Tony Williams has been active for a long time s a chief party rocker and has so much music in his brain, he has a couple of personas to get it all out there in different forms. We have been inviting him to mix for us for ages but his life is crammed with a whole heap of travel and playing out. Last week we got a mail with a download link and we had a mix. Ladies and gents, hands together for Tony.
We feel like a medium – Addison Groove, Headhunter, Tony, which one are we talking to?
After doing my recent usa tour with Doc Daneeka, I came home and needed to make a Headhunter tune. The Addison Groove stuff is really cool, I love it, of course. It’s what I do but there’s not much darkness in the music, so I’m lucky to have an alter ego that comes out at times with urges to make dark bass music, usually along the lines of dubstep.
So, today you have to ask, are you talking to someone whos in a dark mood or are we dealing with a lighter shade of character..well, today I’ll be Addison Groove as I have been playing with my 808 all day. Also I just purchased a 303, not the real thing, that would be crazy, but a kit one. It uses exactly the same circuitry as the real thing yet is a fraction of the cost. In fact if you rounded up the actual cost of what I just got to the actual rrp price of the 303 back in , what is it, 1984 (?) then it would be around the same price. Anyway yes,.. I enjoy having both artist names to work with, I suppose the reason I switched names and styles, is because I was getting a bit bored with the way dubstep was going, this was back in 2008… something new was needed and I wanted a new dancefloor to play on. These days the party people I play to are open to all types of sounds which is excellent as my DJ sets usually go from house, techno, jungle, juke and whatever else takes my ear that particular week.
How’s life?
Things are good for the moment. This summer I have a lot of festivals coming up that are all Addison Groove live gigs which I use the 808 for. The Headhunter stuff is good in the studio but when I put anything out thats along that line, I’m not really looking or gigs, just a output of something I was feeling on that particular day. I can say that I do have a Headhunter tune forthcoming but the B-side still has to be made. Im very happy with the track I already have though, deep dark n’ twisted.
We have been trying to set this up for a while now with the mix and the interview, what you been up to?
As I say, the U.S.A./Canadian tour was a big deal. We did a gig every day almost for about 3 weeks. It was wild and people got down to the booming beats. After that I came back to my new studio and have been trying to settle in since. I have managed to finish off my next Addison Groove EP for Modeselektor’s 50 Weapons label which is out in about september time. I have also been buying new gear… I always want new gear . But I’m the type to wait to buy something, each bit at a time is much better than going crazy and getting a bunch of stuff.
Other than music, today I built my new BMX and had a ride on it because we had some sun for the first time in ages… but about 45 mins after being out, the tyre popped, couldn’t have built it that well then, could i!? I do love my BMX and riding it, I ride a style of BMX called flatland, it’s a dying trend that’s not very trendy. That’s one of the reasons I love it, no one does it, yet it’s one of the most difficult and challenging things I have ever done. Maybe thats the appeal. Back in the 2000′s I use to go up n down the country with my mates to jam’s and contests. It was good fun at the time, I hear that shit doesn’t happen anymore. So I’m here promoting flatland BMX, you may have never heard of it but look on youtube to see how amazing it is.
How did the Red Bull Music Academy come about and what’s the relationship with them?
Simple phone call along he line of ‘want to do a lecture at Red Bull Music Academy?’. I had to do it.. little did I know that it was the day after a gig that I kinda got a little (very) drunk at. Yes, I got fucked.. That party went on ’til around 5am in the morning, I then had a lecture at 10am the next day. I pulled it off, eventually.
The funny thing is, in 2005 I applied to go to R.B.M.A, and never got in, so they asking me for a lecture gave me a chance to actually go and be a student .. so I went of like 4 days and loved it. Met some heros’ and made a tune with Mark Pritchard thats on my recent album. Great fun.
Bristol has been a constant in the music scene and cultivate a great underground, what is it about the scene there that you love and hate?
What I hate is the lack of decent mid-sized venues. There’s not really a great place that can hold 250-500 people that other cites around the world have. We have one that I can think of thats ok, but again, compared to some places I’ve seen it’s nothing. I am told from a friend that there is a new spot opening soon that might well accommodate this called The Exchange that she is actually running it, so that’s an exciting prospect.
But this discussion cant go without saying that we have THE shittyist football team ever. I have no idea why but for some God forsaken reason the south west of England, not just Bristol but the whole of England has NO decent football teams. I question why, maybe its the weed? Is it really that good? So good that no one wants to play sports and just make beats all day. Thats the only answer I have really. THAT THERE is the worst thing about this place.
The great thing is, the whole scene here is the best, amazingly positive vibes throughout the city, it’s unlike anywhere else in the world for its population of successful music producers. There are some great people here, not just musicians, but all types of art forms are covered. Graffiti, theatre, art etc. Even though I am actually from Bristol most of my friends now are from the music side as its the place to come to if you want to be a bass producer, or at least it was, things are very healthy here and everyone knows eachother in a family-vibe way. None of that crew hates other crew bullshit that I see throughout the world.
You have very kindly made a mix for us, tell us a bit about what’s in it and what you tried to do whilst making it?
It’s full of fresh tracks that I’ve been sent recently that I’m really feeling. I left out my own productions apart from something new towards the end and played what I consider to be smashing it in the dances at the moment. It’s a snapshot what I do in the club but if you do see me play expect a lot more genres then what I have put here, but this is very much the house-garage-beats end of what I love to play.
You plan your own festival for NY 2013 – what’s the line up?
I’ll include people who are no longer alive as well.
King Tubby
AC/DC
Ludacris
Aphex Twin
Hallucinogen
DJ Easygroove
DJ Sasha (pre 1995 set)
LTJ Bukem (pre 1996 set)
Have you ever thrown a record like a frisbee?
No, I like my records.
Tell us a ‘DJ on tour’ story.
I once turned down a threesome.
Any thanks to anyone?
To anyone who has even bothered to get this far and read my nonsense. But really, I’d like to thank the good people at FLY53 for providing me with my clothes for the last few years, where would I be without you!??? NAKED I SUPPOSE. For more random bullshit go to: twitter/addisongroove. I’m willing to put considerable thought in to any applications from anyone willing to see me naked at your next party. Just ask.
