Bristol and Career Highlights: An interview with Eats Everything

Bristol and Career Highlights: An interview with Eats Everything

13 December, 2011
by: Lowri

Eats Everything is playing the Bugged Out Weekender this January.

Bugged Out has been running for 17 years. The clubnight - which originated in Manchester in 1994 - is famed for booking artists just before they explode. The Chemical Brothers played an intimate DJ set at one of the early parties. They've also had Daft Punk, Tiga, Simian Mobile Disco and Boys Noize grace their decks over the years.

This January they are throwing an excellent looking Weekender at the Butlin's resort in Bognor Regis. It's three days and three nights of raving in a resort with all the trimmings. Amongst the healthy DJ line-up nestles the hotly tipped Bristol house merchant Eats Everything. We caught up with him to get the lowdown on a few beats and pieces.


So I interviewed Justin Martin earlier this year – and he name-checked you as one to watch – citing 'Tric Trac' as his dancefloor bomb. How did the Dirtybird connection come about?

Well, I had been sending records to Barclay (Claude VonStroke) for a while to no avail. He was playing in Bristol in March of this year so I went to meet him. It was so busy that I didn't get the chance but J Phlip was playing also, I got to meet her very briefly, she was super cool and gave me her email address. I sent her 'Entrance Song' and 'Heard That' (My First Pets EP) and a couple of others. She emailed me the next day asking if it was cool to send them to Catz n Dogz. They loved them and the rest is history really.

Barclay heard Justin Martin playing ‘The Size’ in Detroit and emailed me the next day asking if it was signed. It was signed to Worthy from Dirtybird’s label, Anabatic, Worthy very kindly let me put it on Dirtybird. The whole of the Dirtybird crew are such amazing and friendly people and they have great taste in music… it’s a real pleasure to be associated with them!

Bristol is furtive ground for producers – loads of talent coming out of the city. What's the dance music scene like there?

The dance music scene is great here, it had its heyday in the mid to late 90's and had been in a bit of a lull, but thanks mainly to Motion it has really picked up. There are also awesome events like Alfresco Disco, Pardon My French, Just Jack who are really pioneering great house music in all its forms. I believe that the boundaries have come down somewhat with regards to house music so a lot of genres are mixed which is amazing as parties are so much fresher now!

How long have you been producing? Can you tell us a bit about how you have got to the stage you're at?

I have been producing since 2002, but only really been competent for about 3 years. Eventually I managed to nail my sound and I am trying to expand on it now as much as possible, take it in different directions and see what I can come up with that’s new and different.

What were your first musical loves? Any early day rave experiences which made you think 'hell yeah this is for me?'

My first musical loves were Queen and Michael Jackson, but I got into "rave" music in about 1992 when I was 12. A lot of my older friends had decks so I was DJing before I was raving but when I started going to raves at the age of 14 they just compounded my love of the music and culture within.

When you're partying do you enjoy an array of stuff or is it house in particular that ticks your box?

I like jungle, garage, disco, funk, soul anything with a groove. I am not really a fan of band music per se, but anything with a bit of soul funk etc is definitely my bag.

What do you do outside of music for fun?

Eat! I also love football and boozing… typical bloke type activities really.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

This is gonna be a real cop out but there are so many producers that I admire that I wouldn't want to choose. Would love to work with Quincy Jones though!

Do you have any tips for young producers?

Some tips would be don't put stuff out too soon. Wait until you really have nailed your way of working, or the programme and software/hardware you use before signing anything. And finally and most importantly, you need to get good speakers. Spend most of your budget on good speakers and try and go for 7" or above. Everything changed for me when I upgraded my speakers.

Any new up-and-comers you know who we should check out?

Lukas and Christophe, as a duo and separate entities are making some of the freshest, proper house music around. There will be big things from them next year. Also, Rio & Prest are a Hyper talented Bristol duo who you will be hearing a lot of next year also.

Are you working on an artist album? Is that next on the cards?

I am not working on one at the moment. There have been talks of it, but I am not doing one at present. It’s too early.

What's been the highlight of your career so far?

There have been so many. Doing the Essential mix live from InMotion in my hometown. Getting records signed to Dirtybird and Pets. Being nominated for Best Breakthrough Producer and Best Single in this years DJ Mag Best Of British Awards and playing in Room One of Fabric are all dreams come true so hard to pick a winner from that little lot!

If you could throw the perfect party, money no object, who is playing and where's the party?

I would go back in time to when Dimitri From Paris recorded the first Night At The Playboy Mansion. That has got to be the perfect party mix given the time and setting.

If you were DJing the last set at the last party on earth, what would you finish with?

What a question! Probably Paul Simon - 'Graceland'. It’s the ulitimate song in my opinion. That is the last thing I would want to hear.

Any plans to leave Bristol? Is San Fran calling?

Definitely not. I love Bristol and will never leave. It’s my favourite place on the planet!

Any other messages for your fans?

Thanks very much for your continued support, and I hope to see you at any of the venues around the world I am playing in the coming weeks, months and years. Come say hi, I won't eat you.
 
Eats Everything ‘The Size’ is out now on Dirtybird.

The Bugged Out Weekender is on January 20 - 22 at Butlins, Bognor Regis. It is £139 per person.
For tickets click here. For line-up information click here.

Lowri