Flatland Funk a highly devoted Dj/Producer to electronic music healing from canada, he has gained support from artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Revolvr, TJR, Will Bailey, Lazy Rich, while also receiving air play on Sirius XM, BBC Radio 1, and Di.fm!. He is a resident DJ for Boodang Music which Has enabled him to rock crowds over 5000 people. Flatland Funk have surely tapped into something that’s deep in the veins of music lovers and sound addicts alike!
SUM :Hi Dan, thanks for taking the time to chat with us, How’s been 2014 so far for your career?
Busy to say the least. Aside from running my record label “Pyramid Recordings” with my partner Farace, its been crazy. I can’t complain though, i love to stay busy in the industry doing what i love the most.
SUM :Congrats on your new release on Big Alliance with Hot Shit! and Jay Jacob. Can you tell us how Disappear came about?
First off, I am very excited about this release. I’ve always loved working with “Big Alliance Records” label. They are some very great people to work with, who are all about the industry, and helping artists grow. The type of people i like to work with. The release “Disappear” came about by a chat i had with my good friend “Hot Shit!”. We both have similar styles and sound so we thought it would be a good idea to work together to create something great. After finishing this super dirty electro sounding track together, we felt it was missing one key element. that element being a vocal. So we put our heads together and thought about who would best bring this piece of music to life. After another chat together, we thought the vocalist best suiting for the track would be “Jay Jacob”. He has done a lot of amazing work in the past for some noteable artists, and we thought he could really make our track shine. We had Jay Jacob listen to the track and immediately he fell in love with it, and said he was on board. Thus was born “Disappear”.
SUM :Any other upcoming collaborations or projects you’re excited about?
I have one more very exciting collaboration which we have just finished, and it will be releasing on “Pyramid Recordings”, and that was with “The Elelment” and vocalist “Britt V”. The track is called “Lift Off” and it does exactly that. it’s a little different then my previous releases but i thought it would be interesting to try and do a fun, bouncy, uplifting Melbourne track. The turn out was great, everyone worked well together and we are all very excited about it. Remixes from “Rocket Pimp” & “We Fvck On The First Date”
SUM :What’s it like running Pyramid Recordings with Farace? How does the label-head long-distance relationship work out?
Paul and i have been friends for many years now, and working together comes quite easy actually. We both have our separate jobs, and know what we have to do, so we don’t really ever get in each others way. Obviously we have our differences from time to time, but we both want whats best for “Pyramid Recordings”,and the artists on the label so we always work it out. It’s been really great and i love working with him.
SUM :Tell us about the Pyramid Podcast! Where can we find it?
The Pyramid Podcast is a work in progress and were aiming to launch in September. it will feature upcoming Pyramid releases, our favorite past releases, and of course tracks from friends outside the Pyramid circle. The podcast will be available on iTunes, and be hosted by myself ( Flatland Funk ).
SUM :Who are some promising Pyramid talents we should keep on the look out for?
Personally i think all the artists we are releasing are promising artists, because we belive in them all. Some artists to really keep an eye out for in future releases are: Rocket Pimp, VS1, Shwann, Dj Forte, 2Blastguns, Johnny Labs, Bryn Liedl.
SUM :How does the music scene in Regina compare to other destinations you’ve traveled to for shows?
The music scene is next to nil here in Regina. We have a lack of clubs and the following for Electronic music is not that great. What we do have though is an annual festival called “Connect Music Festival”. it happens once every year thrown by the “Connect Tribe”. It started 19 years ago with international talent and urban culture in a beautiful Southern Saskatchewan setting. Since then it has grown into Western Canada’s most infamous grassroots electronica and alternative culture festivals. People from all walks of life come out and let their hair down. – See more at: http://connectfestival.ca
SUM :What’s your favorite hometown venue? Out-of-town venue?
I really don’t have a favorite hometown venue as the venues change so often. I just like playing anywhere, where the vibe is good, people are dancing and having a good time really. My favorite out of town venue would have to be in the city Edmonton at the “Shaw Center” Ive had many amazing memories there playing for my residency “Boodang Music Canada”, opening for some of the worlds biggest djs to around 5000 people every time. More information on my residency can be found at the website: http://www.boodang.com
SUM :What are your top three tracks at the moment and why?
This is a very tough question but at the moment i find myself playing these 3 out a lot:
1) Zomboy – Airborne
2) Jaycen A’mour – Hands Up
3) Aylen – Quack Attack
why? Because they all do serious damage on the dance-floor. :)
SUM :Can you give us a little insight into your studio workflow/technique?
Its always different for me, but it does involve a heck of a lot of coffee.
SUM :What’s next for Flatland Funk, production-wise?
I am going to be focusing alot more on releasing less collabs. More solo projects ranging to dirty electro bangers to fun bouncy stuff. Also I’m going to be releasing more of my personal edits/mash-ups.
SUM :Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Anyone who works really hard at there craft, and are passionate and compassionate about there craft. So its not anyone in particular per say. It can be anyone, that is what really influences me.
SUM :What’s your favorite part about your job as DJ/producer/label owner?
Well, i started the label because i have such an enormous passion for the music, and helping people grow in the music industry to the best of my ability. I just really love helping people pursue there dreams, and i do the best i can based on my personal experiences. As far as DJ/producing go, Ive always had such a huge passion and dedication to music. Its an outlet that i use to express myself, kind of like a therapy for me. I just love making people smile, and enjoy themselves also. Its about the community and the bond i share with people in the community. There are so many reasons why i do it. Just know i do it with love.
SUM :Although I assume it’s always very busy, what’s a normal day look like for you?
Busier then most people think actually. i am probably doing something music related from the second i wake up, to the second i go to bed. most of the time for someone else, label wise or just helping them with there promotion stuff. i rarely get time to work on my own stuff very often. So in the little spare time i have because I’m so busy, i use that to work on my own stuff. I have no social life. lol I want to have a career in this industry so bad, that i work non stop day/night every single day of my life.
SUM :What do you do when you’re not doing something music-related? Any hobbies or sports?
If going to the movies, hanging with my girl Mackenzie, or playing with my 2 bunnies ( Gus & Walter ) are hobbies that’s pretty much what i do. I really enjoy my down time, and use it to relax more or less.
SUM :What’s the best Canadian brew out there?
Personally I’m not a beer guy, but i do really enjoy a good “Crabbies” beverage. Its probably not Canadian, but its an amazing ginger beer that i consume massive amounts of. Especially during studio sessions.
