Introducing: Clancy Interview

Pioneering a sound characterised by soothing syncopated beats, dubby bass licks and classic crooning vocals, Clancy is a name not easily forgotten.

Having successfully carved his niche with well received remixes of Ellie Goulding, Little Dragon and Beaumont, Clancy’s original productions have garnered considerable dance floor attention, most notably the incredibly infectious ‘How To Hold On To You.’

So in the lead up to the release of his debut EP, we sat down with the man himself to discuss his career thus far, the great EDM debate and his ultimate soundtrack to space.

HBF: Let’s start off with the obvious; who/what has been your most major musical influences? Any secret guilty pleasures we should know about? Barry Manilow? Phil Collins?

There’s so many influences to mention – stand outs would have to be the likes of New Order, Daft Punk, Stone Roses, Zoot Woman, M83, Mylo, LCD Soundsystem – but the main influence without doubt would be Stuart Price aka Jacques Lu Cont aka Thin White Duke aka Paper Faces etc etc – the guy has made some of the best records/remixes i’ve ever heard and is the reason i’m making music now. Guilty pleasures? There’s no such thing – if you like it, you like it, who cares if it’s not cool.

HBF: Word on the street is you’re working on a debut EP, what should we expect and when can we hope to get a taste?

Ha, yeah, the word on the street is correct – I can’t wait to get it out. Everything is pretty much complete, I’ve been playing the tracks out in my sets and they’ve been getting a great reaction which is always nice. It’s a label release, will be out at the end of August / start of September – there’ll be 3 original tracks and a remix on there and it might be available on some nice shiny vinyl as well. There’ll be quite a few label releases to follow that before the year is out as well – so busy times ahead!

HBF: You’ve released some incredible remixes, anymore in the pipeline?

Thanks, that’s very kind of you! Yeah there’s a remix for PAULIE from Cosmonauts which is due out on Supertrooper in the next few weeks and there’s a couple more I’ll be working on over the next few months but my main priority at the minute is original material

HBF: You’ve ghost written for other artists in the past, is this something you’re still doing? Is it difficult hearing your original music played by others?

It’s not something I’m doing anymore – I really enjoyed it though, and I never had an issue with the tracks being associated with the other artist. Often it was for mates, so if that track did really well I was really happy for them!

HBF: If you could collaborate on a track with anyone dead or alive, who would you pick and why?

Stuart Price aka Jacques Lu Cont – simple as that…

HBF: You’ve garnered a lot of support for your productions, what’s been your career highlight so far?

Highlight so far would have to be playing Glastonbury, although the Pagoda Stage at Secret Garden Party is also a massive favourite. In terms of production – just hearing from your peers that they are into your tunes is a massive boost to the system. It’s not like a job where you get an appraisal from your boss every few months, so you have to take in moments like this and use them as confidence boosts to help you kick on even more

HBF: Every man and his dog have chimed in on the raging EDM debate, what are your thoughts on the rise of EDM? Do you think it’s a valuable phenomena or complete tosh?

Personally I’ve not got a massive problem with it – I’m not into the music, they’re not trying to make classics that people will be listening to and talking about in 30 years time as great pieces of work. But fuck it, if only a small percentage of the millions that are into it decide they want to branch out a little and head towards places like Souncloud looking for new artists who are looking to create something with a bit more depth then I’ll take that.

HBF: If you were going on an intergalactic mission and could only take a playlist of five songs, what tunes would you pick and why?

This would definitely change on a day to day basis – but the way I’m feeling right now I’d take the following – they all have stand out memories attached to them:

Stones Roses – This Is The One

New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

DJ Mehdi – Signature

Oasis – Whatever

M83 – Teen Angst

And as a back-up, just in case one of the tracks didn’t work – Future Sound of London – Papua New Guinea

HBF: We hear you’re a Dalston boy, what are you’re top spots in London to hear amazing electronic music? Where can we see you play next?

Top spots – places like Basing House, Dance Tunnel, Plastic People, XOYO, Corsica Studios and warehouse venues like Great Suffolk Street and Netil House – there’s loads of promoters putting on parties in great spaces at the minute. I went to see Ame & Dixon at I Can studios a few months back, never been before and loved it!

Next up for me – I’m in Lithuania on 19th July then the weekend after i’m at Secret Garden Party just outside of London – can’t wait.

HBF: In your opinion, who are currently the best producers in the game? Any up and comers we should watch out for?

There’s so much great music coming out right now – I love all the French Express guys releases – along with the likes of George Fitzgerald, Maceo Plex, David August, Todd Terje, Paul Woolford and Tiger & Woods to name just a few. One’s to look out for – Just Kiddin’, John Monkman, Karmon, Holmes Price – there’s too many to mention!

HBF: Finally, tell us something about yourself know else knows?

I used to be in a band when I was at school and our manager was Bruce Jones – better known as Les Battersby from Coronation Street.