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 20 years after he started his career as one of England’s pioneer house DJs, John 00 Fleming has nailed his flag to the ‘psy-trance scene’, so much so in fact that he’s just about to release a triple CD compilation called ‘Psy Trance Euphoria’.
According to the press release accompanying the Ministry Of Sound release, his new CD respects the ‘fiercely underground’ nature of the scene and includes two mixes and an artist album ‘specifically inspired by and for the scene’. It’s also apparently ‘the first time in history an artist album has been linked together with a mix compilation,” though Fleming immediately brushes off suggestions he’s worried his artist album won’t sell on its own merits. “It’s not that I’m not confident rather that I’m a realistic person in this new world of technology,” he stresses. “We can’t hide the fact that illegal file-sharing has delivered a huge impact, not only on the dance market, but on the industry as a whole. So the concept of having an artist album packaged with a mix comp is about value for money, providing two in one. Already people are very excited about it,” he insists.
Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What is it about psy-trance that inspires you so much to dedicate a triple CD to it?
John 00 Fleming: “I like it because it stays true to its form. They tend not to over commercialize a good thing, and they have a history of taking things more underground when things start to get a little too commercial. Skrufff: The press release points out that the psy-trance scene is pretty underground: do you have any concerns that you may alienate some of the purists by releasing it on Ministry? John 00 Fleming: “There’s a total misunderstanding about the Psy scene, from the outside people think it’s a world full of hippies running around in a field. That’s far from the truth; it’s actually one of the most mature, serious scenes out there. Psy Trance is a kinda’ filter word to disassociate itself away from the regular club trance world. In this regular trance world I feel things have gone a little too commercial and generic. Many people are tired of this scene and are lost of where to go for good music. I’m showcasing this album to show them there is another take on Trance music and its not all at 150 Mph with naked hippies.” Skrufff: I associate the scene with outdoor parties, festivals, warehouses: how much do you play at those kind of events these days? How separate is it from the Ibiza global superclub world? John 00 Fleming: “See I told you! Yes there is also an outdoor culture, but Global Gathering is also outdoors too. The key difference is that all the people at Psy festivals go there for the same reason; the music.” Skrufff: How much do you consider DJs like Tiesto and Paul Van Dyk as your peers? John 00 Fleming: “I don’t really look up to anyone, I do my own thing with my own sound. I think it’s important to try and be an innovator than follow the rest. Both Paul and Tijs (Tiesto) do this with their own sounds.” Skrufff: What is the secret of Tiesto’s success? How much is success about talent? How much marketing? John 00 Fleming: “I think Tijs is a very smart guy with a great team of people around him. He made great decisions at the right time and good on him. Many people slate others that get to the top, but I think Tijs is doing a grand job of exposing the masses to electronic dance music. Once people are hooked they start to explore other aspects of dance music and that’s where I (or others) may benefit as they might find us.” Skrufff: the pys-trance scene was born in Goa: how important is Goa to you as a place? How much time have you spent there? And in India in general? John 00 Fleming: “Just recently I’ve been going to India loads. Another misconception about Goa Trance is that it was mainly Indians behind it. The British notoriously head to Spain for holidays, whereas the Israelis used to head for India, mainly Goa. They took their music with them and held huge parties. Soon all nations headed there: in a similar way that clubbers head to Ibiza today.” : How important is Goa’s famed vibe: do you have any particular interest in Eastern philosophy? Ever been to an ashram? John 00 Fleming: “No I haven’t, but I’d like to experience more spiritual places. My life is so hectic day in day out, I’d love to find time for myself for a while and find the true John Fleming; damn, that was deep.” Skrufff: Psy-trance hasn’t varied massively throughout its 20 year period: have you ever found yourself getting bored with the music? Or limited by people’s expectations of what can and can’t be played? John 00 Fleming: “So where have you been for the past 20 years??! You obviously haven’t been involved in the Goa Psy Trance scene. There’s been HUGE changes over this time, this scene always pushes new boundaries using new technology and ingenious ideas.” Skrufff: I was reading a story this week about David Seaman struggling at a gig, failing to attract much of a crowd: have you gone through any dry spells when bookings have dried up? John 00 Fleming: “I wish it would. I’ve actually recently cancelled a load of gigs to catch up with my studio project, I was forever chasing my tail trying to find time. The past 4 years has been crazily busy.” Skrufff: Last time we chatted 6 years ago, you talked candidly about surviving cancer: how much does that experience still inform your actions today? John 00 Fleming: “Every day I wake up thankfully of the day given to me. A few years ago while lying in my hospital bed when closing my eyes to go to sleep I always thought that I would never wake. Going through this over time makes you a different person at the other side. “ Skrufff: You spoke of being relentlessly optimistic during that period: how much do you retain that attitude? How easy to maintain it? John 00 Fleming: “I have no idea, I think having a job that I love doing keeps me bursting with happiness.” Skrufff: I find myself writing more and more obituaries these days as the dance generation ages: how much do you notice people around you changing their behaviour as they age? John 00 Fleming: “To be honest I’ve never noticed. I don’t judge people by their age, I just see a person as a person and try to find that person within.”
John 00 Fleming presents ‘psy trance euphoria’ is out now on Euphoria/ Ministry Of Sound.
http://www.john00fleming.com
Interview by Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com) Subscribe to skrufff music newsletter at www.Skrufff.com |
