Jonty Skrufff: Hopefully we can get everybody screaming

Jonty Skrufff will be coming back here for the Open Air Festival. We chatted with him about his newest activities.

What have you been up to lately?

Jonty Skrufff: “I’ve been working in the studio on new remixes for Dusty Kid and Kidnap Kid (no relation), writing the regular Skrufff stories, consulting for Amsterdam Dance Event and Sochi Winter Music Conference in Russia and DJing - I just got back from spinning in Paris at a super new club called Wanderlust. 

Over 1,500 people packed into the place and I DJed on the outside terrace as the sun went down over the Seine then inside after midnight: great fun and one of my favourite gigs for a while. Oh and I’m working really hard with Fidelity Kastrow on our radio show Germany Calling which is now being broadcast in Brazil, Ukraine, France and of course Berlin. Basically, I’m working flat out; but having fun.”

We like Germany Calling and share the newest editions. How did this whole thing happen and how do you choose tracks? 

Jonty Skrufff: “When I still lived in London I used to do a show for Ministry of Sound Radio and when I moved to Berlin I teamed up with BLN.FM (then working as Sonnett 77) and started a show for them. 4 years on, we’re now broadcasting across a 57 strong network of FM terrestrial stations in Brazil, Kiss FM in Ukraine (also a ‘proper’ terrestrial station), Underground FG in France and new Ibiza-based station Pioneer DJ Radio, and it’s become a key part of what we do.

Fidelity and I basically select tracks we love from the hundreds we’re sent each week as promos, most of which are house and techno. We also include classic cuts each week and the emphasis is always on great tunes with lots of variety from lots of different genres. To give you a clearer flavor, right now we’re playing lots of tracks from labels such as Kling Klong, Soma, Crosstown Rebels, Turbo, Culprit, Punch Music, Tigersushi, Form and Great Stuff plus classics from the like of Public Enemy, Pet Shop Boys, Mantronix and Aaliyah.” 

Do you record it in some sort of studio of your own?

Jonty Skrufff:  We make the show with the help of our lovely friend and studio wizard Padder in the BLN.FM studios in Berlin. (http://www.mixcloud.com/jontyskrufff/ )

You have been invited to the Open Air Festival. it has been some time since you played here... looking forward to it?

Jonty Skrufff: You bet! We always love playing in Czech - the clubbers are always supercool and up for it and we’ve made many good friends over the years - both from the industry and dance floor. Fidelity and I always compete with each other to play the best possible sets so hopefully we can get everybody screaming, dancing and losing themselves on the dancefloor. That’s the plan anyway.

Current favourite tracks? Any secret tips for great new music?

Jonty Skrufff: “I am loving sooooooo many tracks at the moment; 2012 is turning out to be a great year for music (way better than 2011). Killer tunes I’m currently loving include tracks by Mercury, Mauro Picotto (who’s changed his style dramatically in the last 12 months), Jamie Jones, Exercise One . .  the list goes on. Secret tips? That’s a secret!;)

You interview a lot of DJs and producers. Whose answers were surprising or extremely memorable for you recently?

Jonty Skrufff: “I was quite surprised by Mark Broadbent (We Love Ibiza promoter) revealing that he shares my fascination for jellyfish and enjoyed Danny Howells’ tale of being carried out of the booth comatose once after he drunkenly tried to mix in the slipmat. Laurent Garnier also entertained me (as always) with his tales of being chased around Paris’ Metro- and being beaten up- as a teenager in France.”

What is the place to be in Berlin?

Jonty Skrufff: “Berghain/ Panorama Bar is still unquestionably the best club here (particularly because of its crowd) and there are always great parties virtually every weekend at warehouses and open-airs around the city.”

What was the last thing you bought that pleased you?

Jonty Skrufff: Some lovely fresh salmon from the local fish shop that I used to make Salmon Crouton. Delicious.
PS: Jonty HAS HIS OWN T-SHIRTS NOW, get'em here:) dadawan.bigcartel.com/category/skrufff-com-official-merch