A CHAT W/ DJ SIN-R-G
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Q - Introduce yourself & briefly touch on your branding/style of DJ SIN-R-G
A - Hi everyone! I’m DJ SIN-R-G, and I’m here to bring sexy back to dance music. I make and play a wide variety of genres, specialising in my own brand of NDM - Northern Dance Music™. I’ve not shown my face yet, as I’ve just been trying to let the music speak for itself in a world based so much around image—although just wait til you see how cool I am IRL…
Q - Why did you make “Take Control” & how does it fit into the rest of your catalogue?
A - I’ve wanted to use that Ciara vocal in something for ages because it’s just so damn hot (like everything she does). I wrote the bassline and dropped the vocal in from another project and it just worked, and the whole thing came together really quickly. As a general rule I only like to work with vocals that either ooze sexuality or sit in that euphoric sweet spot between sadness and joy, where all the best dance music lands.
Q - What is your favorite part of “Take Control”?
A - I’m going to have to say the one part I didn’t make—the vocal. I do really love that little reese type thing at the end of every 8 bars though, I feel like it gives the track a lot of energy.
Q - What are the main references / inspiration you had when making this track?
A - I think, as always, it would be mid 2000s Bassline House, although the synths in this do edge towards more Jackin’/Electro stuff. My biggest influences are always Neil Rumney (aka Trotters Independent Traders, DBX, Smokin’ Beats, DJ Flavours, NRG, Summer Junkies and a whole load of others) and Big Ang. Someone told me the drums have a hardgroove feel, which I thought was funny as I listen to exactly zero hardgroove.
Q - What is the 1 track you’d recommend anyone to listen to?
A - God this is a difficult question. I’d say Obsessed Part II by Acen—a perfectly put together dance track. In fact, all of Acen’s back catalogue. Also Chop Suey by System of a Down. And the whole of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. A nice variety. Sorry I just can’t give straight answers to questions.
Q - What is your“Must See” DJ set/mix?
A - Ah I’m going to have to go with Ben UFO’s second ever (I think) Boiler Room. Perfect mixing, perfect selection, really inspired me as a 17 year old just trying to get into DJing all those years ago. All of Oneman’s sets from around this time too, they just showed how versatile as an art form DJing can be, and are indelibly stuck in my memory. I know you only wanted one here again, my bad. I’m not good at favourites.
Q - Are there any new sounds/styles you’re exploring?
A - I don’t think there’s any particular new sounds/styles I’m exploring, but every time I open Ableton I try and do something slightly different to what I’ve done before. I used to have a major hang up about originality which prevented me from actually making anything that fitted in a genre at all and drove me absolutely insane. Luckily I’m over that now and actually enjoy the limitations of working in a genre, but I’m always drawing inspiration from everything I’ve ever listened to, because the second I feel I’m redoing something I just feel like I’m stagnating as an artist. You might hear some DJ SIN-R-G ambient electronica sometime though.
Q - What are some long term goals you have for your career, what can we expect to see next from yourself?
A - Honestly, I’m just taking it as it comes at the moment. I want to DJ more, as I feel really at home on the decks, and I really want to work with vocalists to make some original tracks. I’m not always super productive and it generally comes in rushes where I’ll make loads and then not touch Ableton for months, so I’m trying to get into a more stable approach to production. Doesn’t help that I only ever make tunes in headphones on the sofa. I’ve got some more tunes coming out this year though, I promise!