A Q&A with DJ Format
DJ Format returns to the Hare & Hounds this Friday as part of a double headline bill with Hackney Colliery Band. One of the most accomplished spinners in the game, Format’s funk, hip hop and soul fuelled sets are delivered with turntable skills of the highest order and never fail to get the room jumping. We caught up for a few words on what gets him ticking…
What first inspired you to get behind the turntables?
I was inspired to get behind the turntables because I wanted to scratch like the DJs on the ’80s hip hop records I grew up listening to.
It’s a common path to start out as a DJ first and start producing music later, is this how it panned out for you?
Yes, it just felt like a natural progression to go from scratching and mixing records to wanting to create my own beats.
What’s your production setup like?
Nowadays I just use Logic on a Mac. I occasionally fire up my old Akai S950 to chop up something if I feel it needs it but I can usually do everything on a laptop.
Which other DJs do you particularly admire?
Mr Thing, Andy Smith… Guys that combine years of musical knowledge with traditional hip hop DJ techniques. Plus they both rock ANY party!
Your live A/V show with The Simonsound looks like it must have been a blast to put together. How long did it take?
To be honest, most of the clever stuff in that show was in the preparation. We took several weeks putting the music together and probably longer putting all the visuals together. We left gaps in certain places for either myself or Simon to do a scratch, play a synth line or a drum machine pattern, but everything was fairly simple to perform compared to the complicated and intricate planning beforehand!
Do you have a favourite track of your own, or a piece of work that you’re most proud of?
I’m proud of most of my work but I try not to dwell on my old songs and always try to make my best song every time I do something new. I feel that I’ve got better with time and I’m much happier with my last two albums, ‘Statement Of Intent’ and ‘The Foremost’ (with Phill Most Chill), than my 1st two albums that are 100 times more famous. I’m still extremely proud of ‘We Know Something..’ with Chali 2na & Akil of Jurassic 5 and ‘Ill Culinary Behaviour’ with Abdominal, just to name a couple of songs.
What’s your best ever DJ experience?
It’s hard to pick just one but playing at Glastonbury or Leeds & Reading festivals in the mid-2000s were amazing times for me.
When I’ve seen you play there’s always been loads of obscure tunes I’ve never heard before, how much time do you dedicate to crate digging?
Digging is my hobby and passion so I spend as much time as possible doing that. I just got back from a big digging trip in the States and it’s only got me hungry for more!
Do you have a favourite tune to really get the party started?
Hmmm… I often try to play one of my own songs to see if the crowd are there to see/hear me or if they are just random people who don’t know me from Adam! Once I know how the land lies, I can relax and do my thing.
What’s next for DJ Format?
Birmingham on Friday night, ha ha! Other than that, I’m going to continue searching for old records that excite me and hopefully playing my new discoveries to party people around the world.
Tickets for Friday’s show are on sale now, and you can pick yours up from here for £12.00.