The art of the resident dj is often under appreciated in today’s producer focused industry. In our most recent series we’ve tried to shine a light on some of the fine residents currently plying their trade around the world and the expertise they bring to what is a pivotal part of our clubbing landscape. For Vol VI we sat down with Dublin based DJ Deece (aka Niall D’Arcy) of the much loved Hidden Agenda to get the low down on the important role played by the resident dj in 2015 and how he has succesfully fine tuned his craft over the years.
The full interview is below along with a wonderful mix from the Kildare man.
WWD: To kick things off, tell us a little bit about how you got involved with Hidden Agenda. Was a residency there a goal of yours early in your career?
I already knew the lads involved with Hidden Agenda from being on the Dublin DJ scene for a bit, and a few years ago I saw that they were doing shows and booking acts that I was really interested in. I really wanted to be a part of it, so I got in touch with Dave, who runs Hidden Agenda, and asked him could I get involved. He said they would be delighted to have me on board and I’ve been a Hidden Agenda Resident ever since.
WWD : Hidden Agenda is held in high esteem in the minds of electronic music fans both in Ireland and further afield. For you, what makes the vibe so special?
I feel like there are lots of club nights that do shows to make money, and only book acts that they know will make them loads of money, regardless of whether they are passionate about the act or not. I feel like at Hidden Agenda that isn’t the case at all. We book stuff that we like, and are passionate about. Of course, it’s great when you sell out a show and everyone is happy, but that definitely isn’t the most important thing for us, and I like that. It’s definitely 100% about a love for music.
WWD: Over the course of your residency do you think you’ve managed to educate the clubbers in front of you?
I’d like to think so. It’s a nice feeling to play music that you’re pretty certain 95% of the crowd don’t know, but they still vibe off it. You get people coming up and asking for the track ID, and you see people on Shazam etc. It’s good to see. As a DJ, I think it’s also very important to educate yourself. You can’t educate a crowd, if you aren’t educated yourself.
WWD : Can you tell us about the first time you were asked to play there?
I can’t, haha!! I actually can’t remember the first time I played Hidden Agenda, whoops. I know my favourite ever Hidden Agenda set was closing out the Reckless In Love stage on the Sunday night of Body & Soul last year. I still get goosebumps thinking about that one.
WWD : With such a diverse range of acts visiting on a regular basis, what can you tell us about your approach to your sets?
I like to just do my own thing. Acts will almost always tell you as a support DJ to do your own thing, once you don’t play too heavy or whatever. I love to be the warmup DJ. It gives you the chance to play tracks in full, and “educate” people a bit more than a headline set.
WWD : What are the key ingredients for controlling the dance-floor to optimum effect?
I actually had this conversation with a mate lately, and I feel like I described it well when I said that when I’m DJing, I always try to put myself in the crowd and think “what kinda tune do I wanna hear next?”. Do they wanna hear a banger? Do they need a lil’ break from intense dancing? Do they want to go even harder? It’s very important to be able to read a crowd like that I think, and I’d consider it one of my best qualities as a DJ.
WWD : Tell us about your studio endeavours (we know you have dappled in and out of it), is that a requirement these days or is there a place for the straight up dj?
I’ve done little bits. With Two Charming Men, Conor is the main producer. He’s a genius on Ableton. I’ve got basic knowledge of producing, but it’s something I definitely need to work on. I don’t think if you want to make it globally, you can be “just a DJ”. There are guys who do it, Jackmaster for example, but he also runs a record label, puts on parties, and has been doing it for years. I respect that a lot and he deserves all the success he’s getting right now.
WWD : Is there anyone you look up to as an example of a good resident dj? Is that something you observe when clubbing in Ireland or abroad?
Good question. When I was just starting out in Dublin, I looked up to guys like Arveene, Lorcan Mak, and Lil Dave. Nowadays, those guys have moved on or are playing abroad. I almost feel like I’m part of the generation that younger DJs look up to now, which is cool. There are a lot of really good resident DJs in Ireland at the moment, but I think now that it has become so easy to become a “DJ” with sync buttons etc, that a lot of the natural flare and skills aren’t there with a lot of the younger DJs, which is a pity.
WWD : Are there any venues/parties you’d love to tick off your to-do list?
I’d live to play Sub Club in Glasgow. I’ve been wanting to play there for some time. They’ve got a really special vibe going on there, and they seem to be going about it the right way too.
WWD: What’s the finest record you have ever played at a gig and what was the crowd reaction like?
The finest record ever changes for me every two weeks, haha! Playing Inspector Norse at that closing party at Body & Soul last year was pretty special. My current favourite records that always go down well would be Bileo – You Can Win, Sound Stream – Makin’ Love, and HNNY – Gymnastics.
WWD : Tell us a little bit about the mix you have provided for us! Set the scene if you will..
It’s a mix that is somewhere in between chilling at home, and actually being on a dancefloor. It starts pretty chill and melodic, and then moves into a more party vibe to get you moving. I recorded it completely on the fly, because I feel like that’s the best way to DJ, or record mixes. If I start to think too much about it, I’ll never get it done, and if I did get it done, I wouldn’t be happy with it for one reason or another, haha!
WWD : Thanks very much for chatting Niall, before we sign off, let us know what your plans are for the next few months!
Thanks for having me! In the next few months you can catch me at Body & Soul, Longitude, Killarney Festival, Castlepalooza, and Electric Picnic. I’ll also be doing my gigs with Hidden Agenda, as well my other residencies in Workman’s and the South William. Join the party!
Check out DJ Deece: