End of year round up: John Thorp

Next in the hot seat for our end of year round up is John Thorp, the top journo responsible some our all time favourite artist interviews on Skiddle including Prosumer, Nicky Siano and DJ Hell.

A resident of both Manchester and Berlin, the man behind the Guardian's club picks and a mainstay for KMAH radio (listen to his recent episode below), John's sure to have some sage opinions and fond memories from 2015...   

Hi John, what has been the stand out gig/club night you've been to this year? 

From a clubber’s perspective, watching DJ Sprinkles expertly hold the crowd, often with little more than Arthur Scargill speech samples, after election week and as part of one of the final nights at The Roadhouse in Manchester.

From a DJ perspective, warming up for Daniel Avery at Soup Kitchen, which, to co-opt one of Dan’s favourite terms, was brimming with ‘energy’.

Your best festival memory? 

DJ Harvey at El Monasterio in Barcelona as part of Off Sonar. Before the disco kicked in he played an hour of techno so distracting, psychedelic and hypnotic, I ended up burning my fingers on a cigarette. Probably helped/hindered by the fact that I hadn't really slept properly in two days, either.

Name your ten favourite albums of 2015? 

In no particular order…

Matthias Reilling - Geffalt Mir Night Meir

Vince Staples - Summertime 06

Julia Holter - Have You In My Wilderness

Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass

Darkstar - Foam Island

Khotin - Hello World

Tame Impala - Currents 

Linkwood - Expressions

Panda Bear - Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper

Laurie Holiday - Dusted

What five tracks released this year have you had on repeat the most? 

DJ Richard 'Bane'

Todd Terje 'Strandbar' (Joakim Remix)

Ought 'Beautiful Blue Sky'

Mall Grab 'Guap'

Merwyn Sanders 'Mimi Likes 2 Dance'

What piece of music news struck you most this year whether good or bad? 

The continual realisation that the UK government seem to have even less affection for club and gig spaces than I'd initially feared, and that if we're not resilient, the so-called ‘Nighttime Economy’ will just consist of endless Vodka Revs and Travel Inn options for stags and hens. 

What's been your biggest musical let down of 2015? 

Every time I get knocked back from Berghain.

Who has been your musical hero in 2015 and why? 

Everyone who's sorted me guestlist at Berghain.

What musical moment or release are you most looking forward to in 2016?

No idea, and all the better for it.

John plays back to back with Stop Making Sense at Superstar Funhouse at Islington Mill on NYE

Check out John Loveless' radio shows and mixes on Soundcloud.

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