Mark Hawkins
 DJ and producer who is hot property on the European techno circuit after making his debut release with Holland's DJax label in 2001. With a list of gigs as long as your arm across Holland, France, Germany and Eastern Europe Mark has certainly been a busy boy these last couple of years. Back in Blighty Mark releases for the Uglyfunk label and spins a few tunes for them too at their London outings. Now remixing the likes of DJ Rush and Justin Berkovi and promoting his new Crime label AND adding a live set to his performance arsenal someone needs to slow the kid down.
How's things?
Alright
What makes you tick?
Getting things done
You're not one for wasting time then?
I try not to be, but sometimes, like at the moment, I get into a creative block time, that's when it's time to work on the accounts, do stuff toward getting Crime going, and generally all the stuff I find boring.. The real work!
How would other people describe you?
Grumpy sod
What you working on now?
Remix for DJ Urban, shortly will be working on trax with Crystal Distortion
What's the future sound of Mark Hawkins?
I'll show you when I've made it
What is your current approach to production?
Finding sounds that work but are different... You can't do it every day of the week though, it's important to remember that, and it's important to know when to take a break from making music, otherwise you're just doing it for the sake of it.
Who has inspired you in the past and who inspires you now?
Time ago, this guy called Mitch who used to play on a sound system called Virus, now too many people to mention.
What was your first experience of techno?
I was listening to electro and early acid years ago, but I suppose, Aphex, Spiral Tribe, Early Djax, and hearing Mitch play at parties years ago was my first introduction to techno.
Aside from music what else inspires you creatively?
The countryside, Travelling, Life itself.
Is your environment important to how you create music?
I've always made music wherever I can, and different environments, like different times of your life have an effect on your sound, but I wouldn't say I need a specific enviroment to work in, it's always been "any time any place"
Who would you most like to work with?
My mate, Ian Pickstock, I think he's got a good ear for detail.
Yeah, we know Ian, he's the king of stats and wonky techno is he not?
Ha, yeah I remember playing the stuff that became my first Djax e.p. to him a few years back, and introducing him to a lot of things, he got hooked, I think he's got a bigger record collection than I have now!
Why doesn't techno sell in the UK? Do you care?
Would be nice to sell more here, but you can never expect people to like your music.
Do you think it's easier to develop your own style as a producer in the UK compared to continental Europe where the genre is more popular?
I think it can seem harder a lot of ways as in the UK as you're expected to conform a lot more, I mean I don't know for sure as I've never lived on mainland Europe, but people seem to be more open minded there.
What are your feelings about commercial trance and hardhouse ripping off techno's sound?
They're just showing up commercial techno for what it is... They ain't rippin nothing from me.
What would you say was commercial on the techno scene today?
Anything that's selling a lot and not saying much, well not saying much to me anyway.. Fair play to the producers making that sound, it's just a shame so much of it sounds the same, like a generic blueprint, it's all a bit lowest common denominator.. Then again I can understand people who've been slogging away for years and want to write some fun tunes and maybe make a buck or two in the process.. It's funny though how a lot of people into this more loopy sound, who were moaning about how no-one liked it are now moaning that it's getting more popular, and how Judge Jules and Fergie are playing it, I find it highly amusing how's it's suddenly cool because Mixmag say so. I mean you can diss Fergie and that as much as you like, but it ain't gonna make them go away.
Top 3 all time albums.
In no particular order
Super Collider "Head On"
Black Flag "Damaged"
Captain Beefheart "Trout mask replica"
Top 3 all time techno tracks and why.
1.Caustic Window "Joyrex J4" (Rephlex) "One of the first real techno trax I ever remember, old skool and new skool at the same time"
2.Death "The high cost of living" (Trope) "Rare silver picture disk, Produced by Thomas P Heckmann, totally experimental"
3.Cristian Vogel "Demolish Serious Culture" (Sativae) "H bomb of a record, I never knew anything could be so funky but so brutal"
Listening to at the moment.
Sonic Youth "Dirty"
DJ Godfather "Da Bomb Vol 3"
Fave Club/Night out.
Too many to name just one, but Tresor, Test in Glasgow and Neue Heimat in Stuttgart are up there... Be honest if I'm not playing I prefer a chilled one...
Cheers, Ta
No Problem..
Links:
http://www.crime-productions.com
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