WHO UK breakbeat hero Adam Freeland has had an impact on the global dance scene ever since shaking it up in the late ‘90s by fusing breaks and techno into “nu-skool” breaks. The DJ and Grammy-nominated producer released his first mix CD, Coastal Breaks, in 1996 to huge acclaim and is said to have influenced legendary DJs Sasha and Carl Cox’s love for breakbeats. His influence is evident in the syncopated sound of late-‘90s progressive house found on CDs such as Sasha and John Digweed’s Northern Exposure series. Freeland has had a string of stellar mix CDs, starting with 2000’s Tectonics, and later On Tour, FabricLive and Global Underground 32: Mexico City. He’s also a resident at Fabric in London and founder of the Marine Parade imprint (home to fellow Brighton-based innovators Evil Nine’s latest album They Live!). In 2003 Freeland released his first artist album, an electro-rock-infused powerhouse disc called Now and Them, featuring his hit single “We Want Your Soul,” his Grammy-nominated remix of Sarah Vaughan’s “Fever” and his remix of The Doors' “Hello, I Love You.” Currently riding the summer circuit from Ibiza to Los Angeles, Freeland has a promising, star-studded band in the works for his new album, with Tommy Lee on drums, Joey Santiago on guitar, Twiggy Ramirez on bass and Kurt Baumann, Gerry Casale (Devo) and Brody Dalle (ex-The Distillers) on vocals.
WHAT “Maximal minimal digital rock ‘n’ roll,” says Freeland, whose ideal DJing experience entails “falling over afterwards.”
WHERE Aug. 9 with Evan G, Baby Joel, Justin Tyce, and Mickey D at Footwork (425 Adelaide W.)
FAVOURITE RECORD OF ALL TIME “Are you serious? Do people actually have an answer to this question?”
FAVOURITE RECORD RIGHT NOW Grinderman, “No Pussy Blues.”
FAVOURITE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW www.vbs.tv. “Some great documentaries on there. Check the one about the island of plastic in the Pacific.”
WHAT IS YOUR MOST SURREAL DJING EXPERIENCE? “Burning Man Festival in the Nevada desert, wearing a nurse’s costume while tripping on acid.”
DIGITAL OR ANALOG? “Both. Analog sounds warmer and fatter, digital gives you total versatility.”
WHAT IS VITAL TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE? Breathing.
WHAT GLOBAL ISSUE CONCERNS YOU MOST RIGHT NOW? “A fossil-fuelled world when we have the all the alternative technologies available means we need none of it. And the large popularity of Euro trance.”
WHAT IS THE LAST GREAT FILM YOU SAW? “Terry Gilliam's Brazil.”
WHAT ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOU IN A BIOPIC? British comedian and actor Eddie Izzard.
WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? “The Last Opium Den by Nick Tosches [because] my mummy told me reading makes one interested and interesting.”