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housefloor.de: |
how
did you become interested in electronic music? |
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john
acquaviva: |
when
my friends were listening to led zeppelin and black sabbath
i was listening to disco and soul. i did eventually learn
to like led zeppelin and laugh at ozzy but i think that is
it really.
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housefloor.de: |
what
fascinates you about it? |
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john
acquaviva: |
for
me, a good song just touches and connects with me deeply. and
that can be from a soft slow song or groove, to a tribal or
rocking track with lots of noise or drums or any sort of energy.
that is what i try and fit and convey in my dj sets...all moods
for all vibes. |
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housefloor.de: |
in
may of this year the fourth part of your saturday to sunday
mix-cds has been released. which concept stands behind this
collection? |
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john
acquaviva: |
the
concept is to show that a lot of the big clubs like a more pumping
sound...the energy is more intense and those are normally the
big weekend ones like on a friday or saturday, but then there
are smaller clubs, the sort i would play on a sunday or thursday
that i can play a deeper or darker sound...one more for the
real music junkies like myself who want more... |
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housefloor.de: |
you
and richie hawtin were some of the djs that first integrated
final scratch into their sets. to which extend has this revolutionary
technique, which allows the dj to use digital audio documents
the same way as vinyls, been accepted in the clubs and studios? |
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john
acquaviva: |
i
think it has made quite an impact...but for me, it is about
the freedom and flexibilty it provides for me as a dj...beyond
the fact i think this is one of the key roads to go down for
the future, i don't know what real extent it has been integrated
over the year. |
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housefloor.de: |
in
2001 you released the mix compilation "mainhatten sound". it
contains several german productions such as by ian pooley, thomas
p. heckmann, rob acid and funkknarz. as you dedicate a whole
cd to the german scene i suppose you find something fascinating
about it. what is it? |
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john
acquaviva: |
it
was a project done in the us by the shadow label to introduce
artists and a favourite label of theirs to north america i have
always felt that north america looks mostly to england for its
music so i choose a german one. of course there are many great
labels.
but some of my very first roots were in frankfurt and with ian
pooley, thomas heckmann and achim from force inc was one of
the first label people i ever met in germany...so i choose them.
but it was hard. for me there is so much good music in germany
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housefloor.de: |
in
producing records you mostly cooperate with others and hardly
make eps completely on your own. why? |
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john
acquaviva: |
i
always wanted to be a classic producer...meet people with
an idea...listen to it and help shape it. i really don't have
a big desire to put my name first and or foremost on a cover.
there are enough rockstars out there for me.
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housefloor.de: |
with
more than 60.000 pieces you have one of the largest collections
of vinyls in the world. how do you keep track of them? have
you played them all? |
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john
acquaviva: |
i
have played them at least once [those being promos i get and
don't like as i never throw anything away. i have two houses
full of records and about 80 percent are organized. i have stopped
collecting as i was out of control and now just buy and receive
12's |
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housefloor.de: |
you've
got records not only from many different styles of music but
also from a lot of countries. do you make a record shopping
tour in many places you go or do you rather order vinyls via
internet from all over the world? |
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john
acquaviva: |
i
am trying to slow down, because when i discover a band...i want
to buy everything they ever did... i still love ethnic and regional
music, so when i go to a shop i might buy out a section. many
times i have been in a shop and i will buy the entire african
section or percussive section. |
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housefloor.de: |
you've
got two sons aged seven and four. how much do you influence
their taste in music? |
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john
acquaviva: |
i
have made a couple of mix cds with them, where my oldest - they
are now 8, 5 - gets to stop and start the music on vinyl and
cd. they then listen to them when driving. they like brazilian
music and soul. for example, i put sly and the family stone,
everyday people and dance to the music. they love both as dance
to the music grabs just about anyone who hears it and make them
want to dance...but they love everyday people because one of
the lyrics goes scoobie doobie doo bie and they love the scooby
do cartoons... |
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housefloor.de: |
which
was the best gig you´ve had and why? |
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john
acquaviva: |
many...too
many...but i still crave more or i would retire. i have done
thousands of gigs/nights so you can imagine this is like asking
a parent a favourite child or asking my favourite city...if
there was just one, i would not do what i do. |
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housefloor.de: |
who
influenced your musical development most? |
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john
acquaviva: |
a
few older dj peers that played in the clubs i hung out in the
70's. unsung heroes really. people talk about larry levan or
frankie knuckles...but there were so many great dj's in the
other cities. many of them have passed away or had to leave
the business as they never made the money like nowadays. |
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housefloor.de: |
if
you could travel backwards in time to which century or epoch
would you go and why? |
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john
acquaviva: |
i
never look back, so i probably would not go. but...if... i would
say to ancient greece or rome...it all seems very simple and
romantic to me. |
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housefloor.de: |
what
a relation do you see between the techno, house scene and drugs? |
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john
acquaviva: |
for
many people they are all together, for me at least the music
should be all together...i play both. but the scenes are so
big that everyone wants to specialize which i think is for the
worst.
as for drugs, some people can't live without them and others
can't stand them. one thing or another, people like to escape,
whether it is just music, or sex, or alcohol, or drugs...
these days my priorities are music and alcohol o fthe soft kind.
wine and champagne...no more whiskey or vodka or i will have
died. |
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housefloor.de: |
which
tendencies do you see in the electronic music scene? |
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john
acquaviva: |
there
are never clear tendencies, only gradual evolution. there is
more of a punk atititude with younger people these days and
i like that...it says fuck you to some of the older, established
and boring artists...but there is still a dance beat to it.
i am enjoying it as we must always make room for new people
and styles. |
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housefloor.de: |
what
are your plans for the next couple of months? |
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john
acquaviva: |
look
at my website www.jacq.com
and get tired or in my case lots of air miles... |
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