John Askew

Data Transmission Interviews John Askew Oct 08

1. How has your year been so far?

Good thanks.

2. What has been the best party you’ve played at (and why)?

The arena gig with PvD a few weeks ago in Beirut. It’s the 3rd of 4th time I’ve done it and it never ceases to blow my mind. 16,000 people going utterly bonkers with the most spectacular production and sound you could ever wish for. It makes the hairs on my neck stand up just thinking about it.

3. You're a Gallery resident...what was your best Turnmills memory, and how do you think the vibe is in its new home at MOS?

The Gallery is one of the few nights in the UK that I still enjoy playing (along with Off the Rails, Digital Society, God’s, Slinky and a few others). Although there was something very unique and special about Turnmills, something that could never be recreated anywhere else, the move to MOS has definitely given the night a refreshing overhaul. There’s a new vibe with an exciting crowd which is great and sound system in The Box is frighteningly tough. There are so many highlights of playing at Turnmills that it would be impossible to pick just one.

4. Where did the title Z List Uber Star come from?

It was a name I came up with for a mate who was starting a new club night. He needed a name so we had a brain storming session and came up with about 10 names. This one didn’t get used, but I loved it and so held on to it for the album.

5. What do you think of the big brother spawned cult of celebrity?

I don’t understand what you mean by cult of celebrity and I’m not really interested in any of that shit anyway so can we pass on that?

6. How do you think the album compares with Lower The Tone?

I think it’s better. Much better. It’s far more varied with a sound that has evolved and matured if you like.

7. Why did you go for a mixed format rather than separate tracks?

To avoid giving the illegal file sharing twats any kind of help or advantage. What I find incredible is the attitude of these criminals – who actively resent being made to pay for music. Would they mind doing their day to day jobs for no money?? I doubt it. And so why the hell should these young producers making great records in their bedrooms not get money that’s due to them – to help them buy more equipment, to further their sounds etc. I only hope that the recent high profile press coverage suggesting that more will be done to find and prosecute these fuckers will actually kick in. At the moment it’s a joke.

8. Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?

Other producers tracks, films, being on the dancefloor listing to other djs rocking it.

9. Are there any plans for a live show, similar to Giuseppe Ottaviani, or are you happy to keep to a DJ set?

I’m working on a live thing with my band – Drum Cult – but this will a different set up with live guitars and drums etc. And it won’t really focus on John Askew material. It will be more geared towards nasty acidic riffs and dirty breaks with horribly distorted guitars and rancid techno overtones.

10. 2008 has seen a load of great releases on the various Discover labels, all of which are available as digital downloads. Has the digitalisation of Discover secured the label’s future (from a financial perspective)?

Downloads make up the bulk of our business – in terms of direct sales. We rarely do any vinyl any more on any of our labels. The growth of downloads has given us, and numerous other labels, a future in the sense that - with the demise of vinyl sales the future was very bleak. So for that reason yes, digitalising everything has been the natural technological progression in the wake of huge decreases in physical product sales and has therefore given us a future.

11. What is your weekly involvement with Discover?

My involvement is daily. I sign all the tracks, commission all the remixes and help develop the artists that are signed to us exclusively.

12. Who is a new up & comer we should be keeping an eye on?

Gary Maguire is going to be massive and so are Sly One vs Jurrane. They are my hot tips for 2009.

13. Current top 3?

1. Activa vs Chris & Matt Kidd “UR” (Stoneface & Terminal mix) (Discover)
2. John Askew “Fucking Caps Lock”
3. Simon Patterson “We’ll See” (Spinnin)