Mark Radford Interview

We catch up with Mark Radford of Audio Rehab to find out what he’s been up to and what’s in the pipeline for the label as well as his work with RINSE FM. Don’t miss Mark Radford alongside Low Steppa, German Brigante at Ministry of Sound on Saturday 10th September. Mark will be bringing the Audio Rehab sound and spinning the freshest cuts from the label at London’s premier house music venue Ministry of Sound.

Where are you now and what have we torn you away from?
It’s a Monday so I am at home doing admin and PR for myself and the labels… very exciting stuff!!

You run one of the best-known label’s in London, what’s a typical day for you?
A typical day for me is getting woken up by my dog either wanting feeding or taking for a walk! Then its always straight into my hectic inboxes checking for music that I have had sent over, this alone is a full time job to keep on top of. I am in an amazing position where I am having music sent in from all over the world and it’s very important I keep up with it all. As well as running the label I am working hard in the studio myself so I try to get at least a few hours studio time in every day.

Listen to the latest from Audio Rehab

What part of your job as a label head do you enjoy the most? And what bit do you least like doing?
Running a label is a dream come true for me, it’s what I have always wanted since I was a kid. I love every aspect of it, from listening to all of the demos that get sent over, working on projects with artists and watching them grow, to the final result of seeing the tracks out there on the download sites. It’s a very special feeling seeing music that I have believed in from the first listen being appreciated by everyone else. In one word the only part of it that I dread is… ADMIN!!!

You’ve Dj’d the scene for years now, how have your music tastes adapted to the change in trends?
I don’t think my musical ‘tastes’ have ever changed, no matter what genre of music, I always look for the same key ingredients: big rhythmical basslines, tight fat drums, and a hook of some kind, either a killer vocal or a distinctive synth section, a track has to have something memorable within it. As styles and sounds evolve and change, I think it’s very important to keep a signature sound or vibe that people will instantly recognise you for… originality is the key!

Have the people who come to your parties changed as they’re more educated about the music?
When we started the parties it was a crowd that came for the love of the sound that we had created, and I like to think that this has stayed the same. We get a very mixed bag at our parties, from old-skool heads that have been on a similar musical journey to myself, to younger ravers that we are capturing on their first musical escapades. It’s great to see that our sound is reaching a very diverse crowd.

Who are some of your favourite artists you’ve collaborated with?
I am lucky to have met and worked with some amazing artists, guys like Carnao Beats, Marcellus Wallace, Jakkin Rabbit, Nathan Dalton, Lifford David & Thomas Jules are all artists that I have always rated very highly and I have had the pleasure of working with. I love working with different people that have their own sound and seeing how they go about building tracks, I find it very inspiring.

You obviously get to play in many different venues, but what are some of your favourite places to play?
Growing up as a Dj in and around London this place is always gong to be very special to me, I love playing in our capital city, the vibe is still as amazing as it always has been, and playing in the Ministry of Sound was always a dream of mine so this has to be one of my favourite places to play at. Manchester & Birmingham are also up there as amazing places to play. I love seeing how the sound I push works in different cities and the ravers up there always show me love. I have been lucky enough to play in some amazing places all the world and ones that stick in my mind are Kiev in the Ukraine, Tokyo in Japan & of course one of my favourite places in the world, Amsterdam.

What’s your proudest moment with Audio Rehab?
Without a doubt my proudest moment with Audio Rehab was stepping up to play at our first event at the Ministry Of Sound. To see the club that I had always wanted to play in absolutely rammed full of people that where there for us is a feeling that I will never forget, I got quite emotional!!

How would you describe the ethos of Audio Rehab? What makes it special?
It’s all about great music, I have always strived to find and push new talent, I think this is what makes us different and keeps the vibe so special, there’s no better feeling that playing brand new music from a new artists and seeing the reaction its gets, this feeling is infectious and I love seeing that in the ravers.

How do you relax when you’re away from everything?
Chilling out on my sofa watching a great movie.

Our audience love to travel for music. Where’s the best country you’ve recently visited and where would you recommend culture hungry music lovers visit for 2016/17 holidays?
Earlier this year I was lucky enough to hold a label showcase over in Japan, Tokyo is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. It’s one the only places I have been to where you feel like you are in another world. The people are so friendly and welcoming, its one place I would highly recommend to visit in your lifetime.

Where’s the best post party or hangover food you’ve had anywhere in the world?
When we had label showcase in Kiev earlier in the year, the guys over there took us to a national park in the middle of the city and the food was amazing! It was traditional Ukrainian food severed to us in the middle of the park which was so cool. It definitely helped with our hangovers!!!

Back to the music. You’re heavily involved with RinseFM, tell us how that came about and how the collaboration has been beneficial?
Back in 2011 I was being booked by a lot of parties in London, and my good friend Tippa was one of the promoters that where booking me. I was playing a different sound to most of the DJs in London at that time and I guess this is what brought me to his attention. Tippa is good friends with Geeneus and this is how the initial link with Rinse came about. Since I joined them in 2011 it has helped me get exposure on a much wider scale and opened a lot of peoples ears to me that might not have ever found me otherwise.

What does the future look like for Audio Rehab and you personally?
I hope to keep things growing for myself and the label, I want to take the brand all over the world, and with the amount of artists from different countries wanting to get involved with the label this is only a matter of time.

Cheers Mark, we’ll look forward to catching you at a party soon
Respect guys x

Mark Radford at Ministry Of Sound

10th September 2016
Ministry of Sound Group
103 Gaunt Street
London
SE1 6DP

>>> Get tickets here