Brit-in-Amsterdam producer/ DJ/ broadcaster/ bon viveur Dave Clarke remains one of the world’s most popular (and opinionated) DJs, specializing still in the techno and ‘real’ electro he first started championing in the early 90s. Click here to follow Dave on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DJdaveclarke)
IHOUSEU: What trends- in music and clubs, do you expect to be big in 2010 and beyond?
Dave Clarke: “On the one hand I expect to see the death of minimal, bling hip hop and crud electro and on the other the re-emergence of quality music across the board, including decent pop music that is politically aware.”
IHOUSEU : What do you anticipate will be the future for record companies and producers? This year and in 5 years’ time?
Dave Clarke: “That is a hard one to answer because we’ve seen one stranglehold being replaced by a different digital one with a horrendous monopoly giving most producers a really bad return for their music. I hope that the digital scene will become more democratised when it comes to artists trying to earn a living from their music.”
IHOUSEU: What do you think the future holds for DJs (will any/ many still be playing vinyl and/ or CDs in 5 years time?)
Dave Clarke: “Vinyl is dead, CD died two years ago, the future is solid state for personal storage, Spotify will become massive (or at least its business model will) so people will no longer own music but will pay a monthly license fee for a vast library, Beatport will become like Myspace; people will wonder what it was all about and what did they ever see in it.”
IHOUSEU: What musical styles and club trends do you expect to struggle this year? (and to die out altogether as the decade progresses?)
Dave Clarke: “It’s tough to predict 10 years in advance but thankfully minimal is now dead in cultured areas such as Europe.”
IHOUSEU: How concerned are you about global warming? (Do you feel any twinges of guilt about your carbon imprint from flying so much: how prepared are you to cut back on international travel?)
Dave Clarke: “Yes of course I do, it's tough, I try to do my best on the home front, I have already cut my home electricity bill by over 25% using LED lighting etc etc, but I can see flying isn't really helpful to the world. I stopped carrying 35 kgs of vinyl onto every flight 8 years ago though. Whenever I tour I carry the least baggage possible. I often see electronic acts carrying so much equipment for live shows and most of it is untouched and only to fill the stage. That has to change especially if you’re someone who preaches about global warming.”
IHOUSEU: How comfortable are you about the longer-term future for the worldwide economy? (Do you take any precautions against chaos: eg storing bottle water and food? Having anywhere to escape to?)
Dave Clarke: “Predicting the future for the economy is another tough one, the current economic model is based entirely on greed and not for the greater good of humanity. As for precautions against chaos; there are no precautions; storing food and water is selfish and short sighted. I just wish democracy would work, the best thing would be to ship out all the important decisions out of the 5 year tit for tat election cycle and have a cohesive humanitarian policy that is outside the bounds of political one upmanship. There is no form of socialism to vote for in the UK anymore. The centre ground is over populated by spin and shit.”
IHOUSEU: Anything else to add?
Dave Clarke: “Don't believe everything you read or are taught at school. The greatest gift is intelligence and it is everyone’s duty to learn to use it to the best of your ability.”
