DJ Q&A: Will Clarke
Will Clarke joins us for our Day One Carry One series. We are so excited to have you and start off the New Year with you. As you know Halcyon likes to Carry On, what inspires you to do an extended set and not the standard 2 hours?
Realistically its jus the fact that I am allowed to play for longer which in 95% of the venues in America you aren’t allowed. I would ideally like to play for 3-4 hours at a time which is perfect but with licensing and also the stacking of lines ups in venues doesn’t really allow anyone to extend sets.
Hardest New Years resolution you’ve kept?
I honestly have never done one and never will, I am more of a moment type of thing. If I think of giving up something I will do it there and then. If I want to be better at something and being realistic to myself so im not setting myself up to fail i’ll start then. I don’t actually agree with New Years resolutions because most of them won’t last on past January.
How’d you’d end up in Detroit and how has that influenced you musically?
Hmm im honestly not to sure how I ended up in detroit hahaha but im stuck there now. I think the conversation started at Claude VonStrokes parents house in detroit during movement. Jen who runs a lot of parties in detroit and NYC said that I should try Detroit out. Year n half later I’m still there. Musically I don’t think it has changed my sound to be fair im just writing music I like. Everyone wants to jump on the fact that im playing tougher music etc and want me to jump on the techno bandwagon but for me I just write and play music I love, whether thats house, techno or fucking country, if I like it il play it.
If you were to open a club anywhere in the world where would it be?
I honestly think it would be in my home town of Bristol, in fact a few years back I gave up music to open a venue which fell through the day we were going to go in and make renovations. However good job it did fall through because we wouldn’t be having this conversation now.
If you weren’t a DJ what would you be?
So if you asked me when I was a kid it was a rugby player, however now it would be a fashion designer or a chef.
Any fun collabs in the new year?
Myself and Eli Brown have a new record coming out on Adam Beyers Truesoul. I have a record with Nick Monaco coming out also a record with my buddy BOT. On top of that myself and Sian have started a collaboration alias called AMOK and we have lots of music coming out for that.
What’s your next tattoo and why?
I was actually talking about this the other day, I think im going to start on my other sleeve but I want to get different artists in different cities I visit to do smaller ones.
What’s the most used piece of gear in your studio?
My speakers
What’s the one item you can’t travel without?
Beard Comb, Beard Oil, Gym Sneaks.
What’s your favorite piece of clothing from your Doing it for the Cuddles line?
I really like a lot of the clothes on there so I wouldn’t say I have a fave piece however the inception tee is a classic.
Biggest inspiration, musically or other wise?
Definitely my parents in their own ways and how they raised me as a person, they did a bloody good job and also their work ethic is insane.
What was your breakthrough moment and what was/will be your holy shit I made it moment?
This is always a strange question because I have never had that moment because I truly believe I haven’t made it yet. Its weird because I can only speak for myself but I don’t think il ever have the ‘I made it’ feeling. Its kinda sad but also makes me want to work harder.
Advice for aspiring DJs?
Work hard and when you feel like you are working hard then work even harder, lock yourself in the room and write music non stop.
If you could be stuck forever in one decade of music which would it be?
Hmmm, I would love to go back to the 90’s as I was still young then id love to experience the real rave scene and the hacienda days.
What is the song that always drags your ass onto the dance floor?
Candi Staton – You’ve Got The Love
Track you wish you wrote?
Hans Zimmer – Time, Every time I hear this record it nearly brings me to tears, any record that can do that holds a very big thing in my heart.
