Nick Curly has made his breakthrough almost ten years ago and since, he has established himself as a consistently successful producer and DJ. His remix to Cristian Smith’s “Turn The Lights” on Tronic is coming and we have asked Nick to answer a few questions to catch up with his plans and find out how he manages the producing/Djing life.
TS: What is the best about 2016 for you? Any special events already took place or something you’re looking forward to?
NC: The season just started and there were already so many memorable nights. Time Warp was a highlight for sure as well as our last Trust party at Watergate and I’m already excited for Sonar this year, we got something big planned!
What are the label plans for 8Bit?
NC: 8bit is in a very good place right now. I think that’s because we mainly focus on our own productions and only work with a selected group of artists that are able to produce their own distinguishable sound. It’s hard to say where we’re going, but I’m excited to see what’s next. The remix my brother Steffen Deux made for OXIAS’s Unity is being played everywhere right now and you can look forward to some new stuff from me and Gorge as well.
TS: You said in an interview, that you prefer to do the label and studio work in the beginning of the year. How do you do that? What’s your routine when you decide to spend a period of time in the studio and that’s the main thing on your mind?
NC: Of course, it’s not possible to do all the work in the beginning of the year, but that’s when Pit and me get together and put down as many ideas as possible. Once the touring starts again, it’s hard to get into it since you rarely find the time to really get creative. When it comes to making music, our focus is the club. That’s where the music is heard and where it’s perceived best. Keeping that in mind and testing out your stuff out on the road, that’s what works for me.
TS: Do you have any special rituals for studio work and before DJ gigs?
NC: When it comes to studio work no, not really rituals. It all very much depends on the current situation, sometimes it just flows and other times to spend hours trying to find that perfect sound. If I play a gig somewhere I always try to be at the club an hour early to catch the dj playing before and to get a feeling for the crowd. Of course a few drinks always help to warm up as well 😉
TS: How do you rest? A lot of DJs say, that they have the most fun when they play, and that’s the wonderful thing about this job – being happy about what you do. But everyone needs time to recharge the batteries, how do you do it?
NC: Spending as much time as possible with family and friends helps me to regain energy and cool down after some busy days. I also spend part of the year in turkey, and some weeks on Ibiza, but I try not to party as much as in the early days. Of course, touring still is my favorite part of the job, but coming back home is what keeps me going.
TS: What do you think about House music these days? The world seems to be crazy about techno, how do you see the future of house?
NC: In my opinion, it is getting harder and harder to distinguish between electronic music genres. But there is some great stuff being released right now in techno and house, I think there will always be a place for both in the club. It’s not the first time we are seeing this back and forth, but both styles are constantly evolving, so let’s see what happens next. From a DJ point of view, I think you should be able to play both techno and house, especially if you’re behind the decks for more than one or two hours.
TS: What is remixing work for you? What do you put in the remixes of the tracks?
NC: I try to focus on the elements that hook me to a track. Once these are clear, I start to build around them and create something new, adding to what is already there. Every remix is different, so there’s always a new approach – that’s where you can get creative!
TS: Tell us about your upcoming release of the remix to Christian Smith’s track and what’s special there for you?
NC: I was happy when Chris asked me to do a remix since I already played the original in a lot of my sets and was curious to add something new to it. I also like him personally, so there wasn’t much to think about once he asked. The remix itself was simple because the elements were already working, I’m happy with the result.
TS: Do you plan more remix work for the nearest future?
NC: I’m always happy to remix a great track, and there are some great projects coming up. First, there is the remix for Christian, which is coming out in may. A remix for Gorge on Mobilee will be out June and in July, I’ll have my premiere on Pan Pot’s Second State with a remix for The Reason Y.
TS: Where can our readers catch you within the next few months?
NC: As mentioned, our Trust party at Sonar with Shonky and Tobi Neumann in june will definitely be one to look out for. I’m also looking forward to play some great festivals this summer like Extrema Outdoor, Sonus, Pollerwiesen and many more. If you’re in Ibiza for the space opening, we’ll catch each other there. Looking forward to see some of you on the dance floor again!
