Interview With Goodgreef's Shan

By Catherine Hankinson and Lee Ridley

Ever since beginning his DJ career at the tender age of 16, Shan has gone from strength to strength. From becoming a resident at Goodgreef to playing some of the UK's largest and most popular clubs, Shan has proved to have an experienced head on such young shoulders.

Inspired by going to see The Prodigy at the V97 festival and ending up watching Carl Cox and Daft Punk in the dance tent while he was there, he has never looked back. Although he was only 15 at the time and his babyface stopped him from going clubbing, he was lucky enough to have his 18th birthday on the day of the Leeds Love Parade.

The desire to get decks and learn to DJ himself just came from his love of dance music at the time and, by the time he got his first gig, he had been mixing trance for three years and had just started getting into hard house. The rest, as they say is history, and Friday 8th October sees him line up with Lisa Lashes and Dave Pearce at Promise in Newcastle. Catherine Hankinson asked the young DJ a few questions…

Q. Who/what are your main influences?

A. I got in to DJing through seeing Carl Cox play on 3 decks and have always hugely respected him. I also love Fatboy Slim’s spontaneity and party attitude. Regarding what I listen to, I’ve got quite broad tastes and listen to anything from Moby, Hybrid or Dave Clarke, to the Foo Fighters, Green Day, or The Cure.

Q. What was the first record you ever bought?

A. A Technotronic LP back in 1993.

Q. What's the strangest thing you've ever seen in a club?

A. The inside of a suitcase. I guess I’ll have to explain…not so long ago at the end of one of the Goodgreefs, I managed to fit into the suitcase which they pack all the décor into. They managed to zip me up and swing me around. I think there are some pictures on a website somewhere.

Q. If you could play anywhere in the world where would it be?

A. The Love Parade Berlin has got to be most DJ’s dream. Or the Great Wall of China would be quite surreal. Or anywhere in California so I could go and see my relatives without having to shell out on my own flights… anything for a freebie.

Q. What did your parents think when you told them you wanted to be a DJ?

A. There wasn’t really a definitive point, it just kind of happened. My parents got me my decks for my 16th birthday and they just saw it as a hobby as did I. When the point came to tell them I was putting uni on hold to pursue my DJing, they were totally supportive as they could see I was doing quite well by that point and that if I didn’t take the chance whilst I could, then I might never get as good a shot at it all.

Q. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

A. Hopefully juggling a family life with my music whether that be DJing, producing, or appearing on Top of the Pops pretending to DJ whilst my chart topping hit plays in the background…haha! I’ve got to say, hats off to Eric Prydz for getting out of that one, he provided us with much better visual stimulation!

Q. Which club that you play at has the best atmosphere?

I can’t name one, but I must say that the Promise crowd have always been amazing every time I’ve played. The Goodgreef crowd’s support for their residents is second to none. Inside Out in Scotland are some of the craziest I’ve ever come across, there always seems to be a special buzz in the Wildchild main room, and a little club which I started off at down this way called Parlez-Vous? has one of the friendliest and most chilled out aura’s you’ll ever experience. I’ve had some great nights at many others, but those are the ones that spring to mind.

Q. If you could take three things with you to a desert island what would they be?

A. My DJing setup, I’ve cheated and included all the gear as one, my PC, and my mobile phone without forgetting to call O2 and get good rates on international roaming …I’m on the ball there!

Q. What were you like in school?

A. I was quite well behaved and was in the top classes though it was quite a dumb school so that’s not saying much. But I never did my homework and was always late without fail on a morning. I played up front for the footy team which was good because it meant you got instant respect off all the kids!

Q. If your house was on fire, what three things (other than your vinyl and decks) what would it be?

A. What three things would I save? My mum, my dad, my photo album. All totally irreplaceable.

Q. Finally, you are quite a funky dresser, where do you shop?

A. Haha, thanks. I’m just lucky I live in Leeds, which is great for getting kitted out. There’s lots of cool little shops in the arcades with the bigger shops across the street. I’m a nightmare to shop for though, what with being a short-arse, I’m always having to get things altered! And I’ve got a mate who’s just graduated from a textiles/fashion degree who likes to make me little accessories and stuff which is really cool.

Shan will be joined at Foundation in Newcastle on Friday 8th October 2004 by Lisa Lashes, Dave Pearce, Richard Tulip and Anton Fielding. The back room will have funk from Pete Robinson, Luke Nixon and Mark Deakin.

Doors open from 9pm until 4am with door tax being £14/£15. For more information, go to www.promisealways.com.