Influences – Tiga

Music

It's no surprise that Tiga's influences should offer something different to the average techno DJs. The Canadian has been injecting personality into dance music for years – whilst his contemporaries have been content with anonymous artwork and po faced interviews, Tiga has kept his techno charismatic, combining wry vocals with synths pulled to breaking point, stretched into raucous, rasping, unfamiliar shapes. His current single 'Bugatti' – released on his own peerless Turbo label – is a case in point, a classic Tiga collision of dry, high livin' lyrics and harsh edged melodies that verge on screeching – it's pop, but not as you know it. Grab a copy from here and bring some glamour to your disco…

Tiga plays Mixmag Presents… this weekend. More info and tickets here.

LISTEN

Tears Run Rings Marc Almond 12 Inch Negro Vdj Maxs

In grade 9, aged 13, I chose this song to present to my all-boys school class. You can imagine the reaction. I had a serious set of balls. I loved the drama, the camp and the BEAT…. It should be noted that even at a young age I loved the long 12inch mixes, as a matter of principle. I still love this song.

Tears Run Rings Marc Almond 12 Inch Negro Vdj Maxs

In grade 9, aged 13, I chose this song to present to my all-boys school class. You can imagine the reaction. I had a serious set of balls. I loved the drama, the camp and the BEAT…. It should be noted that even at a young age I loved the long 12inch mixes, as a matter of principle. I still love this song.
Duran Duran - Planet Earth

Aged 6, this was big in my collection. I bought the cassette at a book store in a hotel lobby in Bombay. I then listened to it every day for 4 months. It does not get more influential than that. I still think Duran are under-appreciated and I still want to look like Nick Rhodes.
Altern 8 - Infiltrate 202 (Full Video) [1991]

This one actually changed my life. I heard it when I was about 17 and from that exact moment on, my life has been nothing but techno/djing etc… It was the most important single moment in my musical life.
Joy Division - Atmosphere [Official Music Video]

Just because this is one of the most beautiful songs ever and it represents to me all that is powerful and magical about music and life. One love.
Leonard Cohen - Stranger Song

As I got a bit older I became pretty obsessed (in the best possible way) with Leonard, a fellow Montrealer from an almost identical background. He is the absolute master. At the top of the pyramid. This is just one where I love every single word.
David Bowie - Let's Dance

I mean, just back the fuck up. I know its obvious, but Bowie is THE inspiration for an artistic life. This song, this video, his look, every single thing is just perfection and confidence and originality personified.
Aphex Twin - Polynomial-C

When I was 18 I went to Berlin and found myself at a radio station in the East and the host had some long haired strange techno dj playing records and he played this. It was the beginning of a long love affair with Aphex, who I put in the same category as Prince and Bowie and a few others. This is what electronic music was always meant to sound like: futuristic, creative, druggy and gorgeous.
Jeff Mills - Step To Enchantment

I saw Jeff DJ in NYC at the Limelight when I was 17 and it transformed my life. From that moment all I wanted to be was a dj. Jeff was the coolest, most badass guy ever: his style, his skill, his attitude, it was all so mysterious and “other” but also so raw and powerful. My love of techno and acid has never faltered. Thanks Jeff.