Interview with Tim Green ahead of Filth at The Warehouse

Tim Green is headlining Filth at The Warehouse this weekend, alongside Ali Love, Leon and more.

He’s a Brit talent whose Cocoon and Dirtybird productions get caned by everyone from Ritchie Hawtin to Josh Wink, Tiefschwarz to Steve Lawler, and is a regular at all the best clubs in the world.  We sat down for five to catch up with the man…

How has your year been? What have been the highlights?

Yes it has been really great thanks. Highlights I think this year have been a lot of really fun and special gigs. Especially recently in this part of the year, Watergate in Berlin with the Get Physical crew. As well as Fabric in London last month, where I played a three hour set of everything ranging from Disco, House through to Techno!

What have been the biggest challenges?

I think this year I am finding new projects to start, whilst continuing the ones I'm already working on. As well as touring/travelling more with gigs. So basically trying balance the lot all together. But it's a lot of fun!

Have your tastes evolved much musically this year? Any big shifts?

I think the underground dance scene is always shifting, changing and introducing new directions and sounds. I am always interested in everything and support/follow everything. I always prefer to be as diverse as possible with my musical tastes. So this year my musical tastes have definitely followed and been inspired by these shifts. This year there has been a nice shift a lot more towards disco. Plus people are less afraid to write dance music that's a lot slower in BPM. Which is great, as it may not be intended as much for the track to be played on the dancefloor, rather music that should be listened to, allowing the artist to express themselves differently in the music.

How do you know when a track is ready? Your bio says you never release any filler… what’s your benchmark for being happy with a track?

I think there can be a lot of different emotions in music. So usually I set out to write a track in a certain emotion, be it darker, or happier, or deeper etc. So I think when I feel that the track can convey my ideas well enough, I think it is ready.

How important are the relationships you have with Cocoon and Get Physical? Do they have much say in the tunes which get released or do you send them finished products?

Well it depends really. Sometimes I might work closely with the label if I want their input, If I think I need help with the track, or just some feedback to finish the track. But mostly I don't like to play a track to anyone until I feel it's 99 per cent finished. So most of the time in the past I have always sent over the tracks to labels, but have never really been asked to change much.

What do you aim to achieve with your sets?  How much prep goes into each?

I don't necessarily prepare for each of my gigs every weekend. But I do really try to organise my records and know my records I play as well as possible. I don't ever decide a setlist for each gig, as you never know how the night will be with the crowd/club/vibe. So you have to go with the flow and enjoy it I think. I like to prepare the tracks I play into categories, types of genres perhaps. Other than that, now when I return to play nights I have played before, I hopefully have a better understanding of the crowd and environment, to know what to a expect a little more. So this helps a lot.

How long do you spend looking for new music each week and where?

If I get the time, I will spend as long as possible. I do everything online, so record shopping at Juno records, as I still love to own/play vinyl. I mainly play digital mixing with CDs and Traktor. So most of my music is mp3s and WAVs. Which I will either record shop online at Whatpeopleplay or Beatport. Then 50 percent of what I play is music from friends and producers, as well as all the hundreds of promos I get sent each week.

What else have you got coming up in 2011?

This month I have got a release coming out on RebelLION records, Damian Lazarus' Crosstown Rebel offshoot label. Two tracks called Cherry and Swamp Girls. A more slower, french house inspired track. As well as a remix for M.a.n.d.y and Booka Shade, a track called Home. Another release on Get Physical a little later in the year, a track called 'In Love'. Plus a remix for the great Berlin label Klasse.

What can people expect from you at Filth?

A lot of new music from myself and other people. Just great, new and current underground dance music.

Who are you outside of music?

Someone who likes read, swim, bike, eat good food and spend time with my girlfriend in Paris.

Catch Tim Green at Filth at The Warehouse this Saturday night. Tickets are available here. 

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