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Milk Interview with D'Marr Ford Reported by Sharon B / Submitted 21-01-04 18:54 When it comes to Saturday morning after parties there is only one event that remains firmly on everyone’s lips - Milk! Having recently celebrated its third birthday, this is one party that out last and out classes all other after parties and sets a standard for how morning clubbing should be done. With its ever growing success and devoted following it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that London’s most popular Saturday morning event is moving to a new home, and where better to set up roots than Studio 33 in Vauxhall? With the launch party this Saturday 24th January Sharon B decided to speak to Milk resident and co-promoter D’Marr Ford to find out more about the move, the party and things to come. Sharon B: You have been with Milk since its conception over 3 years ago. How did Milk come about in the first place and how do you feel it has evolved over the last few years? D’Marr Ford: I suppose the foundations of Milk started off as a few very hedonistic house parties at Piers’ (Milk Promoter) old place in Wimbledon. When I say hedonistic I mean completely f*cking bonkers. I remember walking into a room upstairs to find some guys making homemade porn movies with camcorders and eating shoelace sweeties from china bowls placed throughout the house. Milk the name and concept came about after Piers had got back from Trade and I was still at his house mixing to a few stragglers left over from the night before. Piers wanted to put on an after party for the legendary but now sadly missed Submaniac club. So we wrote down a few ideas and set a date. It just so happened that a Australian clubber and promoter called Paul Doran was looking to put on after parties too so we hooked up with him and between the three of us finalised what we wanted Milk to be. We brought in all our friends met at the house parties and formed the crew. The initial Milks (November 2000) were in the long room at the Imperial Gardens in Camberwell. We’d attract a very mixed crowd of gays and straights, weirdo’s and glam clubbers and to compliment this we’d put squat party techno DJs next to commercial trance DJs. The original ‘House Party’ vibe was recaptured in the club and they were some of the friendliest and interesting parties around. Right from the off we got a reputation for breaking the rules and not following the zeitgeist. In July 2001 we had outgrown the Imperial Gardens so moved to the 414. This changed the vibe quite dramatically and we were more of a ‘proper’ club now. Luckily the crowd remained diverse and the music policy varied. I mean, where else can you hear Chris Liberator mix out of TDVs ‘The Dawn’ to start his set or have a blazing Techno set followed by Ian Betts? Now we’re on to the next part of the Milky evolution: Studio 33. I think this move will perfectly encapsulate the essence of Milk. Its got a great main room with brilliant sound and then there’s the second room for the more House Party vibe. Its such a logical step. SB: What do you think is the secret to Milk’s success? Why has it remained so popular in such a fickle scene as the clubbing world? D’MF: It’s a combination of so many factors. There is no secret. The whole crew and residents love what they’re doing, you can see it at every event. We don’t go crazy on the hype, there’s no need to flood websites with Spam telling everybody how great we are. If people come that’s because they enjoyed it the last time or their mates told them how good it is so they come down. Milk is such a multi-faceted promotion that it just works in so many different ways, God knows how but it just does. I think just teetering on the edge of complete chaos sometimes give it an edge. SB: You have been playing for Milk since it first began, how have you changed as an artist as the party evolved? Do you feel that your progression as a DJ has reflected on the party or has the progression of the party reflected more on you? D’MF: I think I play just as varied as ever really. I love to mix up two or three really pounding, hypnotic Techno track and just as the crowd think they can’t take it anymore drop into the biggest, most spine tingling breakdown you’ve ever heard. It’s a lot more fun than lining up 3 BK tunes in a row then playing a bit of Karim. This ‘do what’s right for the crowd and not what you think a promoter wants you to do’ attitude rubs off on the DJs as they can come down to Milk and play what they really want to play. There are too many DJs just playing the Top 40 HardDance Chart, it’s so safe and boring. DJs love coming down and playing for us. They can’t wait to play that tune they cant play anywhere else but just know its going to go off. SB: Milk is moving to Studio 33 on 24th January, what prompted the move to a new venue? D’MF: We needed to give our crowd a club they can be comfortable in, a club where people want to be on a Saturday morning. It’s a beautiful venue. £1.8 million refit and designed in warm oranges and reds by a feng shui master but to the club décors yin is the sound systems yang: a massive, truly awesome rig of crystal clear sound and mind-blowing lights and lasers. SB: Milk is going to be having two rooms at Studio 33, Milk and Low Fat Milk – what can we expect to see in the second room and how, if at all, has this changed the line up and style of Milk? D’MF: The second room give us more space to showcase funkier sounds. You can expect House, Breaks and Trance and all sorts of things in-between. Music that’s as good to shake ya ass to as it is nod your head whilst chatting to your mates. We often played House DJs in the Main room warm up slot for Milk but now we can keep things separate. This way if you’ve been out all night and you want to keep going head straight for the main room. If you’ve just got up and need easing in gently you can go have a dance in the second room. SB: How many people work for Milk? How important is it to have a team behind a successful event and what are the roles that people play in keeping the party fresh and alive? D’MF: The crew is about 30 strong but as everybody is a volunteer we keep things nice and relaxed. There is a core set of people who run Milk on a day-to-day basis in out spare time (Piers, Roger, Jess and myself) but pretty much all decisions are done in a very democratic way. We have meetings every month and ideas are put to a vote. We gain new members all the time and they always bring a new ingredient to add to the mix. Some members like to manage the actual running of the club, Ray and Ulrika for example. Other like Sarrah and Morgan handle promotion but everybody helps everybody else out. Its all very family-like really, bickering and all. SB: If you had the resources to throw the ultimate Milk party what would you do that is different from Milk now? If you could afford any club, line up, stage show, what would you like to see as the ultimate Milk event? D’MF: Milk is an after party and always will be. Obviously we want to be the best after party there is but we don’t have any grand ideas of world domination. I think us moving to Studio 33, bringing in some DJs from around the world of Dance music and pushing everything we have will create the Ultimate Milk party. Everything is there now, the venue, the line-ups and still that good ol’ Milky vibe. SB: You also work on the logo and flyer designs for Milk – how do you come up with fresh and new ideas? Is flyer designing another interest of yours outside of DJ’ing or is it solely a job that you do for Milk? D’MF: I studied Graphic Design for a few years before I studied Music Production. I take the image side of Milk very seriously and I’d like to think that Milk has a very defined look. The new logo is a combination of the two old ones with a more contemporary and stylish edge. I’ve also stylised the flyers for this year into a slightly more mature representation to go with our nice new surroundings. I’ve done the odd bit of freelance work and will continue to doodle things for the foreseeable future. SB: When did you start DJ’ing and what got you interested in music and production in the first place? D’MF: I started mixing about 11 years ago after my next-door neighbour Gary Page bought a pair of Technics but my love for Dance Music actually comes from my mum! Haha.. Back in the late 80’s she was really into the Italian and US House sound and would go to our local record shop and buy imports and we’d dance around the front room to Blackbox – Ride on time and Lil’ Louis – French Kiss. My brother (whose 7 years older) was going out at the weekends to the massive free raves being held around the M25 and would bring back mix tapes from DJs like Carl Cox, which I would steal and listen to late at night in my bedroom before returning them in the morning. I started producing around the same time I started mixing on my Amiga computer and a copy of Pro-Tracker but being 14 and not really having any musical background my first productions were pretty poor. 11 years later and with a Degree in Music Production I’ve produced about 100 tracks ranging from Hip-Hop and Garage to Techno and Breaks. I’ve worked with massive labels like Nukleuz and played in clubs like Riot, 330 (Durban, South Africa) and Ministry of Sound. So its all worked out in the end from pretty humble beginnings. SB: How would you describe your style in your own words? D’MF: Hard, intense, funky and relentless but with a very unpredictable structure. I hate seeing a crowd going in to zombie mode, their eyes gloss over and they just dance to the same kick drum for 8 hours. I get on the decks, wake them up and take them through massive twists and turns. Keep them guessing as to what’s going to happen next. It’s all about intensity for me I need to make things exciting. When I go out I want to be entertained musically and shake my ass and have a good time. Not just be force-fed generic bullsh*t that just about works on the dance floor. SB: Have you always played the same genre, which style of music did you start out DJing with? D’MF: At the start I’d mix whatever I could get my hands on. House, Techno, Drum and Bass. After I learned how to mix House I went out and bought Hip-Hop, Drum and Bass, Ambient, Hardcore everything. I was possessed. I needed to learn how to do it all. I taught myself how to double time out of 90 BPM Hip-Hop into 180 BPM Jungle, how to scratch, how to play records backwards, how to mix on 3 decks. Every style and every trick in the book. I’m still learning now and need to keep pushing things, sometimes I will be in a club grab a tune mix in to it, 20 second later cut the vocal of another over the break of the first, chuck another record on, scratch thru the break-beats of the original breakdown, then pitch mix out of the original track whilst cutting the EQ’s and chopping the X-fader. Anything to keep the energy high and the crowd moving. SB: Out of all the genres you play which is your favourite and why? D’MF: I don’t care for genres. I’m extremely disloyal to all labels and producers. So what they made a great tune? If the next one is sh*t I’m not going to buy it. I couldn’t tell you what my favourite label is because none of them are consistently good enough. A good tune is a good tune and it’s as simple as that. SB: If you had 8 hours to play your ultimate genre/style, where would you start your set, how would you progress it, and where would you like to see your set end? D’MF: I played an 8-hour set at Milk last year. I started with ambient and ended with 170 BPM Techno. In-between were all sorts of things. Most DJs see there sets as an ascending, linear progression. Up and up, faster and faster, harder and harder. Overall my sets progress in this manor but the line isn’t straight, it’s got sharp right angles and u-turns. I think after 6 years of playing in clubs the main thing I’ve learnt is how to play to a crowd. You can’t do that in your bedroom, you need to be in the booth in front of a few hundred people making mistakes and learning from them. Knowing that moment when to drop the big tune is instinctive. Play it too early and it’ll get a mediocre reception, play it too late and you can loose them. Drop it at exactly the right time and it’ll blow the bloody roof off. As you can probably tell I’m so passionate about DJs not just being Dance Music Jukeboxes. SB: What 3 tunes never leave your record bag? D’MF: Sharpside – WaveCruising/SpaceCruising [Rotation] VPL – The Bassline [Closet] DJ Tim & DJ Misjah – Access [X-Trax] SB: As a resident for Milk you get to watch a lot of guest DJ’s play alongside you at your events who have different sounds and styles. Is there anyone that you particularly admire as an artist who you have seen at Milk? Is there anyone who hasn’t played for Milk yet that you would love to see play there? D’MF: Best DJs that have played at Milk in my opinion: Sterling Moss, for amazing tune selection and technical ability. Energy Dai, for really getting the crowd going And our residents (Ali Wilson, Dave Holmes, Matt Williams, George, Joanna McEwen, Eduardo Herrea and Jacob Moss) who we hand picked for their individual styles. SB: What was the first tunes you ever had released on a record label and what is the story behind your first release? D’MF: I wrote a set of 3 tunes for my label Filler Trax but one came out a bit later on my other label kcode. I can’t actually remember which one I wrote first. Here’s a real audio link to each one: Nero – Souleater http://www.trankill.co.uk/mpthree/SouleaterDS.ra Overloader – Unison http://www.trankill.co.uk/mpthree/UnisonNero.ra Nero – Tokoloshe http://www.trankill.co.uk/mpthree/TokolosheKS.ra These are now 2-3 years old so go easy on them I think the first one to come out was Unison. The hook in the track is written by a good friend of mine Rick Lehane. He played it on guitar and we transferred it into Cubase and then I wrote the track around it. It was very exciting having my tunes come out and hearing other DJs play them. I’ll never forget walking into Riot! at The End just as BK mixed into Tokoloshe, I went in to a complete state of shock, I felt really embarrassed that people were dancing to my tune. Don’t know why really but after the track dropped back in and the crowd didn’t leave the room in disgust I felt so proud. A truly amazing feeling to know that those long hours sitting in my studio were worthwhile. SB: Is there any tune that you haven’t produced that you wish you had? Any producer who’s style and sound blows you away in terms of ability or ingenuity? D’MF: There’s not one tune I wish I had produced. Bits and pieces like really cool FX or techniques that I think ‘damn that’s good’. As for who I rate: HardDance-wise I love Nick Sentience’s production quality, Paul Janes’ Hardness and Dom Sweetens funk. Add to that (on a more Techno tip) Marco Baileys innovation and Mac Zims love of groove. For pure raw energy it has to be Guy Mcaffer and if you add the breaks of The Plump DJs you have my perfect sound. SB: What producers do you think people should we look out for over the next 12 months and why? Is there anybody out there who you think is an exciting prospect for the clubbing scene? D’MF: Alex Calver, Paul Maddox and Ali Wilson are developing good sounds in the HardDance camp at the moment. One thing that worries me is there aren’t enough female producer/engineers around. There are plenty of good female DJs but they need to start making their own productions. I hope that a few really good female producers break through this year and shake things up a bit, that would be cool. SB: You have a very distinctive style both in terms of mixing and music selection, would you ever compromise this for a set? Would you play a tune that you didn’t like but knew would go off on the dance floor just to please a crowd? D’MF: No way! I’ve had to turn down a handful of booking in the past because the promoter wanted me to play a certain sound or track-list. They would be like ‘Can you play a Glazby Style set’ and I have to tell them I don’t actually own a single Vicious Circle record. Then they’d say ‘Ahh… its ok. As long as you play some hard, uplifting stuff.’, ‘Like TidyTwo for example?’, ‘YEAH! Perfect’ … ‘erm.. I don’t own any TidyTwo records.’,’Oh..’. As for playing a tune I didn’t like to please a crowd! I’m sure I could find a tune that I do like that would please them just as much. I refuse to have people dictate to me what I can and cant play. A promoter listens to my mix CD, hears me play out and see’s and hears what I do. If he doesn’t feel comfortable playing me in their club that’s cool, don’t book me. There are plenty of other people out there who will play to your needs. I haven’t compromised in what I believe is the best sound to get a club rocking for years and I’m not going to start now. SB: What do you admire most in a DJ? What grabs your attention and makes you want to hear them again and perhaps book them for Milk? D’MF: A distinctive sound. Making the set their own. I want the DJ to come on and for everybody in the club to know that they are now in charge. They need to be able to play either side of two other DJs and really stick out. SB: What do you think about the progression from vinyl to CD that DJ’s are witnessing on the clubbing circuit? Many say that CD mixing makes it a lot easier in terms of travel (carrying music around with you) and variety; do you think that CD mixing is better than vinyl? Which do you, as an artist, enjoy more; playing CD’s or vinyl? D’MF: Doesn’t bother me I the slightest. I don’t get all misty eyed and nostalgic when I think of vinyl. You can put music on them both and mix them just the same. If you had asked me a few years ago it would have been very different but CD turntable technology is so advanced now you can go from one medium to the other completely seamlessly. This year Milk will be launching a CD-Only label. It will be run by a few of the Milk crew and will be sold in record shops just like a vinyl label as well as on-line. The aim is to squeeze some great tracks from our residents and then maybe get some of our guests to do mixes. It should be pretty exciting. SB: Having been a known name on the scene for quite some time now you must have witnessed many changes in the clubbing world from raves to field parties to warehouse parties to clubs. Some club nights try to ensure that stage acts are still included as part of the clubbing experience, do you think that clubbing will go full circle and return to its hey day when clubbing was an entertainment, almost circus, experience with jugglers, stilt walkers, flame throwers etc or will it evolve into a more commercialised experience as clubbing generations age and want more sophisticated surroundings? D’MF: Who knows?? I like the fact that we never really know what’s around the corner. I find it fascinating how genres become flavour of the month and then everybody is listening to ‘Russian calypso’ or whatever. I take the Berty Einstein way of thinking: "I never think of the future - it comes soon enough." SB: If there was one thing you would like to see happen to the clubbing world over the next 12 months, what would it be and why? D’MF: People to start getting excited about Dance Music again. Its taken a really hard knock lately and its about time we picked up the pieces and started putting the vibe back in. SB: What has been your favourite Milk event and why? D’MF: The 2nd and 3rd Birthdays were truly awesome. Everything just worked and the crowd had a great time. SB: What would you like to say to all those considering coming down to Milk this Saturday but aren’t sure? What would you say about your party that would make someone want to come and share the experience? What do you think Milk offers that we just shouldn’t miss out on? D’MF: It’s the only decent place to hear all your favourite Harddance DJs on a Saturday Morning in beautiful surroundings and run by people who really care about making it a party. All these things add up to a charged atmosphere and seriously good time. SB: Any other comments? D’MF: http://ece4co.vis.ne.jp/shockwave8/fusen.html Photo's used with permission, courtesy of the Milk Website Milk moves to their new home, Studio 33, this Saturday morning. For full details click here Share this :: : : : Follow HarderFaster :: Other Features By Sharon B: What's it all about? Alfie! - Getting Technikal with Alf Bamford Heat UK presents....SW4!!! - Interview with Damian Gelle Interview with TWIST promoter Steve Darragh Interview with Innovate Resident Nick Sentience Interview with Ferry Corsten The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable. Comments: From: Claire B on 21st Jan 2004 22:26.48 Great interview Dale! From: Zi on 21st Jan 2004 22:44.29 Brilliant ! From: Shaun on 21st Jan 2004 23:17.32 Great answers D'marr! A judge jules produced number in your top three "never leave my box" - who would have thought it? Excellent stuff! From: rogerbj on 21st Jan 2004 23:48.13 top thoughts as always mate - saying what you believe and not what you think will impress; is always the way - see you saturday From: dmarr_ford on 22nd Jan 2004 08:07.13 zikes! i swear a lot dont i?? sorry mum. From: mental-tessy on 22nd Jan 2004 08:55.07 I was blown away by your 8 hour set, have seen you many times since and am always impressed....... From: BottleofWater on 22nd Jan 2004 10:21.28 Very good inteview with very passionate answers From: WEBBO on 22nd Jan 2004 10:58.22 very interesting reading keep up the good work dale yr mums got good taste in music by the way see u on saturday From: Ian Betts on 22nd Jan 2004 11:24.21 Excellent interview Dale and Sharon Good to see you and Milk going from strength to strength, v.much deserved - I remember some of those mornings at Imperial Gardens v.well indeed, look forward to playing next week! From: ~H~ on 22nd Jan 2004 11:31.44 A great insight into my first ever afterparty. Milk is a very special party with a uniquely friendly vibe and an ability to hold its clubber's interest by varying the styles of music on a weekly basis. I think a big part of its secret is the people who run it, a promotion that really cares about its clubbers, that sees itself as a party, it's clubbers as it's friends and their guests. Certainly Milk holds a special place in my heart. From: King Boogie on 22nd Jan 2004 11:57.37 Congratulations Piers, D'Marr and crew. Definitely a move in the right direction. Despite its dodgy and seedy beginnings, I've always veiwed Milk as a clean, happy and good ole fashion FUN club. Studio 33 will certainly enhance that. Well done, great choice. I can't wait to bounce around your new stomping ground. And D'Ale. You never cease to amaze me with your wealth of musical knowledge and your passionate love for so many forms of electronic music. You're a thoroughly good bloke. Its just a shame you smell so bad. x P From: King Boogie on 22nd Jan 2004 12:23.49 BTW, really like the new logo. I assume there are new T-shirts in the pipeline? If so, make mine a large one From: Jessica Alici on 22nd Jan 2004 14:04.15 Good interview Dale! Your passion & excitement for dance music is clearly illustrated to the max! Quote: 'Overall my sets progress in this manor but the line isn’t straight, it’s got sharp right angles and u-turns.' ! ! ! Love it! MJ xx From: Hippie on 22nd Jan 2004 14:05.17 Very entertaining & informative interview - it was good to hear how Milk all started. Hope to see Milk going from strength to strenght and looking forward to Studio 33 - Well done to Piers & all the Milky team! (and nice interview sharon!) From: Maria on 22nd Jan 2004 15:04.48 I Love You! Can't wait for OUR Never Enough Techno at Logic next Friday 30th. Your time set will be at 03:00 to 04:30. From: James Jaye on 22nd Jan 2004 18:58.11 Yup...2004=Alex Calver From: SarRAAAH! on 22nd Jan 2004 20:56.47 From: Jacob on 23rd Jan 2004 10:15.57 can only echo what's already been said..... very eloquent indeed!! OnWaRdS 'n' UpWaRdS From: Lizzie Curious on 23rd Jan 2004 17:35.30 honest genuine answers...v. impressed. Can't wait to experience milk in it's new home! x From: Lucy Fur on 25th Jan 2004 15:32.27 From: Red5 on 26th Jan 2004 02:08.34 Brilliant interview, and love the link at the end - very entertaining. Now that i'm not working saturday's anymore, I'll be heading to Milk From: icc on 26th Jan 2004 16:43.05 yeah, yeah, nice interview.... really looking forward to meeting all the Milky gang and playing next week....bring-it-on From: Latex_Zebra on 31st Jan 2004 10:48.29 Excellent stuff from the always entertaining Mr Ford.

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