John Askew

Slick Dj interviews John Askew – November 2008

1) It says in your press release that you're a regular visitor to Beirut and Lebanon. Your opening track on the album is also called Beirut. What's the connection? Tell us a little about Lebanon...

I have been visiting Beirut for maybe 7 or 8 years now and I have come to love the place. It is without doubt the best gig in the world and the one place I get more excited about visiting than any other destination in the world. I have made some amazing friends over there so I normally try and stay a few extra days when I go. There have been a few close calls leaving the country just as troubles have kicked off with the Israelis and it’s been really sad to see such a beautiful place and such friendly warm people having to go through this precarious uncertainty of not knowing what will happen from one week to the next. It can be volatile, but when it’s in a stable period it’s an enchanting place to visit.

2) You've shipped 500 copies of your album to the British troops in Iraq... how did this come about?

This came out of the blue really. There was a request for it and so of course I said yes. I don’t agree with the war in any way shape or form, but I do agree with fully supporting the young British lads who are over there putting their lives on the line. I feel sorry for them. The poor buggers are fighting a shitty war with no end in sight on behalf of a bunch of half wit fools.

3) Listening to the album, I hear a lot of acid, breakbeat and techno influence. Who do you draw each of them from (if any)?

I’ve always been a massive techno and acid fan and have always played these sounds in my dj sets. In terms of influences for the techno it used to be Adam Beyer and all those Swedish guys in the mid 90’s but now it’s more about Axel Karakasis, Reaky, Preach – people like that. And for the acid it’s older stuff like Hardfloor, Harthouse records and the stuff released on early Stay up Forever releases that I keep going back to.

4) The single from the album, Z List Uber Star / Giving You Acid has a big 303 feel to it. This year marked the 20 year anniversary of Acid House... was this anything to do with it?

No, not at all. I’m not that organized or strategic. I had no idea there was a defined date that was allocated to the birth of acid house. I just make music that I like in the hope that others will like it to.

5) Can you see a revival happening?

It never went away so there is nothing to revive in my opinion. If you mean do I think magazines like Mixmag will decide to give their readers the heads up that it’s “cool to be into acid” then I’m sure it’s about due some coverage yes. And in that respect the sound might gain an extra 40 or 50 fans for a few months till something else gets the “stamp of approval”, but acid techno for me is, has been and will always be massive.

6) You also released a 2 CD compilation earlier this year with a lot of big tracks on it. What was the reaction like?

Good I think. The sales have been good so I think it was liked. There was nothing new on that album so I know a few of the die heard Discover fans had a bit of a moan, but they missed the point. The album was called Discover 40 and it was a “best of” – from the first 40 releases on the label. In its download format – where the buyer has the option of getting all the tracks on it in full length unmixed format – it was meant to be a way for new fans to increase their back catalogue in one simple purchase.

7) What can we expect from Discover over the next while? Any new artists?

We’ve had a few changes to the line-up yes. John O’Callaghan has now left to join Armada and Neal Scarborough has moved on as well. These were sad changes to deal with, but amicable as we are all old mates. We have now changed things around a little and signed up Activa as a new headliner – along with Sly One vs Jurrane, Dirty Weekend, Gary Maguire and David Newsum. We will be focusing far more on the in house producers and commissioning less material from non Discover artists. And of course we are also still pushing the other headliners on the label – Sean Tyas, Greg Downey, Bryan Kearney, Thomas Datt and Tom Colontonio, There’s great releases coming up from all of them as well as a host of killer remixes from some of our fav producers.

8) Any collaborations coming up?

Yes I’m doing some stuff with Activa. He coproduced 3 of the tracks on my album which was so much fun so we are currently working on an EP together for Discover Dark which will be fucking banging as hell. There’s also an EP coming up with Gary Maguire. He is a name to look out for.

9) What's the strangest thing that has been said or done to you at a gig?

Years ago I found myself accidently djing house music in front of a group of bikers who threatened to kill me unless I played some AC/DC. I agreed, left a record playing and discretely exited through the fire escape behind the booth. Oh the glamour.

10) What do you prefer, playing to a massive audience at a festival or playing to an intimate crowd in a club?

I like both. I’ve had amazing nights playing to 50 up for it clubbers that I would rate as excellent gigs and at the same time have played arenas of 15,000 people that have been shit from the first to the last minute. It’s more about quality not quantity but ideally you want both.

11) How did your days as a producer come about? What hardware and software are you using?

Usual clichéd bollocks. Used to be in a rock band. Seduced by dance music and ecstasy in the early 90s. Dj’d at all the local clubs and then realized I needed to be making music to take in up a level. At the moment the only hardware I am using are 2 enormous valve compression units. Everything else is software. I do agree that analogue stuff still sounds better, warmer and fatter, but it’s incredible what you can make just with a laptop and no racks of knobs and flashing LEDs.

12) Do you ever get the chance to go out just as a clubber?

Not often, but if I can I do try to do it once a year at least. Seeing another dj totally rock it refreshes my inspiration and enthusiasm. I went to Digweed’s Christmas party at Fabric last year and it was life changing. He played one of the best sets I have ever heard and I danced my tits off for about 8 hours – which is a rarity. I’ll be there again this Christmas.