September 12th, 2009

Woolfy

Woolfy is pretty amazing. I’m not going to going into a hyperbole like I did on the Onion Interview, even though it was well deserved. Suffice to say if you like electronic music or just good “indie guitar pop” check out his new album If You Know What’s Good For Ya!!!

Woolfy is DJing tonight at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel in Adelaide.

Winston: Do you consider yourself part of an international “cosmic disco” scene or do you just do what you do without any outside influence?

Woolfy: I look at myself as an international DJ cause I probably get more of my gigs overseas. When I think of myself as part of a crew I think of myself as part of my LA crew and a couple of heads in New York. Like Eric Duncan, Harvey and all the Sarcastic (Disco) guys. Basically that’s what I see myself as fitting within a family of DJs. I have heard incredible things from people like Todd Terje and Prins Thomas. To be compared to those guys is amazing.

Winston: How did you first get into electronic music?

Woolfy: Basically when I was 18 or 19, I think it began at a Primal Scream. I was a fan of them before the made dance music, kind of like The Jesus Mary Chain side of things. One of my friends asked if I wanted to go this after party, and I was like “sure” because at 18 that seems so amazing. I went this bar called Flammable Liquid and it was the start of the house scene in LA. At that stage I got into dance music before that it was pretty much rock and roll or grunge.

Winston: I noticed a move towards “indie guitar pop”, side of things on the new album was that a conscious shift?

Woolfy: I kind of like to just leave it open, because I’m one person. When I’m making music it’s not like it’s for guys in a band that are trying to make a certain sound. The music is an open pallet. Sometimes I will be DJing indie stuff mixed with like dirty disco. Other days I’m on the beach and want to play music that works with that, that sort of translates into making the music. I just go with it. The next album will also be guitar stuff, it’s almost there but it’s going to be atleast 8 months or a year. I’m not going to go for any sound in particular on the new album because that will seem contrived, but a lot of the stuff I am feeling right now in the studio is post punk.

Winston: I have seen some YouTube videos of the live show, was that just a one off thing or is it something you do often?

Woolfy: The live show is a real thing. Last time we went out, as a band we toured Moscow, Berlin, Los angeles, Holland, Austria and Switzerland. We went as a 3 piece which was cool for clubs cause we relied on a laptop. We are just trying to get the name big enough so we can have a full band like a 4 or 5 piece. Travelling with the lads is so much better; they are both (DJing and live touring) unique experiences but with the lads is a lot more fun.

Winston: Is it lonely touring as a single DJ?

Woolfy: There’s a certain degree of loneliness where you go to a new club every night. It’s ok to be moving like when you are going from 1 city to the next. There is usually someone to show you around, and take care of you. I was stuck one time for like 6 or 7 days, because I only had one gig booked in Berlin. During the day it was cold and gloomy and I pretty much didn’t know anyone.

Winston: How did you get signed to Rong/DFA?

Woolfy: I was playing Turntables on the Hudson which a New York spot, it’s like Nickodeumus and Moriano. That night I was walking through the Meat Packing District and it was getting all quiet and I was like “whoa where the fuck am?” I walked into this one bar because I heard some disco music from outside. I went up to the dude behind the deck and said “yo,that’s a great track” all very trainspotter-y. Then we hit it off and it was DJ Spun, the head of Rong music. I slipped him a cd it was like 4 projectionist tracks and I threw Oh Missy on there as a joke on the end. And he called me back and said we want more tracks like that one (Oh Missy). That put me into the DFA/Rong family.

Winston: What are you going to be playing on your Australian DJ tour?

Woolfy: I think I can fit 70 records in my bag. I don’t really play CDs. All my dance stuff is on wax. Bring a bit of everything, if it’s a big club I’m going to hit floor on the floor and keep the momentum going. If it’s like 300 people we are just going to have a good time and go on a journey.

Winston: How did you get into DJing?

Woolfy: It was a progression; you go to a club and decide that you want to do that. It was a natural progression, that why there are so many DJ’s these days. Everyone is like “I can do that too”.
Winston: It also has to do a lot with the technology making it easier and easier, now all you need is a pc.
Woolfy: I don’t think I will ever move to Serato, it’s amazing how far DJing technology has gone, it was records for so long then came CDs but they weren’t there for very long. ‘Cause then Serato came along and you can bring a million track now. 70 records is good enough for me, you can make that last forever.

Winston: What’s the creative process to make you tracks?

Woolfy: I start with the beat basically, once I get drums that I like that I’m feeling than I will just … whatever can be first you know maybe a keyboard. It can be the day after a long weekend, those can be emotional days. I like to call them “Sonic Mondays”. There was so much cool shit that happened over the weekend, but there is a lot of emotion that comes with it. Woolfy is usually the beat is made first. I have a whole other collection of stuff that starts with the vocals or is written on guitar – that’s not going to come out for a couple of years yet.

Winston: So is it mostly live instruments or sample based?

Woolfy: For the first projections album it was definitely sample based, that came out in 2002 on guidance records. It was great way, home studios were very knew. Now a days it’s just start from scratch and make the beat.

Originally Article appeared in Onion Magazine, which is one of the best street press mags in Australia.

Winston | 2 Comments

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