Dank Matter: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

 
Music

Now here is a special treat for you on a fine lockdown Friday.

Dank Matter is a DJ from Glasgow with whom many will be familiar with, whether they know it or not.

For years Ian has worked tirelessly behind the scenes of electronic music curating record labels, hosting raves, managing venues and basically putting his heart and soul into making people dance in one way or another. 

As a DJ he draws for an exquisite assortment of high energy italo, disco, house and techno which has both enticed and uplifted dancefloors the whole world over.

Technically on point and one of the city's best in the booth this is a mix showcasing the vast and varied sound of crossover electronic music, all underpinned by a fun filled groove which has kept both Glasgow and the world moving for a long, long time. 

Listen and read the interview below:

Please introduce yourself…. Who are you, where are you and what are you?

Hi I’m Ian aka Dank Matter and I herd cats at Schrödinger’s Box.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

A fruity blend of Techno, Italo, Electro, Whatever Wave, Rave, Punk and Calypso.

Where was the mix recorded?

I recorded it at my home studio in Glasgow, the day after I got back from an ayahuasca ceremony in Europe, just before lockdown happened here in the UK.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Quarantine home disco looking like the current backdrop.

What should we be wearing?

Darkroom attire, of course!

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: location/system/format?

Usually it’d be the darkest, dingiest club dungeon but I’ll take a sun-drenched beach for my isolation fantasy please.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

‘M&G – When I Let You Down’ has been a rolling favourite for years. Italo sing-a-long greatness and it still bangs in a club.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Techno don Dave Clarke on Fergie’s Radio 1 show many moons ago. He blows the mixer channel at the very end of an awesome mix which is clinical timing for destroying a mixer on live radio. Great Techno, unbelievable finish and a flawless mixing throughout.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Jeff Mills’ Wizard era! For research purposes, he was throwing together everything back in those days. Super impressive!

What was your first dj set up at home and what is it now?

My friend’s older brother sold me his old decks when I was around 13, they were sound lab belt drive turntables with a sound lab 2 channel mixer with an old amp and speakers. In the future now with 2 Pioneer XDJs, 2 Technics turntables and DJM900 Nexus 2 for all the options.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

I like intros. Be entertained from the jump.

What was the last record you bought?

Head Front Panel #15 was the last one, savage Techno from John Heckle.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

I would like to say a delicious dessert or something tasty but probably lucozade and eccies.

If it was an animal what would it be?

10 foot french bulldog with wooly mammoth tusks.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Aphex Twin – Windowlicker. Insane track!

Upcoming in the world of… Anything else we need to discuss?

Excited to be joining an all star cast for Intergalactic FM’s streaming festival on 21st May 2020. Snuff Crew & Hard Ton release on the label shortly after that. Then a Cute Heels record. And after that there’s a cool new artist from Tel Aviv that gave me a solid release, which The Exaltics have remixed for us. I’m also kick-starting a new edit label with one of my Glasgow besties, Ten Years Lost (also featured in this mix). Even though 2020 has been a tough year for everyone it’s so exciting to see the music community really stepping up and producing some amazing work, roses are growing out the concrete everywhere.


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