2013 Round-up: Marcus Barnes

Our latest end of year guide comes from one of our favourite journalists and DJs outside of our offices, Marcus Barnes. As a scribe writing for NME, The Independent and loads more, his doctrines on club culture and electronic music are essential reads and his recently published Around the World in 80 Raves is the ultimate guide to frolicking at festivals around the globe.

As we say Over to you Marcus...

You've written a book, Around the World in 80 raves. Tell us about it.

Around The World In 80 Raves is a festival guide, focusing on 80 music-based events from all over the planet. The information in the book is informal and light-hearted with each festival given a mini budget guide listing the average cost of accommodation, beers, cigs and a snack. It's an essential purchase for anyone who loves going to festivals and wants to find out more about what's happening around the world... or anyone who's never been to a festival before and wants to know more about what's going on. 

How has 2013 been for you then overall?

2013 has been hectic! I started out in January with two new jobs; the first was Techno Editor at Mixmag and the second, Social Media Marketing Manager at Point Blank, one of the world's most popular electronic music schools – in tandem with those jobs I was working on the book and taking on other freelance jobs.  

On top of all of that I've been hosting my weekly radio show for Hoxton FM, DJing everywhere from XOYO and The Nest to Cocoon, putting on a monthly party at the Horse & Groom in Shoreditch as well as traveling overseas to events, from Italy and Ibiza to Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris and over to the States for Burning Man.

I left Point Blank in August and have been freelancing full-time since then, working on a big project for Red Bull and numerous interviews as always.

What highlights have you had?

Burning Man was without a doubt my highlight of the year. Overwhelmingly good. It took a lot of stress (and money) to get there, and it took three or four days to really acclimatise to being there but it was such a mind-blowing, awe-inspiring place to go. There are no words that truly capture the magic of the place. 

You’ve done a playlist for us, thanks! Explain the songs you’ve chosen and why?

No worries! It's a list of the tracks that I've enjoyed playing the most throughout the year... maybe not the most groundbreaking or innovative music, but excellent quality club music that gets the head nodding and hips shaking, which is very important to me. This is the music I love and it's maybe not the most cerebral but is very very good at doing what it needs to do. 

What other music have you been into this year?

Just a lot of house and techno really. From younger artists like Jordan Peak, Mr KS, Lazare Hoche, REbEL, John Dimas and Djebali through to everyone from Rick Wade and Kerri Chandler to Nina Kraviz, Apollonia, Tuccillo, Point G, Mr G and many many more. I have to say, I also enjoyed Kanye West's bonkers album Yeezus and Woodkid has impressed me hugely, too. 

What have you got planned for New Year?

Low key this year - house party at ours. 

And finally; any plans you can let slip for 2014?

Looking into the possibility of getting something of my own off the ground... a website or a label or something. I have some ideas and I'm doing a lot of research at the moment to try to find a niche.

Don't want to reveal too much, but fingers crossed I can get the wheels in motion and make that happen. Also hoping to tout the idea of turning my book into a show to a brand/a TV production company. A lot of people seem to think it has the potential so we'll see... So many ideas. 

Still not sorted New Years Eve? There's still time - check out our New Years Eve guide here.