Where do you live and how old are you?
I live in Clapham, London and I’m now 27.

How long have you been a DJ?
About 11 years now.

So how did you get started Dave?
When I was a kid my Uncle had his own sound systems and I sort of grew up into it, and later on I got my own records and decks.

What was Your first big break / event?
It was at the Pirate Club, The Castle in Camden. It was at the time of my Euythmnics “Sweet Dreams”! remix, which brought me work from R&S Records in Belgium. Word soon spread to Germany after my first two releases with R&S. I had to hire a Manager to cope with the demand.

What was the best event you have ever played at? Technodrome in Scotland. It was the first really big event in Scotland and the atmosphere was amazing.

Why do you Play Techno?
I am a music lover. I have a musical background, my Dad was a jazz musician and I was a drummer at the age of 8, and I just get a bigger buzz from programming a drum machine you can tell the identity from the sound, you don’t even need to see a label to know what it is whereas some Hardcore and breakbeat has no identity like that it is just more to my personal taste.

So what are your opinions on breakbeat and Hardcore? To me breakbeat is not a sound of the future, putting, for example a 25 year old beat through a new machine and saying it is something new doesn’t make sense to me. There is no identity to the track.

What do yon think of the current scene and where is it going?
Breakbeats are just another passing phase. It will be like others that come and die quickly. I’ve tried bringing in some Detroit techno but it doesn’t seem so popular with the kids.

People over 24 for example seem to appreciate it more, I think it will last longer. The younger people are bringing in new phases such as their version of trance which comes from Germany.

What is the Euro Techno scene in contrast?
In Frankfurt, trance is becoming popular which is an off shoot of progressive house. In this country wannabe techno listeners are making their own version but it is not the real stuff coming out of Germany. But some of the German stuff can be too fast so I tried to introduce some Detroit techno recently, but the Germans didn’t really take to it, they like hard and fast bpm’s.

You’ve played at both ends of this country, have you noticed any differences in taste and attitudes of those in the north to the southern?
Definitely m the ones in the north, in general, seem to enjoy it. They are there to dance and enjoy the music. They seem to get more out of it and make the most of it all. The authorities in Scotland are less oppressive and I’ve even seen quite old and really young people making use of the side attractions such as fairground rides. Everyone seems to appreciate everything up North.

Do you think there should be more purpose built venues like the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes?
Yes. I think more money should be invested in raves like in Germany, raves are sponsored by different companies which brings more publicity and money.

Do you think to would reduce the number of illegal/free raves?
No they will always go ahead. People who run them and go to them wouldn’t want things to change.

What is the best thing about being a DJ?
I used to think it was the travelling because sometimes I got to Europe up to 3 time a week, but it gets a bit lonely being amongst strangers. I think the opportunity to buy records while abroad is good because some are special editions which no one can get hold of here. Of course the money and buzz from playing to the crowds is another good thing about the job.

Any more thoughts?
Look out for two releases from R&S, 3rd Voyage and the Golden Girls remix and of course my new one Running Man on Rotation Records mid May.

Thanks to Dave Angel for taking the time to answer our questions.

By Nicol Harris