In 2013 he explains that as always, he is moving into a new direction and presenting a different take on the FreQ Nasty experience, describing it as ‘an opportunity to step back to step forward.’ He is also enjoying work on the Dub Kirtan All Stars releases – a live band project that pushes new boundaries musically. We even reminisce for a moment about my favourite piece of FreQ output – his Fabric 42 release. He says harking back: “Ah yes, I remember. I even recall getting the call to do that mix! It was a great moment. Fabric is a real part of dance music history and culture. It’s done a lot for me and it has always been a great way to highlight the artists coming out that weren’t necessarily known for a particular style of music, if that makes sense?”
For Darin though, it has almost always been beats and breaks – or variations on that theme – he’ll even go out on a limb and term it ‘good bass music.’ But that doesn’t change the fact that a party with him as a headliner is a riot – and generally not something you can stand around having a chin stroke to. “Things are always happening in electronic music and now much more so than ever before,” he says. “Genres are so constricting in terms of what they force you to do. One of the things about breaks and reggae and dubstep is that it’s always been nice to showcase newer forms of music when you play without feeling too restricted.”
“I think for a start as well, music is cross pollinating a lot more that ever before. Sounds from any given genre – that maybe used to define a genre – are now becoming so mixed up that you have trance and hip hop and electro in any style. I thought at first it was crazy, but then you get used to it and find that it works. The sounds that used to be unique to a certain genre broke down a long time ago – and then the tempo switched up a lot and then 138BPM became average and 140BPM became dubstep and now all that stuff can sound pretty similar depending on who plays it or when or how, you know?”
What it has meant too is that people are getting into the music because it’s diversifying and opening the floodgates to more and more open minded punters. And Darin thinks the same: “I agree, I think it’s great that the audience is discovering new music. People are beginning to understand the music and the culture and so much more; I think it’s fantastic for the scene in general.
Likewise, what can fans expect from his forthcoming shows? Musically, they can certainly expect the unexpected – a cacophony of sounds and styles designed to make you do one thing – dance. Leave the attitude and the door but don’t forget to check your jacket. You won’t need it.
BY RK
