Here's the interview I recently did with John Askew.
Enjoy

1. Hello, John! Tell us something more about yourself – when did you get interested in electronic music and trance in particular? Do you remember your first gig and the kind of music you played back then?
JA: I got involved in the early 90’s by going to illegal raves here in the South of England. I loved those experiences and it was because of them that I got hooked on dance music. My first ever gig was at an underground venue in London called “Woody’s”. I think the place is still called “Woody’s” now – but it’s a really posh wine bar or something where the cool Notting Hill people hang out. But in the early days it was a dirty acid house venue. My first gig I was terrified. I was only playing the first 40 minutes and there wasn’t anybody in the club really (maybe 4 or 5 people) until my last track – and then when the next dj started playing it got really busy. It was fun and nice to dj on a big sound system for the first time.

2. Imagine you are asked to take part in “Survivor” and you are allowed to take only 3 CDs/vinyls with you? Which ones would you choose?
JA: Guns n’ Roses “Appetite for Destruction”
Sasha & Digweed “Renaissance vol 1”
Paul van Dyk “Politics of Dancing vol 1”

3. How did you decide to launch your label “Discover”? Overall, do you think that your label is one of the driving forces of underground trance music?
JA: How I decided? Well I asked myself – shall I create a label or should I not create a label – and the decision was a unanimous “yes”. I like to think that Discover is a driving force at the more underground end of the trance scene but my ego is not big enough to just come right out and say that. If you think it is then that’s good enough for me.

4. What would you advise less popular (but not necessarily less talented) DJs? Which are the main principles they should follow when producing music in order to succeed?
JA: Be original. Do your own thing and fuck what everyone else is doing. Be the Shepherd – not the sheep.

5. Over the years you have released music under different aliases, like “Backbeat”, “Cartel”, and “Drum Cult”. Do you intend to release more music under them or do you prefer to have all your tracks released under the name “John Askew”?
JA: I’m working 100% on John Askew material at the moment but I hope to also collaborate with Gary Maguire and with Adam Foley in 2011.

6. Tell us something more about the trance scene in the UK. Do you think that it is very different from the scene in the Netherlands or Germany, for example?
JA: Well from my experience the trance scene in Holland is really really commercial – almost like pop music. In Germany and England – although there are certainly more commercial clubs and producers there is a very strong underground side to the scene as well.

7. What is the typical studio day for John Askew like?
JA: Get to the studio, make coffee, make music, go home.

8. What about a day outside the studio?
JA: I spend my spare time either trekking in the mountains with my close friends or spending time with my children.

9. Lately there have been a lot of conflicting opinions about the development of trance music and the direction it has taken expressed on internet forums. Some people are very concerned over the fact that many new producers do not care about producing quality tracks, instead they just want to become famous very quickly. Others like the “commersialisation” of trance music. What do you think about this burning question?
JA: I don’t care what other people think and I certainly don’t give a fuck about the motives behind other producers tracks. Everyone should be free to make the music they want to make and then everyone else should be free to decide if they like it or if they don’t. Yes - there is a great deal about the scene that I hate – but luckily I keep well away from all of that bullshit and just focus on making the records I want to make. I make music for me and me alone. If other people like it then cool. If they don’t then I’m not going to loose any sleep and I’m certainly not going to change my sound in an attempt to make myself more commercial or popular.

10. What are your plans for the near future? What can we expect from you and from “Discover”?
JA: Sure – Discover and Discover Dark will continue to put out the music we love – in fact we have releases scheduled for both labels right up to the Summer of 2011. For me I have 2 more singles coming out this year – “The Witch” on Discover which comes out on December 6th and “Intimate Strangers” which comes out on FSOE on November 29th and then I have my new mix album “Skylab” which comes out on Monday (15th November) on Enhanced recordings (www.enhancedmusic.com/skylab01). Generally I am working on more material for both Discover and for Subculture and I have just completed a remix of an old PVD single which I think sounds really cool. I also hope to be recording another live album in the spring of 2011. I am just looking for the right country/city/event/promoter/crowd to work with for the recording.

11. Do you read forums like “Tranceaddict” to see the reactions to your tracks and gigs? As a whole, do you think the opinion of forum users is objective and significant?
JA: I have no interest in forums and do not read/visit them.

12. Who are your favourite musicians? Apart from trance, do you have favourite producers from other genres?
JA: Favourite non dance musicians – Josh Homme, Slash, James Hetfield, Billy Duffy, Jim Root….
Favourite non dance Producers – Colin Richardson, Bob Rock, Brian Eno, Danger Mouse….

13. What do you think about the use of drugs in clubs? In general, electronic music is often associated with the use of such substances, what do you think about this? Do you think a DJ should be concerned about his audience (and possibly support a “Say NO to drugs” campaign or something like this) or should he be oblivious to the state people are in?
JA: Of course I am seriously concerned for the safety of the people at my gigs but I have used drugs in the past so I don’t think it would be very honest of me to say I am against it. I think there are some drugs that are seriously dangerous and so it is important for those people who decide to take chemicals to know what exactly what they are taking and to be careful how much they take so that they don’t OD. I have had some incredible experiences while being high – experiences that have altered how I see the world and also how I interact with other people. If you ask me would I rather be a) in a bar full of drunk people – where the testosterone levels are peaking and the possibility of a fight is high or b) in a club full of people on ecstasy who are all friendly towards eachother due to a common feeling of love and unity…… I think you know my answer. The important message to clubbers (who will take drugs regardless of whether you tell them not to) is to be careful and be safe.

14. Is there something you would like to tell your fans around the world?
JA: Keep it real.

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quote:

Originally posted by Col However, EDM seems to be political for some people - it's not about the music itself but it's about what the music symbolises, where the music came from, who spins it and how obscure it is.

nice interview