That Danny Savage Show – Introducing Denney (DJ & Producer) – What It Takes To Reach The Top
Fast receiving global recognition Danny’s latest podcast series continues to deliver some of the best insight directly into the centre of the music industry. With this podcast Danny Savage settles into the hot seat asking Denney what drives his dedication and direction as an internationally recognised artist and reflects back on his past. Featuring on a host of heavyweight labels Viva, Hot Creations, Crosstown Rebels, Pokerflat, 20:20 Vision and starting life in the office at one of the worlds iconic clubs Back to Basics (considered the longest running weekly night in clubland).
Denney provides some exclusive feedback on the current music scene and the transition it took to get to his present position citing that “he spent educating himself on music, networking and countless hours in the studio before beginning to reap the rewards of his hard work.” Tune-in to gain a greater understanding of what a modern music identity needs to do to achieve industry success.
Looking into Denney’s humble beginning s as a promoter for night called Future before moving up the ranks and into other city’s this really set Denney firmly on his way into understanding the scene from the inside out, whilst allowing him to meet many of the most prominent characters. He openly discusses the politics and personal impacts of the lifestyle and also hosting top nights featuring the likes of Carl cox, Sasha and Fatboy Slim.
Denney first started DJing at age 13 and progressed into producing around 19, he has been touring consistently from 2011 and his last year’s highlights included an American profile residency where he also DJed alongside Roger Sanchez, he loved performing for the exciting Elrow in Ibiza at Amnesia and their Barcelona home, Eastern Electrics Festival, Gottwood and the final Secret Garden Festival.
Danny and Denney discuss the current and historical UK club territory and the city’s they feel impacted the most, name checking many legendary nights and their own Leeds connection. They then go on to share the strength of connections and the networking opportunities available if you immerse yourself into the scene, noting the friendships struck often lead into great label signings and suggesting how best to approach DJs and people you admire during the night or at the after-partys.
They are very open about the effects of a relentless lifestyle and cite Ben Pearce’s open sharing on Why We DJ- Slaves To the Rhythm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFmfOSt2uCE&feature=youtu.be which has spearheaded many more people in the industry being open with advice, support and addressing their own issues. Denney discusses the importance of sleep and diet and notes he doesn’t even drink on tour to keep the balance admitting he also has suffered alongside much of the music and creative scene.
The final tips that Denney leaves us with are essential in a modern DJs arsenal informing us of the importance and power of social media and great video that can leverage your reach. He also suggests targeting specific audiences for your growth and reflects on his early days of producing up to 14-15 hour days honing his craft sharing that determination and dedication always govern everything else. He originally worked in call centers and retail before finding his love of music was what really drove him forward, aligning with other producers and even engineering for Buckley at the start. Denney shares the hot tip about mailing DJs with private soundcloud links in preference to zip files as it’s easier to access and instant (he also does the same).
A great podcast that’s informative and really gets behind the cogs of the music industry.
Get to know more about Denney here and also check out his music:
Tune in to the rest of the That Danny Savage Show podcasts and receive unique insights from DJs, Labels, Promoters and many from behind the scene including influencers, managers, marketers and more. That Danny Savage Show is available to listen, download, comment and share:
Please join the DJ Growth Lab Community a facebook group dedicated to giving the skills and information to people wanting to break into the music industry.
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation – A charity creating opportunities & fundraising initiatives to enable the dance music industry to help children in crisis.
Association for Electronic Music (AFEM) – A not-for-profit trade association created to represent the common interests of those companies and individuals whose business is Electronic Music and to advocate best practice for the genre.
Providing the best news about the electronic music industry including music reviews, music news, clubs, events, Ibiza club news, DJs, labels and more. Covering the hottest Electronic music events and festivals from house to techno, disco, deep house, tech house and minimal.
The Everyday Agency – A creative marketing agency that provides Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, Web Design, PR, Social Media Strategy, SEO to the international music industry.
That Danny Savage Show – Guest Josh Butler (DJ & Producer) – Musical Motivation & The Steps To Success
Danny Savage engages Josh Butler on his actual birthday to discuss his own humble beginnings before he become a household name, widely regarded as a house music aficionado in the current music scene. They touch base on his in-house recording label Origins Records and what it’s taken to connect the dots to build a successful career recognised across the world.
Looking into the backstory of Josh and his foundations for a model to keep moving forward in the industry Danny discusses what has worked for him and what strategic steps you should take if you want to understand the process as an upcoming DJ or producer.
The guys lift the lid on the overall concept that governs the sound and roots of the Origins brand and the collaboration series he built alongside industry legends Marshall Jefferson, Kerri Chandler and Todd Terry to name only a few key figureheads. Josh discusses his viewpoint on the collectives aim to bridge the generation gap and make music standout in a sustainable way. He looks back into his early days in Manchester where he first met and worked with Marshall Jefferson in the studio, whilst also gaining a universal respect from the old school and the American house legends that have built the genre from the ground up.
Bringing it into the present Josh reflects on his 2017 highlights touring America again, his own ADE parties and a solid 15 dates spread across the Ibiza season.
Josh goes on to inform of his approach to partying and touring which has now been superseded by a gym, wellness and diet regime with a resounding chill-out allocation to rebalance the time on the road and stay at the peak of his game, citing the limited health food options on tour or airports and the serious lack of sleep that can take its toll.
To gain a greater understanding that people really can rise up the ranks the guys discuss that although Josh originally hailed from the UK in his teens his family moved to small town in New Zealand which was very removed from the music scene although it did have some positive attributes in a beautiful surrounding. His connection came in the form of music production which took over from playing computer games and other hobbies and allowed him to keep up-to-date with his homeland UK with Pete Tong and Radio 1 live from the net.
Again Josh shows that educate featured highly in really marking a major change for him, at age 16 he returned to UK where he attended college for a music technology course which paved the way to grasp careers in music actually existed. His positioning between Liverpool and Manchester which were abundant in clubs and awash with house he started out running his own nights albeit college party’s for a nominal £2 entrance but a consistent platform to DJ leading into the birthday party route as a source of income but blended from a mix of styles to entertain. Josh notes that running your own nights is always highly beneficial that provides an industry entry platform teaching you the mechanics of a crowd and essential programming skills.
His forays into clubland as a career DJ started out cutting his teeth at the Attic in Manchester before moving to Idiosync alongside some of todays coolest names including Tale Of Us and Marcel Dettman which transcend the underground to festival line-ups.
Production has always played a part in a DJs driving force and allowing them to reach a greater fanbase. Josh reminisced his breakthrough moment began with a release on OFF Recordings with Darius Syrossian and also released on his own imprint. As a great take-away for listeners he shares that Agents and Managers started approaching once he gained traction to take him to a wider audience. It was really good to see that tracks made in his bedroom could really impact and his ascent began when NTA snatched up his first major track. Chase & Status also loved it and then invited him down to London to speak about the release which happened to be at Pete Waterman’s previous office space (a certified breeding ground for major hits coming from the likes of Madonna and Rick Astley and touting many gold discs under their belt.
Riding the wave after the release Josh saw regular bookings and a consistent pay stream which gives some further insight to todays producers wanting to grasp the timeline. Soon featuring across Europe and throughout the UK clubs his first Radio 1 and 1Xtra appearances became a shock but really sealed his future. In the interim Josh was still providing Ableton tutorials and engineering before turning to becoming self-reliant full time.
Danny takes the opportunity to quick fire out some unique questions firstly enquiring for Josh to name three key people that have influenced him in his life and musical career firstly reciting St Helens College which first connected him into the industry and its potential (so education featuring high), Kerri Chandler (on a Musical level) helping with experience and advice and obviously his Mum (on a personal level). Looking deeper into his influences Josh shares the turning point that provided him another level of knowledge to apply whilst gigging on a professional platform. After meeting with Kerri Chandler in Paris prior to an event he taught him about the crucial component of sound checking on spectrum mixer which was something technical he hadn’t previously entertained. Josh thankfully admits that he has learnt from everyone he ever worked with and name-checks a few on their collaborations, taking on software and production tips continually.
Many of the show guests point out their musical tastes outside of the electronic scene which often broadens the listens horizons or shares tracks they may have never heard. Josh connects with Pink Floyd, dub Reggae King Tubby and Mad Professor outside the standard house and techno box. Taking the opportunity to share 3 of his most memorable tunes Pink Floyd – Welcome To The Machine is mentioned as one of his longest standing memories since childhood, before
Massive Attacks – Unfinished Sympathy, where Danny notes it was actually his birthing music for the birth of his son Felix and taken from a standout Ibiza chill-out compilation. Returning back to his House roots Josh rolls out Atmospheric Beats by Kerri Chandler as one of the best house records ever written in a simple, yet stripped back power-filled emotive cut.
Looking into soundscapes and choice of elements that he enjoys and incorporates into his own musical style Josh interplays hooks from trance to baselines from hard-house and also strings sections from down-tempo arrangements to drive his dancefloor vibes. The one big purchase that has supported his career has got to be Ableton which also plays a centerpiece of most peoples studios and his unique piece of kit is the analogue Culture Vulture.
Something for producers to take note is that Josh’s biggest regret is not getting a specific lawyer to look over his hit record contracts and passes on advice about this. To keep the relativity to success he also shares that even the biggest names have lots of failures … especially in signing demos picking a standard 1 in 10 success rate.
After opening up the avenue for guest questions via his www.dannysavage.com blog Danny interjects with a query from Africa poised towards what keeps you consistent throughout the bad times (or lowpoints)?
Josh says the releases he works on often making 3-5 tracks which are kept on the workbench with the realization that some wont see the light, practicing and keeping standards high and using that consistency as a template. Providing a way to combat writers block he suggests you take time and not force the production process, totally switching off and then returning with a fresh and inspirational spark. His Studio routine is pretty much fuelled on tea and next turning on the machines before settling into the mood with no strict rule to the format until the song takes shape.
Next questions comes in from a DJ formerly living in Bulgaria and now UK seeking advice on upcoming DJs and how they address getting gigs in preference to handing out traditional business cards. The guys both share that anything that stands out of the ordinary normally helps and in preference using a cd (USB) mix or track you’ve made alongside building a network of friends in clubs and bars of like minded people with a common goal. This reminds Danny of his old-school and classic promotional angles from Leeds and they both actively discuss the concept as a CDs being the actual calling card or flyer so to speak, suggesting DJs need to reach outside the box to standout and stick in people’s memories.
Looking at his future plans and longevity Josh answers in 5 years time he foresees continuing to make the music he enjoys and keep the label activity progressing with more events across UK, Europe and USA for his own brand and the Heroes of House legends party.
The following question is considered a relevant one in regards to climbing up the Beatport chart within a smaller label and Josh actually references one of his and Bontan’s own hits reaching number 1 on their own independent before it was a known entity, proposing that if the music’s good it always speaks for itself, something highly motivational for todays fledgling music makers.
All DJs have character and Danny pushes Josh to share something we don’t already know about the international DJ providing some welcome comedy to the mix Josh tells that he used to be obsessed with Coronation Street (a long-running tv series in the UK).
To finalise on an aspirational note its suggested Josh Butler pictures an inspirational quote placed hypothetically in DJ Mag and one we’ll soon see as a Danny Savage / DJ Growth Lab meme “Don’t compromise for anybody, do what you love!” in a very exacting tone which will certainly reassure the shows global listeners.
Hot predictions for 2018 includes a vibrant mix of upcoming artists and younger producers all breaking through. Heritage clubbing landsapes will possibly flip with the focus of Ibiza rolling downhill on the musical front (which Danny questions) and taking in Croatia as the next clubbing destination spot. After sharing his suggestions for the change of territory Josh admits he already has a connection with Croatia and once again this year servicing the Defected festival in Tisno (recently completing a mix for their radio show that was specifically beach inspired), one alongside Dennis Ferrer in Zagreb, before jetting off to Australia and New Zealand in February getting to see loads of friends out there and also his family and the festivals they offer on that side of the world.
Reflecting on family both host Danny Savage and also guest Josh Butler have included their fathers into their own events so Josh could showcase what he does and also Danny’s dad actually becoming the unwitting host and driver for many notable guest DJs over the years including the Martinez Brothers where they struck a solid friendship. Now they both prefer to catch up socially in preference to the backdrop of clubbing with Danny’s father joining him in hos trip to climb Kilimanjaro for charity this year.
Another solid podcast that highlights that hard work, dedication and also a well grounded approach seems to be the consistent thread for many DJ successes. Prepare for the next round as Danny introduces some engaging new guests that share their industry insights and their own unique viewpoints on what makes the musical world move.
Get to know more about Josh Butler here and also check out his music:
Tune in to the rest of the That Danny Savage Show podcasts and receive unique insights from DJs, Labels, Promoters and many from behind the scene including influencers, managers, marketers and more. That Danny Savage Show is available to listen, download, comment and share:
Please join the DJ Growth Lab Community a facebook group dedicated to giving the skills and information to people wanting to break into the music industry.
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation – A charity creating opportunities & fundraising initiatives to enable the dance music industry to help children in crisis.
Association for Electronic Music (AFEM) – A not-for-profit trade association created to represent the common interests of those companies and individuals whose business is Electronic Music and to advocate best practice for the genre.
Providing the best news about the electronic music industry including music reviews, music news, clubs, events, Ibiza club news, DJs, labels and more. Covering the hottest Electronic music events and festivals from house to techno, disco, deep house, tech house and minimal.
The Everyday Agency– A creative marketing agency that provides Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, Web Design, PR, Social Media Strategy, SEO to the international music industry.
That Danny Savage Show – Interview Ben Pearce (DJ & Producer) – Discussing Music & Mental Health
Inside this episode of That Danny Savage Show podcast series we hear from electronic innovator Ben Pearce who speaks candidly about what motivates him and has also influenced him on his own personal journey on the way to the top. You’ll receive some hot music industry navigation tips related back to Ben’s own timeline servicing the scene and also learn what has impacted him professionally. Ben Pearce shares some very personal moments from the rollercoaster ride spanning his illustrious career with many highs and lows relating to pressure, touring and mental health.
Danny Savage and Ben connect on a mix of subjects including cooking after Ben hosted his own ‘supper club’ sharing he classes cooking as his meditation and informs also his second passion. Ben then provides further thoughts into combining cooking with his music so stayed tuned for what the future holds in this combination.
Reflecting back the first musical experiences he remembers indie bands like Limp Bizkit which contradicts his classical music originals with his dad, but led into Hip-Hop (as a skater) before engaging with the electronica scene around the time he very first took narcotics around age of 18 (this spearheads another issue as his career progresses). Eventually touching everywhere from ambient to jazz Ben extends his musical knowledge which assist with his production.
Looking back at early club events at Sankey’s and Area51, Danny and Ben find common ground around the same time Danny Savage was promoting Filth. This kickstarts Ben Pearce sharing he first borrowed decks before learning to DJ on a whim
as it actually paid for his weekends ‘party’ life. This led him into promotions handing out flyers as an entry point to the nightlife industry. Ben soon started promoting his own event Treehouse in Manchester where he shares promoter politics, where he fell out with the other brands but now realises it was for the best.
Initially learning to mix with 2 x copies of Micha Moore ‘Space’ Ben soon moved onto production releasing a few minor tracks before his big track ‘What I might do’ broke.
The time away from promoting gave him the motivation to prove himself as a solo artist. He acknowledges he was a manager at an RBS call centre whilst DJing over the weekends abroad, balancing both jobs for 3 months so understands the first few years are never easy. Thankfully his parents always supported him with his music and once he started earning more money from DJing than his the full-time job the transition became easier. Rag from Grade Management heard him play and quickly got picked up early and they signed him across to Coda agency which really leveraged his career.
Ben instantly suggests agents are pro-active in seeking DJs for the next big thing, giving open advice on choosing the right agency to suit your skills and sound, noting a smaller agency often pays more attention to your growth than some of the bigger agencies. Ben shares- “Dont push it. Do you see yourself as a marketable product?” If your’e a DJ you have to produce to make a mark with aims to get a residency to build your profile and following. Social media matters, extending your name across blogs and soundcloud with a solid belief in yourself … don’t feel down or annoyed when you get rejected, he also gets rejected loads. You need to be OK with failure, it’s a part of the industry.
Delving deeper into his own character, Ben Pearce shares he’s a DJ first and a producer in second (strangely he doesn’t class himself as good producer) which we don’t agree. Looking at is own productions he pulls them together re-asserting you have to make your own tracks to have a marketable commodity if you want to be a DJ worthy of note…. Suggesting no one actually listens to mixes anymore, getting a track heard is a lot easier.
His production tip includes making the bare bones structure and then getting an accomplished engineer to mix it. Joe Ashworth engineers his tracks, although he would never suggest the ghost producer route, as it sits poorly within the industry. You have to do something to stand out as a DJ these days far above technical ability.
Ben’s advice to start producing: Use Ableton, practice filtering and chopping up tunes at first and watching Youtube to learn the initial skills. Your first 100 tracks you make won’t be great but they will progress. Try sampling and remixing getting stems available online with easy to use hardware like Roland or Korg mini tools if you have the resources. Make sure what you do you enjoy it and put the time in, making sure you learn your craft which could take years, this is a consistent theme throughout these podcasts. Ben shows your approach should be to hit the ground running and stay positive, going to places for training like Youtube, Point Blank, Masterclass or surrounding yourself with others that are good at producing (sssociate with people that are better than you).
The tone then moves to the effects and an introspective of the industry:
Sharing on a personal note as an example Ben tells Danny he often lacks motivation 90% of the time throughout his productions ; suffering self-doubt which followed after making his major track because he didn’t think he was good enough. The outlook shows that motivation comes & goes and If you get a block, take yourself away, have a break and come back the next day with fresh eyes and ears. Something to note is “Producers only put out 1% of what they release” – Moodyman quote. So your next good track could only be around the corner.
Insight for producers comes via Ben’s timeline as a Case Study:
Ben made the initial structure in his own bedroom before arranging and mixing at Beehive Mills. He then put it in a mix and David from Under The Shade messaged him on Soundcloud and signed it immediately. It actually needed tidying up, so he revisited the arrangement and made the bassline better which became a hit. It almost went out on white label vinyl which could have changed it’s direction. His friend Stretford Dogs Club had Solomun playing for him in Manchester and Solomun heard it in the car on the way to his gig, loved it and starter playing it regularly. Will from Chase & Status called him after hearing it played in Panorama Bar in Berlin, funnily enough he thought it was originally a stitch up, with a mate winding him up after hearing the feedback.
NTA signed and Ben split his 50% with Under The Shade. The track next featured in a Tesco advert before reaching Beatport number 1 and becoming the most Shazzamed track in the UK for 3 to 4 years. Virgin then signed it an re-released moving it into number 7 in the UK national charts, number 1 in Italy and also number 2 in Belgium.
Talking about touring and Mental Health:
Bookings and schedules went crazy, doing interviews with TV channels, radio and more. He went head on into 3 or 4 gigs per week, partying and didn’t look after himself, feeling under surmountable pressure. The lack of sleep and traveling on his own in hotels and airports really started to impact his health and also coming from club environment. After an extended amount of time, Ben realised he wasnt happy and started drinking a lot , he didn’t want to burden anyone else talking about his depression. Reflecting if he didnt take the time off, he wouldn’t actually be here today with suicidal tendencies. He was scared of being alone and really didn’t want to go off travelling again, moving into a downward spiral. He was offered anti-depressants but didn’t want to take them.
Thankfully his best friend moving in saved him with support and advice where necessary. He really needed the time off to recoup, when he cancelled his shows it was just to let his fans know, not expecting it to blow up in news channels like it did, it was announced across the national papers. Sharing his Facebook post was a sincere action, Ben notes it was all very unexpected, not wanting to reflect any more after his break not including it in interviews but now he is far more open offering advice “Talk about it. If it feels like it’s going down, it will eventually go back up.”
Ben’s suggest
Get a therapist
Calm zone helpline
He himself actively helps musicians he works with, doing panels with a study about music industry mental health there are now many resources online including https://www.grammy.com/musicares/news/study-shows-70-percent-musicians-struggled-anxiety-or-depression. There was a new service launched in December that has really helped the broader industry. He feels the after-math of Chester Beddingtons suicide made people more widely aware.
The AFEM Association For Electronic Music provides an industry sounding board to help change the perception and address issues collectively (link below). Looking at key aspects that should be communicated:
Promoters: Don’t be offended when DJs aren’t wanting to party
Electronic music was originally founded and fuelled on drug usage, this as a theme needs to be addressed.
Drugs and Mental Health talks should be held separately and not inter-linked
Alcohol is far more destructive than drugs to society
An insightful preview everyone should watch is Why We DJ- Slaves To the Rhythm
Ben Pearce actually features in here and is open for the benefit of the industry.
Looking at the long term impacts Ben shares that he’s not 100% recovered and still has the down days, but is now more aware of the dips and what to do when they happen. When he doesn’t spend money on boosting social media posts he feels down from being detached from his fans and this is part of the reward system you’re mind can promote. He informs people should move away from spamming and into more direct contact with their true fans to help forming a better connection and interaction. Highlighting key facts that Silicon Valley people support that social media is actually bad for you, they don’t use it directly as it’s potentially poisonous and holds many negative traits we are only starting to witness now.
The Resolution & Roundup:
Returning to the musical mix Ben and Danny Discuss the new themed EP about Dancing Astronauts and Ben’s Radio 1 Essential Mix feature http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08p60l8 which funnily enough Ben didn’t even know what it was until he was older as he didn’t experience it in childhood and was heavily into metal in his teens, so he just treated it like a normal DJ mix, putting in the same effort and energy he always does in hindsight a great approach. He never actually prepares a playlist, he always plays on-the-fly after studying the crowd and DJs featuring beforehand when at a gig.
Ben Pearce’s parting thoughts are to spend time with people that make you happy and only do things that make you happy. Something we can all learn great value from.
Get to know more about Ben Pearce here and also check out his music:
Tune in to the rest of the That Danny Savage Show podcasts and receive unique insights from DJs, Labels, Promoters and many from behind the scene including influencers, managers, marketers and more. That Danny Savage Show is available to listen, download, comment and share:
Please join the DJ Growth Lab Community a facebook group dedicated to giving the skills and information to people wanting to break into the music industry.
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation – A charity creating opportunities & fundraising initiatives to enable the dance music industry to help children in crisis.
Association for Electronic Music (AFEM) – A not-for-profit trade association created to represent the common interests of those companies and individuals whose business is Electronic Music and to advocate best practice for the genre.
Providing the best news about the electronic music industry including music reviews, music news, clubs, events, Ibiza club news, DJs, labels and more. Covering the hottest Electronic music events and festivals from house to techno, disco, deep house, tech house and minimal.
The Everyday Agency – A creative marketing agency that provides Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, Web Design, PR, Social Media Strategy, SEO to the international music industry. www.everydayagency.co.uk
Most musicians face challenges to make the most of their time on music, be it marketing, writing, production or mixing. By understanding how habits work, you can manufacture new ones to make you a more efficient, productive musician.
Danny Savage has become an inspirational figurehead for the electronic music scene. Amassing over 10 years experience at the forefront of the industry, Danny has remained instrumental in assisting DJs, artists and brands achieve an international presence.
