EQ speaks to the hot-to-trot Richard Dinsdale ahead of the release of his debut artist album on Toolroom…
His name’s been attracting an increasing amount of interest over the past year or so thanks to some top-notch releases on the likes of Meat Katie’s Lot49, Renaissance and Global Underground, a mix album for Toolroom and a residency at the Ministry Of Sound. Now Richard Dinsdale is returning to Toolroom to drop his debut artist album, U-Turn. His already got a reputation for highly polished house tracks, but this long player – which moves from deep, heads-down floor-fillers to uptempo vocal pieces – should cement his name as a producer to watch out for. EQ speaks to the rising star to find out more…
Your career is going from strength to strength and it’s seems to have happened pretty fast. Has this taken you by surprise?
Since the age of 13 I’ve always wanted to be a successful producer and DJ. It didn’t really take me by surprise because it was a slow progression. I’m not a massive star in what I do but I would like to feel I have achieved something worthwhile.
Fatboy Slim is a big fan of your productions. How did it feel the first time you heard your tracks played by such a huge DJ?
It’s that kind of recognition I really look for and thrive on. When big DJs such as Fatboy Slim play your tracks it gives you a real sense of achievement and inspires you to carry on doing what you are doing.
You new album is due to drop in January. Can you tell us a bit about that?
I’ve been working on this album for about a year now and I’ve finally finished it. It actually just started out as an EP of four tracks, but I decided to work a bit longer on it and turn the project into an album of 10 tracks. Not every track on the album is a dance track – there’s everything from 90bpm to 128bpm. Doing an album is a great way of expressing your musical taste, not just sticking to one genre and straight-up house music.
What’s your favourite track on the album?
I’d have to say Let Yourself Go featuring Wray. It was really great to work with Viveen again and make a vocal track. We originally made two verses and a chorus but ended up just using one of the verses as it made it too soulful using the whole vocal track.
Why the name U-Turn?
I wanted people to approach this album in a different way, not over-using my usual jacking house style. The album contains lots of different styles, so I thought the title U-Turn was an appropriate way of telling people I was experimenting with different styles – going in a different direction so to speak.
Your tracks are renowned for being highly technical, and you can take a few months to complete each one. Does this ever get frustrating?
No, it’s not frustrating at all. If it’s what you love doing and it doesn’t bother you putting the right amount of time into a track to make it perfect, then you just do it. It’s more like a hobby than a job – the bonus is I’m getting paid for it. Different projects take different amounts of time – some tracks take just a week or so to finish, whereas some take up to four weeks. With the album, I’d work on certain things and leave them for a while, then work on something else like my other album with Michael Gray or a remix.
What first inspired you to start DJing?
When I first started out I was really into the hard and US house scene. DJs like Pete Wardman, Tony De Vit and Danny Rampling were massive influences for me. I used to love listening to Pete Wardman on Kiss at lunchtime on a Saturday. It was a weird situation for my friends because while they were out getting pissed on cider I was buying records.
What’s been the ultimate highlight for your so far?
The best feeling is to play your tracks in front of a massive crowd and to get a great reaction. It’s such a nerve-racking situation for a producer to test out new material, but when you get that crowd going, it’s the best feeling in the world. It makes all that time and effort you put into the track worth it. Plus you get to meet some great people on your travels – and some fantastic parties to go with it.
What do you have planned for the coming year?
I have lots coming out in the next couple of months on various labels such as Global Underground, Toolroom Records, Spin Out Records and Juicy Music. The artist album is out in January on Toolroom, but I’ve also just finished an album with Michael Gray, and this is due out next year some time too. Global Underground has just signed my single Walkies, and I’m expecting this to be released around February. Spin Out is releasing another EP of mine, with a release date yet to be decided.
U-Turn is out in January on Toolroom Records. Visit www.myspace.com/richarddinsdale and www.toolroomrecords.com
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