1. Let's jump straight into this brand new "Rediscovered". How did this unique remixes album come to fruition ?
John Askew: I wanted fresh versions of all my old tracks for playing in my sets and to compile into an album, featuring all my favourite remixers and producers.
2. What did you mean by calling the album "Rediscovered" ?
John Askew: Well.. you don't have to be a brain surgeon to work that one out. My label is called Discover. It's a collection of old tracks... you do the maths.
3. Now with this album, what are you hoping to accomplish ?
John Askew: I wasn't trying to accomplish anything as such – I just wanted to breath new life into my back catalogue. To dig out some of my old riffs and have my fav producers rework them in their individual styles.
4. Somehow, do you have any favourite records on the album? If so, which ?
John Askew: The Sly One vs Jurrane, Gary Maguire, Simon Patterson, Adam Foley, Joint Operations Centre, Sean Tyas, Reaky and ReOrder remixes are all stand out favourite – but I love all of them so it would be unfair to single out any. Well that's exactly what you've just done john – you fool!
5. What sets this album apart from your others ?
John Askew: It's full of my tracks and not someone else's.
6. Initially, what particular string of events led to you hooking up with Joint Operations Centre (John O'Callaghan), and later signing to his imprint ?
John Askew: Many years ago I signed John to Discover. Since then he moved on to Armada but we remained good mates and so when the opportunity came up to make some music for his new label – I obviously said yes. It's a really exciting project to be involved with.
7. When it comes to the actual track title, "F#@cking Caps Lock", although pretty self-explanatory, what was in your mind at that time ?
John Askew: The "F#@cking Caps Lock" key on my f#@cking keyboard! You have your head down typing away for 10 minutes and then when you look up – you find the little bastard has activated himself and half of you message is in capital letters.
8. You released the track on John O'Callaghan's imprint Subculture. What are your future projects for this venture ?
John Askew: I have signed a 3 single deal with Subculture so I have 2 more to make. Single the harder 140 BPM (Beats Per Minute) stuff seems to be more unpopular than ever these days. My intention is to make even harder and faster and hopefully more unpopular records. I like it hard and fast – even if nobody else does – so compromise in order to gain more popularity or sales is sadly not an option.
9. Your two labels Discover and Discover Dark have seen ongoing support from the likes of Paul van Dyk, Eddie Halliwell and Armin van Buuren. Who makes up the company roster ?
John Askew: The main artists on the label other than myself are Activa, Gary Maguire, Sly One vs Jurrane, Adam Foley, Thomas Datt...
10. You are also planning on launching your own clothing line as well, correct ?
John Askew: No that's not true.
11. Well, everyone either knows your music style already, but, on a personal note, whose music did you grow up on ?
John Askew: The Cult, Guns 'n' Roses, The Smiths, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Black Crows, Led Zeppelin...
12. What are your future long-term goals in life ?
John Askew: Be successful, be happy, be a good father.
13. What is your personal message to our readers or anyone reading this interview ?
John Askew: What are you wearing?
Interview made by Cosmin Lukacs (TranceSound.net admin/founder)
Links:
John Askew official website
John Askew @ MySpace
Cosmin Lukacs official website
Cosmin Lukacs @ MySpace
