10 Years of fabric Records - The Artists

This week marks the 10th anniversary of our hallowed mix series – a series that has seen some of the world’s finest DJs, established and up-and-coming, release a mix capturing the energy and atmosphere of their sets in our Farringdon club. Our catalogue draws upon the talent, the creativity and the possibilities of the world’s vast music scenes. The series works as a snapshot, showcasing the developments and changes over the past few years, but what remains throughout, we note, is the DJs relentless passion to bring unique sounds to their listeners. Whilst all the staff at label HQ we got all nostalgic looking back at some of our favourite mixes over the past 10 years on the blog here, we also took the opportunity to catch up with some of the artists from our back catalogue to talk about what being involved in the series means to them. Brodinski: How did you feel when you were first asked to compile a mix for the FABRICLIVE series? This was amazing news! Super great feeling. I just reached a step that I always wanted to in my life and career. It's such an honour to participate. So great! What does it mean to you to have been part of the series? It means a lot, it means that I'm part of it now, you have my footprints at the club and you can't touch it anymore haha! I'm so proud of being part of the adventure. Thank you again for asking me. Any other favourite releases from our catalogue? fabric 19 from Andrew Weatherall completely changed my life, put me into the best of the best of electronic music, I always strive to be close to this vibe. Amazing compilation. x FABRICLIVE 60: Brodinski Radioactive Man: How did you feel when you were first asked to compile a mix for the fabric series? Was well chuffed, cos it was in its early stages and it was originally something to reflect the Haywire sessions at fabric... Hopefully it did reflect that vibe cos there was Electro, House, Techno, and general Machinefunk in there. Ooohhhh those were the days I tells ya . Now where’s my pipe and slippers gone ?! How did the release of your fabric mix affect your career? Well i definitely got a few more bookings! Heh... and for that Fabric, I thank you. It was a big thing for me, and i can only hope i did a good job. People still say its sounds good and i hope it made people’s ears happy. Looking back on your mix, would you change anything about it? Dont think so, it was all done on vinyl, (with one or two cheeky edits), but i did spend a lot of time on it getting it right cos the quality of DJs that play at the club is second to none. What does it mean to you to have been part of the series? Well it’s become THE DJ mix series in my book, so it means a hell of a lot. I still listen to the mixes, one of the most recent being Craig Richards’ The Nothing Special mix and of course Mr Clarke's is superb. Keep 'em coming... fabric 08: Radioactive Man Diplo: I still think my FABRICLIVE mix was my introduction to the world as a DJ for many people... And fabric crew got behind it, even in such an eclectic state it was in. I'm still very proud of it and it holds up long-term like all the mixes in the series. I'm in great company with the rest of them. FABRICLIVE 24: Diplo Shackleton: How did you feel when you were first asked to compile a mix for the fabric series? Very pleased and a little bit surprised that fabric were into it. How did the release of your fabric mix affect your career? I'm not really on a career tip as that probably implies a certain amount more planning and calculation than I actually do, but it has been a good thing in terms of new people getting into my music and also other clubs being willing to take a chance on me. Looking back on your mix, would you change anything about it? No, I am really pleased with it. It is a good representation and I also did the radio mix for fabric which is more abstract and challenging and I like that as well. Between the two I couldn't have hoped for the whole thing to turn out better. What does it mean to you to have been part of the series? I am really honoured. Any other favourite mixes from the series? I am not familiar with the whole series but I like Ricardo's. I think because he has made a mix of his own music (as I did) and because it seems quite ambitious and not pandering to what might be expected. I bet the Pinch one is going to be great though! fabric 55: Shackleton Ali B: I was stoked to have been asked to do one of the first FABRICLIVE mixes, it’s crazy to think that was nearly ten years ago! I’m still proud of it in terms of it being a snapshot of the scene at fabric during the club’s formative years… FABRICLIVE 02: Ali B Âme: How did you feel when you were first asked to compile a mix for the fabric series? It was of course an honour for us, as the series was already estabished as one of the best and most successful ones. Plus we really like the club and the people behind it. How did the release of your mix affect your career? It definitely opened the more techno orientated market for us, as the people didn’t expect something like that from us house guys. Looking back on your mix, would you change anything? For that time it captured everything that we had been up to. What does it mean to you to have been part of the series? Like i said in the beginning, it was an honour for us and we felt proud to be part of the series. Any other favourite releases from our catalogue? I like the Michael Mayer one the most, plus Four Tet from the newer ones! fabric 42: Âme David Rodigan: How did you feel when you were first asked to compile a mix for the FABRICLIVE series? Fantastic , especially as I cannot mix and despite that fabric said "Rodders you have to give it a go..." and I did and it was real fun; it was also the perfect opportunity for me to climb up onto my reggae soapbox and preach the word, so to speak, to an audience of fabric fans who may not normally have come across the kind of reggae I play. How did the release of your FABRICLIVE mix affect your career? Despite having been deejaying for over 3 decades the fabric mix CD had a profound effect on my career, as it introduced me on to the radar of young music fans who probably would not have picked up on me and my music. Looking back on your mix, would you change anything about it? Yes, I would love to have made an actual live audience participation recording at fabric as a bonus CD! What does it mean to you to have been part of the series? fabric is an iconic club which, over the past decade, has raised the bar in terms of how people hear music in clubland, the environment, the quality of sound, the upfront adventurous booking of musical forerunners. Nothing stays still at fabric, it is forever evolving and therefore it was an honour for me to be invited into this world of music, fans and deejays. It enabled me to branch out and broaden my musical horizons as I shared my love of old school Jamaican dub music and the influence which it has had on modern day dubstep. Any other favourite mixes from the series? John Peel's set was one of my favourites from the series. FABRICLIVE 54: David Rodigan Tayo: How did you feel when you were first asked to compile a mix for the FABRICLIVE series? Pretty chuffed to be asked, then nervous, then emboldened, then determined to make sure it was bleeding ace. I'm pretty sure I started on the tracklist about five minutes later... How did the release of your FABRICLIVE mix affect your career? It was important for me and my "career" as it were because I'd been edging away from the narrow world that I was associated with anyway, and trying to explore a different mix of "bass" music - which seems obvious now. The fabric mix validated the direction I was talking, as well as opening new ears even further across the world. Looking back on your mix, would you change anything about it? I'd not listen to Shaun who told me to only put a certain amount of tracks on it! The editing process was a nightmare at the time :) But nah I'm proud of it. There weren't many comps at the time mixing up Stereotyp, Digital Mystikz, Buraka Som Systema and Trouble & Bass at the time. Everyone is used to the mish mash of "bass music" now but, they weren't in 2006/07. I'm proud of it. What does it mean to you to have been part of the series? When I look at the people before and after me on there, I'm pretty fucking happy to have been included. And yes I have walked girlfriends past the vending machine in the club "by accident" and looked on in mock surprise when they go "Oh look YOU'RE in there!" So there's your answer. Any other favourite mixes from the series? Craig Richards, Bukem, Rodigan and Joe Ransom's compilations have been big faves along the way. FABRICLIVE 32: Tayo Buraka Som Sistema How did you feel when you were first asked to compile a mix for the FABRICLIVE series? We were super happy! Especially because we've always felt we had a special relationship with the club! How did the release of your FABRICLIVE mix affect your career? It's a very important stamp of approval in the dance music community. Looking back on your mix, would you change anything about it? Definitely! I would change almost everything! But that's sort of the way we see music generally. What does it mean to you to have been part of the series? It's obviously a great honor to be a part of such a selected group of DJs. Any other favourite mixes from the series? Caspa & Rusko had a big impact at the time because dubstep was still a smoke cloud that no one really understood very well, also, Diplo's mix was kinda cool and weird. FABRICLIVE 49: Buraka Som Sistema