EPM Music

EPM PODCAST 12 – CHRIS FINKE

Following Kone-R’s deep techno exploration we now welcome Flux’s Chris Finke to the EPM Podcast, providing a sterling dancefloor workout through some of techno’s finest producers featuring Planetary Assault Systems, Robert Hood, James Ruskin, Sterac, Mark Broom, Echospace, Kevin Gorman, Orlando Voorn, Delta Funktionen plus some exclusive edits from Chris himself.

Chris 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.

All tracks used in the mix are digitally distributed by EPM Music www.epm-music.com

www.facebook.com/chrisfinkedj
www.myspace.com/chrisfinke

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 it’s 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 it’s 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 it’s 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 it’s the next logical step and I can’t wait to finish it. I’m 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. I’m 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

Following Vince Watson’s deep techno exploration we now welcome Uncharted Audio’s Kone-R to the EPM Podcast, providing a superb trawl through some of techno and house’s finest moments in recent years featuring the likes of Bandulu, Redshape, Model 500, $tinkworx, Marco Passarani, Robert Hood, James Ruskin, Florence, Baruka and more.

Kone-R is the man behind the Uncharted Audio record label, which has introduced the likes of Cursor Miner, LJ Kruzer, Kings Have Long Arms and plenty of other weird and wonderful sonic tomfoolery to the world. Manning the turntables since 1992 when he discovered the joy of warehouse raves, the spirit of that era lives on in his sets today, with a liberal sprinkling of ambience, techno, breakbeats and plenty of low frequency oscillations. Despite the length of time he’s spent in the booth, he maintains a cutting edge – you’re as likely to hear him drop fresh dubplates by up and coming acts alongside the latest cuts from Berlin to Detroit as you are to hear vintage rave, classic disco and timeless electro. What’s more, every Kone-R set is expertly mixed entirely on turntables to preserve audio and artistic integrity – just like in the good old days.

Following Rulex’s exclusive Farris Wheel house excursion we now welcome Vince Watson to the EPM Podcast, providing a deep journey into the more soulful realms of techno, house and leftfield jazz. Featuring the likes of Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Ollie Brooke, Quince, Aroy Dee, Gene Farris and of course his own productions and remixes, Vince Watson takes us on a trippy and hypnotic ride to the centre of the dancefloor.

Ever since dropping his first EP for Dave Angel’s Rotation label back in 1996, Glaswegian Vince Watson seemed to master the more soulful and funk infused parts of techno from the very beginning. Now with over 100 releases to his name, including labels such as Alola, Headspace, Planet-e, F Comm, Ibadan, Immigrant, Blue Basique, Native, Symbolism, Delsin, Tronic, Ingoma and his own Bio and Bio Elements imprints Vince announces a new label to the fold as he unveils his Everysoul imprint which is unveiled here in his mix.

With a new EP set for release on Bio this summer – backed with a Kirk Degiorgio remix, a new version of Mystical Rhythm feat. Naomi Thomson on Urban Torque due september, his 6th album ‘Every Soul Needs a Guide’ due later in the year on his new label Everysoul and a host of remixes ready to drop for the likes of Funk D’Void (Urban Torque), John Beltran (Technoir), Alexander Kowalski (Damage), Orlando Voorn (Nightvision), Kirk Degiorgio (ART), Darren Roach (Bombis Child) plus more Red Bull Music Academy Radio Shows on the way 2010 looks set to be Vince’s biggest year yet. So why not dive in and see what all the fuss is about.