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 i:Vibes got the opportunity to throw some questions to the one and only John Askew. So read on to find out what he's got to say about his new album, upcoming gigs, new tracks and random things like pie, mash and recreational fruit...
If you can't find out what you want to know about John Askew below then the only thing left for you to do is check him out in the flesh and you can catch Mr. Askew headlining at the upcoming Yes! event @ Hidden (formerly Studio 33) on Saturday the 3rd of December.
John Askew - The Interview
i:Vibes: I read that you used to be in a few bands in your teens, how did the change from guitars to green lasers occur and what were your earlier Dance Music influences?
A: Well I always wanted to be a guitar player in a band, but the problem always was that I could never find a group of musicians who were as passionate and as into it as me. So after an argument with the last band I was in in my teens, I went to a rave to drown my sorrows and generally forget about the ongoing frustrations caused by the less committed members of the group. It changed everything for me in one night. I saw a way of being able to perform to a crowd on my own without losing the sonic power that 5 musicians could generate. My early influences were the DJs I saw at Universe raves - people like Gayle San, DJ Dag, Sven Vath, Carl Cox, Billy Nasty and Jeff Mills.
i:Vibes: It's been a pretty incredible couple of years for you, with your show on Kiss becoming more and more popular and DJ bookings taking you all over the world! Is there any set or event that really stands out as a 'Firm Askew Favourite'?
A: In the UK at the moment I have to say I always adore playing at The Cross and for The Gallery in London. Those crowds are always very receptive and understanding of my sound. The same can be said for The Escape in Swansea which is also definitely in my top 5 in the UK - along with Passion in Coalville. When that club is rocking it can be truly a magical place.
i:Vibes: Having clocked up so many air miles recently, I’m sure you must have a few funny stories to tell! Any you can share with us?!
A: No comment. :0)
i:Vibes: How about when you’re playing, are you known to have a few beers and get amongst it or do you remain the consummate professional?
A: I like to have a drink or two, but I never forget why I'm there. I have seen a few DJs ruin everyone's night by getting so fucked they can't stand up let alone mix. If you are being paid good money to play and people have travelled to come and see you play then you should have the decency to prioritise things so that the music and the performance come before your own personal desires to get smashed.
i:Vibes: Any scary moments ejecting the wrong CDJ in mid-set?
A: Well there are a few stories like that from the Technics/vinyl days. People knocking into the decks, needles breaking, scratched records jumping, beer blowing fuses, wooden dj booths swaying, but luckily the CDJs have helped eliminate most of these annoying aspects. However I remember once at Turnmills when I went to shake someone's hand over the top of the decks and as I grabbed their hand they simultaneously slipped off the stage and pulled my arm at such an angle that my sleeve caught the pitch control and dropped the speed by about 40 BPM, but I dealt with it as quick as possible.
i:Vibes: I saw on your website that you’ve played in Egypt. Now that’s a country that musically a lot of people aren’t aware is alive and kicking, how was it over there?
A: The gig was really cool. Matt Hardwick and I played back to back at a club called Summer Moon which is right on the beach. The crowd are pretty up for it over there and the scene is really new and fresh which always means the music is still the focal point ahead of any politics. It was a very interesting weekend indeed.
i:Vibes: How are your labels going at the moment and what future releases do you have lined up for us?
A: Things are going really cool at the moment. I'm loving the little family we have put together. I use the word family quite prominently since we have a very strong relationship betweens us with a very clear cut set of ideas and plans of where we are going in the future. The artists we sign have to be people who not only make great music but who share our views and our ideas. Working with people who don't can be a fucking nightmare. In terms of releases John O'Callaghan and I have just released a track called "Game Over" on Discover which will be followed by my new single "All Or Nothing" and then a wicked track from Greg Downey called "K.I.A." which comes with a banging remix from Marc van Linden. On Discover Dark, our more techy label, we have a new single from Russian trance legends Sensorica, which I think is in the shops now, called "Equilibrium". That also comes with a stunning track on the flip called "Train Of Thought". Then we have "The Dark Arts EP" which has another huge track from O'Callaghan called "Vendetta" and a dark club banger from me called "Nail Gun". I think all of these should be out before the end of the year. You can always find out more about all the labels at http://www.recoverworld.com/.
i:Vibes: Can you tell us a little bit about your 'Lower The Tone' album?
A: It's 3 CDs of entertainment. CD1, "The Singles" features loads of club tracks which are on there in full, and are unmixed so that CD DJs can have a bunch of stuff to play about with. Then there is a mix CD called "Live As Fucking Fuck" which I recorded in August at The Gallery, Turnmills, which has crowd noise and stuff. I wanted to include a DJ mix, but I am personally not a fan of these bland computer generated ones and wanted to give my fans more of a "dirty mix tape" vibe. There is loads of shit we could have done to the recording to make it sound better but that goes against what I was trying to achieve – a totally live unedited mix recorded at one of my fav clubs. The final bonus CD is called "Mixed Emotions". It features all kinds of strange bits based on experiences of anxiety, anger, delirious humour etc etc. There's ambient tracks, breaks, acid, sound effects, poetry, and some spoken word which I hope will all act as the perfect "after club audio entertainment" system for those post club sessions where talking can become a little difficult.
i:Vibes: The inclusion of a raw mix on CD2 is a really nice touch and the 3rd CD is great in an unusual and refreshing kind of way. Do you have any more 'outside the box' type of stuff in the pipeline?
A: You are most kind with your words sir. I have started working on my next album already and am working with a rock band to get some bits together for the bonus CD, so yes I am well into getting the follow up done.
i:Vibes: From your point of view, how do you think the dance music scene has changed over the years? Do you think it's headed in a good or bad direction at the moment?
A: Well most recently it's commercial appeal has decreased, well at least in terms of the scale it was at in the late 90's. Record sales have been nailed by the internet and the subsequent development of a breed of music consumer who are not prepared to pay for their music. As a result sales of dance vinyl have been positively fucked up the arse. This is obviously bad from the point of view of a label trying to survive. However, since there is little or no money being made, it means there is little or no money being paid out to producers who are making the tracks. Therefore, all those tossers who's hearts weren't into dance, but who jumped on the band wagon, purely for financial gain, and flooded the shelves with shit records have now left. There's no money to be made so there's no reason for them to be involved any longer. This is obviously the best news ever. The music is now more exciting and groundbreaking than it has ever been. The producers are die hard and as passionate as is humanly possible. They are making music for the love of it since there is no money. There are hundreds of ways in which the scene has changed and evolved. The internet has generated some some side effects such as piracy, however it has also revolutionised the distribution of music and the reach a label can have which is fucking exciting. We can put a new Discover track on our web site and have people buy it and download it on to their computer in Australia within a matter of minutes. That's amazing. The funny thing I find most is this ongoing arguement of how dance is dead etc etc. What people who read this shit in the press need to understand is that the journalists who are writing this stuff have been clubbing for 10 years and for them, they've had enough, don't want to go to clubs any more as they find it all "the same old same old". But there are new generations of clubbers getting into it and taking thier place at a rapid rate so I wish they would just fuck off and write for an R&B publication or something.
i:Vibes: We're aware that you’ve been very supportive of the early TEKELEC releases, are you looking forward to having label head honcho Ali Wilson doing a guest mix on your show?
A: For sure. He is a big talent for banging techy stuff. I am a big fan of his productions but have never heard him DJ so its pretty exciting to hear what he's like.
i:Vibes: And finally, some random quick Fire questions!
Eastenders or Corrie?
A: Neither. They are both an insult to British television, which when you travel a lot you really do realise – is the best in the world. Oh fuck it, who am I kidding – Now that Grant's back… Eastenders.
i:Vibes: Pie and Mash or Sunday Roast?
A: I do love a good Sunday roasting.
i:Vibes: Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings?
A: Lord of the Rings. Although I am keen to see how they do the next Potter movie now that young Harry has grown a few feet and generated facial hair while Herminone appears to have grown a respectable rack. I presume they won't be asking them to act out the role as 10 year olds any more? Will we see some Wizard on Witch action? My God I hope so.
i:Vibes: Lemons or Limes?
A: In what context? To go in drinks? To throw at old people? To use as "bedroom accessories"? For the former I prefer Lemons, but Limes can be often be easier to "retrieve".
i:Vibes: Favourite tune at the moment?
Mirco de Govia "Vital Spark" (Sassot mix) or Second Sun "Playground" (NU NRG Mix)
i:Vibes: If you could play any gig where would it be?
A: Well, I'm playing with PvD at his Vandit party in Berlin next month. That is sure to be a special night!!
i:Vibes: Is there any country (or club!) where you haven't yet played but want to?
A: I want to play every single country that I have not played already.
i:Vibes: Where can we find John Askew this New Years Eve?
A: Ministry of Sound in Sweden. I'm doing a 6 hour set from midnight so I'm dead excited. Swedish Clubbers know how to fucking party!!!
i:Vibes gives many thanks to John for answering our questions and to Tom@Cypherpress for making this possible.
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