Features

S.P.Y.

S.P.Y has a slew of releases coming out in the next few months so we got him to make us a guest mix brim full of exclusive dubs from the likes of Nu:Tone, Breakage, Q Project, A-Sides and C.A.B.L.E, check it out...

As a producer, you've been prolific in 2009 with releases everywhere from Soul:r to Metalheadz. How do find time to balance studio work with a busy DJ schedule?
It's a bit difficult sometimes but I always travel with my laptop, with all the software and samples I need to produce. And I keep writing sketches everywhere I go. Getting different ideas and the vibe from different places. Then when I'm back in studio, all I have to do is listen to the sketches I have done and finish the ones I like.

What are your plans for 2010 and what's next release-wise from you?
I want to focus on producing my album and keep doing more collaborations and remixes like I was in 2009. Release-wise I have few collabs with Total Science on Metalheadz and Shogun Audio. With Marky, we have about six new tracks and we're still deciding what to do with it and we have also a 12" due in April on Digital Soundboy.

For my solo projects, I have just signed a new track on Ram Records and this will probably come out on a various artists EP. I also have a new EP set to be released on Innerground around February / March. For the next few months, I will have three different singles on Spearhead Records, C.I.A. and Metalheadz plus a single from my other project, with Spinback from Total Science, called (8 bits) on Digital Soundboy.

Recently you've done a high-profile remix for Deadmau5 together with DJ Marky - tell us how this link-up came about...
Marky's manager received the request for us to remix Deadmau5's Strobe - the deadline was quite tight, plus we had the pressure of the big remixes by J Majik and Sub Focus. So we decided to go totally in the opposite direction of those remixes and make something more kind of techy and underground. And the remix got accepted.

You've also been working closely with the likes of Total Science and Riya too. Do you prefer working with other artists and do you have any plans for more collabs in the future?
I really like working solo in studio but I think it's really good doing collaborations, especially if you have a good vibe with the producer you are working with. I have few collaborations in progress with other producers like Jubei, Marcus Intalex, D.Kay and Rawfull, Nymfo and Logistics. I'm always open to collab with different producers and singers, I think it's one of the best ways to learn new tricks.

What are some of the favourite places you've visited as a DJ and where would you like to go next?
I just came back from my first tour of Australia and New Zealand and it was amazing. I can truly say there it's one of my favourite places right now, but every single country I have played so far I really enjoyed as well. And I'm really looking forward going to Japan and America at some point.