Danny Howard Interview: House Work

Danny Howard is a force to be reckoned with. Whilst hosting the Dance Anthems show on Radio 1 every Saturday, this summer he is back and forth to Ibiza with his Saturday night residency at Pure Pacha and various Cream dates, as well as gearing up for Radio 1's Ibiza Weekend. 

It was only five years ago when Danny was discovered through a Radio 1 talent search which led him to open the legendary Ibiza Weekend back in 2011, and this week he is one of the driving forces out here on the island, showcasing some of the best talent on the scene.

We caught up with him recently to see how he’s finding this year on the White Isle, his views on the closing of that legendary Ibiza club and also his tips for which rising talents we should be keeping an eye on.

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You have started the Ibiza season with a bang, announcing a 10 date residency with Pacha and further announcements that you will be playing dates at Cream. What is it like to be back on the island? Talk us through what we can expect for the remainder of the season.

It’s always incredible to be back in Ibiza, for me it is like home, which might sound a bit of a cliché thing to say but for the past five years I’ve been playing there a lot. I even lived there for summer in 2014 and just flew into London for the Radio 1 show.

This year I can’t wait to keep my housey vibe going, especially at Pacha… I still get those ‘pinch me’ moments every time I step behind the decks there.  

You have played numerous venues around the island. Do you have a favourite? Also, do you find you have to vary your style depending on which venue you play?

Great question and yes I do! Pacha I play straight up house, little bit of tech, little bit of deep and just stuff with great groove. At Cream, Amnesia, I treat it a bit more like a festival set so theirs definitely a lot of ‘bigger’ moments and theirs no greater feeling of making that legendary terrace go crazy.

I think it’s the perfect combination for me playing the two venues and it tests my versatility as a DJ… If I played the same set or the same style every time, how boring would that get?

We saw you at IMS Ibiza on the 'New Breed' Panel. You discussed how you had started out in your bedroom and had always wanted to be a DJ and also the hard work and time it has taken for you to get to where you are now. What advice would you give to future artists? Anything you know now that you wish you had known before?

I wish I’d known just how important it was to network, form relationships and always-meet new people within the industry. I knew that it was something that had to be done but as an 18 year old, I wasn’t as outgoing or pro-active in that area. When you have the talent, contacts are then everything and vital to helping you making the steps up in your career.

The advice I would give to future artists is to never stop learning. No matter how much you think you’ve ‘cracked it’ or ‘smashing it’ and even on the flip side of that, if you find that your not actually getting anywhere and constantly getting set back after set back… don’t stop. Keep learning new things in what ever it is you doing and eventually, you will get success. 

IMS also featured a lot about the changes to Ibiza, obviously Space closing this season was a big talking point. What are your views on the future of the island?

Losing Space will be a blow for sure because of the history that club has with the Island but things do change and I’m intrigued as to what will happen next with the club… it could be something brilliant and revolutionary, we just don’t know. 

One things for sure, the spirit of Ibiza will always be there and that’s the most important thing… the good vibes, the music and the people. Just because your favourite DJ isn’t playing, sure it’s not ideal, but there will be another DJ. Just because your favourite club is closing, yes it’s sad that it has to be Space, but another one will open and theirs plenty of others to go to… it’s just the way it is and I think that we’ll see Ibiza continue to do it’s thing and be the Mecca of dance and electronic music!

Recently you have launched your own label Nothing Else Matters and entered into partnership with RCA. Firstly, what made you want to transition into launching a label yourself? Secondly, how did the partnership with one of the biggest global labels (RCA) come about?

The thought of doing a label actually scared me at first but I was receiving so many promo’s that I couldn’t get into my radio shows, I wanted a way in which I could help the dance music community by providing another platform, especially for new, up-coming talent!

The idea of being able to build an artist from the ground up is a really exciting prospect as well as releasing one-off tracks that I love is a way to not only help, but build a sound, culture and a movement eventually.

It goes much more than just a label, the long-term plan is to develop Nothing Else Matters into an events and lifestyle brand, hosting festival arenas and club nights.

Nothing Else Matters cites itself as a dedicated to showcasing the most exciting rising talent in dance music. How does an artist get on Danny Howard's radar? What is it you're looking for?

Well my e-mail is always open for anyone to send me music but the ones that always stand out are the producers that have something unique in their music but at the same time fit in with what’s relevant at the time, which in turn can potentially earn their place on the road to evolve.

My advice would be to not copy anyone or try to be anyone else… use your favourite artists and music to influence and inspire…but never copy.

What new artists are on your radar that we should be looking out for?

There is a UK producer called Jax Jones who just released a massive new track called ‘House Work’.

I also have a really talented German producer signed to my label called Saint WKND. He has so many amazing ideas and made a name through uploading bootlegs on his soundcloud, which get millions of hits. Now we’re so close to finishing his first original EP, which will be out before the end of the year. 

Then on a more underground tip, a dutch duo called ANOTR… they’re really hot right now and their tracks absolutely slam in the club!

You have experienced so much success and still at a young age. Thinking back to the days when you were a bedroom DJ with all those dreams and aspirations, could you ever envisage how successful you would be? What are the next big milestones that you want to achieve in your career?

Never! It’s funny because this morning on those Facebook memory things where an old post appears at the top of your timeline to share, the status I posted when I found out I’d made the final six of the BBC Radio 1 DJ competition came up and that was five years ago.

That moment changed my life and now to think in that time I’ve played some of the best festivals in the world, held down an Ibiza residency, established myself as a broadcaster and have my own label through RCA is actually madness. It’s the first time I’ve really thought about it properly and makes me think how hard I want to work to up my game even more over the next five years.

I have goals but come back in 2021 and ask me if I achieved them haha. 

Ibiza aside, what's next for Danny Howard?

Music! I have so many projects that I started earlier in the year that I’m excited to get back in the studio and finish once the summer is done. I have a release coming on Spinnin Deep in September which is a cool little disco-house track that has been a big part of my sets at Pacha in Ibiza. 

I’m going back over to America in October and I’ll be announcing some stuff I’m involved in at ADE in Amsterdam soon too.

Finally, what is your Ibiza track of 2016 so far?

Has to be ‘Offaiah – Trouble’. It’s so huge. To think it started off as my first ever ‘Friday Fire’ (A feature I run via my Soundcloud page) to now potentially one of the biggest dance tracks of the summer. 

Check out Danny Howard's upcoming gigs and get tickets.

Danny Howard plays at Radio 1's Ibiza Weekend from 5th – 7th of August 2016.

Danny also plays Creamfields Ibiza on 5th August.