James Zabiela and Paul Woolford are two names synonymous with a level of skill and artistry unparalleled in electronic music. In a scene where an artist’s instruments are unilaterally uniform (a set of cdj’s, a laptop and a sequencer etc) it is hard to distinguish artists from the pack based on anything other than personal taste. James Zabiela and Paul Woolford however seem to be the exception to this rule. Regardless of your personal preference in music it’s difficult not to be impressed by Zabiela’s performance or by the prolific repertoire of Paul Woolford and his many aliases.
Both artists have just released Renaissance compilations, James on acclaimed Mater Series and Paul, the second in the Platform series. We catch up with James in the second part of our two part interview to talk about his recent releases and upcoming residencie at We Love Space this summer.
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James this will be your 10th year as resident for We Love, your path has been very much linked to theirs over the last decade. As a 21 year old you were given a residency at one of the most prestigious clubbing entities in the cavernous space discothèque. Looking back now how do you think that impacted your career and you outlook as a 21 year old dj?
Actually I think its my 10th year playing there but not as a resident, that didn't happen until a year after I'd played there but in answer to your question becoming a resident at Space so early in my career was the biggest boost and privilege any up and coming DJ could have asked for. Its the best club night at the best club in the world in my opinion. I'm happy to admit I didn't really know what I was doing back then and I've learned so much from playing there, I had some tough times back in the beginning understanding how to play in that massive room but now it feels like home. When you get it right in there its the best reward ever. The room of rave! There's no question that my We Love residency has been instrumental to the success I've enjoyed as a DJ today and continues to contribute each year. Space has been a good DJ school for me to attend and I'm very proud to have been a part of the We Love family. Every year they ask me back and every year I pinch myself, I never take it for granted.
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Sasha was instrumental in the programming of We Love back then, and as the story goes you were his young protégé. To put things into perspective I should also mention that it was Muzik mag’s Bedroom Bedlam competition that initially put you on the radar. Sasha brought you to We Love’s attention but it was actually the “Four” home listening mix series you created that sealed the deal for Mark Broadbent. This was an eclectic mix of soundscapes, breaks and other interesting sounds… Not unlike the Master Series you have just compiled for Renaissance. This is perhaps a lesser known side to your music - Is this where your passion lies?
I love all music and those mixes are an extension to my DJing sets for people to hear at home as you say, they're the before and after to what I play at Space. A lot of what features on those mixes are things I could never play in peak time club set but I really try to incorporate these sounds and tracks somehow within my club sets and in turn I guess that can make a club set more interesting than just mixing one House track into the next, not that there's anything wrong with that of course.
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What was the creative process in constructing the Master Series compilation?
The process musically was simply taking all the music I love, that I listen to on my iPod on a daily basis and constructing a soundtrack to my life. I went around the globe recording sounds with my Microtrak recorder and incorporated them into the mix, then I employed the voice of actor Joel Einhorn who provided narration to give the mix a real soundtrack feel. It was a fun project and the music on it has a certain emotional attachment to my experiences whilst traveling and because I've made the audio diary of sorts, I can listen back to it in a few years and reminisce about where I was when I first heard these tracks and that sounds that I captured. The trickiest thing was to put it all together, the tracks on there are all very melodic and vary in tempos so constructing it technically took some time, but thank fully that's something I revel in. Nothing like getting down to the detail and spending three hours making a transition from one track to the next!
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You played the terrace at Space for the first time last year and played some really nice house music, was it a challenge and did you have to adapt your music to this environment?
No, actually I played the Space Terrace many times in the past but until last year I never really nailed it so to speak, in my opinion anyway. I think realized what I was doing wrong previously and that was that I was actually changing my style too much to fit what the Terrace is supposed to be about, when last year I thought, sod it, I'll just do what I like and it worked so much better for me. I had one of the best gigs of the year just after my birthday and ended up playing on the Terrace almost as much as inside after that breakthrough gig. The Discoteca and the Terrace are pretty Yin & Yang but I was probably was treading too carefully in the past compromising my style in a way and it paid off to be a bit more aggressive which in turn helped me relax and have fun, which is what its all about it really, especially on the Terrace where beaming smiles are visible all around. I just save the devils horns for the Discoteca.
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Do you have any plans in the event the volcano in Iceland blows and grounds flights for the next two years? Any alternative career options in mind?
Get a boat to Ibiza and live there as a fisherman! At least I can still DJ every week in the Summer, plus not travelling so much would be quite liberating at this point. If i had to road trip it around I don't think I'd mind too much, for a while at least. I'm sick of Airplanes now frankly and although knowing that I can be anywhere in the world and get back home in 24 hours means I don't get too homesick.
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If you are grounded somewhere for two years where would you destination of choice be and why?
I suppose it would be cheesy if I said Ibiza so realistically I'd like to just stay at home in the UK. I could see my friends and family and the UK has enough parties happening and an okay rail network (I don't drive) for me to get to them. As opposed to flying, I love getting on the train and listening to music and traveling rhythmically to my destination. If were to be glamorous I'd say I'd go and live in Japan where I could perhaps work in the Pioneer factory in Kawasaki, in reference to your previous question.
James’ ‘Masters Series –Life’ is out now on Renaissance www.renaissance.dj
Disc One – A Life Less Ordinary
Intro – Leaving The House On A Snow Day – Snowflakes Falling Slowly
1. Lusine - Operation Costs
2. Pedram - Lost In Trans
3. Nosaj Thing - Us
4. Nosaj Thing – Fog
Pedestrians
5. James Zabiela - Burnt Bridges
Street Sounds – Life Is Best Seen As A gift
6. R3volve - Bootpacker
7. Mondkopf - Libera Me
Change Machine – Everything Slows Down
8. ASC - Porcelain
9. Reason Or Romanza - Radiance Trigger (Recue Remix)
10. Ruxpin - A Sunrise (And They Turned Into Stones)
11. Herman - Change Of Mind [James Zabiela Re-Arrange]
False Dream – Romanian Pilot
12. Moderat – Out Of Sight
13. Peter Benisch – Skymning
Market Chatter
14. Boys Noize - Heart Attack
Clapping And Drumming In Defensa
15. Ellen Alien & Apparat - Do Not Break
Street Sounds
16. Ruxpin - I Saw Her Standing There
Our Deepest Desire
Outro - Busker
Disc Two – Afterlife
Intro – Busker
17. Sally Shapiro - Swimming Through The Blue Lagoon
18. Vince Watson - Long Way From Home
Whatever Can Be Imagined Can Be Realised – Harmony, Simple And Beautiful
19. Siopis - Really Love Ya [James Zabiela Re-Arrange]
20. D-Pulse - New Poetry (Unreleased Version)
Transformation
21. Phil Kieran - Never Ending Mountain (James Zabiela Re-Arrange)
22. Gui Boratto - I Feel Love (Robert Babicz Earth Remix)
Illicit Offering
23. James Zabiela - Blame (Masters Version)
24. Dusty Kid – Amazon
Ancient Masters
25. Jori Hulkkonen - I Am Dead (Guy J Remix) [James Zabiela Three Deck Re-Arrange Mash-Up]
Today We Hold The Light That Travels Into Time And Space
26. Hardfloor - The Life We Chose (E.R.P. Remix)
27. Spooky - No Return (Josh Wink Acid Vocal Remix) [Additional Vocal Edit]
Love, A Reason - We Are The Drum Neighbourhood
28. Kaito - We Are Living Here
29. Glimpse & Jay Shepheard – Colours
All This Has Happened Before – What We Can’t Imagine
30. Siriusmo - Nights Off
In Its Wrong Place
Outro – Dude Hassle In Miraflores, PeruItalics denote James Zabiela’s Field Recordings and additional dialogue provided by Joel Einhorn
Chaton Daflore