Innovate preview: Joti Sidhu — global trance phenomenon
Reported by ~deleted19310
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Submitted 09-11-05 23:10
During his career Joti Sidhu has remixed Paul Oakenfold, shared studio space with producers from Massive Attack and The Human League, and had releases on multiple labels including XL Recordings (home of Prodigy), Dragonfly, TIP, Transient and he now resides at Neurobiotic records.
I first heard Joti perform at the amazing Sonica Festival in Italy, next to the beautiful lake Bolsena, 2 hours north of Rome, with around 15,000 other international festival goers from all corners of the globe. I was standing underneath a specially constructed palace of multicoloured tubes and the sun was just about to rise, sending a swirl of colours across the mountains in the background. Needless to say I was enraptured with his blend of up-tempo grooves and trance riffs, and on our return made a bee-line for www.trance-shop.com and purchased his album ‘Punktuator’, which has to be one of the best artist albums out there right now.
As always, Innovate is on a mission to combine guaranteed floor filler classics with brand new artists that are creating the classics of the future, so, ladies and gentlemen, may we introduce…
Firstly, awesome set at Sonica, that was my first big out door trance party and I was blown away to say the least. Please tell us some of the other amazing locations you have played in your career.
My music and DJing has really taken me around the globe… it’s hard to say which events are the best, some are good because of the sheer amount of people (15,000+ Tribe, Brazil), and some events are good because of the location, for example, the Burning Man in the USA, probably the weirdest and most wonderful place to have a party, just in terms of its location, Nevada Desert, I’ve been lucky enough to go there three times. But I think the biscuit has to go to Brazil. Very good parties, beautiful locations and really good looking women. The perfect combination!!
When did you first decide to make music your career?
Acid house!
How did you get involved in dance music?
First got involved in dance music in 1988, like many of my generation I got completely blown away by the groundbreaking music and vibe of that time. It was a blessing, an awakening. That was when I started buying music and experimenting with mixing and naturally I wanted to learn what was involved in the music making process. Next came an Atari ST, Cubase, Akai S1000 Sampler and I was off.
Being in the global trance scene when Paul Oakenfold, XL, Danny Rampling were all championing that sound must have been very exciting, what did you think when it all blew up and hit the national airwaves of Radio 1 etc.?
To be honest “that sound” was their sound. I’m talking about ‘Bullet in a Gun’ etc. Euro/uplifting trance as I used to call it, was a completely different scene and sound to what I was into. Me and my friends were into PSY, or GOA trance as it used to be called. The only time the scenes crossed paths, as it were, was when Ayahuasca (Myself, Dino Psaras and Steve Ronan) did the Rize remix on Perfecto Records, (MWNN Remix also featured), and when Paul Oakenfold did a DJ mix of a Dragonfly compilation. At the time we were into and making much different music… no vocals, only sample based, dark and quite heavy. We were, in my mind, two different worlds. I can only speak for myself but back then in 1996 I wasn’t really interested in, or expected getting radio play in the UK. The only time, that I am aware of was for the Rize remix, and a mix of the Human League.
Early on in your career you worked with some top names producers such as Dave Allen (producer of The Cure), Andy Wright (Asst producer/programmer Massive Attack, Human League). What impact did these people have on you at that time?
I was really into my vinyl and DJing. I Met Dave Allen through a friend, he said he wanted someone “from the street”! So we tried a few things out, he told me to get an Atari and Cubase or Notator and basically took me under his wing, giving me the nickname “The Groove Consultant”!! As I developed quite a knack for programming keyboards and samplers.
Working on sessions at Rak, Olympic, The Hit Factory. Amazing studios, vibed out, kitted with all the best gear, and in Dave Allen and Andy Wright’s studio Funny Bunny, definitely fine tuned my studio craft.
Through time my own collection of gear grew and I would later go to my first underground trance party at The Quarry in East London where I would fall in love with the sound and form my first band and leave the commercial studio work behind me. What I got from working with these people is…. What is important is how IT sounds. If you know what sounds good then you are there. Learn some rules of the studio so you know which ones to break !!
What came first, DJing or producing?
DJing came before my production adventures.
Did you spend much time in Goa when that scene kicked off?
I’ve been to Goa twice, 1996 and 2003. CRAZY TIMES!!! Is all I can say...
You live in Brighton; do you find that is a good place to be creative?
Brighton is a really cool town, arty bursts of creativity all over the place. It’s always been well know for its talented residents, all based in the creative, from actors to musicians. 10 years ago it was one of the best clubbing and partying cities… the original Zap club for example, too many parties at the beginning of it all, special times.
You started writing music way before all the new technology that is around today. Do you still have a soft spot for the old bits of kit & hardware, or have you completely moved over to computers, soft synths and software?
In my beginning was MIDI. Back then having a studio was expensive stuff, keyboards costing thousands, mixing desks, monitors, compressors, delays the list is endless. Now you have Logic, Steinberg, Ableton etc. amazing break-throughs in technology, obviously not possible without the growth in strength and speed of the personal computer.
Now I use these programs and my mixing desk, Soundcraft Ghost and maybe some outboard compression. All my other equipment is off and gathering dust. Actually I’m selling most of it now on Ebay.
Do you find your international schedule of DJing and live sets takes it’s toll on studio work?
Traveling around, playing from one corner to the other can be hard on you and very time consuming. But it has to be done, to be honest I love it but it definitely gets in the way of the studio. Although more often then not while I am away I will find myself in a studio. I don’t think I’m alone in this, just take a look at the latest releases, a lot of tracks are collaborations now... I can still work on stuff while away with my laptop. Get it to a certain stage then finish it when I get home.... Gotta love this technology!!!
Your performing live at Innovate on the 19th November, what bits of kit do you perform your magic with?
At the moment I’m tracking in Cubase SX3 and Ableton Live is rewired into that for sample accurate triggering of sounds etc. By tracking I mean all my sounds are split in about 20 channels; kick, bass, hats, percussion, pads, leads, other lines etc. and that comes out on the mixing desk split over 8 channels. So basically I am busking the mixing desk with the delays etc and riding the mix through the one arrangement on SX which normally runs between 60 to 90 minutes. And of course I’ve then got Ableton Live for all my samples, vocals, FX.
What have you been up to lately?
Been playing around quite a lot since the release of my album. At the moment I’m spending all my time in the studio when I’m in the UK. Working on and finishing new tracks as often as possible.
I also have a project with Simon Possford (Hallucinogen, Shpongle), we are called Audio Chemistry. One track is on my album ‘Long Long Arms’, another finished and an album to come end of next year.
Any new releases coming up?
This year I released the album and three other tracks on compilations. Although I have a few new tracks I’ve been kinda slack in releasing them, basically because I wanted to get them in my live set and get people into them before letting them go.
Finally, what do you do to chill out?
Watch films, drink beer, Indian food, not necessarily in that order.
Thank you Joti for your time.
Catch Joti Sidhu [Live] at Innovate on Saturday 19th November, The Fridge, London.
For your chance to win a VIP ticket PLUS a copy of Joti’s new album ‘Punktuator’ text your name and email address to: 07815069633
Innovate
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On:
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Saturday 19th November 2005
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At:
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The Fridge [map]
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From:
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10.00pm – 6.00am
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Cost:
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£12 Advance Tickets. More on the door.
LIMITED £10 EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
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Website:
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www.innovateuk.net
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Ticket Info:
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Admission
£12 Advance Tickets. More on the door.
Web & Credit Card Bookings
Club Directory: 0800 007 5151
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100
For guest list visit
www.innovateuk.net / www.e-listlondon.com
elz@innovateuk.net / vince@e-listlondon.com
Info Lines & Tickets
London Craig 079 3298 2233
London Nicki 078 1506 9633
Camden Cyberdog 020 7482 2842
Kent Tina 079 5190 7829
Midlands Vince 078 3562 6226
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Buy Online:
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Now in the third party of its second year, Innovate is proud to present, as it’s headliner the global trance phenomenon that is Joti Sidhu. Signed to the Italian label Neurobiotic records, Joti has been making and playing trance for 11 years, and his early records were championed by Paul Oakenfold in his Goa days. Joti has played in some of the most exotic locations on planet earth to tens of thousands of people including the recent Sonica festival in Italy. We highly recommend you get hold of a copy of his storming new album “Punktuator” (www.trance-shop.com) to prepare yourself for the live experience that awaits you…
Alongside this exciting new artist will be our residents Nick Sentience and Phil Reynolds and a welcome return for James Lawson and Nicki S. Warming us up will be the chunky grooves of 2 Phunked Up and the Ice Box welcomes back the Chemical Reaction crew who took the roof off last time.
Bring it on!!
Competition
Text your name & email to 07815069633 to win VIP entry to Innovate on Sat 19/11/05, Joti Sidhu ‘Punktuator’, Hard Dance Republic mixed by Nick Sentience, Paul Glazby & Ed Real!
Innovate Membership
Includes Innovate news, competitions, CD giveaways & more, TO REGISTER text the word ‘INNOVATE’ to 88222. NB: There is a one off registration fee of £1.50.
One: The Official *FREE* Pre-Party
19/11/05 @ The Southside Bar, 3pm-11pm
125 Cleveland St, London, W1T 6QB
DJs: Conrad, K.A.R.L., Graham Gold, Ben Gold, Latex Zebra, 2 Phunked Up, and many more
F @ Fire: The official after-party
5.30AM-12.30PM. £8 WITH FLYER. MOTD.
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Flyer:
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Ohh wow now I am looking forward to this party even more - is this posssiable ??? Yeap!
Having only heard of Joti Sidhu a couple of months ago, I can certainly say that his Punktuator album is the dogs danglies. Highly recommend it as I can't stop playing it.