EPM Presents Chris Finke Podcast
Written by the B&B Crew
Audio - Following Kone-R the guys at EPM now invited Flux's Chris Finke to provide a sterling dance floor workout through some of techno's finest producers, check it after the break!
Chris Finke is the owner of Flux recordings, resident at Birmingham's "Atomic Jam" event and a true globe hopping international DJ force who is now establishing himself as a producer in his own right.
Chris Finke was raised between England and the island of Ibiza, and his introduction into dance music, like many others, was through the UK rave scene. From rave, techno soon took over as and it wasn't long before it became a huge part of his life after visits to clubs like Club UK, Lost and Open.
In 2003, he and Flux partner Andi Hawes hooked up with Ben Sims to form "Split". Together they ran the parties that shook up the capital and arguably kick-started the techno scene in London again, with all time record crowds at Turnmills, a residency at The Key and one offs in hand picked venues all over town. Chris and Ben also produced and presented the "Split Radio Show" for 3 years between 2004 and 2007. The monthly show was syndicated worldwide on both FM and internet stations and received a massive loyal following of listeners tuning in every month.
Chris continues to push things forward with both music, and new projects. Aside from his continuing residency at Atomic Jam, his electrifying DJ sets have taken him all around the world, from New York to Japan, from Moscow to Thailand and just about everywhere in between.
On top of all this you can find Chris mixing the "15 Years Of Atomic Jam" Mix CD (with Mark Broom), working on an album coming out Spring 2011 and see him about to start presenting for "BBC Introducing". With Finke also lining up new EPs for Flux and Electrax, plus remixes of the classic "Don't Stop" by Trackman, his own "Shut That Door" and a remix for Bastardo Electrico you'll find a man hitting full production stride.
Enjoy, and be sure to read the Q&A with Chris right below the tracklist as well!
Tracklist:
Planetary Assault Systems - From Above
Echospace - OBMX (Cv313 Reduction / Finke's Extended Edit) – Echospace
Kevin Gorman - Reflections - Bastardo Electrico
Robert Hood - One Touch - M-Plant
James Ruskin - Sabre – Blueprint
Sterac - Bot – Delsin
Romart - Rum Putty (Chris Finke's Sussex Vampire Remix) - Bastardo Electrico
HD Substance - Ubiuuous – Cubic Capacity
Detroit Grand Pubahs - Doctor Bootygrabber (Samuel L Sessions Remix)
DBX – Superphreak – Peacefrog
James Ruskin - Solution – Blueprint
K Series - K004 - Bastardo Electrico
Mark Ambrose - Breakdown – Crayon
Da Sampla - With A Piece Of Ice (Mix 2 / Chris Finke Edit) – Puzzlebox
Robert Hood - Museum - M-Plant
Orlando Voorn - Midi Merge - Nightvision Retro
Delta Funktionen - Silhouette (Original Mix)
Mark Broom & James Ruskin - Hostage – Blueprint
Robert Hood - Stereotype 2 - M-Plant
Planetary Assault Systems - Booster – Peacefrog
Anodyne - Corrosion (Black Dog Remix) - Psychonavigation
All tracks used in the mix are digitally distributed by EPM Music. You can subscribe to all of EPM's podcasts via itunes.
Q&A with Chris Finke
1. Please give us a quick walk through your selection. Why did you choose these tracks and artists for the mix?
It was unlike any mix I've done for radio or podcast before in that the tracks were limited to what is on the EPM database, so it was an interesting experiment. I wanted to do a real mix up of styles, but it ended up being pure techno, and its not put together like I would a club set. The last track, the Black Dog remix of Anodyne is a beautiful piece of music, one of my best tracks of the year so far. I mixed it up differently to my usual club style as well, less choppy and FX and more intense EQ work. Track wise, I picked out some new stuff I really like but don't play, some stuff I do play and some old tracks I haven't played for years and I think it came out OK!
2. How do you balance running your label, Flux Recordings with DJing and other jobs?
I have been a full-time DJ / producer since 2003. The DJ side of things is fine as that's generally at weekends but day-to day I run Flux with my partner Andi - he takes care of the back end and legal stuff and I look after the music which is a good way of doing it. Recently I have shifted my focus from being a DJ that produces to being a DJ/producer (if that makes sense?), so I try to make sure I am in the studio every day as much as I can now and it has started to pay off. I've been so lucky to DJ so much having a small output, but its time to ramp it up and I'm really enjoying it for the first time, so its an exciting time.
3. You are a resident DJ at one of the UK's best loved techno nights 'Atomic Jam' and mixing their 15 years CD with Mark Broom. What have been the best nights you have had there?
I think a very special one for us was when we returned to the Que Club after nearly 6 years away and it was amazing. That place is very special.
4. So you are about to start presenting for 'BBC Introducing'. How did that come about and what does it involve?
I've always been massively into radio - I used to be a local radio DJ for a bit years ago and then of course my self and Ben Sims presented the Split Show which was a massive thing, and I did a couple of shows with Rebekah last year too. I actually approached them which is usually a non starter, but they got back to me and its all about to start. I'm focussing on electronic music, so anything from house, techno, IDM, D&B all sorts of stuff. I"ll be interviewing artists and doing mixes etc and I'm hoping till lead onto other things so really looking forward to it.
5. Your Split parties with Ben Sims created some classic moments and helped maintain techno in London's club scene. What were the best and worst moments?
Haha yeah we did some crazy parties. Looking back the line-ups were absolutely massive - stages at a lot of festivals wouldn't get close to what we did on some nights. Big moments for us was putting on Derrick May who had always been a big influence to me and Ben, alongside Surgeon who is as opposite in music to Derrick as you can get at Turnmills (RIP), a crazy party club in central London who were used to putting on trance and funky house nights. We got more in that night than they had ever had before in their 15 years, something like 2200 through the door. We aimed to introduce techno to a whole new audience with those parties and that's exactly what we did, we nailed it.
6. The floor isn't responding...what's your 'get out of jail' record to get the party started?
I've got a few of them but this past year or so every time I drop Len Faki's "BX3" on Ostgut Ton it goes OFF!
7. Who is the best techno DJ in the world?
Ouch! Such a hard question to answer...I cant really answer that but Derrick May has to be my all time favourite. When he is on form there is no one better and he has been like that for 23 years so that says a lot to me. I have to say that the last few times over heard James Ruskin he has absolutely killed it in such a big way both technically and selection wise so my choice today would have to be him.
8. Which new artists and labels, in your opinion, should we be looking out for?
Xhin, Raphael Acohen, Milton Bradley and Romart are all making wicked music. There are a lot of copycats around but these guys are definitely doing their own thing really well.
9. Rumour has it that a Chris Finke album may surface next spring. Any clues as to what we can expect?
Yeah its the next logical step and I cant wait to finish it. Im halfway through it at the minute and its mainly club music focussed, but there are some other more musical bits that i'm working on which I have surprised myself with. Every track or remix I have ever done have been with my sets in mind, but this is a broader thing and i'm enjoying the challenge. Im also doing some collaborations for it which i am really excited about.
10. Please give us your top 5 'All Time UK Techno Producers'
Cheating slightly here as I can't nail it in 5, but these guys all deserve a mention:
Surgeon
Mark Broom
James Ruskin
Dave Clarke
Paul Mac/Ben Sims/Oliver Ho
