Words: Chiara Amendola Illustrations: Henry Makin @henrymakin
With his natural outlook to always be looking ahead, Dave has been at the forefront of the biggest changes in the DJ scene, and is currently working with the Denon 5000, the brand’s new deck, which he enthuses about; “I feel like I’m in a studio. There’s different channels, different loops. You can plug in the smallest USB, upload music as you go, and you have your whole catalogue at hand. And with the effects you can express your own style. The sky is the limit, really”. This said, Dave admits that there is fierce opposition from purists to technological movements such as this; "Some people are still old school; they say this kind of equipment is not real because it’s not vinyl, but I’ve always had a bit of a problem with it. It’s not like I’m playing vinyl anymore, I don’t want to carry a bunch of records around". On the other hand, choosing new technology over vinyl, rather than simplifying playing, can make things more complicated for beginners. There’s a whole new world of buttons, knobs and features, forcing DJs to take more risks. Dave is realistically positive; "I think people are embracing technology quite a lot. Some people can play both. Personally, I think it all comes down to what comes out of the speakers".
Dave Beer is not easy to get. I finally manage to meet him on a windy afternoon, we shelter in Bundobust and he starts speaking to me in front of a glass of red. All I want to ask him is how was touring with The Clash and Ramones and if he still parties like he did back then. But the topic of the day is the evolution of the DJ scene and its consequences on the music and its audience. And who better than Dave, founder of the legendary Back to Basics, the man who had Groove Armada and Daft Punk playing at his parties, and whose band supported Fatboy Slim, to tell me all about it?
Although renowned for his club nights and house music, Dave, now aged 52, confirms that his influences remain rooted in his punk origins; "Punk rock stays with you for life", he states. "It’s more of a way of life than a musical movement to me". This upfront philosophy is evident throughout Back to Basics: it's all about controversy, DIY aesthetics, being cutting edge, and one of Dave’s most famous quotations, "being two steps further than any other fucker".
When I ask how the audience is responding to change, his answer is unexpected: “We are at the point where, for the first time in history, kids want to dance like their dads. When I was young, that was the last thing you wanted to be - like your dad". Conversely, this merging of generations has to some extent reversed the effect of change; "Generally, it’s the younger kids that tend to look at the past nostalgically”, Dave suggests.
Dave further supports his argument about new technologies by it opening up the opportunity to discover and play music inclusively; “Back in the day, you had to be known: all the best records were behind the counter. Now it is so much easier to listen and download the music you like”. This idea of inclusivity comes through in who he believes should get a chance behind the decks in a male dominated industry; "Doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl. We have always championed girl DJs, but they have to be good just like everybody else". After years of vinyl, and in no way encouraging its demise, Dave strongly believes in the development of digital music and in bringing together different sides of the music world. That’s why most of his time is spent organizing and playing live shows, with his band The Blessed and with full orchestras and famous artists. Ultimately, it all goes back to that old punk ethos of staying true to who you are, as Dave surmises; "My music is a reflection of myself. Some DJs play music they don’t even like just because that’s what the crowd wants. I cannot even imagine what that must feel like". To him, the equipment, whether analogue or digital, is simply there to present the human soul; "Some people still think you can’t put your soul in digital music, but that’s crazy. The soul is within you, you have it or you don’t, and you express it with whichever medium you have. Music is how you manipulate the sound, and twisting a knob on a deck is no different from setting up your amp to your favorite guitar sound”.
I ask Dave if we can still talk about controversy in 2017; "To be an anarchist today is a pretty difficult thing to do. I don’t think people are truly anarchic anymore”, he replies. “The new anarchy is leading the way rather than following, and being a part of the change". His ethos to be real and do your own thing shows through Dave’s idea of a party. He has reached the point where he doesn’t need to worry about a career anymore. “We just follow what we’re into”, he states. “I think the real rebellion sometimes is to be true to yourself".
Independentleeds.co.uk
13