This weeks interview & mix comes from Will Ward
Selector Afterdark – Will Ward by Selector After Dark on Mixcloud
Introduce yourself and tell us about the part of the UK you’re from?
I live and work in London, I’m a DJ and producer based in Hackney. I’ve done a few releases as Will Ward, my first was on Deadplate Records last year and there is two releases on Audio Doughnuts this year. I also work as one third of a group called Circle Traps, we’re like a live techno group. We’ve released stuff on Opit Records and we’re signed to Lex Records. We’ve got some releases coming up through them.
What have you been working on recently?
The release that came out recently was my EP called Chorus Memory, I’m really happy with it. There’s a nice vinyl artwork thing for it and it’s been a nice campaign, working with the guys at Audio Doughnuts, it’s been fun.
Excellent and talk us through the mix?
So I play a lot with Serato, which benefits me from having to lug lots of records around. So I cherry picked some of my favourite tunes of the moment, the first 25 minutes all from British producers. It’s quite bass heavy, some jungle influence there. After 25 minutes, it’s a bit more international and there’s a few tunes in there from me too. It was really fun to do!
Lovely and what British music is exciting you at the moment?
I’m really in to what Untold is doing at the moment, his sort of analogue twist on things, he’s got an interesting productions style. And obviously all the Liberty Sound stuff, Kowton and Peverelist are really exciting, they’re really pushing envelopes in all the right places for me.
Some great artists were there any British DJ’s or producers that influenced you in the beginning?
Well I was really in to Drum and Bass back in the day, so people like Mampi Swift, listening to his mixtapes taught me how to mix in the first place. So he was a key figure and a wicked producer too in his own right. Drum and Bass was the thing for me.
Nice! So what is on the cards in the immediate future?
I’ve got lots of new music ready to go, I’ve got this Circle Traps project, with an EP out in July. It’s more songy, more musical techno stuff in a way. And I’ve got loads of shows coming up too.
And finally where is the best place in the world you have DJ’d and why?
Well I’ve mainly played in England, but I went to Croatia last year for Dimensions Festival, which has to be the pinnacle so far that was a real laugh!