RS:: Are you still working with Dick Trevor?
Danny Howells:: Yes, I'm working with Dick, but there's a few other
people on the go right now as well. I'm working with about three
different people, and trying to do more stuff on my own at home, and
then having people that can take my ideas that are semi-finished, in
order to finish them.
RS:: When you work by yourself, what kind of software are you working with?
Danny Howells:: I'm working with Logic, but I'm halfway through the
process of flipping from PC to Mac, because I'm sick of PC right now.
So in about a week's time I should be using Logic on a nice new Mac.
I'm looking forward to that, and hopefully I'll get more productive as
well.
RS:: What was it like remixing a Madonna song?
Danny Howells:: A dream come true. I'd not had the same sort of love
for her like I'd had say for David Bowie, or Led Zeppelin, or the
Smiths or whatever, but I've always been a big fan of hers. I've
always been a big fan of pop music, and obviously she's always been a
big champion of dance music. So, for a lot of people and producers,
she's the golden ticket in a way. I'll drop anything to remix her, and
it was amazing. I think everyone sort of dreams of doing something
like a Madonna mix, and I was gob smacked that we got the chance, and
then even more gob smacked when they actually accepted it. You know,
the paranoia seeps in and it's like, "Oh, they're not going use the
mix, they're not going to like it." Then when they did actually use
it, you don't actually believe it until you've got it in your hand on
a finished vinyl or a finished CD.
RS:: Nice, nice. Are you still friends with Danny Tenaglia?
Danny Howells:: Yes, we're good friends. I mean we don't speak that
much, with time differences. and obviously we're both traveling, as
well. He's probably not at home that much, either. So we email quite a
lot and it's always really nice to see him. We tell each other what's
going on, or if we've got a problem or something like that, we'll go
to each other about it.
RS:: Congratulations on making the DJ magazine lists again. How do
you think that affects your career?
Danny Howells:: It affected me early on, not overnight, but it did
affect things when I first got into it. But then as the years have
gone on, you know, I've dipped. Maybe I'll go up a bit one year, and
go down again, and go up again – those kinds of things don't really
affect you at all, really. I think it's nice for me personally to know
that I've been in it for a long period of time, and without having to
resort to measures that certain other people were exposed to resorting
to recently.
RS:: Oh, so there won't be some massive Youtube campaign for Danny
Howell next year?
Danny Howells:: No, I don't see myself resorting to anything like that.
I think it's nice, just to know that if you're in it, whether it's
number one hundred or whether it's number one – to know that you're in
it because people have chosen to vote for you, not because you've
bullied people to vote for you, or because you've employed somebody to
create some software script that can generate thousands of votes for
you, which has obviously happened in the last year. You've seen a lot
of people come through, and been exposed as employing different,
unorthodox methods to elevate their position. I think it's actually
nice to be in there, regardless of where you are. Just knowing that
you're in there, through people just voting for you, out of their own
good will.
RS:: Do you have any advice for up and coming DJs?
Danny Howells:: Yes, to stick with it. Be good, you know, actually have
something worthwhile to present to people, rather than just copying
anther DJ, or just following the trends. Try and have your own unique
style. The same old stuff really, just backing people with your mixes
and make some good music. Don't bother sending me a link to
twenty-five demos which are not finished. Take a bit of time, finish
one of them, make it really good, and then send me the link to that
one track. There's no point sending people unfinished demos. Finish
it, and then send it out. Focus on your own sound, focus on what you
believe in, and the music that you like and if you're good at it, and
you've got a good sound, then I think eventually you're time will
come.
RS:: Very cool. What would you like to say to all your fans out there?
Danny Howells:: Thank you for all the support, love you loads, and see you soon.
Posted - March 18, 2008
