Interview: Jon Rundell

Interview: Jon Rundell

28 October, 2008 | 2.40AM

• Written by: Ellie
• Filed under: Music News:

He’s been DJing for the last 12 years, he co-founded the music download website Trackitdown and went on to manage Intec Records for Carl Cox, but this year it’s really begun to kick off big-time for Jon Rundell with his killer remix of Devilfish’s ‘Manalive’ topping Beatport’s techno chart for six weeks and reaching #2 in the main chart.

Beatportal caught up with him to talk Paul van Dyk, heroes and strange gigs.

You started your DJ’ing career in hard dance and you’re known for fusing genres, but what’s your personal favourite type of music?

Groovy techno.

You warmed up for Paul van Dyk at the Amsterdam Dance Event last weekend – what’s your favourite Paul van Dyk tune?

I quite like ‘White Lies’, because it’s hooky and I like the vocal. ‘For An Angel’ is another, more obvious choice.

What do you think of his digression from trance music?

Even years ago Paul wasn’t playing just trance, he was playing the more techno sounds as well.

By playing different genres he can put music out to people who wouldn’t necessarily hear it.

Who’s your hero?

Musically it’s got to be Carl Cox. He’s one of the first DJs I ever saw, so it’s pretty amazing to work with him now. I also really admire Michael Cain because he’s humble and hasn’t forgotten his roots.

What’s your all time favourite record?

That’s a difficult one…I’d probably say ‘Pennies From Heaven’ by Inner City because it was a big, fun release and was really good back in the day.

What’s your favourite track at the moment?

Adam Sheridan’s ‘Tackle Face’ is an amazingly produced record – I think it’s one of the best he’s ever done.

What was the last record you listened to?

Hard Fi ‘Little Angel’.

What’s the weirdest gig you’ve ever played?

[Laughs] Back in the day we used to play some pretty strange gigs.

I once did a wedding reception which turned into an illegal rave and about 10 or 11 years ago we had a party in an MOT test centre with the DJ booth raised up on jacks.

The police turned up but we got away with it by saying it was a private party, even though there were all these strobe lights and psychedelic backdrops!

Do you prefer DJ’ing to producing?

I’m first and foremost a DJ as that’s what I did first and I’ve always been interested in it.

But when you’re constantly playing other peoples’ records, after a while it’s natural to want to have a go yourself.

It took me a couple of years to get used to but I find producing really rewarding and satisfying.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?

Definitely DJ’ing with Carl Cox.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?

I’ll leave it to someone else to answer that. But playing in Melbourne to 25,000 people with Carl was an incredible experience.

And finally, what’s been your highlight of this year?

Playing the South West Four festival in London.

• (0) Comments
• (1568) Views
• Jon Rundell on Beatport