively small area, there's always an element searching for new and different sounds. Berlin has always been the place for new experimental electronic music and it's influence over new trends in London underground club culture cannot be denied. CT: Have you played in the States? DJ: Haven't yet played in the States but I'm hoping to sort something out for next year. CT: Where was your most memorable performance? DJ: My most memorable gig was probably a small event I put on in London earlier this year. Billed as a totally unofficial after-party for Secretsundaze we packed out a small club on Old Street and I had such an overwhelming response to my own tracks that it was probably the first time I realised that the stuff I was making wasn't so bad after-all. The fact that we'd all been partying since midday on a Sunday had nothing to do with it! CT: You're music is great! Your tracks like "Vortex" and the remix of "Defect" are very beat-driven and definite club thumpers and then there is the track "Intro Venus" which is a bit more chill...how's the writing/production process go for you? DJ: I usually wait for some kind of inspiration before I start a new track otherwise I tend to sit and fiddle in the studio for ages before I come up with anything useful. Inspiration can come from anywhere but usually after listening to new tracks that I've bought or a mix cd that I've done I notice a trend in all of the tracks selected and try to start something that will fit in with my playing style. When I do sit down and crack on with the idea I tend to begin with the percussive elements and bass as that's where I'm most competent and it also helps if I have a strong groove to start from. If the groove is strong it will carry the track and I can then layer pretty much anything over the top which is very useful as I'm not particularly musical! CT: I know what you mean. What other instrument would you play if you chose? DJ: I can play the odd riff or bass line on the keyboard and I received a 'Piano for Idiots' book for Christmas but I've yet to get stuck in. I also started learning guitar when I was younger but as soon as I bought turntables my guitar was banished to the cupboard. One day I'll dust it off and have another crack at it as I'd love to actually be able to play a song the whole way through rather than just the first few chords. CT: Do you ever collaborate with writing music? I know with deep and melodic house music writing chord structures and having multiple instrumentalists is the norm, that's not the case for minimalist or even other genres and subgenres of dance and electronic music. DJ: I've had some good results from work I've done with Delta 7even (32 Bit Records) and should hopefully have something ready for release soon. I also have some other projects with other producers and DJs that are still at the early stages but looking promising. After many attempts I've found the best way to collaborate with someone on the more minimal stuff is to take turns adding (or subtracting) elements to (or from) a track, either in the studio or via the net before getting together for the arrangement. As so much of it is experimental and takes so much time to find or create sounds that if you're not at the controls it can be very dull. I'd like to introduce some real instrumentation at some point so I'll be begging favours from friends who actually have some musical talent. CT: Are there any minimalist artists from the States that you admire? DJ: There are many artists I respect (admire is a strong word that I save for when talking about my girlfriend!) but I have no idea where most of them come from! I think a lot of the producers of stuff I play are based in Germany but it seems like the German influence is everywhere now so they could be from Texas for all I know. CT: Have you played Germany? DJ: I'm booked to play a few clubs in Frankfurt towards the end of November. It'll be my first visit and I'm really looking forward to it as I've had a lot of excellent feedback from people over there. CT: Congrats! With all that you've been up to and want to do still where do you see yourself in 5 years? DJ: In an ideal world I'll be busy with worldwide dj tours, live performances, remixing and producing. I also hope to be in a position to put enough time aside to launch my own label. I also expect to have my Stylistik promotion running regularly again in the UK and abroad featuring the more innovative DJs and live acts of the time. At the very least I'll be supporting myself financially from music. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check Darien J out on and Stylistik @ and outside of London check out his radio show on Passion 91.8 FM (London) www.passion918fm.com
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