Man of the moment Richard Dinsdale Interviewed for Minimar

House music: it's more than just a feeling. For young turk Richard Dinsdale, it's a way of life. This Friday the eclectic Richard Dinsdale returns to the capital to headline top new house night Minimar at Heaven. We caught up with him to answer some of our questions.

Although only a sprightly 24 years old, this new kid on the house block's been living, breathing and bleeding dance music for the best part of a decade. His mouth-watering mix of tech-tinged electro and bass-heavy house is a regular fixture at leading London nightspot The Cross, his solid, groove-led productions snapped up by UK labels Renaissance, Kinky Vinyl, Big Love and Toolroom. He also counts some of the scene's most successful movers'n'shakers - Erick Morillo, Mark Knight, Seamus Haji, Trophy Twins, Plump DJs - among his famous fans.

Hi Richard, thanks for taking the time do this interview. Let’s start at the beginning, how did you get into music and then into dj’ing?

My first run in with dance music was when my brothers used to play there Retrospective of House mix tapes and go on about there mad nights out at Club UK. I was too young to go so i got a set of decks that were belt driven DPL3'S to be exact. That was at the age of 13 and then 2 years down the line I came runner up to Yousef in Muzik mags Bedroom Bedlam leading to my mix getting played on Radio 1. That gave me the confidence to get really into it so I pursued it and it snow balled from there.

Who did you take inspiration and influence from when you started out and who inspires you today?

When i first started out i was inspired by listening to radio shows like The Love Groove Dance part (Danny Rampling) and Kiss 100 (Pete Wardman), they would always play the most upfront music at the time. I was also and still am inspired by producers like Quincy Jones and more recent Pharrell Williams, also lyric wise Rod Temperton.

You are currently signed to Represents DJ Agency, how did that all come about ?

I had a meeting with Vanessa Fontaine one day and I told her what I am about and what I want to do, so I then gave her a mix and a early production cd to have a listen and they basically signed me up from that.

You’re working on some material for Mark Knight’s label ‘Toolroom Records’. Tell me more about how your involvement with Mark came about and what we can expect?

It was December last year when i sent Mark Knight a copy of my new track called "Sniffin", he phoned me up and wanted to sign it straight away so we continued building a working relationship, from that he offered me a chance to remix Robbie Rivera's new track "Your Mistake". We really wanted to do a track together so we finally got round to it June this year and made the track "Crunch" which is coming out this month on a ep called Toolroom Knights E.P.

What software/hardware do you use for your productions and remixes and how would you describe your sound in 2006 (both as a DJ and a producer)?

I use Logic Audio on Mac with a Nord Lead 3 Keyboard(Also Mother) and a Tascam DM-24 Mixer with a awsome TC Works chip. I would say my sound is very jackin but fun hehe, i mean the more recent track I did for Global Underground is more musical but I tend to jack things up a little.

Moving away from your own production which artists feature in your DJ sets the most at the moment?

I am caning Reme at the moment but the one track I play evverrrry time is Audion "Mouth to mouth" it is 13mins long lol but rips the crowd up everytime, I love it.

A quick look at your diary for the next couple of months sees gigs in Poland, Canada and several in Asia. Is international djing a regular thing or something relatively new?

It is very new to me but I’m loving every min of it, who wouldn't love getting paid to travel and play the music u love lol but I hope it will continue.

Finally, everyone here at Minimar is looking forward to your set on November 10th. Do you enjoy playing in London and do you have any surprises up your sleeve for the night?

I'm really looking forward to playing for you, I can't wait because i love playing in London you just can't beat that vibe Londoners have, it's very exciting for me because I live just outside London so when i travel into the city I get all excited.
I have a new track which I just finished which is going to be the follow up to Pulling me under ft Wray, I just need to get some vocals finished but i will play the dub.

Thanks Guys see you on Friday

Richard Dinsdale will be playing at Minimar 10th November @ Heaven, London

11pm - 6am
www.minimar.co.uk
For guest list please call 07950 324903