50 cents of MARK FARINA

[seno]

Veteran DJ Mark Farina is in considerably good spirits despite the merging time difference when I call, although my archaic analogue recording unit seems hell-bent on hindering our interview as if a catastrophic event waiting to unravel.

"I can barely hear you.." he says in a distinct American drawl down the phone line. I apologise for the unforeseen technical difficulties and quiz him on how his day's gone.

"Let's see I'm going to Mexico tomorrow" he muses. "So, I'm just packing for that, I'm playing there this weekend, just getting some music together". With more than twenty years experience jet-setting the world and packing out clubs across the globe, house legend Mark Farina is as well known for his downtempo acid jazz sets (the Mushroom Jazz sound) as he is for his trademark deep house fusion styles.

Farina got into house music in the late 80s in Chicago, when his friendship began with the infamous Derrick Carter - who he maintains still keeps in contact with. "Yeah, I saw him a couple of weeks ago" Farina adds. From the friendship forged the track 'Mood' in 1989 which is widely credited as being the first Ambient House record.

In 1992, along with Patty Ryan-Smith, he started the legendary Monday night club 'Mushroom Jazz' in San Francisco, playing downtempo tracks, and will be soon releasing the sixth compilation of the same name. Every story has a beginning, for Mark a native of Chicago is adamant San Francisco (now home) is a great musical 'melting pot' but also hints his youth an ebbing influence growing up.

"In my early high school years I went to a lot of concerts" recalls Farina. "1984-85 a lot of new-wavish concerts; The Cure, The Smiths, Ministry, Front 242 DJing that kind of stuff. I started off with industrial at the time; the clubs would play industrial type music. I also started playing some early Detroit techno and acid with the industrial stuff to get into classic stuff more, and of course on the radio at that time in Chicago in the 80s there were the house mixes out on the radio every day. I didn't know what the sounds were, I just recorded them and mixed them on the radio."

Farina heartedly recalls his high school years citing his musical pedigree, a background learning trumpet and drums as a solid induction and bearing on his musical journey. A sentiment that has him regarded him by his peers as one of the most respected pioneers in the industry.

"Yeah, definitely growing up in the 80s." says Mark. "As well as playing drums in a cover band, we did originals but we did a lot of covers, New Wave and 80s groups were such a big influence and that seems to have come back around, that sound has influenced a lot of artists today especially in Chicago which had the fusion of house and industrial, it was a very good thing to have in my musical upbringing. Chicago's just a musical town in general. Playing drums, trumpet, just reading music helps you as a DJ."

Now happily transplanted in San Francisco, Mark finds time divided between producing and mixing his own music, largely thanks to prolific releases on Om Records (Mushroom Jazz and House of Om) and Farinas' own label - Great Lakes Audio. Mark is quite coy about his future, conceding his views on balancing private life and work, "a natural correlation between the two." I usually streamline it to keep things to what I can handle." admits Farina.

"I think any DJ that goes through this is pacing themselves to be productive and do gigs, and knows when their bodies have had enough, so I think I'm lucky so far" (laughs). Mark goes on to reflect on the rigours of travelling and the toll taken on his private life, but deftly denies any plans to retire on his plaudits just yet.

"Um, gee I don't know, not really - I mean maybe not doing enough sometimes, some options here I could've taken or just too busy here or there, but generally I wouldn't change a lot of things. Maybe exercise more or eat healthier foods maybe?"

"You know I've gotten pickier as I grow older and try to put in a better sound system, those kinds of things," he laughs. "I haven't got bored of spinning; luckily new music keeps coming out all the time and makes my job easier because as long as there's good new stuff that needs to be played I'm game. Also sometimes air travel can be not as pleasant as it used to be, some of the long term effects wear off when flights get delayed or you get stuck in airports, those kinds of things. The whole club thing and DJing, people and shows, small shows and festivals, I still enjoy it, you can't really predict what's going to happen."

Changes over the years from analogue to digital recording, have signalled an advent of change, with some DJs opting to play tracks from cd rather than vinyl. One of the advantages is playing individual remix tracks and more creativity, as Farina points out, "a lot of labels have slowed down their output of vinyl, at the moment we're doing vinyl" he divulges. "And now we're just switching over to digital and trying to figure out a plan because there are a lot of labels switching over to a digital format."

I ask him if there are any other noticeable changes in the music scene. "In America things are different than you guys down there. In America a lot of clubs are 21 and up which I think is not a bad situation, I mean down there the drinking age isn't so rigid and here all DJs play a 21 and up club, but you don't get such a younger crowd, who don't get to hear a lot of DJs I've found."

"Only a couple of cities in America do a couple of 18 and up related parties. Yeah I'd like to see that change, otherwise things are progressing good. Chicago house seems to crossover a lot of different sub-genres that people say is the house of today, Chicago house has a lot of stuff in it that kind of helps me whether the moods change. It's still house you know? The terminology changes from year to year."

New Zealand's geographical isolation from the rest of the world is one reason gaining popularity for overseas DJs to come down to visit. It's an isolation that permeates our music and culture, fostering a nurturing environment for local DJs, who if lucky enough can squander a decent living from it. "I think people there, are really extra hip to everything that's going on in the world." adds Farina.

"For being so far away people may think you might know that, but you don't know all the music things happening in England or the US and other places as well. You get quite an influence down there and I've found my friends down there - especially on the internet, are just as up on tunes as I am." But despite the solitude from the world community, you'd be surprised to hear we don't lag that far behind the rest of the world.

"England I think is still a hot bed." he continues. "Germany has quite a lot of good stuff, different cities in the US they're doing a lot of good deep house, there's also a lot of good Canadian stuff coming out, and of course from Australia and New Zealand. I get a lot of good tunes from down your way - I think that's the one thing about the whole internet and just the way it's gotten a little smaller, you can get a tune from anywhere and it could be really good. It could be wherever, Bulgaria, it could be Mexico - whenever I'm out I usually get given tunes and you get some good, some bad. You help or try and tell them, sometimes you get a really good track from somewhere you don't expect."

A huge Gunners fan, Farina is audibly excited talking about the "other" passion in his life: Arsenal Football Club, and is quite bummed out that he will be missing a Champion's League match while he is away. He's elated about tripping down this way later in the year while I manage to prise open one of his secrets to successful DJing.

"Whenever I DJ in whatever city, I leave the TV on in the hotel room, it's kind of a superstitious thing. How's that? Nobody knows that."

Needless to say there hasn't been a bad gig yet.

[Oki Koro]

RESPECTTTA!!!

[Oki Koro]

COMING SOON TO JACKARTAAA!! wohooooo cant wait!

[bless the child]

mantaff..bocoran dong mas oki..

[jazzymike]

master nih DJ..... cant wait 2 see him at jkt...

[digital6]

COMING SOON TO JACKARTAAA!! wohooooo cant wait!

ckckck...santai, ki..santai..
abis lebaran kita maen futsal ma doi
wakakakak








Abi Slebar Anban Yakdjgo Kil...

[vinodii]

wew...

eh tp ini mark farina yg bikin lagu cali spaces kan ya ? wuhuuu...

[Oki Koro]

wew...

eh tp ini mark farina yg bikin lagu cali spaces kan ya ? wuhuuu...

yerp.... lebih mantap lagi dream machine yo!

[vinodii]

bakal dijemput kapan niyh ..

[Knowhow]

mushroom jazz