Dilby

Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix

Dilby and I first met back in Wellington, New Zealand before his move to the spiritual home of tech house - Berlin - a move made to fully embrace his career as a DJ and producer. Since arriving he’s built a global name for himself with releases on Mother Recordings, Bondage Music, Toolroom and of course my own UM Records and delighted crowds in Europe and further afield with DJ sets at Off Sonar and ADE and more.

Let’s start with your back story - how you got into DJ’ing and music production?

I grew up in a small town in New Zealand called Nelson (at the top of the South Island). I was mainly into skateboarding and hip hop music and honestly thought electronic music was pretty shit, haha. But, there was an annual NYE multi-day rave close by which everyone including myself went to. This is where I was really introduced to house and techno, and over five or six years of going there to party I got more and more into the music to the point I came to love it. I began DJing around 2000 and production about 2005. Just a natural evolution of this passion I developed in those early years.

What attracted you to deep tech music specifically? Favourite labels, artists, DJ’s or tracks from back then which inspired you?

As I got more into the music I developed a sense of what I liked in the music and that tended to be deep and moody stuff with groove and tribal influences. That said, I used to buy and listen to funky house, breaks, 2-step and all sorts really. While both my taste and the music being produced has evolved along the way, my point of reference is still similar to back in the day. I think that in the 90’s there weren’t as many boundaries and rules around genres and I take that ethos with me into the studio and the DJ booth.

As far as influences go, I loved producers like Peace Division, H Foundation (Hippe & Halo), Creamer & K, Lexicon Avenue, Tom Middleton, Circulation, Layo & Bushwacka, Satoshi Tommie, Different Gear, the list goes on! And DJ’s who influenced me were Danny Tenaglia, Steve Lawler, Danny Howells, Sasha & Digweed, that type of thing.

What prompted the move from Wellington to Berlin?

To be honest it wasn’t supposed to be permanent. My wife and I came here for a one year working vacation and fell in love with it.

What was the hardest part of establishing yourself in a new city?

Networking is so key to success in this industry so moving to a new city puts you on the back foot as you likely don’t have that network initially. I really didn’t know anyone here. I had a few contacts from DJ’s I had supported in NZ or friends of friends, but nothing substantial. It takes time and effort to build those connections.

Tell us a little about the journey from arrival to becoming part of the Berlin scene? Mother Recordings were a huge part of that step up - how did that come to be?

It has been a gradual integration which has happened as I increased my network and established myself here. As for Mother Recordings, I sent some demos in 2012 and my first release was scheduled for early 2013 which was exciting. At the same time I was trying to be proactive with the networking thing so when I saw Nhan was playing in Berlin I told him I would come along to the show. I remember he was surprised as he didn’t even realise I was living in Berlin, but said we should meet up for a drink before the show. The rest is history really, we have become good friends and have been working together closely ever since. A similar thing happened with Bondage Music, I signed some music with them in 2013 and became good friends with the two guys who run the label (Pornbugs). It’s important for me to work with people I have relationships with, as it helps me to feel part of a community. Sitting alone in a room making music is by definition pretty isolated, so I enjoy the idea of working with familiar and like-minded labels and artists.

Favourite venue to DJ at in the city?

Berlin has some amazing clubs and I have been lucky enough to play at many of them. Sisyphos holds a special place in my heart and I would say is one of my favourite venues to play anywhere in the world. I love the energy and the vibe there and you always play a 3-4 hour set so it gives you the freedom to experiment and push boundaries.

Any tips for any up and coming DJ’s to get the best out of social channels?

You’re asking the wrong guy, haha! I love making music and that takes priority for me, sometimes to the detriment of my social media stats. But I would say that the best thing you can do is be consistent and be yourself.

Tell us about your radio show?

Every week Bondage Music hosts a show on Ibiza Global Radio (Thursdays 00:00 CET). We alternate a roster of core label artists and guests and I host one of those shows each month. Definitely tune in and check it out.

How did you move from being a DJ to being a producer?

I remember going to a friend’s place, a DJ colleague, and he showed me a track he was making in Logic and I was amazed by it all. I guess this was around 2004 or 2005. We ended up working on a track together, but I have no idea what happened to it. I was really excited by the prospect of doing it myself but felt like Logic was too complicated to figure out so a friend gave me a copy of Reason. I basically messed around with Reason on and off for a few years and eventually I got a copy of Ableton Live around 2009. This was when I started to actually learn to make music I would say. Before that it was more of a half hearted experimentation, dipping my toes in a little bit.

Do you see yourself as a producer or DJ most?

I came from DJing but have really established myself as a producer in the past few years. I work as an engineer and producer for other house and techno artists and have produced some more pop stuff for major labels in the past few years. Both are pretty complementary and I don’t think I could do one without the other.er.

What does your average day involve balancing work loads for both?

I spend most weekdays in the studio working on stuff for myself or clients and then play gigs on the weekend (well I did before Covid 19). I spend time in the evenings looking for music and listening to promos which feeds my DJ sets. Having the radio show is good for this as it makes sure I stay up to date with new music.

How do you approach your music production - do you have a routine or wait for inspiration to come for music?

I basically work like a 9-5 inthe studio so it’s pretty structured. I have a young son so I have less time than I used to and need to be more organised. I generally have more ideas than time so I’m luckily never really waiting for inspiration. I am a firm believer that it’s important to be prolific. If you have one idea and spend months making that track “perfect” it will only ever be as good as the idea. My approach focuses on making lots of ideas, finishing the tracks as quickly as possible, and then refining the ones that have the most potential.

Any key things you think every aspiring producer should know or do to make their best music?

Following on from the last question, I think it is important to pump out ideas as quickly as possible. That said, it is also important to finish those ideas, not just make a 16 bar loop. From very early on I finished and arranged 90% of the tracks I started and in doing that I became good at finishing tracks. Music is art, it’s a creative process, so I try to reserve my judgement until the track is finished. This is a conscious strategy to avoid losing focus and motivation as self-criticism can easily derail the creative process.

Since lockdown I have started a YouTube channel where I share some tips and tricks about my production process. I am still figuring everything out so I don’t upload as regularly as I would like, but I’ll get there!

What big plans have you got for 2020, releases, projects, gigs?

I have some exciting releases coming up on Superfett, Bondage Music, 8bit Records, Downtown Underground, Pracht and more. As far as gigs go, it’s a bit early to say at this stage but I can’t wait to get back behind the decks!

Where can people follow you?

Facebook

Website

More to enjoy:

Social

Streaming

Mailing List

Dilby

Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix

Dilby and I first met back in Wellington, New Zealand before his move to the spiritual home of tech house - Berlin - a move made to fully embrace his career as a DJ and producer. Since arriving he’s built a global name for himself with releases on Mother Recordings, Bondage Music, Toolroom and of course my own UM Records and delighted crowds in Europe and further afield with DJ sets at Off Sonar and ADE and more.

Let’s start with your back story - how you got into DJ’ing and music production?

I grew up in a small town in New Zealand called Nelson (at the top of the South Island). I was mainly into skateboarding and hip hop music and honestly thought electronic music was pretty shit, haha. But, there was an annual NYE multi-day rave close by which everyone including myself went to. This is where I was really introduced to house and techno, and over five or six years of going there to party I got more and more into the music to the point I came to love it. I began DJing around 2000 and production about 2005. Just a natural evolution of this passion I developed in those early years.

What attracted you to deep tech music specifically? Favourite labels, artists, DJ’s or tracks from back then which inspired you?

As I got more into the music I developed a sense of what I liked in the music and that tended to be deep and moody stuff with groove and tribal influences. That said, I used to buy and listen to funky house, breaks, 2-step and all sorts really. While both my taste and the music being produced has evolved along the way, my point of reference is still similar to back in the day. I think that in the 90’s there weren’t as many boundaries and rules around genres and I take that ethos with me into the studio and the DJ booth.

As far as influences go, I loved producers like Peace Division, H Foundation (Hippe & Halo), Creamer & K, Lexicon Avenue, Tom Middleton, Circulation, Layo & Bushwacka, Satoshi Tommie, Different Gear, the list goes on! And DJ’s who influenced me were Danny Tenaglia, Steve Lawler, Danny Howells, Sasha & Digweed, that type of thing.

What prompted the move from Wellington to Berlin?

To be honest it wasn’t supposed to be permanent. My wife and I came here for a one year working vacation and fell in love with it.

What was the hardest part of establishing yourself in a new city?

Networking is so key to success in this industry so moving to a new city puts you on the back foot as you likely don’t have that network initially. I really didn’t know anyone here. I had a few contacts from DJ’s I had supported in NZ or friends of friends, but nothing substantial. It takes time and effort to build those connections.

Tell us a little about the journey from arrival to becoming part of the Berlin scene? Mother Recordings were a huge part of that step up - how did that come to be?

It has been a gradual integration which has happened as I increased my network and established myself here. As for Mother Recordings, I sent some demos in 2012 and my first release was scheduled for early 2013 which was exciting. At the same time I was trying to be proactive with the networking thing so when I saw Nhan was playing in Berlin I told him I would come along to the show. I remember he was surprised as he didn’t even realise I was living in Berlin, but said we should meet up for a drink before the show. The rest is history really, we have become good friends and have been working together closely ever since. A similar thing happened with Bondage Music, I signed some music with them in 2013 and became good friends with the two guys who run the label (Pornbugs). It’s important for me to work with people I have relationships with, as it helps me to feel part of a community. Sitting alone in a room making music is by definition pretty isolated, so I enjoy the idea of working with familiar and like-minded labels and artists.

Favourite venue to DJ at in the city?

Berlin has some amazing clubs and I have been lucky enough to play at many of them. Sisyphos holds a special place in my heart and I would say is one of my favourite venues to play anywhere in the world. I love the energy and the vibe there and you always play a 3-4 hour set so it gives you the freedom to experiment and push boundaries.

Any tips for any up and coming DJ’s to get the best out of social channels?

You’re asking the wrong guy, haha! I love making music and that takes priority for me, sometimes to the detriment of my social media stats. But I would say that the best thing you can do is be consistent and be yourself.

Tell us about your radio show?

Every week Bondage Music hosts a show on Ibiza Global Radio (Thursdays 00:00 CET). We alternate a roster of core label artists and guests and I host one of those shows each month. Definitely tune in and check it out.

How did you move from being a DJ to being a producer?

I remember going to a friend’s place, a DJ colleague, and he showed me a track he was making in Logic and I was amazed by it all. I guess this was around 2004 or 2005. We ended up working on a track together, but I have no idea what happened to it. I was really excited by the prospect of doing it myself but felt like Logic was too complicated to figure out so a friend gave me a copy of Reason. I basically messed around with Reason on and off for a few years and eventually I got a copy of Ableton Live around 2009. This was when I started to actually learn to make music I would say. Before that it was more of a half hearted experimentation, dipping my toes in a little bit.

Do you see yourself as a producer or DJ most?

I came from DJing but have really established myself as a producer in the past few years. I work as an engineer and producer for other house and techno artists and have produced some more pop stuff for major labels in the past few years. Both are pretty complementary and I don’t think I could do one without the other.er.

What does your average day involve balancing work loads for both?

I spend most weekdays in the studio working on stuff for myself or clients and then play gigs on the weekend (well I did before Covid 19). I spend time in the evenings looking for music and listening to promos which feeds my DJ sets. Having the radio show is good for this as it makes sure I stay up to date with new music.

How do you approach your music production - do you have a routine or wait for inspiration to come for music?

I basically work like a 9-5 inthe studio so it’s pretty structured. I have a young son so I have less time than I used to and need to be more organised. I generally have more ideas than time so I’m luckily never really waiting for inspiration. I am a firm believer that it’s important to be prolific. If you have one idea and spend months making that track “perfect” it will only ever be as good as the idea. My approach focuses on making lots of ideas, finishing the tracks as quickly as possible, and then refining the ones that have the most potential.

Any key things you think every aspiring producer should know or do to make their best music?

Following on from the last question, I think it is important to pump out ideas as quickly as possible. That said, it is also important to finish those ideas, not just make a 16 bar loop. From very early on I finished and arranged 90% of the tracks I started and in doing that I became good at finishing tracks. Music is art, it’s a creative process, so I try to reserve my judgement until the track is finished. This is a conscious strategy to avoid losing focus and motivation as self-criticism can easily derail the creative process.

Since lockdown I have started a YouTube channel where I share some tips and tricks about my production process. I am still figuring everything out so I don’t upload as regularly as I would like, but I’ll get there!

What big plans have you got for 2020, releases, projects, gigs?

I have some exciting releases coming up on Superfett, Bondage Music, 8bit Records, Downtown Underground, Pracht and more. As far as gigs go, it’s a bit early to say at this stage but I can’t wait to get back behind the decks!

Where can people follow you?

Facebook

Website