Sunday, November 22, 2009

Mr. 28

28. Richie Hawtin
Style: Techno and house and everything in between.
Best known for: Who knows, I think that's always changing and depends. Twitter DJ? Falling off the stage in Tokyo in January? The list goes on!
Gig of 2009: Metamorphose Mount Fuji, Japan. Maybe the sake had something to do with it?
Tune of 2009: Marco Carola 'Party People' (Plus 8)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Acumen (Producer) Barem (DJ)
The track that changed your life: Still the one that Derrick May played at the Bankle building, that I've been trying to recreate ever since!
What makes a good DJ great: Patience, timing, communication, dedication, humility and self-confidence!
Most underrated DJ: Zip.
Biggest challenge this year: To get the rest of those really talented DJs off turntables and into the digital world, where their creativity can open up further!"
Top tech toy: "Paul van Dyk virtual iPhone glow-stick."

Richie Hawtin is probably the most popular DJ in techno, and the one name certain to polarise opinion. Some see him as a digital innovator, while others think he has sold out his underground roots to become a techno pop star. No matter what side you belong to, there's no doubt that Hawtin is a fascinating character, as his answer to DJmag's question about how the recession affected him shows.

"I think the recession has actually helped my gigs this year," Richie reckons. "We've put more effort into each gig than before, spending extra energy and ideas on lighting, visuals and the entire experience," he explains.

This approach means that Hawtin has plenty of fond memories of gigs in 2009, from "smoothly transitioning between house, techno, tribal and back again," with Dubfire and Luciano at La Dune in Toulouse, France, to his favourite gig of the year, "at a warehouse in St. Louis, with huge speakers, one lightbulb and a bunch of kids freaking out."

Technology continued to loom large in his performances. He integrated Native Instruments' Maschine into his set up, alongside his usual four digital decks.

"We also introduced our Twitter DJ application, giving a real time insight into the way a DJ builds and creates his or her individual dynamics within a set."

btw Mad Decent should sign brik mason. Trust. I need a remix toooo

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