Adam Curtain Mix
Producer, DJ and founder of Trouble Maker Adam Curtain is next up for #40 of our Tapes Series. Adam Curtain is always trying to push the boundaries of what UK club music should sound like. Whether this is through his own productions and alias' on Trouble Maker or through his genre-hopping DJ sets that can be heard at world renowned festivals and clubs such as Love International, Gottwood, Fabric and his second home The Lion & Lamb.
His 15 years of collecting and playing records shines through in his sets, effortlessly weaving between multiple genres - techno, house, 2-step, garage, electro and some more contemporary flavours. Enjoy!
Thanks for getting involved in our Tapes Series! It's a pleasure to have you on. Why don't you start by introducing yourself. Where are you currently residing, what's your favourite food and all that?
Adam Curtain, from the mighty Nottingham and currently residing in London! Food? Erm, those little spicy corn giblet things you get and anything beige.
Love the mix! When and where did you record it?
The mix was recorded in my living room, in my dressing gown with my cat Luther aka Lootsville Tennesee.
Tell us about the idea behind your label Trouble Maker and it's most recent release from Lukas Wigflex & Son of Philip. Godstruth slaps!
So Trouble Maker was basically set up to release records from myself and my reprobate mates. We were all making killer music but it didn't quite sit right on any of the labels we sent to, we'd always get xyz playing it but not signing it, so I decided to put the oddball stuff out myself!
The latest release is from 2 of my best mates Lukas Wigflex & "The Wizard" Tom Smith aka Son of Philip, if you haven't heard it go and check it... it's KILLER! Obviously, I'm going to be biased but it's my most played record of the year and I know a lot of other people feel the same way! The A1 was featured on the Overmono Essential Mix and there's an amazing video for the "Godstruth" up on YouTube that the lads filmed up in Nottingham, featuring another one of my good mates Des Hagenasty. It's gritty, it's grimey, it's Notts!
Any forthcoming release plans from yourself?
Yeah I've got a record out on Trouble Maker in Feb with remixes from Ciel & Bakongo, a track out on the next Needs not-for-profit 12", a track on the next Punchline 12" and another record in the works for Handy!
How did you land into producing/DJing? Any tips for anyone starting out?
I started fiddling around with Reason 5 when I was about 17, I just learnt from watching my friend who I lived with at the time. With regards to DJ'ing - I got given a pair of belt drive Gemini decks off this hippy I met at a free party up in Nottingham, what a legend... and yeah I guess that's how that kicked off. I got given a bag of "jump-up" Drum & Bass when I was around the same age so I used to mess about trying to mix that (it wasn't easy on those belt drives, I'd even struggle now!) and then started buying some of the early Dubstep stuff when that all started to emerge! Always remember going to Selecta Disc in town early on a Thursday to get the white label promos the Croydon lot would send up, me and Lukas would always snag them! Tips for starting out, have a laugh and don't take yourself too seriously, oh and get a pair of rubbish decks to practice on, mix on those and you can mix on anything!
**Quick Fire** Dream lineup?
Ben UFO, Craig Richards, Riccardo.
Track you always end up playing on the aux at a house party?
For ages it was that Floating Points and Headie One garage thing, you can see by the reaction if you're at the right house party.
Favourite Festival?
Tough question. Got to be Houghton.
What would you like to see happening more in the future of clubbing?
More debauchery, less instagram.
Thanks so much for joining us!
Interview by: Alicia Steanson