More than a decade has passed since John Digweed first captivated
audiences as a DJ at Renaissance in the early nineties.
Since then he has become synonymous with world-renowned dance
music names like Global Underground, Renaissance, Northern Exposure,
Bedrock, Twilo and Kiss100. However these days he is admired
as much for his DJing and music as he is for his business acumen;
Bedrock's recent fiftieth release both a landmark for the label
and an example of how Digweed has succeeded in realising his
vision of a music and corporate entity encompassing a production
outfit, label, club night and compilation series.
RA interviewers D&T got a hold of Digweed while he was
recently on tour to give us real feel for what the man is like.
Given the huge international success of the label on par with
others like Renaissance and Ministry of Sound, can we expect
to see Bedrock following in their footsteps and expanding its
Bedrock night abroad? Not likely, says Digweed. "It's not
just a question of shipping the name across the world and sending
off a load of DJs that don't even have an association with the
club. The most important thing is the individual night and making
sure that people come and have a good time".
And having a good time is what John Digweed is all about; at
least in the sense of providing one, that is. Even top jock
Hernan Cattaneo described Digweed as ‘one of those big
DJs that never disappoints' following a gig in South America
with him late last year. While everyone seems to agree that
Digweed is still pushing boundaries behind the decks and in
the studio, on the other hand his rather non-plussed 'Do Not
Disturb' approach in the booth continues to perplex even the
most die-hard of his fans.
"When a band is on stage you don't see people talking
to the guitarist, do you?" quips Digweed. So then, can
we expect to see him inheriting more rock star qualities in
the future like former Bedrock warm-up DJ, Danny Howells? "I'm
a very sort of shy person so it takes a lot for me to break
into a smile in the DJ booth let alone start turning up with
make-up and frilly shirts!!!" he says before rattling off
an infectious giggle.
It's encouraging to see that Digweed can still have a good
laugh after all these years in an industry which often takes
itself far too seriously. But are there moments when he loses
faith in the dance music scene? "I get my inspiration from
the music and the producers that are making it. So if everything
that comes out for 2 or 3 weeks doesn't seem to be moving forward
that's when I get disillusioned".
What about his thoughts on last year's trance-dominated DJ
magazine poll, which had many voters disillusioned with the
poll itself? Cheeky comments about day-glo outfits aside, Digweed
suggests there is something to be gained from sticking to what
you love, regardless of public opinion. "The fact that
you've got a choice is what has always made dance music what
it is. It's fantastic that loads of people like trance or loads
of people like breakbeat, techno, this, that or the other. Three
years ago people wouldn't touch trance with a 3-foot barge pole
– it was a dirty word – but Paul Van Dyk and all
that lot stuck to their gut and now it has come good again".
For someone like Digweed, who has remained at the top of public
opinion for so long and was crowned No.1 in the poll in 2001,
it's fair to say he still has more than a passing interest in
its results. At the end of the day, however, he says, "You
go in and out of fashion. People who like good music will follow
the good music and the good DJs. It's not about the reviews
or the polls. It's about whether you go into a club and deliver
and people have a good time".
One thing Digweed says he won't be delivering anytime soon
in partnership with friend and occasional DJ partner Sasha,
is a third installment of the pair's "Northern Exposure"
compilation series. About to hit the road again on the second
Delta Heavy Tour in the States in spring 2004 (with a probable
Australia tour by himself in late 2004), fans will have to make
do with his more ambient selection of Bedrock tunes on February's
"Layered Sounds" compilation release. The closest
thing we can expect to a mix CD anytime soon is a ‘5 hour
boxed CD set' from one his recent marathon sets in Asia, says
Digweed jokingly.
So then what does the future hold for John Digweed? Digweed
admits, there is no kind of game plan. "You can be driven
to the point where you don't have a life outside of that. Just
getting the balance right between doing things you want to achieve
and having a life outside of that as well because if you're
happy inside then that shows when you DJ".
The only thing he thinks may lie in his future is a possible
move to the shores of Australia, joining Dave Seaman as another
dance music luminary who has dreams of settling in the land
of the antipodes. "Australia is definitely one of my favourite
places. I've been there many times and I think I could definitely
see myself living there in a few years time. So you might have
me as a neighbour - even though we beat you in the Rugby!!!"
says a cheeky Digweed. Hence if all goes to plan, there's definitely
one DJ RA will be having over at its next Rugby World Cup barbie!
Tune into John Digweed's radio
show every week at www.kiss100.com
(12:00–2:00AM GMT).
