It’s almost two years now since Dan Marshall flew down from Cairns and stunned the audience at the second Drop party – Double Drop. Since that time, he has returned once for last year’s Valentines Day Drop – Love Drop – and now he’s set to return one final time. Well, perhaps not the final time, but it will certainly be the last time he’ll play at Drop’s spiritual home, downstairs at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow. Sadly for the Drop crew, the E&W is closing it’s downstairs area for renovations, and the future does not look bright for dance events in the homely basement that has played host to countless quality events over the past couple of years.
Dan Marshall’s name is synonymous with Drop, and it’s fitting that he’s been invited to play at the final E&W show. Peter Luetjens caught up with Dan to see what he’s been up to, and what he has planned for his E&W finale…
It’s been a while since Love Drop. How did the rest of 2004 treat you?
Really good man! I only did a handful of gigs around the place but the parties were really really good ones, every one very memorable, which is great.
Last time I interviewed you (see Dan Marshall: Northern Soul), your original productions were just getting off the ground. How’s progress? Have you finalised any tracks that you’re happy with?
Most of last year was spent in the studio at home, getting my head around all the software that I’m using, but things are sounding good so far. I’ve got heaps of different things (musically) that I have been working on. Mostly housey stuff but also some downtempo stuff as well. I’ve played a few things out and the reaction has been great. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to play them on that drop soundsystem.
Has your sound changed in the last year? What kind of artists or sounds are you in to now, that you weren’t 12 months ago?
I think my sound is always changing, depending on the music that I get or artists that i’m into. It’s still on the deeper tip, which i’ll never tire of as long as it’s not boring. I’ve been playing more techno than anything. Not banging stuff, around the 130 bpm mark. People like the Martini Bros for example, real obscure sounds that just sound amazing in a club. Still playing a lot of breaks, there is some really hot shit coming out from the U.S at the moment. People like Habersham are rocking!
Which DJ’s – local, interstate and international – are doing it for you at the moment?
I can’t speak highly enough of Phil K. That guy just blows me away everytime I see him DJ, and his new Y4K mix is shit hot as well. Carl Craig is rocking, PQM is doing some cool shit at the moment as well. I cant wait to play alongside Mag00, Fuzion, Scott and Alan again. Them guys are cool!
How do you keep your finger so on the pulse of dance music, so far away? Do you download a lot of music?
I download a bit but i still get sent a lot of stuff that I can use. There is also a well wicked shop up here called Taste-y, and they get mad tunes in there as well. Josie and Jeremy J who own it got their fingers on the pulse and get the shit hot stuff in. I’m always keeping in contact with the boys down in Melbourne and they sort me out as well.
Have you played any memorable interstate gigs since we last saw you in Brisbane? And how was that island party a few months back?
Like I said, I haven’t been doing that many gigs at all. The Island party was fantastic dude. Total class all the way. Tranceducer done so well to pull that off. The setting, the people, the soundsystem were all great. Apart from that, Dreamscape up here in Cairns was also good. We had our own arena so the music was proper all night.
How is life in Cairns? Surely it must be tempting to move ‘closer to the action’? Do you feel that you still have a lot to offer Cairns, and Cairns has a lot to offer you?
Cairns is awesome man! I love it. I am moving to England later on in the year and hopefully be working with Hope records in Bristol. I’ve been speaking with the guys over there and they are keen to get me on so who knows where I’ll end up. I’m really happy about coming down to brsbane because I think it’ll be the last for while.
Did you ever imagine for a second that a gig at a relatively unknown party in Brisbane would raise your profile down here so much? Would you like to play more gigs in Brisbane?
I’d love to play more gigs in brisbane! But I think if I played there more often it probably would spoil these really special parties for me. I think I get more excited than you guys when I know i’m coming down!
What are some of the freshest tracks you’ve got your hands on that we can expect to hear when you play at Drop?
Man, I cant wait to play down there dude! I got a heap of new stuff from Nubreed and Andy Page which sounds so amazing that I cant wait to share it with you guys. Some new Lo-Step stuff aswell! Lets smash it up!
Let’s smash it up, indeed. Don’t miss Dan Marshall at the last ever Drop at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow, Saturday 26th February. For more info check the Whats On guide:
http://www.inthemix.com.au/whatson/show/19448/
