In between dancing, drinking and general gallivanting at Hideout, Skiddle managed to catch up with moustachioed Parisian techno kingpin Dan Ghenacia to talk about Croatia, Ibiza, and everything in between.
Hi Dan, so is this your first time playing in Croatia?
Yes it is my first time ever.
What do you think of it?
I think it’s amazing. I love the setting of it and the beach, and the venue is really cool as well.
What do you think of people saying that Croatia is the new Ibiza?
Erm (slight pause) yeah I think I have heard people say this, but I don’t know, this is the first time I come and from what I have seen it looks like a pretty good spot. I think there’s a future for this place!
Are you playing in Ibiza a lot this summer at Circo Loco, We Love etc?
Yeah I am playing a lot of dates for Circo Loco this year. I am playing 12 dates for Circo Loco, and I played at Cocoon for the first time (27th June) on the terrace with Sven (Vath)
How did that go?
Yeah it was amazing, I was really happy to do it and I was really honoured to have been asked officially to play for them.
So what have you got planned next then?
Next week, I am going to play for We Love... I was resident for We Love… for three years so to be asked to come back after 2 years is going to be good. But after Cocoon and We Love… I am going to be exclusive for DC10.
So what is your most memorable gig, you know good or bad?
I think honestly DC10 is always the one for me you know. I have been resident now for ten years and I started from the bottom there. I played inside for many years and now I have started to play the terrace which is amazing. We start to have our own party there now with Lola ed. which is our DJ Agency. We had our first party where we took over Circo Loco the week after the opening. It was a very special moment for us as we had I think nearly 100 people over from Paris especially for the event. I think it was the first time that main language in the back stage area was French! That was
very special for me.
What is next for you?
I am going to start work on a new label. I plan on working with Dyed (Soundorom) and Shonky. It is going to be called Apollon. We wanted to start in October but I think it is going to be more realistic to start it in January with us all being so busy. I have been playing every day this week.
Are you tired?
I’m not tired, just happy you know, it’s good to be busy. I played Monday and Tuesday for Cocoon (Amnesia and then the after party) Thursday for Cocoon Formentera and Monza in Milan last night and today Croatia. Tomorrow I go home and rest.
Have you any new tracks coming out?
Yeah I have a remix for Real tone records coming in September. I also have a production on a premium label called 9AM with a French guy called Gaffy. We did two tracks together. One is called Crazy Hawk. (?) It is due out in September. I played it tonight actually.
Did it get a good reaction?
Very good yes I was really happy with it.
Are you focusing on any new artists/ DJs at the moment and who is your tip for the future?
Yeah I am working a lot with Shonky. At the moment I am really focused on pushing a new guy called Djebali. He has been around for many years now and he is signed to our agency. He has an amazing studio (all analogue!) and I think he is going to be the new star from our crowd.
Finally what do you think will be the track of the Summer?
I have to say that Djebali has produced fivr tracks that have not yet been released yet. Already I have been overplaying them in my sets. I am really happy to be looking after this guy so watch out for him in the future.
Interview: Ben Plant & Katie Grange
Read Katie's review of Hideout Festival
Originally published: 22nd Jul 2011
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