John Dimas Interview: The point of dance music is just to enjoy it

For all the hyperbole and superlatives attached to dance music, it is in it's very essence functional music crafted with one primary purpose, making you dance. Whilst the giveaway lurks conspicuously in the title, sometimes as producers strive to create grooves that focus on trends the hip snapping primary lust is forgotten. Not so with John Dimas.

The Greek producer has been responsible for a litany of brilliantly strung together house and techno tracks which incite dancing, peppering labels like La Vie En Rose and One Recordings, whilst his DJing ability has taken him to the likes of Fabric and Watergate in Berlin, the latter the location when he dropped the groove laden mix above.

he's due to make his Liverpool debut at Underground & Friends on Saturday 29th March, joining Hot Creations talismen wAFF and former Skiddle mix inductee Cristoph at Haus Warehouse. We caught up with him ahead of the show.

You're heading to Liverpool shortly to play Underground & Friends; is it your first time in the city?

Yes is my first time, and I'm looking forward to playing there of course.

What's the scene like in your native Greece, and how does it compare to the UK?

The underground scene is small in Greece and you cant compare it with the UK, but now it’s starting to improve and grow in Athens and my home town Thessaloniki. Things are getting better!

Your sound is very much influenced by the classic earlier stages of dance music in the states, Chicago, Detroit and so on. Why do you think these sounds are so enduring?

Because back in the days this music was really innovative, it was something new and fresh. But now after so many years I believe it still continues and will continue because it’s the “core” of electronic music, the reference point from where it all started.

You're also a producer of music that doesn't follow trends but sticks to the core principles - moving people's feet. Do you think people sometimes get lost in the real point of dance music?  

The real point of  dance music is just to enjoy it, and have fun… I don’t think that people get lost about that. I think thiis what they are doing - having fun.

What production news have you got coming up?

I have my 1st Ep for 2014 on One records, with remixes from Nail, out in April. Ep’s on Taverna Tracks, Overall Music later this year, and a few remixes on labels such Silver Network , Djebali Reworks , System and a few others….

And where else can we see you djing?

All over the place in April! Back to Grand Canaria with my buddy Javier Carballo for the Overall Records Showcase on 5th April, Arches Festival in Glasgow on the One Records stage on 19th, Sankeys Manchester with Apollonia for the Lola ED Showcase on 26th, plus gigs in Switerland and at home in Berlin.

Finally, you've been plucked by a time travelling record label owner who has given you the chance to make an album of dance music with pretty much any musician, from any genre, of any period, dead or alive. Who are you going to go for and what is it gonna end up sounding like? 

It would be a ten track album, and to collaborate I would choose Nail, Jeff Mills, Sounds Of Rage, Gemini, Chez Damier and Smoked Out Productions. The sound would be a mix of tracks referencing house, techno, electronica, and what a mix!

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