DJ FERGIE has been, in his own words, 'a slave to the rave' for the last 10 years. A loyal servant to electronic dance music, who, at just 27 years old has spent over half of his short life in clubs and experienced more in his career as a DJ / Producer / Radio presenter / than many double his age.

DJ FERGIE Interview
12th December 2007

Hi Fergie…how's life treating you?

I’m very well, just had a top weekend in Bulgaria and Newcastle! Top gigs! Bulgaria always goes right off... they know how to have a party and they are slaves to the rave. Newcastle was as good as ever... the Geordie massive are always on good spirits…and other spirits also which makes for a good party...

You make a return to Teesside for the first time in 5 years for our m0de Christmas Carousel on the 28th of December @ The Purple Onion, what is it that has brought you back?

Yeah its been a while since I’ve been up there.. I didn’t realise it has been that long!
I used to play the Sugar Shack which was a fave of mine. I’m coming up as you say to play M0de which will be my first time there. I have heard so many good reports about it from my friends Bigger Than Jesus. To be honest it was actually me who contacted the promoter to tell them I would love to come and play for them! So I’m well looking forward to it and I’m glad they are having me up… I hear it’s a rite old rave up!

You are considered to be one of the leading DJ’s and names in Electronic dance music. Looking back at the last year, what are you thoughts about the scene as a whole and what’s going on?

Well I think the scene, in terms of the gigs and the music, is in the best place it's been for years as there is this massive underground vibe going on. I also think that more and more clubs are giving slots to young DJ’s who regularly go to their clubs, which I think is ace as it’s where the heart of the club should come from; the local guys in there playing the local club. I also think that the clubs have got back to mixing the music up a bit more again which is good. For the last few years it was if you like progressive you go to this club, or if you like techno you go to that club which I think divided the scene a bit.
I remember when you could go and listen to Tony de Vit, Sasha, and Carl Cox. The clubs are now going back to mixing it up again, and have been putting on more bands with DJ’s which I think is all good as the people who go out to the clubs want more variety and some thing a bit different.

Also this year has seen so much more technology that DJ’s/ producers can use in their sets which makes it all a lot more interesting.
I have been using Serato and Abelton when I have been out and about; it just gives me an extra angle on what I’m doing. I also use the Abelton a lot to edit other people’s tracks to fit in with what I’m doing, so in a way it makes the tracks a little bit more exclusive to me.

This year I also went and enrolled in a college course; Electronic Music Production at the SAE in Glasgow where I got a handle on Reason, Pro-tools, Abelton etc …so that has helped me a lot as we’ve been spending more and more time in the studio trying to put all the madness that goes on in my head into music. This has resulted in lots of new tracks coming out. I say “we” because Fergie has two people in the studio side of things; Dave Robertson is my studio partner and is the other side of Fergie, he’s my brother from another mother......the music!

We have just released an E.P. which came out on the German label, Craft, (The Black Shines Through The Black). A remix has just been done for Bigger Than Jesus that will come out in January on the Silverplanet Label. Also in January, we have a new E.P. to come out on Excentric.

I flew over to Germany to do a track with Gregor Tresher which has been signed to Great Stuff for their Great Carnival album due out also in January, so there is a lot going on.

What tunes are exiting you at the moment?

As I said the music scene is in the best place right now. There are so many ways to access music rather than just popping into the local record store; whether you go on Beatport, Kompakt or Stumpy, or you just get your DJ mates, or if you’re lucky enough, your producer friends to fire you their new stuff they have just made fresh from the studio through AIM ...

Some new producers/ DJ’s that are exciting me at the moment are; Mr Henry Von (Excentric resident ), Jus'Phil, Bigger Than Jesus, Cormac McCorry and Spektre who are all amazing. I like the fresh approach these guys are bringing to the table. Also I have been a massive fan of Phil Kieran, he has to be the one of the most consistent producers over the past few years, but he has been out raving for years so he knows his stuff....

As founder of the Excentric Artists Agency being and being a big supporter of introducing fresh talent and new music, who has really impressed you in terms of production and DJ’ing this year and who do you see doing really well over the coming years?

Again I will say that the Bigger Than Jesus guys are defo doing it, they are so dedicated to what they are doing and they just bring the whole party vibe to wherever they play. They are now signed to Excentric Artists so that’s all good. I’ve had them do some Excentric parties and I have to say I’m glad there is someone new to take over the mental mantel from me! There is defo going be big things happening for these guys in the New Year.
If I was in DJ Mag’s top 100 hundred I would defo put these guys in as my ones to watch ... but I’m not. Ha ha…so… I’m taking this opportunity to say it. The ones to watch in the New Year BIGGER THAN JESUS......................

Check out their mix of the Larne Express on Excentric Muzik also........

You must do so many interviews, so thought I would add a little unconventional randomness to this one, so when you are away from it all what normal day to day activities do you do to relax, occupy your time?

Well I don’t really take time off... It never really seems like a job as such as I’m doing what I love and when I’m travelling about I generally listen to new demo's that I have been given and DJ mixes I get sent etc..
If I have been Dj’ing in Scotland and I head home with a few people, I am sure to get the ipod in its dock for a few tunes.
Queen, Simple Minds, Blonde, Joy Division...that sort of stuff. If it’s in the wee small hours and after a few jars I think I’m in the band, doing air guitar….which is quite funny to watch!

What type of music; other than dance/electronic do you listen to say whilst in the bath or cooking in the kitchen?

I’ve not had a bath for years and I don’t have a kitchen........................

There are always a lot of rumours and urban myth said about artists with a high public profile. What’s the most said untrue thing that has been published about you?

That’s a hard one as most of the crazy stories are true.... shame on me......

Well… I’ve heard along the grapevine that you have been known to arrive at venues in a fire engine… is this true?

Ok... I have an answer for the previous question… The turning up in a fire engine is not true!

And finally, for those people that have heard of you through your show on radio 1 but not yet seen you in action, what can they expect form you at the Purple Onion?

Well from what I have heard about the Onion, nothing surprises these guys as its a full on rave affair, so... I think I’m gonna keep that vibe going and just join in on the madness...