![]() But even with some records now that are quite different I still have to hammer it home before it starts to grow. Now there isn't much persuasion that has to go on. But if you're are at the start of something very very new it is just you on your own trying to persuade your mates that this is something good. HRFQ : So does this make your job easier ?ĭamian : In a way it does because it means people are more attentive to what I do as a DJ and as a label and there are more and more people everyday getting into it and wanting to discover new things. But I don't think that is making it become commercial it is just becoming accepted as the new form of dance music which for me is fantastic. This music is underground by nature but is starting to cross over into the record boxes of people like Sasha, Steve Lawler and John Digweed. But at the same time some of these names that you mention may not be as underground as they were but they are still at the top of the scene dictating what goes on. So it just kind of makes me more excited to find something different and to try and help develop something to the next level. I mean, when I was doing City Rockers and the first Futurism album a lot of the music on that was totally unknown and then within six months they were like household names. Now that the music has moved above ground how has this affected you ?ĭamian : I think this is always something I have had to deal with. HRFQ : When your Rebel Futurism series first came out it was more underground and names like Blackstrobe and Steve Bug were not so well known. Even when Jungle started it was very raw, urban, kind of London but with this sound it is much wider. In the past there were music scenes that very kind of community based or just a small section of society in a small city would be into this kind of sound. Wherever I travel I meet people who are into the sound and do something whether it is a club, or a label, or as an artist. South America has been really important the past couple of years, Santiago and Sao Paulo. Berlin is the most obvious one to say but there are still great parties and people creating music in Paris and London. HRFQ : Do you think any other city or country has a similar kind of influence ?ĭamian : Um, yeah a lot of the key cities in Europe. On any Monday during summer at either DC10 or Cocoon there are up to thirty or forty nationalities in one room havin' it to the most incredible music. Since this summer I have had so many people get in touch saying that they were there at one of the gigs at DC10 or Cocoon and just being there inspired them to get into this music, or buy this record or go and see this act, or whatever. HRFQ : Is Ibiza still much of an influence ?ĭamian : Massively. Also, Ibiza is like an hour and a half away from where I live. HRFQ : You travel a lot especially to Ibiza, it seems like you are there all the time.ĭamian : Well yeah, A) I love it there and B) I get to play at DC10 which for me is one of the most incredible places on earth. And Jennifer Cardini, who is an artist on our label, comes over here quite often as well. People like Ricardo and Luciano say it's wicked here. I've been hearing so many good things from friends and other DJs about Tokyo and Osaka. To be honest the Far East has been a little bit at arms length but I figure now is the right time to try and start breaking the label over here. I think it was kind of just at the time when I was just starting to find my way as a DJ and with the new label and stuff. I don't quite know what happened, it was a bit of an odd one and I didn't come back. I came here two years ago and I played at Womb. HigherFrequency (HRFQ) : Is this your first time in Japan ?ĭamian Lazarus : No, it's my second. Despite feeling the effects of a six week tour spanning three continents, Lazarus kindly took some time out for a chin wag about the ins and outs of DJing, running a label, and putting together compilation CDs intended to "blow people's heads off". Spending much of his time on the island and in countless other countries, Damian is an expert on what drives the dance music scene. ![]() While working in A&R at City Rockers under the guidance of the eminent Pete Tong he was vital in discovering influential new music like Felix da Housecat's 'Silverscreen' and it wasn't long until he took the reigns of his very own record label, Crosstown Rebels.īeing constantly surrounded by fresh sounds the temptation to take his show on the road obviously became too great as this DJ moved out of the bedroom and into clubs like Ibiza's DC10. But the powers that be had plans for this man from London even if he didn't know it. Now well known for his quirky brand of techy electro house, as evidenced by last year's Suck My Deck, once upon a time Damian Lazarus wasn't even considering DJing as a career.
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