DJ Digweed’s novel approach
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World traveller … John Digweed gets the crowd going
Source: News Limited
THE story behind John Digweed’s new album The Traveler is almost as strange as the John Twelve Hawks’ dystopian surveillance novel it was inspired by. Hawks is notoriously … well, reclusive doesn’t quite cover it. Massively paranoid, obsessively private and determined to erase his identity from the web is more like it. Only fragments about Hawks’ life are known: it’s said he was experimented on by scientists as a child, he once lived in a commune, he now lives in anonymity considered a failure by his family who’re apparently unaware he’s sold 1.5 million Fourth Realm novels.
John Digweed has teamed up with John Twelve Hawks for new album The Traveler.
Source: Supplied
“He’s very mysterious, no-one’s met him, his publisher’s not met him and when they speak he speaks through a voice scrambler,” explains Digweed from his London home. “It feels like you’re talking to Darth Vader. ”
Written by Digweed and Bedrock co-producer Nick Muir, The Traveler features Hawks narrating passages of his work over a “Future Sound of London meets Pink Floyd kind of vibe”.
The novelist made the initial contact, sending Digweed his novel with a note saying it had been written while listening to Digweed’s Transitions radio show from various undisclosed locations.
After reading it Digweed immediately emailed him to say how much he’d loved it and then … nothing. No response. Eighteen months later Digweed found an email from Hawks, written the next day, in his junk folder and they finally arranged to collaborate. Initial attempts to record Hawks’ narration via Skype or the phone failed, forcing Hawks to make a rare personal appearance in the studio.
Busier than ever … John Digweed mixes it up live.
Source: Supplied
“We’re two of only three of four people to have met him, who he’s divulged who he is to,” Digweed says. “You’ve got to respect the way he wants to live his life. A lot of stuff in The Traveler about security and (the technology that) government’s are using has come to light now (through the Snowden revelations). I don’t know how he got all that information or if he’s got a crystal ball.”
An original album is a rare thing in Digweed’s 32-year career which has mainly comprised of quality CD mixes (34 and counting) the odd soundtrack (Stark Raving Mad) and occasional hit singles (Heaven Scent and For What You Dream Of, made famous by Trainspotting). Though Muir’s his main collaborator now, it was his 17 year partnership with Sasha — including the landmark Renaissance and Northern Exposure series — that really put him on the map.
Strangely enough Sasha and Digweed are playing the same venues in Australia, for the same promoter, two weeks apart in November.
Early days … Sasha and John Digweed back in 1997.
Source: News Corp Australia
Unfortunately Sasha told Hit last year it was over for good: “I don’t really have anything nice to say about John any more so I’d probably rather not say anything”.
This is a surprise to Digweed. “I didn’t know we had fallen out, is that we he said?” he asks. “Nah, I’ve never said we’ll never play together again. For us or for me personally it was like we need a break, we’ve been playing together over 17 years so there’s definitely no bad feeling my end.”
Aged 47, Digweed’s busier than ever, flying up to 20 times a month chasing parties around the globe. And there’s little chance of him stopping anytime soon.
“I didn’t get into DJing because there were private jets and champagne because there wasn’t when I started. I got into DJing because I love music and I love sharing that love with other people. The fact it turned into a fully fledged career and I’ve managed to circle the world many, many times over that’s just been a bonus to me.”
Hear: The Traveler, Bedrock Records, out Oct. 6.
SEE John Digweed
VIC Prince Bandroom, Nov. 14, Oztix.com.au.
NSW Chinese Laundry, Nov. 15, Chineselaundryclub.com.au
QLD The Met, Nov. 15, Moshtix.com.au
