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DJ Wired talks to us about the Rise of the Hope and parties, ahead of his upcoming set at Tribal Village on 14th January 2022!

Rampling on retirement and loving life

Reported by *antixa* / Submitted 12-08-08 20:54

Some say he has been one of the pioneers of house music and some say he's a hero in the industry. Danny Rampling proves to be indeed not the average guy, nor does he carry himself like a superstar DJ - he's a founding member of the Success University and DJ who has an infinite love for house music.

When we heard he'd be gracing the shores of South Africa, we were pleased and surprised and so we thought we'd interrogate him on being one of the rare names that everybody knows. I invited two local SA DJs, Headtrip and Elektrowitch along and caught up with him before his gig with Dino Moran at the Bang Bang club in Cape Town.



The question on everyone's lips is of course your retirement and the brief duration. What would you say inspired this and why did it turn out to be a sabbatical rather than retirement?

Lifestyle change, life evaluation, hitting mid-life, we all get there at some point. When you're 20 you think oh 40 - that's miles away and when you hit 40 then a lot changes. Physically and mentally and also having children at that time. I cut myself off from it, I had to do that to explore other avenues and here I am back in the field of what I do best in my life.

So would you say that in that moment you were leaving it behind?

I thought I was. My mind was telling me that I was leaving it behind and most of my friends said I was never going to leave it, however for about nine months I could not bring myself to play music. It felt like a routine and it needed a change - I needed a change.

Do you think you need to lose it to find it again?

I'm still trying to figure that one out actually and I question that on a daily basis. Getting out of that process and again being drawn back into it, maybe you're addicted to it. I can’t stay away from music basically. Perhaps I have an addictive personality and my addiction is music - we all have an addiction in our personalities.

What's your connection to Cape Town DJ Dino Moran?

Danny: That's a good question – Dino, how'd that come about? Remind me, haha.

Dino: I played on your radio-show and then I drove you around for three days when we played the River club in 2000 for the Millennium party here in Cape Town!

Have you played Cape Town other than the Millennium?

Yes, 1996 - so it's lovely to be back here as it has some of the most spectacular scenery with a special energy!



So you wouldn't say it's just another stop on a tour?

It's definitely special hanging out with good friends like Dino, playing music - we've been playing the whole day in fact!

How would you describe what style you're playing out at the moment?

What am I playing? House music – all its forms, it’s all house. Where I come from it's just house and at the end of the day if it's 145 to 130 beats, its all house music, that's how it is for me.

Any favourites in the record bag at the moment that you want to share with us?

Danny: Oh we've been sharing a lot of favourites today!

Dino: We have a lot of favourites, every day there's a pick of new tracks and that's what keeps it exciting I suppose. I have my favourite records on a Monday but when I get to playing out on Friday that's all changed!

What, if you had to really pin it down, would be a favourite track or tracks of all time?

MFSB – Love Is The Message, it's the Soundtrack to house.



Is there any location or set you've played which has been extraordinary and memorable?

Many favourites! Cape Town - the Millennium party, Pacha – Ibiza, Tokyo, London, Paris. Every night's a good time because you're in a very privileged position. At the end of the day you're doing something you love and there are not a lot of people that get to do that. So many get up on a Monday morning absolutely hating and resenting their life and jobs because it's a job. We made a choice to follow a musical path and we're very, very blessed and I always bear that in mind

You've been doing music for catwalk shows – How does working in music in the fashion industry compare to the club world?

You have around 20 minutes to create something very action packed, something that has a lot of energy and working in the fashion world is very demanding. I worked with Antonio Biradi who's the leading woman’s wear designer in Milan and he changed his mind a lot, not good enough lets go back to the drawing board. It's a very challenging and incredible experience, but a rewarding challenge that's very much like an adventure sport.

Do you structure your sets to your crowd or how do you go about preparing for a show?

You need a plan and a road map, it's good to be prepared. We played at home for about 8 hours today - You don’t make a gourmet meal without having a basic recipe.



Talking about recipes – you are rumoured to have opened a restaurant as part of your retirement?

Yes I did. It didn't quite pan out the way I planned it, it wasn't the right move at the time so I pulled out. I still want to open a restaurant and I will, however on my own terms and with more capital. I over-extended myself and I saw the guy whose restaurant it is now and he looked haggard – he's whole energy was drained. I walked away from the conversation and realized how blessed I am.

Would you say the most important thing in succeeding in doing what you're doing is for it to be your passion and 'that thing' that drives you?

Yeah, whatever you do. And if you're doing it, change it. As I've experienced recently, I wasn't enjoying it so much and it was becoming a routine; like chasing myself around a turnstile. You have to be aware, you need to just move or you'll end up at the end of your life regretting it.

Where do you see music progressing to?

Technology is evolving and it's incredible. This is transferring to music and there's a brilliance of tracks around from all genres! There's so much new music coming out.



What words of advice can you give to the young who are inspired to succeed?

It's a rock solid belief in where you want to go. Whatever that is you recognize it at a young age. I was talking to this guy - one of your local examples - he did a sound set up for a mate's band in high school and now he's one of the biggest hands in entertainment. It's about following your path and having a crystal clear belief in where it is you want to go. It's about having faith until you make it.


Special thanks to Dino Moran, Bang Bang club, Headtrip, Elektrowitch and Guy for their collaboration.

Photos courtesy of the HarderFaster archive. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Other Features By *antixa*:
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
Comments:

From: Headtrip on 18th Aug 2008 18:43.18
it really was such a privillage to meet Danny Rampling and talk with him, both an incredibly inspired and inspiring individual.



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