Beatportal interview: Ed Kane

Beatportal interview: Ed Kane

2 March, 2008 | 6.50AM

• Section: Music News Topics: Beatport Blog
• Written by: jamiegardiner1

Ed Kane has often been described as a leader of the new school.

Pioneering a unique and fresh approach to electro, his tracks have enabled him to secure gigs the world over.

Starting life in the music industry as a sound engineer, Ed’s technical knowledge in the studio has enabled him to produce some truly innovative tracks.

These skills have enabled Ed to sign tunes and remix for some of the worlds biggest dance labels, including Toolroom, Stealth, Definitive and Gut and Gusto. 

His releases have been supported by some of the biggest names in dance music, including Armand Van Helden, Tom Stephan, Mark Knight, D.Ramirez, Martijn ten Velden, Micky Slim, Filthy Rich and Noir.

Despite this success as producer, Ed Kane’s buds of success came about through a love of DJing.

Ed first got hooked at just 13.

The producer is currently working on 2 new projects.

In June 2007, Ed’s techno alias, Kanio, emerged and is storming the minimal charts.

His remix of Daley Padley and Chris Special’s ‘Electro is Dead’ has reached number 3 on the Beatport minimal chart, whilst his original track ‘Spandex’ gained an impressive 13th spot.

Ed has had numerous plays on BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix.

In addition, he has formed an electro collective alongside Filthy Rich and Will Bailey called The UK House Gangsters.

Ed, how important are social networking sites such as Myspace to your career?

I don’t know what I’d do without MySpace.

It’s such a great way of being found by other artists and promoters.

I get almost all my gigs through the site.

I think this interview even started with a MySpace message, if I remember correctly.

What piece of studio equipment could you not live without?

Just my Mac, really.

I’ve got loads of hardware, but I never use it any more.

Software rocks these days.

I notice you list DJ Premier and Pete Rock amongst your influences. Have you any hip-hop tracks in the vaults we might see one day?

Yeah there is a vault, but it sure ain’t coming out!

At which point did you realise you could make a successful career from producing tracks?

It’s hard to remember a specific point.

I’ve always known it was possible and have worked hard to achieve it.

What does 2008 hold in store for Ed Kane?

Well, my gig list is longer than it’s ever been, so a lot of travel up and down the UK and across the world.

I already have dates for Denmark, China and South America, and I’m confirming dates for Ibiza and the Czech Republic as we speak.

Tell us about the tracks you release under the Kanio alias?

Kanio is my minimal/techno alias.

I’ve been working really hard on this and have got loads of tracks coming out over the next few months.

Blog sites — straight up music theft or a useful tool?

I hate these sites.

I hate the way people have lost (or are too young to have ever known) any respect for music.

Music is treated like a worthless commodity that isn’t even worth a £2 download.

People forget the hard work, effort and passion that artists put into making tracks.

That’s not to say that I have never shared an MP3, it’s just the whole thing of people actively posting music online so people they don’t even know can download it for free.

That’s what gets me.

I just find it really disrespectful to the artist.

Your thoughts on the news that Turnmills shall close its doors for good this month?

Well, I can’t say I was a regular, but it’s another good club in London that’s biting the dust.

It seems mad that we have now lost four of our big clubs.

Thankfully my favourites are Fabric and The End, and they are still standing.

To be honest, though, London is one of the best cities for clubbing in the world.

Before we know it, there will be a couple of wicked new clubs open, and all will be back to normal.

There are plenty of rumours of new clubs opening.

Six months down the line, and all will be back to normal with some cool new venues to check out.

You must be excited about the upcoming South American and Chinese tours?

I can’t wait.

I’ve never had the chance to travel much until my DJ career took off, so it’s great getting to see all these countries.

What’s the worst thing about being a DJ?

Getting your week’s wages in cash at 4 am, pissed, in a nightclub and trying not spend them all before you get home.

If you could (officially) remix one track, what would it be?

I’ve always wanted to remix ‘Intergalactic’ by Beastie Boys, but I think Will Bailey has already done it. Bastard!

What other artists are impressing you at the moment?

Stupid Fresh are smashing the electro, whilst I’m loving Format B’s techno tunes.

• (0) Comments
• (495) Views
• Check out Ed Kane on Beatport