With the AWsum v Kiddfectious Bank Holiday Monday Party nearly upon us, we interview Andy Farley, one of the most respected DJs in the Hard Dance Scene!
Interview with Andy Farley
Andy is playing the main room at the massive showdown between Andy Whitby & Alex Kidd at Ministry of Sound on Bank Holiday Sunday 25th May. In the name of all things showdown-like we let a few of the other AvK DJs at him to give him a bit of a grilling!
Jordan Suckley:
Whats the worst DJing moment you have ever had since you started DJing?
Probably being booked to play in Wolverhampton in 1997 and turning up and the music being speed garage with MCs, the lot! The promoter was trying to change the music policy and using me as the guinea pig. Needless to say I only played the records at the front of my box and was out the door like a shot after I’d finished!
Andy Whitby:
We both share a first name, and what an amazing name it is. However if I was a girl my mother says I was going to be called Rachel. What would your name have been if you were born a female?
Sheila after my Mum!
Andy Rise:
Whats the most bizarre or random thing you have seen in clubland?
Sundissential when it first started in 1996 was pretty random to say the least - with ‘the man in a suitcase’, someone on the dancefloor pretending to do their ironing, complete with ironing board of course, and someone walking round with a toilet seat around their neck.
Matt Pickup:
I’m sure you don’t need reminding but you have been on the hard house scene for a number of years now. What was the first ever club you played at and can you remember your first ever track you played out?
I first played out way back in 1989 at a club called Goldwyns in Birmingham. Of course back then it wasn’t hard house, I played a mixture of stuff from house through to Sister Sledge! I can’t remember the very first track off the top of my head though.
Alex Kidd:
Which DJ you would choose to be Prime Minister and why?
I think Lashes would do a good job, she’d certainly keep the straight male population’s attention!
Klubfiller:
What has been the most memorable part of your career up to now?
I can’t really pinpoint just one so will name a few in no particular order:
Dance Valley in 2001
Playing at Trade for the first time in 2002 for a Tony de Vit memorial
Sundissential at Pulse 1996/1997
Tin Tins in Birmingham 1994-1996
Frantic at Camden Palace 2000-2002
Cally Gage:
Did you always want to be a DJ? If you weren’t what would you be instead?
I wanted to be an Air Traffic Controller like my Dad when I was in my teens, but didn’t stick around at school to finish my A-Levels, so probably that. DJing for me started as a hobby. I first heard music mixed together way back in 1987 and knew straight away that I wanted to do it myself, though as a hobby, didn’t perceive that it would eventually be my job!
Elvis:
You have been a big part of the hard dance for a long time, how has it evolved since you first started?
It’s grown and grown from it’s underground beginnings in Trade and started to crossover from 1993 onwards when Tony De Vit started to play in some of the more mainstream clubs. Musically it has evolved greatly into the sounds we have today. There is a great choice of music for people now as well, so that you’re not hearing just one thing all night.
Thanks Andy (or should I say Sheila?) – we look forward to seeing you at AWsum v Kiddfectious! If anyone else fancies taking Mr Farley on get down to Ministry and watch him tear up the dance floor!