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 We went to have a word with one the most established producers on the electronic dance music circuit today. That is of course the legendary Scottish DJ producer David Forbes. Questions must be answered...
David Forbes has been involved in the dance music scene for well over 15 years now and for many will be a household name. Although quite possibly he does not get the media attention he so rightly deserves for an artist who has fed the audio senses enjoyment for well over a decade. You may remember him from his epic classics like ‘Question Must Be Asked’ and the follow up ‘Answers’ and you might not know he was involved with Mark Sherry in bringing ‘Public Domain’ to the world. More recently he has branched out into a whole host of various styles going all techno on us with his alter ego Sebrof Divad (See what he’s done with the name there?) and pumping out storming trance tracks like ‘Breakout’ and ‘Conetic’. With over 100 releases and incorporating a mixture of styles you may just know him for his trance but Mr Forbes is a whole lot more than just a trance DJ and producer. He is a true electronic dance music magician and we felt it was time to get answers from the man who brought you Questions.
i:Vibes: David, thanks for taking some time to talk to i:Vibes.nu. It seems like you have been around forever, but I rarely see press on you. Do you hide from the press in your studio or have I just not open my eyes better finding more press on you?.
David: I feel as if I have been around for ever but I still have the same enthusiasm as I did when I first started out all those years ago, I got into the production side of things at an early stage of my career, something I’m really grateful of.
i:Vibes: You have over 100 releases under your belt. There are some producers who produce quantity, but don’t bring the quality, while other producers like Steve Helstrip produce little but bring 100% quality always. You on the overhand produce regularly, but always with much quality. Where do you get the energy and what is your secret?
David: I think my secret is having a passion for all different styles of music over the years I’ve honed my production skills to the point I’m happy producing any type of music. So I don’t get bored of writing the same music over and over again.If I’m writing a style of music I’m not known for I always try and make sure it stands up with the best in that genre.
It's more of an obsession doing what I do …it totally consumes my life after my 2 year old daughter that is !...the only time I switch of is when I’m with my family.
i:Vibes: You are from Glasgow, Scotland. What was your childhood like? When exactly did music start to play a role in your life?.
David: My father was always musically minded & my mother always had motown records playing in the background when I was younger, so music has always been there. My parents bought me a keyboard at an early age and I remember playing the Riff from a guy called Gerald - voodoo Ray.
i:Vibes: What was your earliest memory where you first became fascinated with dance music?
David: My first memory of an electronic track was a Kraftwerk tune. I can’t remember the name but I remember the music video I must have been 4 or 5yrs old
i:Vibes: Who were your early musical inspirations?
David: To be honest I didn’t really have that many when I started out. Djing wise I was a big fan of Carl Cox still am, but I cant say any one person influenced me in a major way when I was starting out.
i:Vibes: How is the trance scene in Glasgow, Scotland? Was it difficult starting out? Did you have any people who really helped get started out in the late 90s?
David: The Trance scene is really healthy in Scotland; were lucky to have club nights like Insideout @ the Arches and the Colours Events. Armin, Tiesto Pvd they are regular visitors of Glasgow.
When I started out I was lucky. I owned about 20 records. my friends took me to a club I was still under age only 17. After a few times of going there I walked up to the DJ and asked if I could have a go I said I have my own records. The people in the club had never really heard anything Quite like Joey Beltram, or any of the media Records material. The scene was really kicking of in the early 90’s so there was plenty of people going out on a weekly basis.
i:Vibes: Is it fair to say that the first big time DJ that put you on the trance map was German Paul Van Dyk who put your “Questions must be asked” on his Politics of dancing mix compilation CD?
David: With that track Jules had hammered it on Radio 1 for about 12 weeks it was a massive track for me one that really put me on the map
i:Vibes: What is it with Paul van Dyk, that he has such a talent for finding new talent? In 1999 it was Steve Helstrip and in 2001 it was David Forbes.
David: Paul’s an amazing artist who knows his stuff so its no surprise to me he’s always finding new talent.
i:Vibes: When you produced Questions must be asked, did you ever think it would become as big as it did? What do think was so special with this track that made it so likeable all around the world?.
David: It’s a cliché’ but I didn’t its probably still to this day the quickest track I’ve ever written it was just a track on a CD with a pile of other new ones to me. I think I wrote it in about 5hrs.
i:Vibes: “Answers” was another big hit for you. This was produced a long time ago, but was this one of those tracks that took ages or were you able to bang it out quickly? What was most difficult about getting this track perfect?
David: The label put me under a lot of pressure at the time for a follow up , and at the same time the questions track blew up I was also part of another Project called Public Domain which had just went top 5 in the UK charts so it was a crazy time for me.
So Answers did take a while I wanted to get it right, I actually like answers better than Questions must be asked.
i:Vibes: How have you defined your sound since Questions must be asked? I think that you have a very varied sound and are able to present many different styles?
David: My sound varies so much, but the good thing about it is, it shows depth as a producer not just a one trick pony. I think people know what they are getting from me depending on what label I produce a track for, which has worked out well for me.
i:Vibes: How would you describe your sound in 2010? And in what direction do you see it going?
David: I’ll keep developing the sound I have been doing for the last few years I have my techno sound , progressive trance sound and my full on trance sound so its all about pushing he boundaries with that and my own brand name. I also have my own label starting 1st of march ARIA DIGITAL – first release see’s me continue my collaborations with Dr Willis from Australia a track entitled Smoke Signal with a tasty remix coming from Jochen Miller. :: Aria Digital Recordings
i:Vibes: Many of your melodic tracks bring a lot of emotion into the tracks without really over doing it. What is the most important thing for you when your in the studio?
David: The emotion of the track, I love producing the melodic music because I feel it a lot more. I’m not a trained pianist or anything I just know what I want in a track. I have been doing it for so long I’ve taught myself to play the riffs I need to play.
i:Vibes: Do you have a certain way how you work in the studio? Some producers find a bass line first while others find a melody or a groove. Do you have a special way or does it change form time to time?
David: I get the percussion sorted first then onto the bass line, everything falls into place after that unless u have sever writers block which I do suffer from time to time.
i:Vibes: Your respray for “Times like these” is really beautiful. Whenever I hear it I think that it could be a Paul van Dyk production. Is that more a compliment or would you rather have people say a David Forbes sound?
David: As soon as I heard the acoustic version of times like these, the track was finished in my head.
Suppose I would take that as a compliment I never intended it to sound like a particular producer or artist. Paul played it for 2 years solid, I really was extremely happy with the way it turned out. It's just a pity we couldn’t get it cleared, then someone goes and does a poor cover version of it electro style!
i:Vibes: I really love “Break Out”. That piano bit is really beautiful. What was your inspiration behind this track and how difficult was it finding that pretty melody?
David: A lot of people have asked me about that piano break. again it was one of those moments that just happened I played the main riff and added the piano. The first few takes I was like hmm I’m onto something special here.
i:Vibes: With “Moniter”, one sees how diverse your sound is. What is more of a challenge to make something like Moniter or “Break out”
David: I’ve just finished a techno album under my Sebrof Divad alias which is all in the moniter style. I find it really easy writing techno there are no melodies and one of the things I never do is play a melody in my techno material. I find it a lot more intense writing trance there’s a lot more melodic content in that.
i:Vibes: What releases can we await from you in the next months?
David: I have been remixing quite a bit recently but have had time to finish my own material as well.
Nearly finished my follow up to breakout, really happy with it; below is a few tracks forthcoming. Plenty more to add to that but I suppose this will do for now.
• David Forbes - Katsu - AVA Recordings (Armada - Release Date: 14th March)
• David Forbes Meets William Daniel - Devils Theory (Tetsuo)
• David Forbes & Alan Nimmo - Samui (Coldharbour Recordings)
• Tom Cloud Feat Antonia Lucas - Silent sun. (David Forbes Remix) (Black Hole Recordings)
• Sebrof Divad - Excursions (Artist Album)
• Alex Morph - No Regrets (David Forbes Remix) (Vandit])
• Paul Trainer - Soundscapes (David Forbes Remix) (Vandit)
i:Vibes: With what producer would you like to be locked in the studio with 24 hours?
David: David Arnold
i:Vibes: You are also a very busy DJ. What could one await from you in a three hour set?
David: I could play a 3 hour set of my own material starting from house to techno to progressive trance to banging trance. I like to build my sets create a vibe rather than just bosh out 20 of the biggest tracks in my CD wallet.
i:Vibes: What kind of experience was it playing at Nature One in Germany last year?
David: What can I say one of the best festivals I have ever been involved In INCREDIBLE! If I don’t get asked to play this year I will be going there anyway. I played the sunrise festival in Poland 2008 and thought wow what an amazing party but Nature One took it to another level. In my opinion both fantastic events.
i:Vibes: Why don’t you DJ more in Germany?
David: Last year I played nature One, Sountropolis, Alex Morph’s purple audio Album launch. Hopefully I can get over a bit more this year
i:Vibes: On March 6, you will be playing in concert with Tiesto. What kind of preparations will you need to make to play there and how excited are you?
David: I warmed up for him @ the Glasgow SECC last year in front of 10,000 crazy people, it was a fantastic gig one I will cherish because it was in my home town in a venue where only the worlds pop stars play in.
i:Vibes: What was the most crazy experience that you ever had behind the decks?
David: Hmm…drinking a full 40oz bottle of Jack Daniels in the space of a 3 hour set. I was talking to myself at the end of it.
i:Vibes: Have you ever heard of the Technoclub in Frankfurt Germany that is hosted by Talla 2XLC? When will you play there?
David: I’m Just Releasing a new track on Talla’s label - Devils Theory. so hopefully soon.
i:Vibes: What is your overall impression of the German trance scene? What artists do you respect?
David: From what I saw at Nature 1 it seems to be doing really well. It was one of the best festivals I’ve been to, amazing!!!
i:Vibes: Do you think you might branch out to new styles in the future or will you continue to do what you have been doing? I could imagine a David Forbes soundtrack to be very interesting.
David: Yeah I would love to do a soundtrack u never know. I pitched for the Underworld movie a few years back and got to the last two artists but was piped at the post.
i:Vibes: What are your five all time favourite tracks?
David: I wish I could answer that I cant but top of the pile would be Hardfloor - Acperiance
i:Vibes: What are your hobbies?
David: I’m a football fanatic.
i:Vibes: If you were to DJ your last ever gig tomorrow end then retire, what would be your last track?
David: The Doors - This is the end!
i:Vibes: Thanks David for the chat and keep cranking out those unforgettable tracks!
David: Thank You!
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