Location: Seattle, USA
Dimitri: Can you tell us how 2012 has been for the development of your career as a DJ and/or Producer?
Wilf Hammarica: I got a new studio set up together and started recording under the alias Area 303 with partner in beats Larry Kleinke. We did some shows around clubs in Seattle and had numerous gigs for ITV Live; The DJ Sessions. However, for 2013 we want to rapidly expand and start touring after finishing a few new EPs.
Dimitri: If you look back at 2012, are there any moments in your musical career that you wish you had done differently in order to get a better outcome?
Wilf Hammarica: 2012 went very smoothly, Yet, I wish I had a bit more time to record myself since I invest most of my time in Hammarica.
Best of 2012 according to Wilf Hammarica
Best Track:
With my PR agency http://www.hammarica.com I promote all styles of electronic dance music. However, privately, I really enjoy techno. Dark, banging.. Think Dave Clarke, Miss Djax, the Awakenings parties.. This Summer I discovered a beautiful tune which I really liked after I heard it in Drumcell's Droid Behaviour podcast: Dual Shaman - Beloved (Impulse Response Remix)
Less banging, but sweet and dark.
Dave Clarke. He stays true to his sound. Excels both at producing and DJ’ing.. and lastly, I had the pleasure to interview him for Hammarica.com which was a joy. It was funny what he had to say about coke head artists and hipster house DJs.
Best Remix:
I'll pick a track which will set floors on fire next year: "JOOP's The Future". JOOP had tremendous success earlier this year with his comeback track ‘Just One Night’ and we will hear more of him for sure in 2013!
Best Remixer:
Speedy J made my all time favourite remix. If you know techno, you know what I'm talking about.
Best New Talent:
American talent Darin Epsilon will blow up in 2013 with his true progressive house sound. Check out his Perspectives record label if you are not yet familiar with it.
Best EDM Album:
I am about to start a promotion for an artist called Angry Muffin. His music is very electronic, happy and dark at the same time. This is an artist a lot of people will like.
Best EDM Compilation:
The Perspectives albums I promoted for Darin Epsilon are a pleasure to listen to. Quality material.
Steve Aoki's / Dim Mak's artwork is always top notch and very well done. A lot of labels tend to forget how important good artwork is. Aoki and Dim Mak understand. And look how successful they are now!!
Best lyrics on an EDM track:
Actually, I found PSY and his Gangnam Style enjoyable :) The track is poppy, yet with a flair of EDM.
Best Vocalist/Singer featured on an EDM track:
I like Tiffany Johnston who was featured on Just One Night a lot.
Best EDM Label:
In 2013, Hammarica will launch a new record label for all styles of EDM! But it was also great to see how Travis, my friend from Seattle launched his techno imprint Knightriders Records with a release on vinyl. A rarity these days.
The silent version of Gangnam Style :)
Most amusing video on YouTube relating to Dance Music:
DJs should get way more creative with their music videos.
Best Online Social media network:
Facebook, no question. Check the Hammarica page at http://www.facebook.com/hammarica
Best music composition software:
Ableton Live. With Area 303 we edit our tracks in Ableton after laying out the tracks with a live recording. It works very smooth, the sound is good and the live possibilities are endless. It works very much like old school drum machines do, but totally set up for the new era.
Best Event or Open Air Festival:
Awakenings.
Best personal DJ Gig:
Area 303 at ITV Live The DJ Sessions. ITV Live The DJ Sessions is a weekly streaming/TV show. Like myself, they operate from Seattle and are on top of the EDM scene. Many up and comers and a-list celebrity DJs have done sets for them. Check them out at http://www.itvnw.com
Best DJ set of the year by another fellow DJ:
I was very impressed when I saw Octave One AKA the Burden Brothers. Most people should be familiar with their classic Blackwater. A piece of pure melodic Detroit techno with a bass line that is so distinct, it reaches the state of perfection. They are also known as the owners of the 430 West label, which has released one of Detroit’s more ‘recent’ classics Knight Of The Jaguar by DJ Rolando. Octave One are live performers, just like my own project Area 303. They don’t DJ. They take a complete studio set up to stage for live performances.
It was a joy watching these guys play. Not only were they completely on one line with each other when it came to making live arrangements. Their energy on stage was remarkable and unlike many DJ I have seen. Jumping continually and nodding their head to the beat like madmen. From a musical standpoint, their set was a masterpiece. And considering this was all done live and on the spot, it was very impressive. They were throwing big kicks, menacing loops, and at times, soulful melodies to the crowd which couldn’t get enough of it :)
As Area 303 we do quite some performances around Seattle, WA USA.
Best up-for-it crowd:
Any crowd in a warehouse.
Best Radio show:
I really enjoy the Droid Behaviour Podcasts by Drumcell.
Best Online Record shop for purchasing music:
Beatport stays on top of their game. But I am wondering how long they can keep it up for. Only time will tell.
Best Website that you regularly visit:
Soundcloud.
Best smart phone/mobile phone App or device:
I would say Facebook.
Best DJ equipment:
Elektron Machinedrum and the Korg ESX. I will start using these for my live sets with Area 303. Octave One also uses the Korg. Great machines!
The renaissance of acid by Area 303!
Best or most amusing Twitter or Facebook message you have received from a fan or friend or you have read:
"It's Monday u dipshit."
Best piece of News this year relating to Electronic Dance Music:
Hammarica.com was shaking when we broke the news that billionaire Robert F.X. Sillerman had expressed interest in buying dance promoter ID&T, known for such iconic events as Sensation, Mysteryland and Tomorrowland which are produced globally. Sillerman is the founder of what is known now as Live Nation. In the 90's he bought up several local promotion companies to form SFX. Later on SFX changed its name to Live Nation and Sillerman sold it to Clearchannel Communications.
Now, since dance music took over, he wants to launch a ‘new’ Live Nation specifically dedicated to the EDM movement. The new company is called SFX Entertainment and is in talks with about 50 promotion companies, one of which has already been acquired.
Best personal achievement related to Electronic Dance Music:
I started dance music brand http://www.hammarica.com It began with PR, then branded out to a full fledged dance music publication. And like I said, for next year there are many plans ahead, including the record label.
PR projects for artists like JOOP, Antonio Giacca, Darin Epsilon, Andrew Bennett, Oliver Daniel and many more were all very well received.
And aside from that, I started Area 303 with Computer Controlled, a live act that brings the best in techno and acid. The raw form of it.
Best piece of advice you received in relation to your career:
Stop focusing on others and plan out your own master plan.
Any single event which inspired you to compose a track.
Awakenings.
Best tip that you learnt this year for your DJ’ing or music composition:
It's an old one but an evergreen. How to figure out delay times with a calculation. Nowadays it is easy to set delay times exactly into the grid. For instance when you set it to 4/4 or 1/16 or 1/8.. However, if you work with micro seconds, you will be able to make your tracks more organic. The calculation method helps with that and can be found in the interview I had with Marq on Hammarica.com
Dimitri: 2013 lies ahead of us. Would you like to tell us your future plans in relation to releases, tracks, albums, collaborations or DJ gigs?
Wilf Hammarica: Lots of promotion for a varied crew of artists from EDM. Lots of new tracks with Area 303. Lots of new releases on the Hammarica record label including a new DeBosco!
Lastly, if you are an EDM DJ, producer or record label, Hammarica offers excellent plans to promote yourself in the EDM scene and assist you with all your publicity needs. Check out what's in store at http://www.hammarica.com/pr if you are interested in furthering your career or brand.
Dimitri: Thanks very much for finding the time to respond to this interview
Wilf Hammarica: It was a pleasure!
Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Radio/DJ/Music Journalist
Many thanks to Paul at 1mix radio for proofing the questions for this interview
Additional info:
Hammarica:
www.hammarica.com
www.facebook.com/hammarica
www.twitter.com/hammarica
www.soundcloud.com/hammarica
Area 303
www.soundcloud.com/area303
www.facebook.com/area303music
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