Radio Slave
This Saturday night, Matt Edwards AKA Radio Slave will play a six hour set ahead showcasing the best of his Radio Slave moniker and giving an education to the adorning east London crowd. Crack caught up with the man in his studio for a quick chat.
Hi Matt, how are you?
I’m really good. Winter has arrived in Berlin, so I’ve been locked in the studio.
Since making the move to Berlin, how have you seen it change in terms of the talent it is attracting and the variation of sounds that are passing through the city?
Berlin has always been a melting pot of people from around the globe and has such a rich musical history that it’s no surprise to see it becoming such a hub for electronic music. As for the talent it’s attracting, well it’s already here and you only need to listen to the Panorama Bar residents.
You’re releasing a triple play catalogue of your remixes to date on your own Rekids label; looking at the track-list, there’s a real euphony of amazing tunes in there. I’m sure you get asked this from time-to-time, but do you have a favourite?
Since putting this comp together I’ve been listening to a lot of my older mixes and right now I’m really into the remix for Slam’s Azure. It’s super melodic and has a dreamy vibe which still sounds fresh.
On Saturday night you’ll be playing a full 8-hour marathon set in London, which is no mean feat. We’ve noticed a few of these showcase nights cropping up in recent months, not least by the same promoters, A Night With..., that will be hosting yourself this weekend. Do you prefer this type of venture to one with a few more folk on billing?
I’m easy when it comes to DJ'ing and will often play back to back with friends or play long sets and of course this is where you can really get into the music. As a DJ I’ve been playing in clubs for nearly 20 years and it’s really difficult, or should I say impossible, to present what you’re about musically to an audience in two hours.
I read a few years back that you were thinking of downing all things Radio Slave related. Thankfully that hasn’t happened, but can you tell us what else is happening in your world at the moment? Do you have new projects on the horizon and is there anyone in particular you’d like to work with in the future.?
Maybe there’s been times where I’ve wanted to move away from certain sounds, but I guess this just a natural thing. The success of a track such as Grindhouse comes with it’s downsides and for me I just wanna make a play good music and not be pushed into areas where it’s just about money. As for new projects, we’ll soon be releasing the remix versions of the The Machine which has been done by Joe Claussell, and I’m hoping to release two or more LP’s in 2012.''
Your next few releases on Rekids are shaping up nicely, especially Ghetto Kraviz (I can’t wait to play Jealousy). How has it been running a label over the last few years?
Rekids is still growing and we’re still making 12”s. We’re alive and kickin!!
Finally, which artists have been making you sit up and take note of late?
Joe Claussell, Carl Craig, Marcellus Pittmann and of course Nina Kraviz.
A Night With Radio Slave is on the 12th of November at The Star Of Kings in Islington
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?228234
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Words: Thomas Wiltshire
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