Whether you might think Electronic Music may be dead, resurging, or just taking a break, there’s one DJ who has not looked back since when he learned the decks at eight years old. With a little luck and a lot of hard work, the Newcastle, England native Cristoph is becoming one of the next top tier DJs you need to see and experience. He has played Creamfields UK, Interstellar, Seismic Dance Event, Beyond Wonderland, and Arc Festival. The DJ/producer is crisscrossing America on his latest tour.
His hard work and dedication are making him a favorite to see whether in the club or at a festival. He is a global superstar in the electronic music industry and his star power keeps rising. Modern Frequency recently sat down with the DJ/Producer via zoom to talk House Music, how he got started in the industry, and his most recent tour that sees him rising quicker than you can say Calvin Harris.
Where are you?
Chicago
How long have you deejayed for?
I’ve deejayed and produced. I learned the beatbox when I was about eight. From there I played around belt drive vinyl decks. I was allowed to get a little bit better with direct drive.
How did you get your foot in the door initially?
I used to sneak into clubs underage with my older sister and brother in Newscastle. I got to know a few promoters then. In Newscastle you can get into clubs at fifteen. When I was allowed to become a resident at clubs, then I would get mix tapes. House was kind of niche market because everyone was playing R&B and hip hop then. I was a standout DJ for anybody who would want to put on a House event.
What’s the difference between House, Techno, and EDM today?
I guess there all sub genres of the House and Techno spectrum. EDM stands for Electronic Dance Music, which predominantly what the whole scene is based upon since the sound is created by an electronic synthesizer or drum machine. EDM is created by another sub-genre. I believe it’s all in the House and Techno spectrum. I wouldn’t label myself a House DJ. I just deejay music that I enjoy.
Where’s the genre going in the next few years?
Genres come and go so often, but Melodic House and Techno seems to be a really big thing but don’t know if it’s got the longevity to stand up the way that Tech House for the past five or six years or EDM has had for the last ten years. Another subgenre that has a really cool vibe is called Afro House. I don’t know if that has the legs though. As a scene as a whole, you’ll see a lot of progression come through in a lot of different the sub-genres. It’s great if it continues to grow our industry as a whole will too.
The Tech House scene seems to sample some old hip-hop vocal and then it’s used as a sample from there. I think my industry is too underground to appeal to massive markets like Taylor Swift and the pop scene, but Calvin Harris and David Guetta have that niche to be on the dance circuit.
Do you like playing clubs or festivals?
I think they are two totally different choices. At festivals you don’t get long enough to express yourself as an artist. You go up there for an hour or 90 minutes max to bang out all the big hits. You want your set to remembered. The club set you get two hours plus. On this tour I’m doing five to seven hours, and you get to tell your story. I really don’t prepare for sets. I go in and try to vibe off the crowd and what they want.
You sold out most of your United States tour. How does that feel? Where will this tour find you?
Very surreal from a guy from Newcastle. People are coming out to see what I do and surreal is a perfect word for it. This tour goes to Toronto, San Francisco, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, etc.
What’s next for you and where can we find your music?
I got another two tracks for Volume 2, which comes out Thursday. I got a remix coming out at the end of November and then that will be it for this year.
