This week’s interview 7 mix comes from Kevin McKay.
Introduce yourself and tell us about the part of the UK you’re from?
Hi, my name is Kevin McKay and I’m from Glasgow in Scotland.
Tell us about some of your British DJ heroes?
I first started going clubbing in 1989 when I moved to Glasgow from a small town on the west coast of Scotland. I was studying at Strathclyde University and my halls of residence were across the road from the Sub Club. I went there a lot and it’s where I first heard local DJs Slam and Harri and the DJs they would invite to play there. Since then I’ve heard a lot of DJs but in my mind not many of them come close to them and other local DJs like DJ Q, Oscar and Domenic Capello. There are a few that I thought stood up though (but not many!); Andrew Weatherall and the Idjut Boys being two that come to mind.
What have you been working on recently?
I’ve been in the studio loads working on a combination of my own production and remixes for the label. In terms of my own stuff I have a collaboration coming with Mike Vale called “Control” and remixes for Dalfie, Climbers and Illyus & Barrientos.
Tell us about the mix, how did you put it together, what did you want to represent?
I went through my favourite records from the past two or three months and then just started seeing what would fit with what. I am really enjoying musical tracks that are also tough and hypnotic.
Talk us through the British music featured in this mix? Which British artists are you most excited about?
Aside from myself, the British artists featured in the mix are Dalfie, Hot Since 82 and Reset Robot. Dalfie is an up and coming producer from Glasgow who has also released on Pets Recordings which is owned by Catz N Dogz. I really like his style, it’s 100% music for the dance floor but he’s always trying something new. The other two are more established. I’ve been a fan of Hot Since 82 since his first releases for the likes of Noir and this mix he’s done for Matador fits perfectly in this mix. Reset Robot is a name that might not be as recognisable as HS82 but he engineers for some of the biggest techno producers out there so you will heard more of his output than you realise! Truganini is a classy piece of musical techno, one of his best to date.
What is on the cards in the immediate future?
Tonight I’m going to a pub quiz in Glasgow with my mate John where I hopefully won’t embarrass myself during the music round.
Where is the best place in the world you have DJ’d and why?
I love DJing in Glasgow but I don’t get to do it often enough to really say there (although I am doing a big Glasgow Underground party with Illyus & Barrientos at the Treehouse at the end of October which I am really looking forward to). My favourite club in the world is Propaganda in Moscow. It’s one of the few places in the world you can play super deep and the crowd will stick with you. Whilst I love doing that, I also love playing peak time bangers and so the range of track energy you can work with as a DJ combined with the super-tuned in crowd makes for some amazing scenes on the dance floor.