With an ear for a stellar sample and a love of grooving bass lines, Perthshire DJ/producer Arkley shares his second dance-worthy single ‘Rave’92’ (Everybody Dancing)’ under the freshly launched alias. Following on from his debut 2021 release ‘Music (Over & Over),’ Arkley’s new anthemic single encompasses a nostalgic aura of acid house, hip-hop, and early 90s rave music.
We caught up with Arkley himself to hear more about the vision for his new moniker, how the new single ‘Rave’92’ came to be, and his early days of gigging down the Twa Tams.
Arkley is your new solo venture; what inspired the move to be a stand-alone artist compared to your previous musical work?
“I grew up playing in guitar bands and always loved playing music with my friends; it was as much a social thing as it was a creative one. I moved to London for a few years and unexpectedly found myself in the city’s drum & bass scene where I learned to DJ and got immersed in dance music. I was part of a D&B duo called Deuce & Charger that did pretty well, and although I had a lot of fun with it, we decided to take a break in 2020. That gave me the chance to do something different and inspired me to try a solo project for the first time. I was also inspired by the idea of making music that was 100% me… for better or for worse!”
How would you describe the Arkley sound?
“A lot of people have been saying it’s like a future-retro sound; a 21st Century take on dance and electronic sounds from the past, particularly the 90s and early 2000s. I’ve basically gone back to the artists that first got me into dance music – acts like The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, and early Daft Punk – and tried to channel that influence into making something completely new.”
Your new single ‘Rave’92 (Everybody Dancing)’ dropped at the end of January; what’s the reaction to the track been so far?
“It has been incredible! I think people are really resonating with the early 90s rave sound and vibe. I guess for younger audiences it sounds really fresh, and the whole acid house story and style is really exciting to discover. And for older ravers, it’s probably a welcome bit of nostalgia – a new track that reminds them of the good old days!”
Can you tell us about the creative process of writing the release?
“I was working on a tune that had a great rhythm track, but the rest of it wasn’t really going anywhere. I was determined not to give up on it, so I decided to try a different approach. I loaded up my Korg M1 VST – it’s a modern emulation of the synth with the classic house piano sound, as well as the organ bass sound used on Robin S’ ‘Show Me Love’ and ‘Dreamer’ by Livin’ Joy. I started messing around with the organ bass sound and wrote the bass line for ‘Rave ’92’ almost immediately, and suddenly the whole track just came to life. I then found all the garage MC and old-skool house diva samples you hear on the track and had a lot of fun stitching them together to make the final thing.”
The track has a real nostalgic feel. What are your early memories of the club culture here in Perth and further afield in Scotland?
“As I said, I was mainly in the guitar band scene when I was growing up in Perth. I played my first gig at the Twa Tams and used to go to T in the Park every year with my friends. The Ice Factory had a bit of a legendary status though, along with places like The Arches and Optimo in Glasgow where I lived for a year after school.”
Are there any Scottish DJ/producers up this way that you follow and would recommend listening to?
“Primal Scream was the first act that showed me how a guitar band could make club music, and they have remained a big influence ever since. I also recommend checking out newer Scottish DJs like Sam Gellaitry and Ewan McVicar – excellent stuff!”
Would you ever be up for bringing the Arkley sound to The Fair City…an Ice Factory set perhaps?
“Yes, absolutely – send me some dates, and I’ll be there!”
What’s your vision for Arkley over the next five years?
“I’d like to put out more releases that continue to put a modern spin on classic dance sounds and eras. I have a podcast called ‘A Music Odyssey’ and I guess it feels like that’s what I’m on – a voyage of musical discovery and reinterpretation! I have a load more tunes with an early 90s vibe but also tracks with more of a late 90s big beat sound and even some disco-influenced tunes too. I’m really keen to get out DJing again with the new project. A massive early influence on me was the ‘anything goes’ DJ mixes by 2ManyDJs on the ‘As Heard On Radio Soulwax’ series. My sets have a similar aesthetic, and I’d love to take them to clubs and festivals.”
You’ve started the year on a high with this new single; what does the rest of 2022 hold for you?
“The next thing is the video for ‘Rave ’92’, which is absolutely amazing! The producer, Mush Pongo, has done an incredible job with a fresh take on those old 90s rave VHS visuals, and I can’t wait to share it. After that, I have a few guest DJ mixes coming up, including one for BBC Introducing. I’m planning more releases and DJ shows as the year progresses too.”
Listen to Arkley’s new single ‘Rave 92′ (Everybody Dancing)’ out now!
Follow Arkley on Instagram and via his official website www.arkleymusic.com for the latest music news, curated playlists, and more.
