Indeed, his path to music was unplanned – and certainly not guaranteed, more something that he fell into by accident – but a fascinating whirlwind nevertheless. “I’d always collected music – tapes and CDs and things as a kid,” he chimes. “But then I realized I could get records cheaper and that led to life as a DJ simply because I had so many records. Sometime during high school, I also got a guitar and learnt that. I also had a friend with a Moog, so that was in there somewhere too.” All pretty standard stuff for a child of the 80s he says: ‘radio, MTV, tapes at the mall.’
Fast-forward some years though and he’s an accomplished producer, respected label boss and impeccable DJ – call him a legend. But he is relaxed about it all: “well, I’m chilling with the label firstly,” he explains. “There seems to be an influx of new labels and for me it’s just overkill – I don’t want to add to the pile of soon to be overstocked unsellable records that is inevitably coming. I just have the one coming out on W.T in February from a kid in Moscow – but I don’t want to say too much about it now!”
Claiming too, he was trying to do what Beyoncé did by staying mum on the release until it was nigh on being released, he admits she beat him to it. “Other than that, I’m just making sure the catalog is in press and still moving forward; maybe I’ll make some more W.T merchandise; otherwise, I’m waiting for music that is really good. I am also kind of bugging the people who have already released on the label for more stuff, to build up the label a little bit.”
Musically, Burns claims there is plenty more going on – there is a new Daywalker & CF release coming on Emotional Response – a collaboration between Burns and fellow US producer Jon Beal. There are also a bunch of remixes for Joakim, DFA, Nuearthkitchen and some other stuff. “I’ve made some techno stuff as Phobian,” he says. “I’m also trying to make a U.K garage sounding thing, but it pretty much just sounds like Willie Burns.” Adding there is probably a bunch of stuff he’s likely overlooked as well, he claims he is essentially moving through a productive phase.
His sound though, that isn’t easy to define – call it something like techno mixed with deep house and with a twist. And with that, his club output depends on where he is playing. “There are a lot of factors; the club, who else I’m playing with, what time I’m playing, all that stuff. It can be anything but I really don’t hold myself to any rules or a particular format. For me, that is a house approach, it’s all dance music, or at least something that I hope people want to hear!”
In all then, Burns is excited about the opportunity to get away from the freezing cold of the big city and head down under for the first time this summer. “I’ve never even though about going there,” he admits. “It seems so far away, but yeah the stars aligned and a few of my friends will be out there at the same time, so it should be good to escape the cold! I don’t know what I’ll play though – I have to ask who or what I’ll be playing in between, all that sort of stuff. I’ll go through my records a few days before hand and basically see what happens. I’ll do my best.”
Like you’d expect anything less from the mastermind.
BY REZO
