Gene Farris is a busy man. After well over a decade of touring the globe representing the true sound of Chicago house, as well as starting a collection of labels and maintaining a hectic recording schedule (his ever-expanding discography boasts over 40 releases), he shows no signs of slowing down. Quite the opposite, in fact. Farris checked in with inthemix from his new base in Amsterdam to discuss music, business and good times as he prepares for his latest Australian tour.

Farris caught the vinyl bug from a young age, first gracing the turntables at the tender age of 12 after being encouraged by the local kids from his neighbourhood on Chicago’s south side. It was, however, his love of music that encouraged Farris to take DJing seriously. ”[It was] the excitement of DJing in front of a crowd, [that’s] what got my attention, I always wanted to make people dance”. Starting out playing a mix of disco, funk and soul, the young Farris was initially influenced by the likes of Ron Hardy, Prince, and Roy Ayers. This musical education proved to be a catalyst towards Farris developing a style of his own, which is still in evidence to this day. “I think it’s helped me a great deal to be influenced [by those people] so early on in my career, it’s definitely given me a large musical ear” says Farris. ”[It helped me] develop an honest taste for music”.

The effect that the city of Chicago had on Farris and his music has been huge as well. “I couldn’t imagine how it must be to grow up some were that has no love or any idea about house music” states Farris. “The support I got in the beginning from my friends and family was very special and important in my career”. As a teenager, Farris began creating his own mix tapes for his friends, eventually peddling them around Chicago’s record stores. As his output of tapes grew, so did his DJing skills, and he eventually found himself warming up for the likes of Ron Hardy and Ron Carrol at the legendary AKA Club. Farris carved out a reputation for himself as one of the leading lights within the Chicago house community, and eventually made the jump over to wards production.

Farris began producing in the early 1990’s, and quickly began to create masterfully tough, loopy cuts that eventually garnered the attention of Cajmere (of Green Velvet) who was establishing his own label, Relief. Relief snapped up Farris’ demos, culminating in the release of his debut, The Farris Wheel EP. So began a long and illustrious line of production credits, which saw Farris release cuts on a string of illustrious labels, including Soma Records, Siesta Music and Force Inc. amongst others. With each release came increased international recognition for Farris’ solid production and DJing skills, and he soon began the globe-trotting lifestyle that he has upheld ever since. Along with the likes of DJ Sneak, Derrick Carter and Ron Trent, Farris represented a new wave of Chicago DJs and producers who were about to take the international house community by storm.

As the millennium began to wind down, Farris continued to make moves, starting with the formation of his own label, Farris Wheel Recordings. 2001 saw the label diversifying, with sister label Farris Wheel Limited spinning into being. Both labels have forged strong reputations, although each has its own, distinctive focus. While FWR continues to release what Farris describes as a more “pumpin’” sound, FWL tends to focus on a deeper, more melodic style. Whatever manner of music Farris chooses to release through his labels, his agenda is clear in regards to whether it is more important to obtain commercial success, or maintain artistic credibility. “I think that credibility is always most important” notes Farris. “But if you make a record that happens to go big, it doesn’t mean you’re not a credible producer. If you constantly make commercial stuff [though], then that’s a different story!”

While artistic integrity is important to Farris, he can see the benefit that both underground and commercial releases bring with them. “I think that there are benefits in both [underground and commercial music], its totally up to what ever you want in your career as a producer. If you want the credit of the underground, then you should only produce on smaller independent labels … But if you want quick and short commercial success, then you should go directly to a major label. If you want both then you should probably just do remixes for a major label, after you have done tons of underground stuff. It’s up to the artist at the end of the day.

As of the start of July of this year, Farris became an official resident of Amsterdam, packing up and moving to his new European base after many a farewell party in Chicago. It was a desire to play to a more knowledgeable crowd that led to Farris’ relocation. “I wanted to be closer to the centre of Europe and do more cool parties were they actually know and appreciate the music” says Farris. “The scene in the U.S. is mostly hip hop and pop shit [now].” Farris’ new base will also allow him to devote more time to his latest venture, namely a new label he has started with the crew from Extrema, Green Light Records. The rationale behind Green Light is simple according to Farris: ”[I want to create] a solid deep house community in Holland, and to find and work with cool new producers through out Europe”.

Despite his heavy business and touring commitments, Farris still manages to find time to get into the studio to maintain his busy recording schedule, with 2004 being no exception. “I have a new release on Greenskeepers Music, it’s called “I Need You”, and I also have another on Large Records on the way called “Ashaka” featuring a remix from Miguel Migs. Very Hot!!!!” And if that isn’t enough, he still has his sights set on more big name collaborations for the future: “My goal is to work with D.J. Gregory, I love his stuff” says an enthusiastic Farris. ”[But] my dream is to work with Lisa Shaw, from Naked Music”.

Gene Farris has been a major player on the international House circuit for well over a decade now. So what is the secret to his continued success and longevity? For Farris, never standing still or being complacent in regards to his production, DJing and business interests stands as a major reason for his continued success. ”[I] constantly try to reinvent myself, I don’t ever wanna be left behind or become predictable” says Farris. And as he has grown, the music has grown with him, which Farris notes is essential for House’s continued development and viability as a genre: “It has [changed], we have to constantly grow just like hip hop has or we will never get any future”.

So, after years travelling all over the world, do any gigs in particular stand out to Farris?  “The Arches in Glasgow always stands out” he says enthusiastically. “Those Soma boys know how to throw a party! Also the best night in Europe to me is Thursday at the Escape club in Amsterdam, the night is called the Rush and it’s really good”. Farris is looking forward to bringing his finest box of tricks to Australia, an area of the world for which he holds fond memories. “My biggest highlight was being [in Australia] four years ago with Derrick Carter, Honey Dijon, and D.J. Dayhota on New Years. That was a really good time because we all had a lot of our friends com e with us from Chicago, so it was a very special time to me”. And just in case you need a refresher as to what to expect from a Gene Farris set, the man himself makes his agenda perfectly clear as to what his play list will entail: “HOUSE! HOUSE! And more HOUSE!”

It is an undeniable fact that Gene Farris lives, breathes, loves and bleeds house music. His passion is apparent to all who have been lucky enough to witness his deft DJ style, comprised of melodic blends mixed with tough beats, making him a favourite of party-goers the world over. It is Farris’s long association with all things good about house music and his desire to be the best at what he does that keep him at the fore-front of the house movement. Farris sums it up best himself: “House music is my one and only true love. I’ve been with her for over sixteen years and never plan on leaving. She’s my peace…me and the music”.

Catch Gene Farris in your city on the following dates:
Perth @ Geisha on Fri 30th July
Sydney @ Kink on Sat 31st July
Melbourne @ Seven (Phreakin) on Sun 1st August
Brisbane @ Family on Sat 7th August