Christopher Wilde spins his flavour of deep, tech house at the next “So Up” event happening in Cape Town on the 30 July 2011. He’s one of six DJ’s playing at the event which is collaboration between “From London with love”, “The Underground Mix Sessions” and “Mr Spencer.com”. Mr Spencer caught up with him, check out what he had to say…

Who in your opinion is the longest standing legend in electronic music?
Honestly there are few I believe to be legendary, but many that I enjoy and respect. Mathew Herbert has always had a special place in my music collection, BT, Sasha, Mr Scruff, Burial, Jazzanova, Amon Tobin, Prefuse 73, Depeche mode, these are the people I think of when I think of legends and artists who have achieved some longevity in electronic music, an elusive goal for many I think.

What type of music did you start playing?
Breaks and some dubstep, apparently before it was cool, but my love of jazz, soul music and blues along with my love of both raw and refined electronica has pushed me in other directions.  My sets are hugely influenced by deep, deep tech, minimal, and anything slightly left of centre these days.

How would you describe your music now?
Deep, minimal, bouncing eclectic funky techno love noise. It’s a wait and see kinda thing.  It’s always dependant on the who, when and where of the gig, but I always bring out an intro, a classic and a lot of brand spanking new stuff.

Music helps people with major moments in their lives; it’s amazing what music can do for the emotions. When u play or make music what does this do for you?
Again it’s always about that set at that moment, which for me usually comes from how I felt as I was putting together a selection of stuff to play from.

Do you adjust the music you play for a festival and in a club?
I prepare every set for the audience, event, time slot and venue that I’m playing too. There is so much good music out there, and I’m quite eclectic so I like to cook up something special for each show.

How do you prepare for a show, what is your ritual? Do you wear any lucky charms?
A tequila (it used to be 3) a cigarette and kiss from the woman I love.

What do you say to people that sacrifice their own personal style for the sake of commercialism?
I think some people just don’t have style, and some peoples’ style is commercial, that’s ok, there are people who will love them for it and people who won’t. A good performer can pull a rabbit out the hat every time without compromising themselves.

Are there any epic events that stand out in your mind?
9/11, hurricane Katrina, tsunami, another tsunami and the cancellation of hereo’s. Epic fail.

Who would you like to collaborate with in regards to both production and performance?
Mathew Herbert, Groove Junkies, Black Coffee, Ernestine Dean, Hugh Masekela (long time fantasy, but black coffee did that already)
 
Which parts of the world’s party scene would like to explore?
I would love to go to Japan, play in Japan and party in Japan till 6am! Drink too much saki and eat sushi watching the sun rise.

Technology for DJs is evolving, where do you see it taking music makers on the next level?
I think DJ’s need to embrace more technology more quickly, in order to evolve what they’re doing, in order to be more than a musical waiter stop winging about how “not enough people play vinyl anymore”.

What’s in the pipeline for you for next year?
I’ve been pulling back from the gigging scene over the last 4 months, focusing on my production and setting up my new label Shake Records, dedicated to pushing afro deep / tech / minimal / house.  I expect to see the first releases out for the beginning of our summer season.  I also have a number of releases coming out, which are already garnering great support, a second release on night drive music featuring remixes by soul minority, and motor city soul and some remix and original work on MoHo Records, Oh So Coy Recordings, Inrichmint, Shake Records and a few others.

Any other hot performers we should watch out for?
None, all eyes on me.  Na I’m only kidding, there are so many new faces all the time I would struggle to put my finger on one. I love the SA artists that are making moves such as Crazy white boy and Black Coffee. Funny enough I follow live performers, bands and producers these days more than I follow DJ’s / performers.

Any advice for DJs and producers starting out and driving to make it in the industry on a global scale?
Don’t be full of yourself, do it for the music, do if for the audience and for the party, never for the money.  Don’t be a jerk, no one likes people with overgrown heads, be friendly and take the business seriously. It’s a business frequented by sharks.

First album you ever bought?
Offsrping - Smash or something, back when they were actually cool, Micheal Jackson - Dangerous  and possibly something by Mozart. I was 12 and deeply conflicted.

Your fondest musical memory?
Watching Hiromi Uehara - one of the most incredible performances I’ve ever seen.

Your biggest musical influence?
I suppose I’m most influenced by my life, and the people in it, good days, bad days, the people I love and care about and the things I fear.

Your favourite nightlife spots?
Was really impressed by trinity in Cape Town recently, seems to have escaped all the trappings that every ‘big’ Cape Town club has fallen into, everyone was awesome from the security (very impressive) to door lady and the bar staff, it’s so refreshing. Blakes is also a beautiful venue, intimate and comfortable, Voom Voom also looks to be a great venue with some real flair. Such changes must be admired.

If you could play in one city in any country, where would it be?
I love my city.  Put your hands up for Cape Town mother F(*&%$s

Favourite gig of all time?
Wow, too many to choose from, probably playing at a small venue on Long street during the world cup with some amazing international talent and to an incredible unassuming audience. It’s all about the audience and how much fun they had.

Your top 5 tunes at the moment?
This is what I’m listening too right now, not what I would play at all but here goes....
1. Bang Bang - Hate Fleeting - Christopher Wilde Remix.
2. Theivery Corporation  - Free
3. Liquid Stranger  - totem
4. Aloe Blacc - Dollar
5. Crazy White Boy - Love you better

What’s your current studio setup like?
I work predominantly in my home studio, Macbook pro / Logic Pro 9 / 61 key controller keyboard / Edirol FA 101 / Alesis MK 11 active monitors  - its nice and light weight, have a few other bits of hardware floating around but sold a whole stack of analog gear I just no longer used. I also have access to full studio in Mowbray with two booths, Yamaha 02R / Rockit monitoring system and a ton of mics and bits and pieces.

What’s your party trick?
I am a party trick.

Your worst vice?
Cigarettes and black coffee...

Vodka, whisky or rum?
Whisky every time.

Something you can’t live without?
The Woman I love, my Macbook pro, music and I’d have to say haircuts.

Interviewed by: Dani Dakova Dae