Writer Giulia Baldi talks to Andy Turner (Plaid) the day after his DJ set at Sonica Festival in Bethnal Greens Apiary Studios. It’s the first springlike Saturday of the year, and the conversation is easy…

Giulia: Could you tell us more about your selection from last night? Which five tracks would really give a good a taste of it?
Andy: I chose to play an energetic set at Sonica. The performances earlier in the evening had been more cerebral, which led on nicely to an excellent, more rhythmically driven set from Karen Gwyer before I played. I tried to keep the energy high for the early morning hours. Here are a few of the tracks played:

'Clairaudience' by John Tejada. I'm a huge fan of John's work. This is from his upcoming release on Palette Recordings. His latest album on Kompact is also excellent.

'Recovery' by Rival Consoles, a London based producer from his release on Erased Tapes. I'm looking forward to hearing him live this week at Village Underground, along with Clark!

'GeeBee' by Flint Kids. One of my favourite producers right now, his work is meticulously sculpted and the production is heavy. One to watch.

'MicroMusic' by Playmodes. A downtempo track I played early in the set. Really interesting harmonics and overtones.

'Blackhole Flamenco' by Killawatt from his debut album 'émigré' out last month. Great album throughout.

Giulia: I have a feeling Shazam addicts had a hard time on this occasion!

You also played something with a distinctive guitar sound, something like a mix between a traditional song and a dance/bass track - what was that?
Andy: I think that was probably 'Mepeche' by Funckarma, two brothers from the Netherlands. It's in my top 10 electronic music tracks ever, perhaps top 3.

Giulia: And now in mine as well.

Listening and dancing to awe-inspiring sets, the feeling is always the same - magic in the making. How do you get inspiration for your sets? Can you tell us something about the creative process?
Andy: I don't tend to work a set out before the night so my preparation involves familiarising myself with any new music I've picked up and adding this to my library beforehand, then getting to the space early so I can hear what's played before and get some feeling from the audience. I'll attempt to build out of the previous set and play music that gives some variety to the night but also that the crowd respond well to.

Giulia: Electronic music, and electronic dance music, are perceived less political than other genres as words are scarce and the message is often implicit, a sort of meta data embedded in the sounds - plus, they are very physical. Yet, the first generation to be involved in the scene, both as producers and punters, were drawn in by the positive futurism as much as by the hedonism. What do you think the present look like? Does electronic music, and electronic dance music, still have a political edge - and a potential to change things, or people at least... hopefully for the better?
Andy: I don't think it's a particularly good thing to confuse music and politics but it does have the power to bring people together more effectively than any lecture in my opinion. Our reaction to music is dictated by our experiences and I don't want to add to that complicated brew any further. It's purer if left abstract and can perhaps get closer to the emotional buttons this way. My particular favourite political flavour is anarcho-syndicalism but it would be a stretch to say that was represented in the set :)

Giulia: As Plaid you've often worked with adventurous visual artists, collaborating on record sleeves, videos and films. Who would you like to meet in the studio in the future?
Andy: I'm a fan of Chris Cunningham's work and we know each other a little, that would be fun. If we're embracing the movies too here it would be a dream to work with Darren Aronofsky, Wes Anderson or David Lynch... a crack at the new BladeRunner soundtrack perhaps, all highly unlikely.

Giulia: Never say never! When, in the recent past, you have felt the most emotional at an art exhibition or a music event, in London?
Andy: I think the most fun I've had a show in London over the last year was at the Earth, Wind and Fire concert in Hyde Park last Summer. Most of the original band weren't playing of course but it was a full on assault of happiness and good vibes. Not particularly cutting edge but who cares!

Andy Turner (Plaid)
www.plaid.co.uk
 

Photo credit: Noemi Dumitrescu