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The Secret DJ on Ibiza: "Fuck all that heritage nonsense"
His book is out on June 21
What was the last album you listened to, end-to-end?
Nils Frahm’s ‘All Melody’ – which is a massive lie, by the way, ’cause it also contains rhythm. I listened to all of it as it simply demands it. I’m a big fan of the pianist Glenn Gould, and a lot of the way it’s recorded reminds me of his lo-fi approach. I also listened to the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack recently; it has the same kind of completeness. So does ‘Transformer’ by Lou Reed. Or ‘Screamadelica’. Daniel Avery’s new joint has it too.
Would we know any of the music you’ve made?
In various guises I’ve been very underground and very mainstream. Been on telly and everything. Since I’ve lived abroad in Ibiza I’ve done lots of things under pseudonyms, which isn’t unusual for electronic music. Frankly most of my career I’ve hidden behind constructs, so none of this secret nonsense is very new to me. I’m not giving you any more than that, you tinker.
What are future plans for The Secret DJ?
There’s going to be a series of immersive theatre events. The DJ will be secret. It might be me, might be one of my ‘name’ DJ mates. It will be pitch-black, like a ghost train. It will be very easy for me to be secret if I’m not there [laughs]. We have to recreate what raves were originally like by stealth: you knew nothing, couldn’t see much, music was everything, didn’t even know where the DJ was, never mind who. So yeah, big plans. Ultimately it’s not about me. The Secret DJ can be anybody.
The Secret DJ's book The Secret DJ is out via Faber & Faber on June 21. Buy it here
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