Q&A with DJ Fdel |
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Fdel with MC Macshane
Hi Fdel, thanks for taking time out for this interview, I know you’re a busy man! I know you’re always DJing across Perth, with lots of entertaining anecdotes on punters, haha. What have you been up to lately?
Just playing my usual residencies (Brisbane Hotel, hadiqa, Goody Twos and Embargo). Still marvelling at the requests people will ask for. S Club 7 was one recently that had me like WTF? Haha. Requested by a guy too. But as a friend reminded me “ain’t no party like a …" haha.
You are once again judging the 2019 WA DMC DJ Championship on Sunday 25th August at Universal Bar, what do you enjoy most about judging the competition?
It's always an honour to be asked to judge a competition like the DMCs. There’s such an awesome history there, its launched some amazing careers and its slowly building back up again in terms of entrants and skill level locally which is great. Last year was epic. Turntablism is such an important and often overlooked element in DJ culture. I really look forward to see what each year and each generation brings. I get inspired by DJ’s that enter this competition.
We have six entrants in this year’s competition, some usual entrants as well as some newbies. What do you look for when you’re judging a DJs set?
Skill, flair, creativity are the main things I look for. Song selection can be a factor as well, depending on how the set is put together.
As a DJ yourself for many years, other than the comical interactions you have with people in clubs/bars/venues, what do you love about DJing?
People watching. I get an incredible place to view human interactions. Some of it is just way too funny. Some of it is a bit gross haha. But more than anything I just love entertaining people. Seeing people boogie and have a good time. Dropping that remix or bootleg I’ve spend hours looking for or producing and seeing peoples faces light up that’s what gets me juiced.
Just playing my usual residencies (Brisbane Hotel, hadiqa, Goody Twos and Embargo). Still marvelling at the requests people will ask for. S Club 7 was one recently that had me like WTF? Haha. Requested by a guy too. But as a friend reminded me “ain’t no party like a …" haha.
You are once again judging the 2019 WA DMC DJ Championship on Sunday 25th August at Universal Bar, what do you enjoy most about judging the competition?
It's always an honour to be asked to judge a competition like the DMCs. There’s such an awesome history there, its launched some amazing careers and its slowly building back up again in terms of entrants and skill level locally which is great. Last year was epic. Turntablism is such an important and often overlooked element in DJ culture. I really look forward to see what each year and each generation brings. I get inspired by DJ’s that enter this competition.
We have six entrants in this year’s competition, some usual entrants as well as some newbies. What do you look for when you’re judging a DJs set?
Skill, flair, creativity are the main things I look for. Song selection can be a factor as well, depending on how the set is put together.
As a DJ yourself for many years, other than the comical interactions you have with people in clubs/bars/venues, what do you love about DJing?
People watching. I get an incredible place to view human interactions. Some of it is just way too funny. Some of it is a bit gross haha. But more than anything I just love entertaining people. Seeing people boogie and have a good time. Dropping that remix or bootleg I’ve spend hours looking for or producing and seeing peoples faces light up that’s what gets me juiced.
How did you get into the art of DJing yourself?
I’m a producer first. I was like right so how am I going to get out there and perform? I always loved the mystery of turntables as a teenager. Something so killer about it. Its iconic to djing. I never really understood it but I knew there was no way you could fake it, it was genuine. So I was like right I’ll be a DJ. I’ve always loved Hip Hop since I was 6. So it was a natural progression from making beats out of my dads old 12” Blues collection to playing and mixing some of my favourite Hip Hop tracks and learning to scratch etc. Most of my idols were DJ’s too so it made sense.
You released Audio Fdelity in 2006 which is a classic beat album and then Yesterday’s New Sound in 2015 which had some great beats and features, are you working on any new music?
Of my original stuff yep slowly but surely. Not nearly as much as I would like but I’m keen to get another EP together pretty soon. I’m constantly thinking of people to work with. For the most part recently I’ve just been making edits and remixes to play out. That seems to take priority over originals as I can play them that weekend. I think I might release those at some stage when I get enough that I’m happy with haha.
What else is in store for Fdel in 2019?
Some grown up stuff. Bought another house so back on the tool belt for bit. I’m not looking forward to moving the studio which will be a chore in itself and all the vinyl. All my vinyl DJ’s will know the pain of packing up wax and moving it. That shit weighs a ton. Once it’s all set up in the new space though, I’ll be churning out some new tunes. So keep an eye out for some new material in the not so distant future.
Thank you so much for your time and best of luck judging the WA DMC heat!
Thank you. I’m really looking forward to it.
Show your support for Fdel by following his socials: Facebook, Instagram, and Website.
The 2019 WA DMC DJ Championships are on this Sunday 25th August at Universal Bar, event page here. Entry is $10 on the door.
I’m a producer first. I was like right so how am I going to get out there and perform? I always loved the mystery of turntables as a teenager. Something so killer about it. Its iconic to djing. I never really understood it but I knew there was no way you could fake it, it was genuine. So I was like right I’ll be a DJ. I’ve always loved Hip Hop since I was 6. So it was a natural progression from making beats out of my dads old 12” Blues collection to playing and mixing some of my favourite Hip Hop tracks and learning to scratch etc. Most of my idols were DJ’s too so it made sense.
You released Audio Fdelity in 2006 which is a classic beat album and then Yesterday’s New Sound in 2015 which had some great beats and features, are you working on any new music?
Of my original stuff yep slowly but surely. Not nearly as much as I would like but I’m keen to get another EP together pretty soon. I’m constantly thinking of people to work with. For the most part recently I’ve just been making edits and remixes to play out. That seems to take priority over originals as I can play them that weekend. I think I might release those at some stage when I get enough that I’m happy with haha.
What else is in store for Fdel in 2019?
Some grown up stuff. Bought another house so back on the tool belt for bit. I’m not looking forward to moving the studio which will be a chore in itself and all the vinyl. All my vinyl DJ’s will know the pain of packing up wax and moving it. That shit weighs a ton. Once it’s all set up in the new space though, I’ll be churning out some new tunes. So keep an eye out for some new material in the not so distant future.
Thank you so much for your time and best of luck judging the WA DMC heat!
Thank you. I’m really looking forward to it.
Show your support for Fdel by following his socials: Facebook, Instagram, and Website.
The 2019 WA DMC DJ Championships are on this Sunday 25th August at Universal Bar, event page here. Entry is $10 on the door.