Ahead of the Garuda event on 14th August at Sankeys where Fergie will be performing a three hour set, we have had a catch up session with the man himself!

Garuda: You’ve had a few different sounds over the years. How would you describe the Fergie sound now?

Fergie: Hi. Yes I have had a few different sounds over the years and I will continue to move myself forward and keep finding new and exciting avenues to explore I think its one of the best traits you are allowed to have as a DJ so yeah I try and push that as far as I can. I will say this though, out of all the music I have concentrated on over the years the music that I have been playing for the past 6 or 7 years has made me the happiest. My sound is always the tougher end of things… I think that no matter what I have played that has always shone through. I like things that grab you buy the balls, I like to feel the music charging through you. The music I have been playing is quite techno / tech house based, as I say that is where I have been happiest and I think that shows were the productions are concerned. When I was starting out as a DJ I never really got into the studio vibe ….I think that probably had a lot to do with the music and having neither a want or a need to get in there, I suppose I never felt that I had anything to say.

Garuda: At Garuda, you’re playing a three hour set. Do you enjoy playing for a bit longer and if so why?

Fergie: Yes I think its best to play longer there is so much great music out there plus it gives you a chance the push through a few different styles so yeah as far as I am concerned the longer the better really.

Garuda: After becoming a Radio 1 DJ at twenty-one and remaining in the hot seat for five years, you found fame from a young age – what affect did this have on you?

Fergie: Well to be honest I never expected any of that so I wasn’t prepared nor was anyone around me so it was just like ok lets go with this. I had a great time at Radio1 it was great to work with all the other DJs and doing the live shows etc I’ve taken a lot from it. I wouldn’t want to go and do a radio show like that again in terms of every week but yeah maybe once a month or something like that. I’m still doing Essential mixes now and again for them. There was no bad blood which I was happy about, at the end of the day when I moved away from the hard house sound I knew there was going to be big sacrifices but you have to go with what you believe and follow the music. Radio 1 wanted to go one way and I was just getting out of the hard house bubble that had surrounded me for so long so I was never gona move or change the music.

Garuda: You’ve been in the music industry a good while. With hindsight, what would you have done differently, if anything?

Fergie: Yeah it doesn’t seem like that long sometimes, it has just flown by. I wouldn’t change anything. I came over to England for a weeks holiday with Tony de Vit and I ended up staying well 13 years now. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride, lots of ups and downs but that’s the way it is and as I said I wouldn’t change any of it. The hardest thing was when Tony passed away but you have to keep on doing what your doing. Tony was never one to be stuck in one style that’s probably the main thing that is annoying when he gets the hard house tag as he use to play, Cream, Moneypennies, Chuff Chuff, Wobble, Progress to name a few but they were quite diverse clubs musically, not just hardhouse so I suppose I took a lot from him in that way and just kept things moving and progressing.

Garuda: DJs can be known for splashing the cash a bit. What’s the most extravagant or bling purchase you’ve made over the past few years, and was it worth it?

Fergie: Ha. I don’t really bother with stuff like that now, bit more sense I think. When I was younger probably the 2 Mercs I had… funny thing was I couldn’t even drive, I had a driver. But when he wasn’t with me and I was going into town etc it was quite funny as I would always have to walk past my cars on the drive and jump in the cab ha.

Garuda: If you could pick one interview question that you could never be asked again, what would it be?

Fergie: WHY DON’T YOU PLAY HARDHOUSE?

Garuda: We’ve been loving your recent productions this year: what can we expect from the Fergie studio in the second half of 2009?

Fergie: Thanx ? yeah I have a remix that I done for Slam, it’s their classic Positive Education track which was probably one of the first records I bought when I started think around ‘93 so when I got the chance to mix it I was over the moon…. that should be out in August. I have also been working on some colabs with my partner in the studio Dave Robertson. Dave is doing some stuff under the Reset Robot guise so yeah quite excited about that mixing my tougher sound with his more groovy tech sound. I’m taking a break from the studio until after August and then I’ll be working on my album, so quite looking forward to that. I have a lot of madness going on in my head so just want to get it all out and see what happens really.

Garuda: You have always been a firm supporter of new talent in the industry, who are your hot tips for 2009 and beyond?

Fergie: Yeah I think its important get the new people out there, it keeps it all moving forward, gives you a kick up the ass also. The big one for me will defo be Dave Robertson under his Reset Robot name his music is just rocking it right now, I will be playing a few bits when I play in Sankeys for sure, also Alan Ftizpatrick I think you will hear quite big things from him over the next few years. Nikk Ferrel in Manchester has been sending me some nice bits he has done in the studio so keep your ears peeled for him. Last but not least is a guy I have on the agency Mr Henry Von he is probably one of the most hardworking DJs out there in terms of just getting his name out there and going to the ends of the earth and back to get to his gigs, been playing a few bits of his music also so yeah there are a few peeps to look out for.

Garuda: Name your worst & best thing about the music industry?

Fergie: Music best side, industry worst side ?

Thanks to Fergie for taking timeout to talk to us, see you all down at Sankeys on Friday 14th August.

£15 Advance Tickets: sankeys-boutique.info