I on the other hand have been enjoying some quality mixes from some very close friends of mine and sipping continental beers whiles wearing rose tinted sunglasses. Not that the real world is daunting, but it’s my way of taking a holiday. Currently I’m taking a break from the radio show I present to collect my thoughts and write more music and do the thing I love most….. Sleeping…. Err….. I mean Djing. I’ll be travelling to the big smoke to interview a real good friend of mine from Chicago. In turn I will be spinnin’ some tunes on her radio show and spouting nonsense about myself also.

This month I’ve managed do drag Jody Wisternoff, a good friend of mine and one half of Bristol progressive house innovators Way Out West out for a beer and a chat…

Renny Constantine: How’s it going mate and what have you been up to recently?

Jody Wisternoff: It’s good mate, thanks for dragging me out for a beer. Well on the weekend that’s just past, I’ve been to Poland on the Saturday and Hungary on the Sunday for a couple of little gigs. It always feels a bit naughty but nice playing on a Sunday though as to most it’s a day of rest. You shouldn’t be playing disco on the day of rest. I was good, but it think I may have drank to much Polinka. I’m paying the price today.

RC: So what are you up to for the next couple of weeks?

J W: I’m playing in Turkey next weekend and that may be quite alcohol laden as well. The thing is that half of the job is playing the right music in the right order and getting the mixes together and the other half is socialising with the promoters and having a good time.

RC: So it’s full time socialising?

JW: Completely. You’ve got a much higher chance of getting a repeat booking, which it’s what its all about really. You don’t want to slowly banning yourself from clubs around the world. That is not the way to do it.

RC: Tell us a bit about yourself and how Way Out West (WOW) was formed…

JW: That was way back in 1992-93, I don’t think my balls had dropped! I was about 20 and my dad recommended that Nick (Warren) and I have a session together because he was quite well known as a dj at the time and his social circles included people like Pete Tong and Danny Rampling, A completely different league of djs. I was like “yeah, interesting`”, It just so happened that Nick and I got on so well and had some really hot ideas. The first studio session we didn’t clash at all. Other times I tried a collaboration, it was always a clash of egos and trying to out do each outer as I’d be the same age as the guys I tried to work with. Then 17 years later here we are.

RC: So it’s a good friendship and well as being professional?

JW: Yeah, and because there was such a gap between out ages, there was a mutual respect for each other.

RC: So where did you guys meet?

JW: In the Blue Oyster bar……. I had a carnation in my hair! Ha ha, Nah, in record shop called Tonys on park street . I used to go there and buy hip hop dressed up b-boy style.

I realised that I would never become LL Cool J

RC: what made you stop buying hip hop?

JW: I realised that I would never become LL Cool J, I wasn’t destined for greatness in the hip hop world. I put out a record when I was 16 with Smith and Mighty, they were the original Bristol sound so It really helped my brother and I get out there. I owe them a lot. They gave us an advance to get some equipment. I was as school taking my A levels and suddenly there was this cheque with an x amount of money. I was amazing to be given that sort of opportunity when I was a kid. That really made me think about taking a risk and stopping my higher level education. Imagine having a mixing desk and a sampler and effects unit at a young age, I was like “oh my god” As I was from a poor family and didn’t have much money, to have a mini studio at that age was great.

RC: I know you use a variety of software to produce/dj with, What can you tell me what modern technology you use?

JW: I thing there’s incredible stuff happening with software and the fact that processors are getting so fast at the moment. The new Macbook pros and the new Macs have power that is ridiculous. It gives you more options to be creative. You can have 20 Omni spheres up there, you can have an bunch of soft synths, you can have 15 trillion as opposed to 2 or 3 trillion without it crashing. It makes writing music so much more enjoyable. Back in the day I was using an Atari ST, samplers and before that I didn’t even use a computer. It was all about hardware sequencers like the Roland MC-500, Proper old school kit. I’m still really into old synths and my studio is full of them. You have to mix the old with the new, the best of both worlds.

RC: Nick (Warren) and yourself have just released a new album (we love machine), can you tell us more about it?

JW: it’s just been re-released with a bunch of tracks remixed by various other producers. It’s just a cover of different angles and caters for djs who wouldn’t normally play the original versions. That’s what the purpose of the album is. Most of the album is harder than what I usually like but it appeals to the big room kind of thing, a bit more techno-ish. Some of it is progressive but it covers all angles.
Now the album is out of the way its time for me to get a single out before august so I’m in good standing for the DJ magazine top 100.

RC: What are the key things you implement when you’re creating a track?

JW: Try to get a little bit of magic, something special about it… the X factor. I thing that’s the kind of idea as there is so much mundane stuff that is ok but doesn’t really stick out and I’d play for a couple of weeks and there are others they I will always play. The track has to make you feel some thing. Something that you’ll remember in 10 years time.

RC: What was the first record you bought?

JW: Sex Pistols – friggin’ in the riggin’

RC: So how is the house scene in your eyes at the moment?

JW: When it comes to making records It’s hard to sell music to people as everyone can get it for free. As soon as there’s a hot new track, it’s uploaded to some site. I don’t even think about sales any more. I just make music to maintain my profile and reputation and gigs basically. That’s what making records is about nowadays. 10 years ago you’d tour to sell but now you make music to tour…. I blame that on Stuart Wilkinson…. Ha ha ha!

RC: Funniest thing that ever happened at an event/gig?

JW: Well back in 97 in Glastonbury there was an incident where the crap was pumped back into the dance tent before we were about to go on……. I was wearing white linen, it was awful and smelly but looking back it was funny.

RC: What do you do outside of the dance music scene?

JW: Family vibes really, that’s it. I’m fortunate not to have a 9 to 5, have my week free so I spend a lot of my time with my daughter and It’s easy to pop upstairs from the studio when I need to chill.

RC: Knight Rider or A-team?

JW: I wasn’t allowed to watch either, I was from a hippy-ish alternative family and my dad viewed them as middle of the road. I was allowed to watch things hike horror films an more adult orientated programs. Going to school the next day would be interesting…

I hope you enjoyed the months article! You can find out more info about Jody on http://www.jodywisternoff.com

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BRISTOL & BATH // 18 MAY 2012

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Interview with Jody Wisternoff

30 May 2010

The last month has been amazing, everybody picking their summer festival destinations, buying clothes for summer and thinking about going abroad to destinations new.