Next up in our Residents Rule series is North East jock Ian Blevins, whose inimitable brand of Balearic kissed electronic music has been serenading our ears on a weekly basis during the season, whilst he’s taken his ass shaking grooves across a further three continents outside of his residency. Whether touring with Crazy P across Australia or dropping carnival influenced beats to a rapturous response in Brazil, Ian has caused quite the fuss where ever he goes.
We caught up with him to find out exactly what he had been up to with his time away from Ibiza, ranging from his gigs for us with at the Ministry of Sound to his studio efforts. And we also got a quick word in about the other residents; after Jem Haynes did the dirty on his inability to make the right plane, who would be the subject of Ian’s loose tongue?
Hey Ian. First off we’d like you to tell us some more about your winter break, if you can call it that, and what you’ve been doing since we did our last show in September.
I spent the end of the year back in the northeast Djing, doing parties and working on music. Then it was down south to finish a Second Line track. Then played alongside Bicep on NYE before making our Second Line debut for We Love @ MOS. A few days rest then it was off to Brazil to play for We Love at Green Valley which was a great experience. After that I spent the rest of my time travelling South America. Got back late February.
Have you discovered any untapped dancefloors you want to tell us about?
Like I mentioned, I’ve spent the end of last year back in the northeast and there are increasingly more parties week to week ranging from small intimate clubs to slightly larger. I’d advise anyone to get up there and find this out for themselves.
What about music; what beats have rocked your world in the past six months?
A lot of beats have. Dancefloor wise I’ve been liking stuff by Axel Boman, Scuba, Murphy Jax, Wild Geese, Kevin McPhee, Legowelt, Maceo Plex to name but a few. On the listening side of things I try to listen to albums old and new as well a lot of podcasts and mixes. Especially any mix ever done by Lexx whose music is simply amazing.
What have you been cooking up in the studio during that time?
During the winter I’ve been working with a few people. Firstly, myself and fellow resident Jem Haynes finished another track before the MoS gig to add to the upcoming Second Line release on Jem’s Colour Series label which we worked on in the summer. I’ll be penciling in more time down south to do more before the season.
I’ve also been doing more Al Gobi records with my friend, Phil Moody of which the first EP of last years work should be out shortly on Audio Parralax with some corking remixes of what I’ve heard so far. On top of that I’ve also been making music with my mate Scotty who goes under the name NY*AK. Definitely one to check out. Then there are some tracks with my fellow promoters at ‘That Old Chestnut‘, and a lot of stuff I’ve been working on by myself. I’ve been working hard to improve in the studio and finally feel like i’m getting there.
Can you tell us some more about the process you go through when you make music? Do you always think of a certain dancefloor or moment in your set when making a track, and if so have any of your tunes been directly influenced by Space?
All depends on the mood really. Sometimes I just go in and go with the flow so to speak. Sometimes i’ll have an idea in mind which I’ve been thinking about. I think the more I get into a track the more I can begin to picture where it’d be played. As I spend a vast amount of time in Space each Sunday up on the Etage I’ve made a lot of records that I can play up there but am increasingly making more music I think could be played in the bigger rooms.
Away from the dancefloor what’s been the most exciting thing you’ve done since September?
Spending nearly 2 months in South America where I visited Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. I had high hopes of seeing more but that’ll have to be saved for another day as excitement originally blinded me to what is possible in a short period of time around a massive continent.
Ibiza 2011 seems a long distant memory now, but the good news is that 2012 is just around the corner. How much are you looking forward to the season again and have you got any exciting surprises planned for it?
Im just working on making as much music as possible so I can have it ready for the summer. I’m also thinking of more ideas with Jem where and how we can incorporate more things into our Second Line sets which we debuted at the MOS on NYD.
We’re not usually one for gossip but is there anything you would like to reveal about any of your other fellow residents that they may prefer keeping under wraps? Again; stick to what we can print!
Nothing totally slanderous. Best I’ve got is a pic of Jem’s lovely slippers. Go on Jem lad!
Ha! Looking back to last season what was your favourite moment? Obviously sticking close to what we can actually print…
Off the top of my dome I’d say the staff party. On a boat surrounded by Ibiza, great friends and great music. I was leaving straight after so it was a perfect although slightly emotional way to finish to the summer. Getting on a plane in the condition I was in isn’t particularly advised.
Who has been the single greatest influence on your career, and why?
I could easily sit on the fence here as there’s been so many from musicians, djs, friends and people who have and continue to inspire me to get better in every aspect of my life. But if I had to pick one that changed how I looked at Djing and playing music it would be probably Theo Parrish one hazy morning at the Southport Weekender playing mid morning til close. Unbelievable music and fantastic programming. That for me is the most important part of playing records.
Would he be included on your ideal We Love line-up? You can put them on along with yourself and two others in any room at the club for the night; who would they be? And what three records would you definitely play?
He’d definitely make my personal self indulgent line up. Another two… Larry Heard, because he’s the don. And Lawrence. As he’s never played to the best of my knowledge and everything I hear by him I love.
The three records… Instant House ‘Awade’, Matthias Meyer ‘Infinity’ and Ron Trent ‘Altered States’
That list could change day to day but I love them all, and they would sound even better played loud, off vinyl on a Funktion One system.
And finally, let us know what lies in the immediate future for you and all the tasty projects you have running.
We’ll be doing another couple ‘That Old Chestnut’ parties which in March we’ve got Ralph Lawson and Mark E playing at the minute. Thats a joint one with Ape-x. We’re lining one up a May one as well. I’m pencilling in a few gigs in the UK and one in Bremen which I’m looking forward to, as well as playing on the We Love boat at the Garden Festival in Croatia.
Production wise. Simply continue with the work I’m doing already on my own and with my trusty collaborators.
