Yes, it’s 5pm and here’s another interview for you! Kinda getting used to this 5 questions and a Top 5 at 5pm lark? We hope so…

For those who don’t know, Timo Garcia first introduced himself to the world just 3 years ago. Making a twin-pronged attack on clubland, he put both his reputation and finances on the line when he released his debut production, Into The Light, as his new label’s debut release. Fortunately it was a success, enabling him to not only keep his creative pride intact, but also ensuring Berwick Street Records could continue putting out records.

With the foundations laid, Timo has since become a bit of a household name in the house and electro communities, putting together tracks with the likes of Ricky Stone and Cheshire Catz, remixing Coldcut and Greenskeepers, mixing a DJmag covermount CD, promoting Berwick Street singles and generally being here, there and everywhere.

We last saw him making waves with his acclaimed, dischordant, progressive outing Magic Roundabout at the end of 2007, another Berwick Street release. Gavin Leversuch catches up with the man himself to find out what 2008 holds for Timo…

Hi Timo, so tell us, what have you been up to lately?

“I’ve actually been redesigning and rewiring my studio and office space to be more music orientated so that I spend less time on marketing, PR, design and web work for the label and can focus more on production as that is where my heart is at. Otherwise weeks can go by and I realize I haven’t had a spare moment to make music!”

Your last track, Magic Roundabout, was very well received, when do you plan to hit us with another Timo track?

“Yes, I was very happy with the reception the Magic Roundabout track got out there especially the Lutzenkirchen remix which is ace! Next up is a collaboration I did with Ken Fan called Ground Control which should hit the stores this coming Monday. This has also been getting some amazing reactions from the promo with support from DJs as varied as Paolo Mojo, Jody Wisternoff, Bodyrox, Electric Press & Matt Cantor from the Freestylers. Its got a huge electro remix from Swen Weber as well as a booty shaking techno stomper from Hauswerks and Gaz James. Really exited to see how this one goes…”

What do you see as your main strengths as a producer or DJ?

“My main strength as a DJ I think is the fact that I also produce music, and so I have a sixth sense as to when a promo I may not have listened to that much, or even all the way through, will drop, or when there will be new hats, or a synth line coming in and so can incorporate these things in my mixing.

Equally my strength as a producer is that I’ve been out there DJing for so long and therefore know what makes the dancefloor tick.”

How’s life at Berwick Street? With small labels dropping like flies following collapse of distribution company Amato, are things still ticking along nicely for you?

“That was a shocker and a lot of my friends got burnt with the collapse of Amato. We are still owed money, which we will have to write off as bad debt due to their demise but fortunately not enough to take us under!”

What else have you got planned for the year?

“I’ve got a great feeling about this year with another collaboration called Uncle Fly with Ricky Stone in early promo stage at the moment getting some big love from DJs including Ali Dubfire, James Zabiela and Tiesto amongst others giving it the big thumbs up! I actually think its going to be our biggest release yet as a label with massive remixes by Pig n Dan, Laurent Pepper and James Searles.

Also coming up on the production front is a project I’ve been working on with, in my opinion, the world’s finest Hang Drum player Manu Delago. Clips of him playing this instrument on YouTube are getting over 80,000 hits as the instrument and Manu himself are fast becoming a new sensation. The track I have made with him, Hang Loose, is a deep lush melodic slow house track with some more great remixes on their way.

On a DJ tip I’ve got some exciting gigs coming up this spring in China, Thailand and hopefully Brazil again and of course I’m looking forward to some more trips to play Ibiza this summer too.
Plus big things on the horizon with a huge new project called ‘The Sound of Jack’ … watch this space!

Finally, I’ll be joining Tania Von Pear live next week on her Ministry of Sound radio show on Feb 14th at 7pm.”


Timo’s Current Top 5

1. Timo Garcia – Magic Roundabout - Berwick Street Records
2. Cozzy D – Cheese Dreams (Kid Dub’s Smoked Cheese Remix) - Berwick Street Records
3. Hauswerks – Freaky Lookin’ - Jackmoves
4. Marshall Jefferson vs Noosa Heads – Mushrooms (Justin Martin Mix) Airtight
5. Adam K & Soha – Twilight (Chris Barratt Remix) - Data Records