The words come flowing at break-neck speed. Just like his driving music, Carl Cox’s passion for his music seeps through every pore of his body.
Meeting Carl was a nerve-racking experience, but within minutes, I felt as if I’d known him for years. In fact I had. Carl Cox undeniably has left an indelible mark on the dance scene with more than 20 years experience behind him as a DJ. Unpretentious and candid, the English techno giant was, as always, in full voice, not only recapping his flawless gig eight hours earlier at Japan`s Osaka “Underlounge” but reminiscing about gigs gone by.
In just his second appearance in Japan in three years, Cox played a relentless set of driving beats fusing tribal, house and a pinch of rock to keep the punters enthralled for well over four hours. Amazingly, it was the briefest gig he played while in Japan.
One of the scene’s most down to earth veterans, Carl spoke with crystal-clear clarity, giving his impressions of the lively Japan dance scene as well as his tour, encompassing two gigs in Tokyo, including renowned club ‘Yellow’, and his single sold-out event at The Underlounge.
“I was very impressed with The Underlounge. It’s a beautiful club with a professional sound system …. great technology,’’ he said.
“No club is complete without the people though. [Last night] the people were really open-minded and happy for me to come back after three years. They’re the ones that gave me the energy.”
Although Carl remarked one of his career best sets was a 7.5hr performance at ‘Yellow’, he felt a magic vibe in Osaka, his choice set of his whirlwind tour. Pushed for which city was the better night on his tour, the elder statesman of club music was diplomatic and refrained from answering. Carl said that he enjoyed Japan because he had ‘seen a lot of love’ here for what he does, and described the scene as “exciting, really quick, and very professional.”
For over ten years, Australia has remained a ritual stopping point on his hectic yearly touring schedule. The major cities, of course, are always on Carl’s itinerary but he had much to say about the burgeoning scene in Brisbane. Although Melbourne’s exciting techno scene has captured his heart on past tours, this time around, he particularly enjoyed Brisbane, stating that the club ‘Family’ was one of his favourites. Talking about Brisbane’s love of the hard house sound, he was quick to remind he was one of the people who begun the movement.
“Many people forget that I started this sound, I’ve been there from the beginning. I have fond memories of playing this music….I can still hear it now.”
“People like the idea that I play from the heart, that’s what they come to see.”
His fondness of Australia extends from his love of the memorable Mobile Home in 2000 on Bondi Beach. He stated that Mobile Home was a pinnacle moment in his career, despite having reservations about Sydney’s trancy scene.
Major rock festival, the Big Day Out, remains a focal point of a future tour down under, and he also plans to play one of Japan’s huge rock festivals in the near future.
Making a segway from music to movies, Carl’s cameo performance in cult-classic “Human Traffic” is well-known to punters. He said that it was a great experience, and that Justin Kerrigan’s (the director) vision accurately depicted the club scene and lifestyle.
“He is a nut case…a genius, who wanted to show us all a piece of club culture that we could all relate to.” Carl said that he had to audition for the role and had to alter his personal character and lower his voice for the part.
“Human Traffic is a standalone movie. I’ve been there! Friends of mine are like that. And the music score was great, particularly the use of Orbital’s track ‘Belfast’.”
Carl has finished another movie role, in the upcoming “LA DJ”, which is now showing in the USA. Plus he also has a cameo in the to be released “It’s all gone Pete Tong”.
Jealousy was a word he used to describe cynical views about DJs’ artistic merit and the acceptance of dance music as an art in itself.
“It’s down to the individual to know what is right,” he said.
“The people who come know what it’s all about. People are just jealous that a DJ can play to 20,000 people where some bands are still struggling to become well known.
DJ culture has become a respectable industry.”
Even though admitting that he is getting older, Carl’s enthusiasm is not waning for his music or the industry.
“The scene has always been about people coming together. It challenges me….I guess I’m a bit of an ambassador for dance music.”
Thankfully, this master of three turntables will continue to create his unique “Carl Cox Sound” across the globe for some time to come. We haven’t seen the last of this articulate DJ….no way indeed.
http://www.carlcox.com/ http://www.ladjthemovie.com Carl Cox played in Japan from 19 – 22 Dec. 2003. Be sure to check out his third album ‘The Second Sign’, due out in 2004!
