Internationally renowned selector, music fanatic and legend of the house and techno scene, Darius Syrossian gives us an insight into his illustrious career, sharing his favourite records and his top tips for ones to watch in 2020

Last updated: 22nd Nov 2019

Originally published: 11th Nov 2019

Darius Syrossian is a name that most dance music fans will be familiar with. The Iranian-born DJ producer, Moxy Muzik label head and DONOTSLEEP party resident, whose roots lie firmly in the north west of England, came to worldwide fame from humble beginnings.

Syrossian cut his teeth working in record shops across the north of the UK for over a decade. He began sorting LPs and singles at the renowned, and now sadly deceased, Leeds record store Crash Records, thriving on the opportunity to network with local artists, promoters and fellow music devotees, something which would greatly benefit his later career.

Gaining an extensive musical education from a young age helped to shape Syrossian's future within the industry. He developed a passion and vast musical knowledge, spanning a multitude of genres, which somewhat inevitably inspired the young producer to start creating and performing his own material.

He would go on to secure residencies at some of the UK's most respected clubs, including 90s/00s dance music institution Sankeys, in Manchester, release several successful records with many highly regarded imprints, tour extensively across the globe and appear on stage at numerous clubs on the island mecca of dance music - Ibiza.

He's also been a resident for the DONOTOSLEEP party brand, which has welcomed the likes of Pan-Pot, Josh Butler and Mathias Kaden, and continues to champion up-and-coming artists, such as Christian Burkhardt, Seb Zito and Ray Mono via his own imprint, Moxy Muzik.  

Syrossian told us, “I've been in the music industry for quite a few years now. I started out by working in record shops selling vinyls, then moved on to producing and releasing music, eventually for a host of the biggest record labels out there such as Moon Harbour, 8 Bit, Hot Creations, Get Physical, We Are The Brave and many more. This gave me the incredible opportunity to play gigs at every major club and festival in every continent. You could say music is my life.”

We recently had the opportunity to ask the sought after DJ a few questions regarding all things records. Here's what he had to say... 

Is there a record you can't stop playing right now?

DS: “'Visions' by Burnski, that’s if we’re talking house & techno. There’s a lot of amazing music out there. I’m into music from all genres."

How many records do you personally own?

DS: “I have over ten thousand vinyls! I started my collection back in 1994 and after working for fifteen years in a vinyl record store, my collection covers most genres, from old school hip-hop to jazz, funk, disco, and then through to house and Detroit techno.”

What’s the weirdest, rarest or most expensive record you own?

DS: “I have an Armand Van Helden remix of a track I heard on a Nick Warren essential mix from the 90s. I found it in a shop called Vinyl Exchange and bought it for £2.50. On the record it says 1 of 100 promo. The particular mix never got released, it was just a promo copy in the days before music was digital... it's now worth £400 on Discogs but I’ll never sell it!”

If you could play only one record for the rest of your life, what would it be?

DS: “Underworld - Dark & Long.”

Give us your top 3 recent releases:

DS: “There was my collaboration with Jamie Jones called ‘Rushing’ on Defected. Then my track on Drumcode called 'Eyes of the night’ and then my track on my own Moxy Muzik label called 'Bull Stomp’. I also have a remix of Green Velvet about to drop next week.”

Which new artist/band/DJ should we be listening to right now?

DS: “If we are talking about house & techno, some names to look out for are Casey Spillman, Cinthie, Jaden Thompson, Ray Mono… I could go on.”

Do you have a musical guilty pleasure?

DS: “I like a lot of 80s synth-based electronic music such as Human League and so on. I guess that's not really a guilty pleasure, Human league were cool as fuck.... I think.”

Best live performance you’ve ever seen?

DS: “Tame Impala. For house and techno, nobody comes close to KiNK...although I have been in the booth when Jeff Mills has done his whole drum machine 909 thing whilst using vinyl at the same time. It’s incredible!”

If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?

DS: “Junior Vasquez 1,000,000%! The guy is a living legend and all his music from the Sound Factory, New York years still sounds so fresh to this day. His productions have inspired me massively.”

Where can we next see you?

DS: “Over the next few weeks I’ve got shows in Rotterdam, two in Italy, and my Moxy Muzik residency in Manchester continues on Nov 22nd, at the amazing South club. Then shows in York, Stoke, then hen I'm back in London in December at Village Underground. After all of that, I’m off for a full Australia and New Zealand tour in the new year.”

 

 

You can purchase tickets for upcoming Darius Syrossian dates below.

Moxy Muzik: Darius Syrossian & Dimmish - South, Manchester - Friday 22nd November 2019

 

Giraffe presents Darius Syrossian - Club Deco, Warrington - Saturday 23rd November 2019

The Move - District 3 opening - District 3, Stoke-on-Trent - Saturday 30th November 2019

DONOTSLEEP Manchester - The Albert Hall, Manchester - Saturday 14th March 2020

 

Image credit: Darius Syrossian