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DJ Mark Farina came on the scene in the late ‘80s. He started spinning at age fifteen and soon made a name for himself in the local Chicago House scene, alongside such electronica legends as Derrick Carter and Cajmere. He and Carter had a successful dance radio show at Northwestern University. Farina eventually moved to San Francisco, where he played a big part in building the house scene there, all the while perfecting his down-tempo, but dancefloor friendly, Mushroom Jazz sound. After years of being one of the top DJ’s on the planet, Farina has now set his sights recording original material. We recently caught up with Farina via e-mail, in which he filled us in on Air Farina, his first work of original material, and his thoughts on the current state of dance music. 1. Under the Radar: What made you decide to finally record and release your first full-length record of original work? Why now? Mark Farina: I had the opportunity finally for one, thanks to Om [Farina’s record company]. Also, since I've had several mix CD's I wanted to try something different. I didn't want to just put out a12",but a full length to have access to more audience. 2. Was the experience of recording an album of original work as you thought it would be? Was it harder or easier to do than you thought it would be? It's definitely not easy, but I'd expected it to be difficult. 3. What were your expectations in recording and releasing Air Farina and have they been met? Hopefully the people who liked some of my tracks already would be into the new stuff and also try to lure some new listeners in, too. So far so good. I am very pleased with the response. 4. Why the airport theme to the record and the packaging, what inspired that? I've been into airplanes since I was little. I always thought about taking over a channel on the aircraft entertainment center. 5. How did Sean Hayes get involved in the project and what was he like to work with? He is a friend of my neighbor’s and performs in SF with his own band. I was looking for some different elements to add to the project. Working with Sean was great. He is very talented and professional and we banged the songs out in one or two takes. He's a very good writer and “Dream Machine” was already a song he had done. He comes from a more acoustic/folk sound. I just added a bit of direction to a groove. 6. Do you feel that dance music has lost some of its relevance in the last couple of years or do you think that the genre and scene are as strong as ever? Dance music maybe has lost some ground in certain geographic areas, but only in the clubs. People are still getting into electronic stuff for personal listening, but maybe don't go out to clubs. Basically still strong as ever, just more people making it (the music). 7. Where do you seem the future of dance music, what is the next evolution of the genre? Hopefully in America, with the lack of an underage (21) club scene, the youth will stay into underground electronica. Internationally things are evolving at a steady rate. House and all it's subgenres are expanding to areas mainly dominated by other styles. Hopefully the USA will start to catch up with more video/radio support of underground electronica and not just sway back to the Indie band scene. 8. If you couldn't be a DJ what do you think you'd do instead? Professional soccer player (I'd be almost retired by now) and own a record store/cafe. 9. When you were in elementary school what did you want to be when you grew up? Pro-soccer player. 10. Do you have any strange hobbies? I collect sneakers and Hot Wheels. 11. What is your earliest memory? Sitting on my parent's apartment porch in Portage Park, Chicago, age 2 or 3, looking at the night sky. 12. What do your parents do for a l iving and were they supportive of you DJ ’ing and attempting a career in music? My father is an export wood/marble floor installer/designer. My mother just takes care of him. For a while, they asked when I would get a real job. But as they learned more, they were very supportive. 13. If you could get ten minutes alone with President George W. Bush, what would you say to him? Wouldn't really want that opportunity. 14. What’s the biggest misconception about Mark Farina? People think that's not my real name. 15. Do you see yourself doing more albums of original work in the future, or do you plan to concentrate more on mix CD’s and DJ’ing? I'll definitely do another original L.P. someday. But will also keep doing mix cd's too, and DJ'ing. 16. Do you have any other thoughts about the current state of the world or the state of dance music or the music industry in general? Downloading DJ sets and music has changed things greatly. www.markfarina.net |
