Interview with Carl Cox

Reprinted with permission from DMA (Dance Music Authority) Magazine
When DJs and other dance music industry people start talking about the UK DJ fraternity elite, many names are spoken of. First on most of these folks' lips is Paul Oakenfold. With his own successful label and charismatic personality, how could you not talk days about him? Of course, there's tons of other names that are kicked about: Judge Jules, Sasha and Digweed, Pete Tong, Jon of the Pleased Wimmin, Jeremy Healy and of course for the garage heads, Graeme Parke.

But ask a UK club punter about DJs and their answer as to whom their hero is probably would be a totally different story. From north to south, east to west, it's Carl Cox. Everybody loves Carl Cox. When UK dance magazines do readers' polls of people's favorite DJs, Carl always comes out on top. DJ, Muzik, Mixmag, Wax, he's won the honors in all of 'em, year after year. It's no wonder; the man is not only fuckin' talented, but he's the nicest and most personable millionaire DJ you'll ever meet. Spinning for the good part of two decades, he spent his formulative years listening to all types of music. "I grew up enjoying music without prejudice," which is what sets him apart now as a DJ. Initially a disco and soul DJ, Carl really came into himself when the clubscene in England evolved into the acid house/orbital M1 rave parties of the late 80's. Together with people such as Fabio, Grooverider, Oakenfold and Mike Pickering, he was on the forefront of what is considered to be the most educated, commercially successful dance market in the world today.

What makes Carl's star shine so brightly is because It's not the dance music industry that he's after. "If I were to go to a gig, and one side of the room had paparazzi, and the other had the people, I'd rather go and be with the people." offers Coxy. It's this attitude which has gained him the reputation as "The People's DJ," a name which has followed him around the circuit for many years. Recently, Carl has entered the mix-CD compilation market with his F.A.C.T. (an acronym for Future Alliance of Communications and Tecknowlogy) discs. The first, F.A.C.T. I, released on his Worldwide Ultimatum label sold in excess of 160,000 copies in the UK (a country of only 23,000 -- that's the equivilent of someone selling 2 million plus copies here in the USA) alone. Now F.A.C.T. II is out and doing splendidly as well, with an imminent release on the California-based label Moonshine, who have and exclusive deal to work both Carl's compilations as well as his artist albums. DMA had a rare opportunity to speak with Carl while basking in the Florida sun during the Winter Music Conference. One thing we can say about Carl besides his awesome ability to mix records is that he's not short on words.

DMA: So, you're finally in the States...how long are you going to be here?
COX: I'll be in Miami for three days, and then to Los Angeles for a connecting flight to Australia for two and a half weeks. After that, Singapore for three days, then Hong Kong, then Paris, and then I go home.

DMA: Home...you pretty much never get to see that place, huh?
COX: Well, I do, but my home is like a hotel right now [for WMC he stayed in South Beach's exclusive Delano]. Right now, I'm on a F.A.C.T. II tour, it's the followup to the first album, so in a sense, if people want to know what Carl Cox is about, this is what's going on. I think I've caused enough awareness about me as a DJ -- people know I can do what's required -- but then there's what I'm trying to do with myself as an individual DJ. At the end of the day, I want people to know that I'm here for this one reason and that is to work hard, and working hard is means getting around to as many places and countries as people want to see me. From 300 to 1,000 people, that's what they come for, so here I am.