Reset Robot chats to Dubzy about Fabric London, playing The Warehouse Project and his upcoming releases.
Could you tell us how you first got started out in the music game?
Well… I guess like most people I just (sort of) picked up a set of decks when I was fairly young (you know, 14-15). A few of my mates and I would used to buy any records really, we’d take them back to each others houses and just play…
Is there any specific music style you were rolling with back then?
We used to buy everything to be honest. Drum & Bass, some Hard-core, Trance, House; it was just whatever we liked. We weren’t, as sort of fussy as people are now it seems anyway. It was ‘till now; people are very much into one kind of specific style (you know). Even within techno, there’s loads of different sort of styles of techno and people are into very particular styles but back then, it seems like we’d… and (you know) even at the weekend, we’d go out to the club and we’d be happy to listen to anything really. So yeah, I guess it started back then for me and then I just carried on with it. I really wanted to get into the productions, I went to college and did a music course in college and then came out at the back of that. Worked in the record shop for a little bit, had a studio above the record shop and then I started a bit of engineering and writing my own stuff, sending music out to labels and it just started going from there.
Can you remember how you felt when your tracks first started getting signed and getting recognition from other DJ’s?
Yeah, I mean it was a huge buzz! You have people like ‘Sasha’ and ‘James’; I’ll be in the back then, playing music and wanting to sign your records and stuff (you know). It’s a massive (sort of) pat-on-the-back and it really gave me the belief that I could actually do it (you know), that it was possible.
And since then, you played some of like the best clubs in the world. Could you tell us few of your favourites?
I guess… ‘Fabric’ definitely has to be up there. I played all three rooms in Fabric and (you know) playing room 1 was a real… I felt like I’ve achieved something playing in there. A room that I’ve been and danced in so many times and to actually get the chance to go and turn up and get in the DJ Booths myself was a huge honour.
What do you think it was that made ‘Fabric’ so special? I mean obviously it’s been the news now as it’s been shutdown, everyone is supporting #SaveFabric fund; but for anyone who had never had the pleasure of going, what do you think it was that made it so special?
It’s difficult to say, it’s just that… obviously an incredible sound system and always-such a good music policy I suppose? (You know) they never (sort of) went away from what they believed in, which was just good quality underground House, Techno, and then (obviously) Friday nights with their Drum & Bass and Breaks and stuff like that as well. So yeah, I think they just, have always stick to their guns and it’s one of those sorts of places where it’s the small detail (you know). You’ve got a sound guy who knows the sound system inside-out and will help you get setup and all the stuff are always so helpful (you know), right from the bar staff up to the management; everyone is so helpful and really on a nice level and you can really feel that. When you’re in the club and speaking to everyone you know. It’s a huge shame that it’s closed at the moment but (you know), let’s hope that justice can be done and let it all re-open.
How have you found your summer this year?
Yeah, it’s been a really good summer!
Any particular highlights?
Yeah, a couple of highlights actually. I played a club in Tel Aviv called ‘The Block’ which I’ve played there… and they have a custom mixer and this sound system that they have been working on for years and it is absolutely incredible!
How did you find that? Did you get a look; did you have a little play on it before your set?
Yes… it’s not really a dumb thing. People say to you sometimes “oh, do you want to do a sound check”? But more often or not, you just say “no”, because you’re just going to turn up with your CD’s or your USB Sticks or you Vinyl’s and it’s going to be fine; but with this place, I’m so glad that we went down and we actually (you know) had a look at it and the guy said “no, don’t just have a look…” he said “you want you to play like 4-5 records, play 4-5 tracks and actually have a mix with it”. So we spent around an hour in there before we went to dinner. Allen and I, we just had a mix and just got a feel for it but even then, he still kind of felt going into your set that (you know) it’s really different but it was great. Once I got about half and hour into my set I was fine.
Did you prefer it in the end?
Hhaaha, I don’t know! It’s probably quite nice to go back to a zone 92 or whatever the next day but yeah, it was a nice change actually, and the sound quality was incredible. So that was a highlight, one of the highlights for this summer and… (Yeah) played a couple of really cool clubs actually; ‘Culture Box’ and ‘Guild Heigan’… ‘Studio Club’ in ‘Essen’, MTW in Offenbach, which is (sort of) downstairs from ‘Robert Johnson’, which was really cool as well
So for people looking to head away next year in the summer, which would you say would be the one to go to?
I just say, for something different… Tel Aviv, The Block in Tel Aviv and Tel Aviv is an amazing city as well. Incredible food, it’s on the coast of Ibiza, lovely beach and… yeah, it just seems like it’s got a good vibe going you know?
This weekend, you are playing at ‘The Warehouse Project’. New Edition to the ‘DRUMCODE’ line-up, it’s looking sick! How are you feeling about the gig?
Yeah, I mean it’s nice actually; it’s caught a late booking and “you know” I’ve been added to the line-up (sort of) the end of last week, which I’m really pleased about and yeah. Obviously ‘Warehouse Project’ has got a great reputation… I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that it isn’t good so yeah; I’m really looking forward to it.
Have you play the ‘Store Street’ venue before?
No.
Ahh great. So it is going to be your debut?
Yeah, this is a debut.
Well… ‘Warehouse Project’, they have quite a few venues but I got to say ‘Store Street’ has to be the peoples favourite; it’s always been the one that everyone loves the most so I think you’re going to be in for a great night.
Wicked! I’m so looking forward to it. As I said it’s got such a good reputation… yeah, I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a really good one and with the DRUMCODE band as well (you know), they always bring a good crowd and a good party.
Is there anyone in particular who you want to catch his or her set?
I think ‘Nick Curly’ is playing there as well, isn’t he?
Yeah ‘Nick Curly’, you also got ‘Dense & Pika’, ‘Ida Engberg’… it’s a quality line-up init?
Yeah, I think I want to probably catch Nick’s set.
Are you going to sticking-around in Manchester or have you got to be straight-out?
Well… I’m going to be on an early flight home but it’s only because I’ve got a young family back there so I thought I’ll just get back to them on a Sunday, so I probably won’t go to bed but I can deal with that.
What are your plans for the winter?
Yeah, I mean the gigs are coming in so I’m just… I’m going with it at the moment. I’m over in Dublin in this month and then I’m doing Mexico and Miami as well at the beginning of December.
Is that for BPM?
No, I’m just doing a Club called ‘TARA ROMA’ in Mexico City, which is wicked! Wicked little club, really good actually. And then I’ve got a couple of dates around Christmas and doing a Jump Club in Southampton and then I’m doing the ‘Space, Ibiza’ world tour in Glasgow, which should be good… and that’s with ‘Dubfire’ and ‘James Zabiela’ and a few other guys as well.
Finally, what is going on at the production front, can we expect any new releases any time soon?
Yep! I’ve got a release dropping on the 21st November, that’s on ‘Truesoul’, and that’s a track called “A Thousand Billion Photons”, which Adam was supporting quite heavily this summer. Played it in quite a few of his sets so I am exited of that coming out. And then in December I’ve got a release on Mobilee as well. So yeah, there’s quite a bit coming out…
So you’re definitely keeping busy?
Yeah! Always busy mate and always in the studio which is nice (you know).
Can you just let everyone know where the best place to keep up-to-date with all your projects?
… I guess Facebook would be the best place, which is www.facebook.com/officialresetrobot I believe.
Have an amazing time on Saturday and we’ll see you there!
Wicked. Cheers!
Who or what is Reset Robot? The chances are, if you’ve been more than an occasional visitor to any of the world’s more discerning dancefloors, you’ll most likely have been exposed to the sound; you may have already given yourself up to the techno and house excursions that have become the Reset Robot blueprint.
The man behind the moniker is Dave Robertson, Portsmouth based DJ/producer of some repute. Influenced by clubs such as Fabric and Slinky, DJs such as Sasha, Digweed and the Wiggle boys, with time served behind the record store counter, he sculpted his sound meticulously over time, honing it until he was fully ready to deliver a newly crafted sonic signature.
Emerging rejuvenated from the studio in 2009, Reset Robot announced himself with the licensing of no fewer than 6 tracks to the internationally acclaimed Sci+Tec label, under the stewardship of Ali Shirazinia- better known to the world as Dubfire. Further releases followed on Get Physical, Soma, Adam Beyer’s Drumcode, and with his feet still firmly planted in the underground, Portsmouth’s own Wolf Trap label. Current and future releases can also be found on Dogmatik and Intacto, but he has truly discovered a spiritual home on Beyer’s Truesoul (four 4-track EPs released to date) sitting comfortably alongside some of the scene’s leading lights- Maetrik, Joel Mull, Ida Engberg and many more. With a tour diary taking in territories as diverse as Australia, USA and all corners of Europe, this aural juggernaut is simply picking up momentum.
With a sound that is at times minimal, yet always accessible; dark, but displaying flashes of blinding light; heavy, though so often floating weightless; Reset Robot is the best kind of contradiction. But you already knew that. And if you didn’t, now is the time to find out.
