iBeats: Hi Nic, Welcome to iBeats. Your career has skyrocketed over the last few years, from clubbing punter to superstar headliner. It must have been quite a journey? Is there any part of it that you are particularly proud or is there anything you think you would have liked to have done differently?
Nic: I think my residency at my local night Club Class has been the highlight for me as a DJ. It was the club where I first went to listen to House music when I was 16 and sneaking in. Then when I got asked to become resident it was like being a Chelsea fan and being asked to play for them. Over the last 6 years we have had some amazing nights with guests like John Digweed, Danny Howells and even hosting the Essential Mix with Pete Tong in a room that holds no more than 350 people. I think mistakes? Yeah I’ve made loads of them but I wouldn’t go back and change them.
iBeats: Your first residency was at Club Class, your local clubbing joint, what was it like to make the transition from paying clubber to resident DJ? Was it weird playing to the same crowd that you used to be a part of week in week out?
Nic: I think it felt natural at the time as I new everyone in the club, so I knew exactly what music they were into. Sure it was strange being in the same dj booth that I had seen people like Sasha and Carl Cox as a kid but I could live with that ;)
iBeats: You’ve been a BBC Radio 1 Resident for nearly two years now and you have recently recorded another EM for them, how does this make you feel? The BBC one of the biggest broadcasters in the UK and the Essential Mix is probably the most respected dance music broadcast in the World, it must be quite flattering when you get offered the opportunity?
Nic: I have had a great relationship over the last few years and there support has been massively appreciated. I’ve worked doing there events and also on my residency show which I did for them. I think it’s good that they are still showing some interest in Dance music as other radio stations have shied away from it and of course the Essential Mix is the mecca of all mix tapes.
iBeats: What can fans of your productions look forward to hearing next, are there any remixes or new original releases on the Fanciulli production line? Also with so many electronic music artists branching out into film, animation and computer game scores or forming live acts, are there any future ambitions you have on the production side of things?
Nic: At the moment we have just finished a remix of the new Tiefschwarz single ‘Damage’, it features the awesome vocals of Tracey Thorn. We’ve also just finished a remix of Level 42 of there classic ‘Lessons In Love’ which is coming out on Polydor. As for original work I’ve just finished the new Nic Fanciulli single which is coming out on renaissance in the summer and for the Buick Project we are gonna take it live!
iBeats: With Miami WMC 06 just a distant memory now, what were your highlights for this year? Do you enjoy the conference gigs as much as your gigs in the UK and Europe, Is the crowd different in the US? And do you approach your sets differently if so?
Nic: I think the crowds are different all around the World, so I always try and make sure I see what’s going on music wise in different countries. It’s not like I go there and change my style totally, its just I pick a certain sound in my set they like and play that. With house music there so many different styles, and you get to play everything from deep house to techno. So some clubs will be like we love the deep stuff and some clubs will like it a bit harder. As for the Conference, its always fun, but I admit I do prefer playing in Miami when it’s Hot!
iBeats: Although Miami 06 is just another notch on the bed post, the Ibiza season is just around the corner. What are your plans for Ibiza this year? Any residency planned for your season on the white isle?
Nic: Im gonna being doing 10 dates at we love Sundays. I played there for the first time last summer, and once they got the new terrace sorted it was awsome.
iBeats: From one Superstars DJ to another, who are your favourite DJ’s at the moment?
Nic: Loads! Lee Burridge, Danny Howells, James Zabiela, Laurent Garnier, Woolford, Paolo Mojo and also loads of up and coming DJ’s like James Talk, Electric Press, Kos, Tom Budden and Sam Ball.
iBeats: Lastly, you record a compilation for Renaissance recently. What was it like to be asked to do something like that, some say that forming a compilation is a bit of a art from. How did you approach it and were you worried at all? Can we expect another compilation anytime soon?
Nic: I think there is no formula to doing a Comp. I spent six months prepering mine, then at the last minute changed it all. Being asked to do the Renaissance comp was awesome, my mates and me had been growing up buying these comps! Of course I was worried doing it but also buzzing that I was doing it. I’m gonna put the second part of it out in September.
