Max HeyraudWe’ve teamed up with BPM ahead of our Voltage event to chat with the Irish prince of techno, Dylan Fogarty.
Playing the second show in our collaborative series with BPM in Galway, Dylan sits down for a rapid-fire round of questions, sharing his favourite past gigs, inspirations, tips for budding producers, the tracks that shaped his sound, and much more
What’s been the most memorable gig you’ve played so far?
Ah, with so many amazing and memorable gigs to pick from, I would probably have to go with my set last year at Fuinneamh Festival! It was a special weekend for everybody at the festival, and it was an amazing one to be a part of.
Which country is your favourite to play in, and why?
My favourite country to play in would definitely be the Netherlands, I love the concepts & love they show within the scene, while still being super knowledgeable about artists and allowing them to experiment with anything they like!
Is there a producer you think is seriously underrated?
A producer I would consider very underrated and super talented is Tan Tan! His ability to craft a nostalgic yet fresh sound in his productions consistently blows me away. It’s an obsession & drive that I’ve had personally since discovering old techno & house records & he hits the nail on the head every time!!
Who would be your dream B2B?
My dream B2B is with an artist that I’ve already had the honour of sharing the booth with, Stranger – his brave, encyclopaedic but fun style of selecting is something that has massively inspired me since discovering him. I think that every DJ in the game has learnt a thing or two from Mitchel, and he’s truly a legend of the modern era!
Another dream B2B would definitely be with Robert Hood, an originator and total boss behind the decks. That one would definitely be up there, too!
Best advice for up & coming producers?
My honest advice for up-and-coming producers would be to shift your attention from the outside world as much as possible and, above all, enjoy yourself.
I know everybody says this, but it couldn’t be truer. It’s super easy to compare and contrast with other producers & artists rather than focusing on your own journey & enjoying the process! Unfortunately, we’re all victims of this sometimes, but the best way to progress is to stay in your own lane and work on your own art at your own pace.
On the technical side of things, learn the basics of sound design and processing – it will stand to you in the long run. Every producer’s goal is to create that sound they hear in their head, and once you can achieve that, you’re winning!
If you had to pick one track to sum up your style, what would it be?
Tough question! I could give you about 20 tunes here, but I’ll spare the time and send one 🙂
A fantastic record by a fantastic producer, full of absolute club weapons! Steve Rachmad has definitely been a massive inspiration of mine for a long while; his work spanning decades is truly timeless and beautiful. This particular track hits the spot for me due to its captivating energy & simplicity.
If tonight were your last ever set, what track would you close with to sign off as a DJ?
It would have to be Blake Baxter – One More Time, a classic record on Tresor with plenty of changing energetic segments while still keeping that silky Blake Baxter style!
What’s your favourite BPM range to play?
My favourite BPM range honestly depends on a variety of factors. A couple I can think of are the time of day, the room’s temperature and the style of the artist before & after me!
At an ideal party for me, the BPM gradually rises and falls like a bell curve throughout.
Room temperature is a bit of a funny one, but for me, if the floor is hot, it usually means the tempo / average heartbeat of the room is higher than that of a cold/fresh dancefloor. I’ll probably play a little faster in that case.
Although a general average for me is around 138bpm. This fluctuates depending on the above factors
