1. First and foremost, I always wanted to know. Why did you opt to name yourself The Viceroy ?
The Viceroy: Haha well my real name didn't really strike me as a good Dj name and I was 16 and needed a name to put on a flyer as a group of friends and I were putting on a night in Bristol. I was interested in politics, star wars had just come out in the cinema and there was a very good curry house nearby – there's three options there for you to pick, I'll leave it up to you to guess which one ?
2. Dancers and clubbers alike either know you now already, or will become familiar with you for and through your music. But, what do you want those same individuals to know about The Viceroy that they won't get from your music so far ?
The Viceroy: Goodness knows!! It's my music and giving clubbers a good time that I am really here to do so anything else I suppose is irrelevant. However if you are after a fact that not many people know the I once studied to play the organ at Bristol Cathedral...
3. How do you feel to be known as a DJ mainly, since most of the people I know they literally labelled you "One of the The Gallery's well kept secret, the DJ" ?
The Viceroy: Well the beauty of Djing under a guise or an alias as I suppose The Viceroy is, is that people know me as that. My day to day job is running The Gallery, bookings, marketing, running the team but its nice that people label me as that – I play each and every week and always try and deliver a Gallery-esque closing set for the main room that our regulars and guests will come away smiling about.
4. Together, you and Gavyn Mytchel are the only Ministry of Sound's residents. Is that correct ?
The Viceroy: We are the regular residents as we call it we have a host of international residents such as Sander van Doorn, Markus Schulz, Hernan Cattaneo, Martin Roth and domestic residents like Tall Paul, Judge Jules.
5. How did that happen ? How come no one else took over ? Tell me what's that special element of yours that keeps you inside into one of the most prestigious DJ booth out there ?
The Viceroy: Well Gav and I run the night on a day to day, week to week basis from booking the Djs to playing as residents so I would like to think Gav and I have out fingers on the pulse for what people want and what works at The Gallery not only in terms of the music we play but the bookings we make.
6. With all this latest remixes and own productions of yours, now you are finally emerging as a producer too. How has this whole transition been for you ?
The Viceroy: It's been wicked, been knocking stuff out for a while – when you play every week you get full of ideas in your head of tracks you would like to make so I'm always bursting with ideas.
7. "Panzer", one of Gavyn's track includes a remix of yours. Were you happy with that record's overall commercial performance ?
The Viceroy: Yeah it was great, loved the original ever since I heard it and when I got the chance to sign it to Vaccine Records and do the remix I was thrilled, still play it out to a great reception so very pleased with it.
8. Production-wise, who all did you work with ?
The Viceroy: I've done some collaborations with the likes of Zirenz and Kurve, Ehren Stowers, Frase, KOTO and a recent remix of Durango 95 with Graeme Lloyd.
9. Now when it comes to your own melodic line, what motivates/inspires you the most ?
The Viceroy: Music that will sound ****ing ridiculous at 6 am at The Gallery – that's my inspiration for making a track, whether it be something dirty and horrible sounding or really uplifting and hands in the air.
10. In terms of productions and future remixes, are there any other forthcoming projects in the making ?
The Viceroy: Just finished a new original called "Body Bag" which I am really happy with. Have just signed a collaboration with KOTO entitled the "Horror" to J00F recordings as well as just doing a remix for a project with Kurve, Zirenz and myself entitled "The Lament of Dido".
11. Let's retrace your musical roots and tell me when were you first exposed to EDM (Electronic Dance Music) ?
The Viceroy: The Annual 2000 mixed by Tall Paul and Judge Jules although my brother exposed me before this to various mix tapes by the likes of Graeme Park and Jeremy Healy.
12. How do you describe your own sound ? And, how does it compare to what you're already known and loved for while spinning ?
The Viceroy: My style is dark, broody and pretty ****ed up with smatterings of light and euphoric bits!!!
13. Besides being busy almost every Friday night for The Gallery @ Ministry of Sound in London, do you have any other future goals and/or aspirations ?
The Viceroy: To carry on what I am doing and keep doing it bigger and better!!!
14. Still touring for the MoS' 15 years celebration ? I have seen a good list of artists lined up for it across the whole UK, still happening ?
The Viceroy: The 15th birthday tour officially comes to a close in a few weeks time at SW4 when we host a Gallery arena, its been great to take the 15th birthday CD on tour and play all across the world but we will be touring The Gallery again next year I am sure.
15. How was it ? Any memorable moments from the tour ?
The Viceroy: What goes on tour I'm afraid... stays on tour!!
16. Finally, do you have any closing thoughts for people reading this interviews, especially the TranceSound.net community ?
The Viceroy: Keep enjoying it, whatever and wherever it may be!!
Interview made by Cosmin Lukacs (TranceSound.net admin/founder)
Links:
The Viceroy official website
The Viceroy @ MySpace
Cosmin Lukacs official website
Cosmin Lukacs @ MySpace
