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James Zabiela
James Zabiela is cute and sweet and a most dexterous DJ. Playing all types of music with a huge arsenal of equipment and a fine ear he is one of todays shining stars and is poised to stay that way for a long time to come.
Do you smoke? Do you like that Vancouver is a non-smoking city?
No I dont smoke but I think people should have the right to do as they choose. Although I have to admit it was nice to not stink after my set.
What shirt were you wearing?
It was a Dalek T-shirt…. erm, see
http://members.aol.com/corgibox/index.html
What was that track that you started out your set?
It was some DJ intro I made out the TARDIS sound… erm see
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/tardiscam/intro.shtml & then I played SI Begg Gangstas.
There were times when you were playing stuff that had no beat and for a few moments no one was really dancing. To me it shows me that you think the DJs role is more than a dude that makes you dance.
It depends on the room really but I felt like I was on display last night so I gave people something that they could watch as well as dance so I made a lot of my own breakdowns.
What makes Ibiza special to you?
It was a defining moment in my career as a DJ when I first played at Space. It was a truly magical night and the crowd was great. They even let me play Breaks which doesnt really happen in Ibiza.
Are you spinning there this summer?
Yes, as much as I can as I have a lot of touring to do for the promotion of my new CD, ALiVE which comes out at the end of July.
Coke or Pepsi? If you said Coke, dont you hate the fact that Space only sells Pepsi? And if you chose Pepsi, are you the reason for it?
I like both, but Cola has the edge…. I try to drink mostly water these days as its not a good look for your teeth to be drinking Coke all the time (I have typical English Teeth).
Can a DJ be a great one even if she/he isnt a very good mixer?
For me mixing is important, maybe Im just anal… But, I think its been proved by loads of DJs (see the top 100!) that mixing is not as important as the music that gets played and the way it is played. Im not going to name anyone as I dont want to be seen dissing someones technical abilities but there are great DJs out there that cant mix a cake. Haah!
I was told that you basically grew up in a record store and your folks ravers. Do you think your parents were any different because of it? Does this mean you grew up on gabber and acid house? How big of an influence do you think rave culture had on society if any? Has raving become politicized? Do your parents like the way dance culture has grown?
My parents are kinda like the Osbournes, haha! Im just waiting for them to get their own TV show. Actually it was mainly my Dad that used to clubbing & worryingly still does some times…. Hes currently asking me for Homelannds tickets… sheesh… I dont think theyre that different than most parents just young minded. I never grew up on Gabber… Well, not much anyway, mainly hard Techno and some Acid House. My Dad loves German Techno & dare I say it, these days, cheesy Trance… Hell learn… haha! Rave Culture was an age just like anything else…. in the 70s there was disco, in the 80s there was Electro in the 90s Rave music & now its just a mash of everything which is great! Its a fashion and itll affect society in the way that fashions & trends tend to which is fine, but people will always want to go out and dance/rave regardless of whats cool/allowed. If every club suddenly got shut down do you think it would stop people going somewhere to Dance & have fun? Not a chance. Id like to see them try & kill club culture, thered be a revolution…. The return of the Illegal Ware-House party!
If you hadnt become a DJ what do you reckon youd be doing now?
Id be making music full time, not just Dance music, all kinds. But if I had to get a proper job (!) then Id probably still be a Graphic Designer.
Which DJs do you admire?
Loads, and for different reasons. Im a fan of Sasha of course & John Digweed, more than anything I respect them for giving lesser known DJs a chance to play in front of big crowds. They helped me! Also theyve been there for me with any advice I might need etc.. the same goes for Lee Burridge & Jimmy Van M who have been instrumental in helping me along the way. From listening to my mix tapes along to helping with contracts! Theyre all great DJs who I admire for more reasons than just their sets but their whole attitude in growing the scene. Im also a huge fan of Lars Sandberg (Funk Da Void), Nic Fanculli, Phil K. There are lots of great lesser known DJs too, Natalia Data (UK, Russia), Tom Budden (Southampton, UK), Nils Noa (Norway), Hisham Samawi (New York), Kindergarten DJs (Manchester, UK)… I could go on.
Favourite place to spin?
Haha! It seems to change all the time. There are lots of really great places. I played in Austin the other day and it was awesome. Romania a few weeks ago was also brilliant. I guess I dont have a favourite place but just lots of really great places. Im spoilt.
Close to the end of your biography (on your site) you are quoted as saying I get to play whatever I want in regards to spinning in Romania. Are restrictions put on the type of music you play at parties/clubs? Are these restrictions put on by your label or the promoter?
Yes there are, I put the restrictions on myself depending on what I think the crowd are into, if I play somewhere and I drop a breaks record that clears the floor its obvious that I shouldnt play too many Breaks etc.. I never carry music I dont like so if I dont have > the cheese for the floor then tough! I think it would be soulless of me to just play big records for a reaction.
You were discovered by Sasha through a DJ mix contest – can you tell us more about how this happened?
Actually the DJ contest & Sasha discovering me are entirely different things. I won the now defunct Muzik magazine competition which helped to get me noticed but things started really happening when I gave a tape to Lee Burridge who in turn passed it onto Sasha & his agents. One day I got a call from them & they asked if Id like to join the agency… Ill not forget that day in a long time…
Five years ago Sasha and Digweed were considered the ones forging the future of DJing. Do you still look up to guys like them or do you feel that the tables are reversed and that they may be looking to you for inspiration and following you trail?
Id rather not think too much about that and just do my thing Im not going to proclaim that Im forging the future but if I influence the people Ive looked up to for many years that is obviously a nice thing. To be honest I wouldnt like to say…. I think maybe you should ask Sasha & John that question 
Hooj released your mix CD Sounds in Motion last year. The label has since moved out of putting out records, has changed its name, and is now selling tunes online. Is this the future? Do you see the end of vinyl soon and do you feel online downloading of music for DJs is the way forward?
Maybe not the way forward just another avenue to explore.
I downloaded that four CD set of yours. Do you hate me?
No… lol It was a promo mix that was given to some promoters. Just a bit of fun really, Im not so hot into that mix anymore. I kind of hate it now really… I just feel Ive grown a lot musically & technically since I did that mix (the same even with the Sound in Motion).
Do you expect DJs to keep on using records as the predominant medium when spinning?
No, I would like to think that DJs in the future will be doing more than just playing records. Im starting to use DVDs to DJ… (see the Pioneer DVJ-X1)
Explain what you use the Pioneer effects processor for in your show.
I use it as cycloops mainly to make feedback loops and to add effects to samples and scratches.
What other types of equipment do you need to have with you when you are spinning?
I prefer a DJM600 and three CDJ1000s (Mark II)…. and now a DVJ-X1!
Name a few of your favorite tunes from the last few months. What was the big tune for you in Miami this year?
The big Miami tune for me was the Ettienne De Crecy mix of Kraftwerk (which I played last night)… Some fave tunes of the moment are: Phunk Police Falling Stars (Breaks Mix) DJ Mole Chuggernaught Lee Coombs Lick The Frog Jeff Bennett Strange Item
Whats your favourite old school track?
Joey Beltram Energy Flash
For more information on James Zabiela please visit:
http://www.jameszabiela.co.uk/
To see photos of Zabielas show in Vancouver please visit:
http://2dollas.com/Photos/JamesZabiela/
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