Random Facts With…Dave Clarke

Carefully starting off a career as a producer, Dave Clarke saw his debut release in 1990 on the legendary XL Recordings under his Hardcore guise which gained him moderate success. Clarkes career took a 180 when his Red trilogy was unleashed on Bush Records in 1994; undisputed landmarks in the techno genre and for Clarke personally, a life changing event. It comes as no surprise that DJ Mag incorporated one of the Reds in its All Time Techno Top 100 list. The Red instalment catapulted Clarkes status; the Briton suddenly found himself in his studio remixing for the likes of Kevin Saundersons Inner City, The Chemical Brothers, New Order, Depeche Mode, Moby, Leftfield and Underworld, to name but a few.

 

Throughout this fact-based interview (the second of a new series) we chat with Dave Clarke about Red 1, 2 & 3, how Apple should name their next operating system ‘Cougar’ and witnessing people getting eaten by sharks.

 

Eminem wrote and recorded “The Real Slim Shady” three hours before his album was due.
How long did it take you to write Red 1, 2 and 3?

From memory I am really not sure, the delay on the old Quadraverb for Red 2 took some experimentation to write for example. The first two I also recorded to cassette, so getting the levels right was also interesting, I would probably say a few days for each track.

 

Shakespeare’s pipe contained cocaine, cannabis and acid! What does yours contain?

Dunhill Early Morning Pipe or at Xmas time Plum and Rum.

The Mona Lisa doesnt have eyebrows.
What’s your favourite painting?

Living in Amsterdam I have it all at my feet in the amazing museums that surround me, but none of them really work for me, don’t get me wrong I understand the work and the craftsmanship (and pain) but I am a modern guy and prefer photography, I love Francesca Woodman for example. There is one painting that did bring a tear of amazement to my eye and that was the Caravaggio in Malta, but I am not sure why it touched me.

Every two weeks, a language dies.
How many languages do you speak? What language should we revive?

English, Australian, New Zealandish… Seriously though, I can understand a fair bit of French and speak a little, although I am very rusty, I think it is a beautiful language.

Many people who read the word yawn or yawning begin to feel the urge to yawn.
Did you?

It is an old interview test for detainee’s… If you yawn and they do not chances are they are psychopathic, it is an interesting human reaction it shows empathy… The word itself does nothing for me when I read it but I yawn a lot when others do.

Hinduism has no founder. The oldest religion, it may date to prehistoric times.

 

Religion	Members	Percentage
Christianity	2.1 billion	33.0%
Islam	1.5 billion	21.0%
Hinduism	900 million	14.0%
Buddhism	376 million	6.0%
Sikhism	23 million	0.36%
Judaism	14 million	0.22%
Bahism	7 million	0.1%
Confucianism	6.3 million	0.1%
Jainism	4.2 million	0.1%
Shintoism	4 million	0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Define Bahaism for us.

Never heard of it, anyway I’m atheist.

Ian Duncan Smiths’ claim that 61% of idlers threatened with benefit cap scuttled into jobs exposed as gross abuse of stats – again.
Do you pay any attention to politics in the UK now you live in the ‘Dam?

Yep, I am very deep into them, I watch Newsnight a few times a week, I read English Newspapers all week, I am happy that I am out the system though, the lack of care for Fathers in the system other than being viewed as cash cows to keep the unemployment figures down is upsetting, the lack of healthcare available to males compared to females is sadly ridiculous, the coalition party… Where do I start? I am just happy to not be in that country anymore, the value for tax paid in the Netherlands is so much better than in the UK, yes it is more over here but at least you actually get healthcare and better equal rights and a public transport system that works. I am sure Dutch Politics suck too, but I am lucky enough to not understand what is going on so I don’t get wound up by them.

Ice-T released a song called “99 Problems” eleven years before Jay-Z did, with the same chorus.
Tell us a random musical fact we wouldn’t know.

Wow, I’m usually full of them but my mind is a blank now, funny!

The abbreviation ‘LOL’ was first used by librarians to describe a group of patrons: ‘little old ladies’
What’s your most disliked abbreviation?

“Rofl”, sometimes when added with copter… No-one who writes that has ever rolled on the floor laughing because they live alone and troll boards and social sites wstb (whilst scratching their bollocks).

According to a 2010 study from Cato, legalizing marijuana would generate $8.7 billion in federal and state tax revenue annually.
Any idea what it makes in Amsterdam?

It makes English and German tourists into idiots in Amsterdam because they overdo it and become 14 years old again. It should be legal, ridiculous it’s not, but making something legal just based on economic reasons… Well that is just a conservative policy.

Nullsoft purposely went from Winamp 3 to 5, because “nobody wants to see a Winamp 4 skin”. 

What’s your favourite accidental name?

I was hoping that Apple would continue to use big cats and go for “Cougar” and it to be full of bugs and run out of steam half way through a task and always corrupt your system.

It’s normal to have an urge to jump off a cliff.
Do you have any phobias/fears?

Not really, but I am always nervous when I go through Customs… I have no reason why, but I always concentrate on not licking my lips and not avoiding eye contact… Bizarre, I have been travelling for over 20 years and I still get nervous of this.

Your eyes will color this black & white photo.  

Not really, a tad of yellow on the brickwork on the left.

The North Face clothing company sued a clothing company called The South Butt.
Have you ever had to sue anyone?

Yes, I won, but it was such a massive amount of negative energy, their position from the outset was untenable.

Nearly 70% of adults constantly check their social networks because of “FOMO” – Fear Of Missing Out.
Are you one of those 70%? Do you despise social media or embrace it?

I really do not like Facebook, Twitter can be fun though. If only the old myspace (before it was spammed) was still around, speaking directly with artists was fun back then. I really do not like how many dj’s have bought their followers and have no morals about it at all.

More US presidents have died on July 4 than any other day.
Not to sound too morbid about it but what day would you like to die?

The day before I get dementia.

When you urinate, a small amount of urine enters your mouth through the saliva glands.
What do you think about that then?

Bizarre

There is a counterfeit egg industry in China, and one person can make approximately 1500 of them per day.
What’s the most expensive meal you’ve ever had?

Probably when I was living in the UK stuck with people who had Status Anxiety… They were probably some of my most expensive meals, not sure how much they were though but I do remember that I would be the one paying for it…

Less than 10 people per year are killed by a shark, while 100 million sharks are killed each year by humans.
Ever had any run ins with sea creatures? Ever had Shark’s Fin soup?

Yes I used to have Sharks Fin soup until I found out the cruelty behind it, horrible thing. I was on a beach once when some guy got eaten and killed by a Shark, but I try to stay away from the sea, not my favourite enviroment.

After 4 days without sleep you’ll start to hallucinate.
What’s the longest you’ve ever stayed up?

About 3/5 days but with occasional 20 min naps… So not really the same. Straight up awake, probably 36 hours… That can be quite a regular occurrence.

Jimi Hendrix failed his high school music class.
Are you classically trained?

Not at all, I failed everything.

3.1% of all beverages consumed around the world are Coca-Cola products.
What’s your favourite drink?

Fresh Coconut water, and alcohol would be a decent Single Malt Whisky.

Hippo milk is pink.
Strangest thing you’ve ever drunk?

Some sort of fish juice in Japan last week.

Thomas Jefferson invented the swivel chair and sat on the first one while writing much of the Declaration of Independence.
What one thing do you wish you’d invented?

Electricity, without that the modern world wouldn’t work, at all. It is amazing how that is taken for granted.

Sitting for more than 3 hours a day can take 2 years off your life.
How active are you?

I am always up and about, so pretty active.

Jellyfish evaporate in the sun. They’re 98% water.
Ever been stung by one?

Nope, like I said I believe staying out of the sea is a healthy thing.

Karl Pilkington’s brother was kicked out the Army for driving a tank down the high street to get some Cigarettes.
Does Chris Eubank still drive his truck around Brighton?

I think he got bankrupted by his ex wife, so I doubt it, I still have a dent in one of my decks from his brother kicking off in a nightclub in Brighton many many years ago.

Over 10,000 birds a year die from smashing into windows.
A pigeon flew straight through mine a few years back. My cat was happy! What’s your strangest run in with an animal?

One of the worst feelings is when driving when an animal hits the car in such a way there was no way to avoid it, I get a sick feeling in my stomach.

How many records have you put out?

I have no idea, hundreds perhaps?

Longest time you’ve played records for without going to the toilet?

5/6 hours

Complete the sentence: I’m proper techno because…

I give a fuck and I won’t change my style for monetary purposes, also because I love it to the core.

Are you a kick drum, hi hat or a snare? And why?

A bass drum from hell.

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

Maarktplaats (a secondhand website in Holland) I found some great Mic Pre amps online. I have a little bit of technical skill, so some I can save and fix up myself.

What’s your answer to everything?

Photosynthesis

 

Wil Troup 

 

Dave Clarke can next be found performing in the U.K. during Eastern Electrics festival at the beginning of August. 

 

Unsubscribe (Mr. Jones and Dave Clarke) remix of House of Black Lanterns ‘You, Me, Metropolis’ is released on 12th August on Houndstooth. The track is taken from Dylan Richards’ album ‘Kill The Lights’.