JFC talk ibiza,
'Low Frequency' and how to make a hit
with leeds-spinner denney
Leeds-born Denney has been DJing and producing for over 15 years now – blending house and techno to form an irresistible sound that has grown his name around the world.
His 2012 release Ultraviolet was a smash hit. He’s been hailed as one of the sounds of the future by the people at Mixmag, and he provided the sound of 2015 for many when he dropped the unrelenting Low Frequency earlier this year.
Denney features in the line up for the latest Nightvision party in Edinburgh, spinning at The Liquid Room on Saturday 12 December alongside Hot Since 82 and Maxxi Sound System. We caught up in the lead up to chat creativity, new music and summer parties in Ibiza.
“It’s been an insane year to be honest,” he laughs, as we kick off discussing his highlights from the past 12 months, including remixing Rudimental and Ed Sheeran – Denney actually went to university with Piers and Kesi from Rudimental – getting a first residency in Ibiza and seeing banger Low Frequency pretty much take over the world.
“Obviously I couldn’t believe the track actually got into the top 100 chart, so that was pretty crazy.
His 2012 release Ultraviolet was a smash hit. He’s been hailed as one of the sounds of the future by the people at Mixmag, and he provided the sound of 2015 for many when he dropped the unrelenting Low Frequency earlier this year.
Denney features in the line up for the latest Nightvision party in Edinburgh, spinning at The Liquid Room on Saturday 12 December alongside Hot Since 82 and Maxxi Sound System. We caught up in the lead up to chat creativity, new music and summer parties in Ibiza.
“It’s been an insane year to be honest,” he laughs, as we kick off discussing his highlights from the past 12 months, including remixing Rudimental and Ed Sheeran – Denney actually went to university with Piers and Kesi from Rudimental – getting a first residency in Ibiza and seeing banger Low Frequency pretty much take over the world.
“Obviously I couldn’t believe the track actually got into the top 100 chart, so that was pretty crazy.
“I've been touring all year and I’ve had my first Ibiza residence with VIVa Warriors which was amazing. There’s loads more stuff in the pipeline for next year now. It’s opened a lot of doors. It’s just been mental; loads of remixes, loads of studio work.”
He’s certainly been a man about town. As well as travelling the world in the past few years, Denney has released music on labels spanning from Hot Creations and VIVa Music to Saved Records and Crosstown Rebels.
So, what goes into making the magic, and when all is said and done, did he know he had a hit on his hands with Ultraviolet or Low Frequency? Long story short; there’s no formula, and it tends to change from track to track.
“I always sit there with a blank canvas in the studio and just jam,” he tells. “Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Ultraviolet and Low Frequency are two totally different tracks... When I made Low Frequency, not in a million years did I think that would go so big. When I made Ultraviolet I suppose I did think it’d be big.
“Low Frequency was a B-side originally! The other side was A. It’s a nice surprise when something like that happens. You don’t expect it at all.”
He’s certainly been a man about town. As well as travelling the world in the past few years, Denney has released music on labels spanning from Hot Creations and VIVa Music to Saved Records and Crosstown Rebels.
So, what goes into making the magic, and when all is said and done, did he know he had a hit on his hands with Ultraviolet or Low Frequency? Long story short; there’s no formula, and it tends to change from track to track.
“I always sit there with a blank canvas in the studio and just jam,” he tells. “Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Ultraviolet and Low Frequency are two totally different tracks... When I made Low Frequency, not in a million years did I think that would go so big. When I made Ultraviolet I suppose I did think it’d be big.
“Low Frequency was a B-side originally! The other side was A. It’s a nice surprise when something like that happens. You don’t expect it at all.”
It would be at Sankey’s in Ibiza where Denney would become a resident DJ with Steve Lawler’s VIVa Music.
Playing main set times in The LAB every time he took to the decks, the Leeds spinner got to get to grips with the room and the responsibilities that come with being a resident – something he’ll be doing again in 2016.
He continued: “When you’ve got a residency you start to know a room and look for records that sound good in that particular room. You get to know the crowd.
“When you’re a guest DJ you turn up and do your thing, but when you’re a resident it’s quite cool, you need to continually change it up and dig a little bit deeper. I was playing from 4-6 in the morning and musically you can really stretch your legs at that time as well.”
Saturday at Nightvision won’t be the first time Denney is crossing paths with Hot Since 82, either. He’s been a friend of the Knee Deep in Sound label for some time now, touring often with the gang and noting “We hit it off from the beginning. You’re on your own a lot when you play, so it’s nice to tour with a group of friends.”
On top of that there’s been a lot of planning and a lot of music-making. Gigs with Annie Mac have grown his name even moreso this year – “Annie has been really supportive with Radio One” – and tours of Australia and North and South America are all on the cards for next year now, alongside new releases on Crosstown Rebels and 20/20 Vision.
Last but not least? We thought we’d try and get a taster of exactly what you’d be in for if you turn up for Nightvision's 'Knee Deep in Edinburgh' at The Liquid Room on Saturday 12 December, which you can buy tickets for here.
If Ultraviolet, Low Frequency and Denney’s catalogue of other work isn’t enough to convince you for whatever reason, here are a couple of his favourite set tracks from 2015 which might just convince you to get along...
Playing main set times in The LAB every time he took to the decks, the Leeds spinner got to get to grips with the room and the responsibilities that come with being a resident – something he’ll be doing again in 2016.
He continued: “When you’ve got a residency you start to know a room and look for records that sound good in that particular room. You get to know the crowd.
“When you’re a guest DJ you turn up and do your thing, but when you’re a resident it’s quite cool, you need to continually change it up and dig a little bit deeper. I was playing from 4-6 in the morning and musically you can really stretch your legs at that time as well.”
Saturday at Nightvision won’t be the first time Denney is crossing paths with Hot Since 82, either. He’s been a friend of the Knee Deep in Sound label for some time now, touring often with the gang and noting “We hit it off from the beginning. You’re on your own a lot when you play, so it’s nice to tour with a group of friends.”
On top of that there’s been a lot of planning and a lot of music-making. Gigs with Annie Mac have grown his name even moreso this year – “Annie has been really supportive with Radio One” – and tours of Australia and North and South America are all on the cards for next year now, alongside new releases on Crosstown Rebels and 20/20 Vision.
Last but not least? We thought we’d try and get a taster of exactly what you’d be in for if you turn up for Nightvision's 'Knee Deep in Edinburgh' at The Liquid Room on Saturday 12 December, which you can buy tickets for here.
If Ultraviolet, Low Frequency and Denney’s catalogue of other work isn’t enough to convince you for whatever reason, here are a couple of his favourite set tracks from 2015 which might just convince you to get along...
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