Mark Farina
Sixteen Questions for Mark Farina
Dec 02, 2003
Mark Farina
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.
Most Recent
- Picnic at Hanging Rock [4K UHD] (Review) —
- Joe Goddard of Hot Chip Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song “Moments Die” (Feat. Barrie) (News) — Joe Goddard, Hot Chip
- Premiere: O Slow Shares New EP ‘Every Time I Look In The Mirror’ (News) — O Slow
- Glasgow’s The Joy Hotel Unveils Debut Single “Jeremiah” (News) — The Joy Hotel
- One Million Love Songs (Review) — Bnny
Comments
Submit your comment
December 27th 2009
8:21pm
Great blog.thank for information.i wish you success.
January 20th 2010
2:18pm
I had the opportunity finally for one, thanks to Om Farina’s cartier watches record company. Also, since I’ve had several mix CD’s I wanted to try something different.
July 11th 2011
4:12am
I will recommend not to wait until you get big sum of money to order goods! You can just take the business loans or credit loan and feel yourself free
July 15th 2011
10:48am
I guess that to get the loans from creditors you must have a good motivation. Nevertheless, one time I’ve received a car loan, because I wanted to buy a building.
December 22nd 2011
3:08pm
I had got a dream to begin my own business, nevertheless I didn’t earn enough amount of cash to do that. Thank God my close dude told to utilize the personal loans. Hence I received the student loan and made real my old dream.
December 30th 2011
9:55am
Do you know that this is high time to receive the personal loans, which can realize your dreams.
March 26th 2012
9:54pm
Houses are quite expensive and not every person is able to buy it. But, personal loans was created to aid different people in such hard situations.
May 16th 2012
1:36pm
Buildings are not very cheap and not everybody is able to buy it. Nevertheless, loans was invented to aid different people in such kind of situations.
July 21st 2012
9:11pm
I strictly recommend not to wait until you get big sum of cash to buy different goods! You can just get the mortgage loans or just term loan and feel yourself free
July 29th 2012
5:22pm
The mortgage loans (goodfinance-blog.com) are important for guys, which would like to start their company. In fact, that is very comfortable to receive a secured loan.
August 26th 2012
2:34pm
Every one knows that humen’s life seems to be high priced, nevertheless people need money for different stuff and not every one gets enough cash. So to receive fast loans or sba loan will be a proper way out.
September 24th 2012
3:21am
The credit loans suppose to be useful for guys, which would like to ground their own business. As a fact, it’s not hard to receive a credit loan.
October 14th 2012
4:11pm
Some time ago, I really needed to buy a building for my business but I didn’t have enough cash and could not order something. Thank goodness my friend suggested to take the loan goodfinance-blog.com at reliable creditors. Hence, I acted so and was happy with my short term loan.
January 27th 2013
4:34am
People all over the world take the mortgage loans from different creditors, just because that’s fast and easy.
January 27th 2013
5:48pm
We value your time that is why we deliver professional custom essays writing assistance! Just visit this website and receive qualified essay help!
February 28th 2013
8:05am
Visit this site as the information available would help you when you agree to buy a research paper online and to receive the best results when it comes to professional essay editing.
March 3rd 2013
2:02pm
You could hear several times that only not good students buy term paper services. But, college students as for help because they don’t have other way. Don’t listen to these things! Do as you are willing!
March 4th 2013
2:51pm
View home page and obtain what you have wished for so just purchase professional English research paper and believe in wonders of our custom essay writing service.
March 28th 2013
4:28am
High results seem to be hidden inside. Masters academic writers accomplish customized papers of extra high standards! Thence, do not be afraid and buy essay online cannot vanish if you sit deciding nothing! Become ingenious or simply buy essay online.
April 9th 2013
10:45pm
Visit Essays Service firm to reveal more about how to purchase excellent essay writing and make the best of our amazing company when it comes to professional essays and paper writing.
April 10th 2013
3:58am
Look here if you are searching for essays writing help. Buy term paper, save your time and do other important things while expert writers will cope with your paper.
April 17th 2013
7:09am
We welcome you to buy any kind of customized papers at our essays online service. We as great experts are ready to fulfill all academic requirements.
May 16th 2013
3:10pm
You should choose this writing centre whenever you need to purchase online papers uk. Look here and take your time out.
May 16th 2013
4:13pm
Don’t you get what high school students are aimed at? They guys are concentrated on the best results! Nonetheless, to receive high quality research papers you must have someone such as case study writing company to support you.
May 21st 2013
7:24am
I had a dream to start my company, but I didn’t have enough of money to do it. Thank goodness my fellow told to utilize the mortgage loans. Thence I used the commercial loan and realized my dream.
May 26th 2013
4:50am
Order Education Essay in accordance with your requirements written by qualified writers and take pleasure from writing process.
May 26th 2013
4:51am
Our writing centre employs solely those writers who are specialists in creating Law essay.
August 2nd 2013
11:42pm
Every one understands that men’s life seems to be expensive, nevertheless people require cash for different stuff and not every man earns enough cash. Thence to get good loan and just car loan should be good solution.
August 29th 2013
3:20pm
Have no time to write high quality custom essay writing service? Save your time and select this Web site to buy best academic papers from the experienced team of writers!
October 20th 2013
1:38am
Are you still trying to find essay editing service? There is no need to proceed with a search, click here and purchase written essay and you will never be sorry.
October 22nd 2013
7:57pm
So if you don’t know how to write your paper, you could buy political essays of high quality at top notch paper writing service, and you will never be sorry.
December 6th 2013
8:42am
Now it is difficult to order academic papers of great quality. Nevertheless, it is still possible to notice reliable uk essays online service in the web.
December 9th 2013
6:31am
A lot of students all over the world understand that the admission essay writing service would supply them with the online term paper. Thus, this is not hard to buy an essay.