To cap off the long hot summer, Tobačna will welcome the third Slovenia Urban Culture Festival. The framework of the Saturday gathering will be Sladica with guests, which will prepare the ground for the Norwegian hit maker Röyksopp (So Easy, Eple, Poor Leno, Remind Me, Percent, What Else Is There, Only This Moment, Sordid Affair...). On Friday, the abandoned factory yard will host a "bloc party" with the Pure Oldies Goldies team from Ljubljana's Cvetličarna, and the always excellent David Morales will provide the authentic beat of New York house parties. After moving to Bologna, the Grammy-winner started a new label, Diridim, and entered the summer with the song Away From The Storm, new music is coming with Janice Robinson (There Must Be Love, I Make You Gaga), and apparently there will be no shortage of new music, as we intercepted him while working in a New York studio.
Your biggest hit Needin U is 21 years old. What was your life like back then?
(laughs) Oh my god! This was right at the beginning of the 80s. I was living in Brooklyn and throwing house music parties on Fridays. I was a young and very passionate DJ, the only thing I was really interested in was music. I also played music in the now legendary New York club Paradise Garage. The 21st year of my life was really great. It was then that things began to open up for me and my music career got a serious boost.
You mentioned Paradise Garage, you could also say Loft. The world is different now than it was at the time of these clubs, but many are trying to recreate the atmosphere of those times. Has anyone actually done this?
Maybe the Japanese the most. People still come to parties there mainly for the music. They don't walk around the dance floor in front of the DJ and they don't record with their phones, as is now happening more than not all over the world. Maybe they are just shy, but in Japan I really feel that people come to the club for the music, the drugs are also less important. That's why I love it there and often spin for ten or more hours together.
Last year you recorded the epic double Esperanza with Luciano, and your version of the song is well over 10 minutes long. Where did they meet?
We met years ago in Ibiza. When I mentioned to him that I would be in Switzerland, he invited me to his home studio, we started playing with the equipment and these two recordings were made. Completely unplanned. We never talked about joint projects. It all happened when he friendly invited me to visit when I was just around the corner. I love when music is born so spontaneously and organically. I don't know if we'll ever record anything together again, because we both like to do different things and don't plan too much, but I'll be happy if our paths cross again in the studio.
You, Sanchez and Morillo are the holy trio of Slovenian house lovers...
I understand that attitude. I was one of the first big world DJs to perform at your place and that's why we formed a special bond. I remember the great parties at the beginning of the millennium. It was great, recordings of those performances are still circulating online. I have always felt very welcome and at home with you and that has not changed.
Here you have played in big and small clubs, in halls, outdoor parties, and at #FUKSi you will be playing in an abandoned factory yard for the first time. When was the last time you went to a "bloc party"?
I don't even remember anymore. Then we're in for a really good party? (laughs) I have no idea what I'm going to spin. I never plan sets in advance. I will arrive at the venue about an hour before the performance, check the atmosphere and build on what vibes I feel. I never know in advance what I will play because there is so much good new and old music. I've been creating and playing music for thirty years, I always try to weave something from my opus into the set, but I want people to listen to my new music, not just classics. I don't want to just play old music all night.
More information:
djdavidmorales.com and fuksi.si
