Justin Martin Interview: Sankeys is the perfect place to get lost in the music

There’s very little to dislike about Justin Martin. Dip into his music and you’ll find a sea of gurgling basslines, infectious riffs and an excess of that modicum which all too often is forgotten in electronic music; fun. His DJ sets burst with originality, and in interviews he’s just as likely to refer lovingly to a crowd of his fans as ‘goofballs’ as he is to humbly accept praise for his music with genuine thanks. A bit of a superstar with music and a nice guy? You better believe it.

Anyway, whilst it’s clear that our drooling crush on Justin is blatantly obvious he’s also news-worthy beyond our admiring adulation, with him about to take centre stage alongside fellow Dirtybird impresario Claude VonStroke as the San Francisco record label sets up to begin a season in Ibiza. For the first time ever the imprint will be slugging it out on a weekly basis, consolidating their unique sound into Thursdays at Sankeys Ibiza from June 27^th onwards (head here for the Dirtybird Ibiza group).

Joining Claude and Justin will be label stalwarts such as Catz N Dogz, Worthy, and recent collaborator Eats Everything, as well as plenty of high profile guests across the stint. We caught up with Justin on the blower to talk what the season represents for him and the label, as well as his upcoming set at the Garden Festival and the enduring impact of his artist album from last year, Ghettos and Gardens.

You’re one of the residents for Dirtybird at Sankeys Ibiza this summer. How exciting is it to be part of the labels new residency and what have been your experiences of Sankeys before?

First off, this is by far one of the most exciting opportunities of my entire career! I have always dreamed of having an Ibiza residency since the first time I played on the island, and having this opportunity with my Dirtybird family at the most buzzing club is nothing short of a dream come true. One of the best parties I have ever played in Ibiza was for Heidi and her Jackathon party last year at Sankeys.... So I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to be coming back here almost every Thursday for our Dirtybird party this summer!

 Sankeys is the perfect fit for us because not only does it have an amazing soundsystem to complement our eclectic bass heavy style, but it has one of the most underground vibes of all the clubs on Ibiza. Dirtybird as a collective has always had its main focus on bringing good quality underground music to our fans. We like the atmosphere on the dancefloor to be fun and unpretentious and Sankeys is the perfect place to get lost in the music because it provides this exact kind of setting.

Can you give us an idea of what to expect at the shows over the summer? And what do you think of Ibiza as an island, have you had chance to explore it beyond playing in the past?

Ibiza is definitely a magical place... I have never had a bad time there! People are always just so up for it and there is always such a unique energy on the dancefloor. That being said, our Dirtybird fans are always the craziest of the bunch, so we are all so excited to take this opportunity and go all out for our fans in this magical setting. I have never really had the chance to explore the island because I have usually just flown in and straight back out, so you better believe this summer I will take full advantage of any downtime I have there.

How is the label doing as a whole, and what is coming up on the release front?

I feel like this year the stars have really aligned in a lot of ways for Dirtybird. We have by far the best crew of talented and nice individuals that we have ever had.  Not only do I love just hanging out with the Dirtybird family but it’s also crazy to listen to all the creativity that each artist is constantly pumping out; it’s truly inspiring! Me and Eats Everything just released our first collaboration on Dirtybird called “the gettup” and we had the summer in mind when making this tune. Hopefully we will be back in the studio very soon...

We have to say we were BIG fans of the album when it was released last year, and it’s still on rotation here at Skiddle HQ! Is there any plans to record any more full length material in the future?

Thank you! And yes! Even though it took me year to make, it was the most rewarding project I have ever done. I definitely plan on doing another solo album for 2015 but next year I am focusing on a special collaborative project with Eats Everything.

We’ve also seen you’re playing at the Garden festival in Croatia. Have you been to the Tisno site before and what is your experience like of the region?

I have never been, and I have no idea what to expect other than everybody keeps telling me how awesome it is. Bring it on!

What producers and DJs are really doing it for you right now; is there anyone we should be keeping our eye on at all?

I am definitely biased when it comes to this answer because I am most inspired by my Dirtybird family. Claude has a new project coming out this fall so I can’t wait to hear the new music he tests out over the summer. Kill Frenzy is the king of the booty house and I always find his music and dj sets fun and refreshing.

Of course Eats Everything is always one step ahead of the gang with his special edits, remixes, and own unique sound. Catz n Dogz and J Phlip are always dropping the most fun dj sets. Leroy Peppers has a whole arsenal of unreleased dancefloor bombs ready to get unleashed in 2013. And Worthy has an amazing album he is just finishing up as well... so yeah, my crew is killing it for me at the moment.

Are you a fan of Daft Punk, and have you been following the hype for their album release? Do you think it’s going to be a positive thing for dance music?

I am a Daft Punk fan in theory. I have never been to a show, and I only like about half of their music, but I respect them and think it’s amazing that they tried to do something different, regardless of how people have reacted.

And finally what lies in the future for you?

This was my year of ‘yes’. I am taking every cool opportunity that comes my way and making the very most of it. My artist album last year has opened a lot of new doors for me and I am trying to see what is on the other side of them all.

I have a bunch of remixes coming out throughout the summer but after the dust clears from my crazy touring schedule I am heading back to the studio with Eats and we are set on making a new album of original material for 2014. This is definitely one of the things I am looking forward to the most, because I have never felt so inspired in my entire life as I do right now!

Head here to hear Justin and Eats Everything's track 'The Gettup'.

And head here for more information on Sankeys Ibiza.

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