[Hammarica] John 00 Fleming Interview
John 00 Fleming is an artist who has achieved international success in a career spanning over 20 years without dishonouring his musical essence or fans. With over 10 million album sales and 30 produced mix compilations, John’s a proven musical pioneer whose essence lies in what his fans call, ‘the J00F sound’. The J00F sound is as unpretentious as the artist, and is best described as deep and textured progressively edged trance, in an electronic dance music style that is an antithesis to what is normally produced within the genre.
You are about to release your new album One Hundred Ten WKO. Tell us more about it.
I’m really proud of One Hundred Ten WKO. For years I’ve been making scores for the TV and movie world, so it’s nice to put my writing skills into my own artist album. I don’t care for this to be a big marketing tool with vocals or a Beatport chart-topper. This is just me expressing myself as an artist.
What are the more exotic places where you have been touring the past few months?
How long have we got? There are far too many to mention. Doing all of Australia in a couple of weeks was a highlight. Also Jakarta in Indonesia is always a fascinating place to play and visit.
If you could collaborate on a song with any musician of your liking, who would you choose and why?
I’ve done all the collaborations I’ve wanted to do in my career. I’m already working with my heroes: Airwave, The Digital Blonde, Dave Seaman and Christopher Lawrence. I’m very lucky.
What were the best moments of 2012 for you?
Seeing my JOOF Editions turn into a serious worldwide brand. In the past two years we’ve done well over 60 club tours, and 2012 was an especially great year. I feel like a proud dad watching his son grow.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
I asked myself that question 10 years ago… and honestly while the touring side may calm down by then, us ‘oldie’ DJ’s are still going stronger than ever. In fact, my career seems to be at its highest point. I’m hoping it will be the same story in another 10 years time.
Could you share a production tip that is specific to your style?
Learn the art of how to EQ correctly. EQ is the most important tool that you have in the studio and it’s always overlooked. Only use a handful of decent ones and learn the caricaturists of each of them.
What can we expect from your label in the next few months?
JOOF Recordings seems to be just getting stronger and stronger. It will have been running 15 years this summer. I still keep to the same ethos since day one of launching: to only release music that I believe in. I don’t aim for big-selling artists or want chart-topping hits. What’s important to me is that each and every release has to be high quality.
Is there one country where you never played, but where you would love to spin one day?
I think I’ve been to every country that’s safe to travel to, except for Norway. Maybe this will change in 2013.
The weirdest moment from your DJ career?
Being greeted at the door at one of my shows by a bunch of 6-feet-tall transvestites holding a huge sign with my name on it. They then led me through the packed club hailing me as they went along. It was very strange, and also very difficult to explain to every single person in the club that it had nothing to do with me!
The best female DJ?
This one is easy because I’ve played alongside her many times and always walk away saying she’s not only one of the best female DJ’s I’ve seen, but probably one of the best DJs in the world. Pearl from Mumbai, India has got the special gift of DJing, which you don’t often see today. DJs like John Digweed and Dave Seaman have also picked up on her talent too.
You should definitely check her out: https://www.facebook.com/PearlOfficialPage
Is there anything else you would like to mention?
Thanks to everyone for their wonderful support. I really hope you enjoy my new artist album as much as I enjoyed making it.
With One Hundred Ten WKO, John 00 Fleming has delivered an album that plots a course back through the history of trance music, whilst simultaneously hurtling headfirst into the future. Strap down and prepare for launch: this one goes right out there and back.
Tracklist
1. The centre of the Universe
2. 5000 Light Years from Earth
3. Star Gazing
4. Tears From Heaven
5. The Stroke of the Midnight Hour
6. WR 22
7. 340 Million Pixels
8. Clouds of Karma
9. WKO
10. Pillars of Creation
11. Colliding Galaxies (John 00 Fleming vs. Lyctum)
12. Time Lapse NGC 2264
