|
housefloor.de: |
In cooperation with Armada Music you have just found the new label Subculture. Why did you decide to that right now and with which philosophy are you going to run it? |
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
As we all know, the trance or dance scene these days is flooded with so many labels it is almost impossible to pick what is good, or what to listen to. For me it was important to wait for the right label partner to come along and certainly Armada are doing a great job these days. Our good relationship leads to the idea to start my ‘Subculture’ brand as a label. This is my own trance sound, which I will try to showcase on the label in the future. I intend to sign talented acts which people may not know, but deserve the chance for a break. I know a lot of new producers directly so this is a great tool for me to help promote new talent. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
housefloor.de: |
Your current album “Never Fade Away” was released in summer 2009. The tracks on “Never Fade Away” show that you like some experimentation sometimes. Can you describe how you make new influences fit to your Trance and Techtrance style?
|
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
My influences for my techtrance style is producers like Marco V, Mauro Picotto, Chris Liebing and many more. I think the techtrance produced a few years ago is some of the best yet this style has been lost these days with too much electro and minimal influences in my opinion. Trance wise, it’s difficult to say. So many people influence me outside of dance music too. Within dance music, I think Giuseppe Ottaviani is the most talented producer these days. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
housefloor.de: |
Vocals play a very important role in your tracks. Who writes the vocals for your tracks: is it you or do the vocalists come with their ideas? |
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
It varies. Some vocalists are very talented and have the idea from point zero. In this case you just go with the flow, as it’s important to respect the artists themselves and let the music write itself, the same goes with lyrics. Audrey Gallagher is a very talented writer and has some great lyrics, she does all of these herself. In other cases, my track “never fade away” was written by my fiancé – and sang by Lo-Fi Sugar. So it’s a mix. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
housefloor.de: |
When you produce music, what is the starting point for a new track? |
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
An empty screen, an idea, bashing around some keys…playing with percussions, filters, crazy LFOs…honestly – its just a totally empty screen and after that I have no idea. If I get stuck I play some of my favourite albums from years ago and sit back and wait for inspiration. If I get a mental block I switch off my studio and wait for the next day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
housefloor.de: |
You have begun early work on your new album planned for 2011. You are looking to work with some new vocal talent, so you are calling all vocalists to send their demos to you. What are you looking for in a voice or a singer to fit to your music? |
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
Like the TV show, the only way I can describe is ‘the x factor’. When you know, you KNOW. I can pretty much tell if a song is good or not within 20-30 seconds of hearing it. This is why I put the call out to vocalists because these days we need some new names and new talent injected into the scene. I am sure there is some amazing voices out there, so lets hear them! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
housefloor.de: |
Since 2007 you host the radio show Subculture on the online radio Digitally Imported. Why is the radio show important to you?
|
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
Every DJ needs to broadcast their sound. I want to show the best tracks each month in a mix that shows my style, of what to expect at gigs, and it shows who I am as a DJ. It allows for fans to become involved too by sending emails or comments on the show. There are a lot of Subculture listeners out there and I have to thank them for their emails every month! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
housefloor.de: |
Could you please describe a typical day of your life? |
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
Wake up, breakfast – spend some time with my family. Emails on computer for an hour, interviews – daily administration and organizing stuff for gigs (flights/all that stuff). Then maybe studio until 5pm, dinner, and spend more time with my family. If I am DJing, it could be get up at 6am – airport, fly 12 hours to hong kong, get another flight – get to hotel, rest for 1 hour, shower and go to gig, play for 2 hours – sleep for 2 hours and fly to a new destination and do it all again. Fun eh! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
housefloor.de: |
What are your plans for 2010? |
|
|
John O'Callaghan: |
I’m working on my new album between now and the end of the year. Honestly, I don’t even know what style I make myself until I walk out of the studio. Every day is different. I have a big tune coming up with Thomas Bronzwaer, but my album tracks at the moment have some really exciting demos under way. I don’t want to mention specifics too early but I am confident about some of these tunes. All of my gigs are on my website; I have a big summer coming up in Ibiza as Cream resident, playing a lot of the Global Gathering festivals around the world, a few festivals in Holland and an Australia tour coming up after the Summer. I am extremely busy but loving it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
interview: housefloor.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
more on John O'Callaghan |
|
|
|
|
|
CD Review John O'Callaghan - Never Fade Away |
|
|
|
|
|
John O'Callaghan on MySpace |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
