2009 has already been a busy year for Global Underground with the relaunch of the NuBreed series as well as a new series entitled Global Underground DJ.
Global Underground chose Grammy nominee Nic Fanciulli to begin the series with a new two disc compilation, GU DJ-001, set to be released April 27, 2009.
GU compilations have always featured a who’s who of talented dance music icons. This new series is no different, however it gives DJs more free rein and ability to take the listener on a journey and showcase their own influences and talents.
The world got a taste of what to expect from Nic’s new compilation at this year’s GU WMC All Star VIP Event.
We had a chance to catch up with Nic in Miami to get his thoughts on the new series:
Nic, tell us about GU:DJ 001 – how did you prepare for it?
“The concept of having a DJ series is one that GU and I came up with that we’ve been discussing for about six months. Basically I get free rein on what I wanted to do on the CD. So yeah it was great to get a chance to do it, it’s exactly what I wanted.”
There is quite a variety on the series, how did you plan it out?
“I spend a lot of time with compilations – so you know for me it is really important not to just be really upfront with a compilation, but to pick records that aren’t disposable. You know when you’re in the car and you can hear the same record again and again, I really like to aim for that, and not just pick 20 upfront records and throw them together. I spent a good part of six months working on disc 1 on its own. It is sort of my little baby you know. There is ambient, there is deep house, techno, dub step. There are classic records like Metro Area, and six or seven new tracks. There is Pangaea, which is one of my favorite dubstep artists. The CD too is kind of a classic sort of club CD, where it is what you would hear me play in a 2 hour set.”
What advice would you have for DJs that are trying to make it?
“That question is really hard to answer because when I was breaking through I would give the advice of club nights, start residency, build up a fan base, you know the real old school way of doing it. But now it just seems like it’s those on the Beatport top 10 that break it through now. It’s is a shame because you’ve lost that DJ resident thing. It’s really difficult for young kids to break through without big records, so my advice is to stick to production at the moment if you want to try to break it through.”
Would you say these days you have to be a producer to make it?
“I don’t want to say that. I don’t think that is right, but I think if you are a really good DJ and you really do know what you’re doing, and you can create that sort of vibe, that should be enough. But I think production now days… well I think for kids to break through production is really important.”
Tell us about your upcoming tour for the GU:DJ series, when does it kick off?
“So the tour is going to start in April and it is going to kick off in the UK and then go to America. America is one of my favorite places to come hang out, and we are going to do like 20 shows in like 30 days which I can’t wait. Then back to Europe, then go to Australia and Asia for October and November.”
You mentioned earlier a good record is one that you can listen to over and over again, what are you stuck on right now?
“Stuck on …what I’m listening to? I’m listening to an album by Martin. I don’t know the album name but he is a dub step producer from Washington, and it is just amazing. Dub step is like 138 bpm but his album is like LTJ Bukem; slowed down, very liquid, very ambient. The other one I’m listening is, I’m trying to think of something else…it sounds sad but I’ve been listening to the best of Miles Davis again recently.”
Awesome…!
“Yeah, I love Miles Davis.”
Who are some other past musical influences?
“Well in the early days it was indie music like the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses and people like that. Then it went on through to like drum and bass, to house, to techno. I’ve got an open mind when it comes to music, I like it all.”
Where do you see yourself going in the next few years?
“I don’t know, I get bored very easily so I just want to play many musical styles differently and be able to break more music into my sets. Maybe a little drum and bass, a bit of house, techno, I like long sets. I can go to certain cities like Toyko and I can play anything I want to for 10 hours so I want to start playing more gigs like that.”
Anything you want your fans and followers to know?
“I’ve got no secrets really. I just hope they enjoy the album.”
Great, thanks for the interview Nic!
–
More info on Nic Fanciulli -
http://myspace.com/nicfanciulli
http://globalunderground.co.uk/nicfanciulli
Watch Nic on Youtube >> http://youtube.com/user/nicfanciullidj
–
GU:DJ 001 – In stores April 27th!
(Click Here to Pre-Order your copy – GU:DJ 001)
CD 01
01 – Nick Holder – Sunrise
02 – Metro Area – Nerves
03 – Seth Troxler – Lover Never Sleeps
04 – Dubshape – Droplets (Late Night Mix)
05 – Pan-Pot Feat. Vincenzo – Faces (Vincenzo Remix)
06 – Raf’n'Soul Feat. Tony Marino – Man On The Prowl (Jesus Gonsev Deep
Dub Remix)
07 – Koljah – Antigua
08 – Spencer Parker – The Beginning
09 – :Terry: – Twi-ces
10 – John Daly – Voyager
11 – Jamie Jones Feat. Ost & Kjex – Summertime
12 – Kingpin Cartel – Ghetto (Fanciulli & Mac Rework)
13 – Nic Fanciulli & Steve Mac -10%
14 – Rolando -Where Were You ???
15 – Pangaea -Router
CD 02
01 – Rolando – Afterlife
02 – Photek – Glamourama
03 – Chateau Flight – La Roquette
04 – Nic Fanciulli -Green Tea
05 – Reset Robot -Continue
06 – Einzelkind – AKA The Groove
07 – Baggy Bukaddor & Tim Fischbeck – Campus
08 – Steve Mac -Phoba
09 – Dubfire -Emissions (Nic Fanciulli Mix)
10 – Mark Broom -Raincheck
11 – Chymera -Sumatra
12 – Nic Fanciulli – Materia
13 – Sebrok -Vision
14 – Kenny Larkin -Cirque De Soul
–
Tour Dates
APRIL
09 Koko // London
11 The Caves // Edinburgh
12 The Tivoli // Dublin
24 Mavu Bari // Italy
30 Match Club // Munich
MAY
01 Gatecrasher // Nottingham
07 Spy Bar // Chicago
08 This is London // Toronto
09 Produkt Loft // Montreal
13 Body English // Las Vegas
14 Club Firestone // Orlando
16 Sol Fetival // Mexicali
19 Cielo // NYC
20 Shine // McAllen Texas
21 Club 101 // El Paso Texas
22 Envy // Minneapolis
24 Detriot Electronic Music Festival // Detroit
27 Cream Stereo Lounge // Scottsdale
29 The Mark // Atlanta
30 Fur // Washington DC
31 Surfcomber // Miami
JUNE
04 The Harlot // San Francisco
05 On Broadway // San Francisco
06 Avalon // Los Angeles
13 O2 Academy // Sheffield
20 Sankeys // Manchester
26 Circus // Liverpool
27 Lush // Portrush
JULY
03 La Terrazza // Barcelona
04 Newcastle // Shindig
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
“I get sent so many records. I’m no superstar, but even at my level you get drowned with music 80% of it is awful, but you still find these nuggets of producers who have invested and worked away in their bedrooms and they are writing really really good music. Often it’s not stuff that is heavily influenced by everything else they’re hearing it’s stuff they want to write.
What are you looking forward to the most?