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DJ Interview - Mark Doyle: 11.08.09
Mark Doyle is Managing Director of the critically acclaimed Fierce Angel Records & Events company and was also the creator of the world-famous music brand that is Hed Kandi. Mark is also an in-demand DJ, with a busy booking schedule that takes him around the world. |
Fierce Angel's stylish club events run throughout the UK and all over the world, from Buenos Aires to Sydney and beyond, and are deemed the finest nights out the world has to offer. Causing quite a stir on Friday nights in Ibiza at the moment is the "Fierce Angel" residency at El Divino (closing party on 4th September). The new Fierce Angel radio show broadcasts every Saturday night on Jazz FM in the UK, plus on radio stations in 25 different countries. www.thefutureisfierce.com
Fierce Angel is going from strength to strength with a series of hot releases and some of the most-talked about events right now - including a summer residency at El Divino in Ibiza. Can you give us an overview of what’s coming up on the label over the next few months?
"Well it’s all a bit non-stop at the moment! On the events side of things we are starting lots of new residencies throughout the UK including Cambridge, Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol. Overseas it’s getting really interesting as we are starting a new weekly residency in Singapore at the newly opened Stereolab. Over in Miami we’ve gone into partnership with a group of club owners to open a Fierce Angel Lounge. The lounge will feature a Fierce Angel night every Saturday with guest DJs appearing twice a month. The record label side is not less busy we’ve got a new compilation called “The Collection” out in late September and before the end of the year we will be releasing our chillout compilation “Angels Fall.” On the artist front we’ve already scored a top-5 club chart placing with the Wamdue Project’s “Forgiveness” and we have new tracks on the way from Therese, Bassmonkeys and Fac15. Each of these will get a full digital release in late August / Early September.”
You are at El Divino every Friday until 4th September, which is your closing party, what makes El Divino such a special venue and what’s your history with the place?
“El Divino is just the right size for an event like ours, it’s sexy, glamorous and intimate …it has a great dance-floor space that can hold up to 1,000 people and then the real icing on the cake is the Terrace with it’s spectacular views over the harbour to the old town. My history with El Divino goes all the way back to the early days of Hed Kandi when we put on our very first big events As soon as Hed Kandi moved out and went to Space it seemed only natural to go back and put on some truly Fierce parties this summer.”
It’s got to be fierce, we know that, but what do people get when they attend a Fierce Angel event that makes it so special?
“I think it’s the personal touch of being part of a small team. We put in great production and decoration alongside amazing performers and our DJ team is kept to a small group. We tend to find really great people and work with them on a regular basis rather than just booking the flavour of the month. Similarly the clubs and promoters we work with are the ones we trust to give our clubbers a great night. It’s not about who has the biggest budget, it’s about who’s got the most enthusiasm.
That’s all the behind the scenes stuff, but what really matters is when a clubber comes to Fierce Angel they great a great night of quality house music in a great venue alongside lots of other like minded people!”
The new single Forgiveness by the Wamdue Project featuring Jonathan Mendelsohn is an amazing tune; tell us a bit about it?
“I first heard the track two years ago in it’s original downtempo mix and immediately fell in love with it. After six months of negotiating, we signed the track from Chris Brann and set to work building it’s profile in clubland. The first step was a remix by Eric Kupper who is basically the king of soulful house mixes. The resulting remix started to get loads of attention whenever I played it and we decided that the track needed a full mix package and proper release. For me the track is right up there with timeless house anthems like Solu Music’s “Fade” and Kaskade’s “Everything.””
You are quick to spot good talent – the likes Jonathan Mendelsohn and also Peyton and Therese being three great examples – what makes a good performer in your opinion?
“Well the main qualities are being able to sing (always handy) and great stage presence. It also helps if they are nice people. Each of the performers we worked with at Hed Kandi and now at Fierce Angel have these qualities and it’s great fun working with them. Once you’ve signed a single, you spend a lot of time working with the artists both in the studio and on the road so if they are stroppy divas it tend to make it a lot less fun.”
Tell us a bit about your Fierce Angel crew – who are the other people behind the scenes that make it happen?
“Well the main partner in crime is Kate my wife she’s half of the business and keeps everything running while I gallivant round the world. We tend to outsource a lot of our work so we can keep our overheads down and it also means we get to pick the very best companies to work with. Our DJ and Events booking is taken care of by Fresh Artistes, our event production is run by Orange Peel and we’ve recently added some rather good PR to our family with the addition of Mark Collins PR. On the music side Fierce would be nothing without its team of DJ’s, Vocalists, Musicians and dancers.”
What tunes are getting the most response right now in Ibiza?
“Obviously our tracks by Wamdue Project and Therese are going down a storm (shameless self promotion there) and the biggest hands-in-the-air moment has been provided by David Guetta with “When Love Takes Over.” Another proper Ibiza tune is The Priors “What You Need” plus I’m also loving Duck Sauce “Anyway.””
Your international DJing roster takes you all over the world playing to crowds, what have been the most memorable nights so far?
“Each new country I visit provides something exciting and unexpected - but I think for pure unbelievable madness Asia takes the biscuit. From being given a massive birthday cake and having 3,000 people sing happy birthday to me in Manila to playing at the most amazing party in Womb in Tokyo to getting the biggest crowd reaction for over three hours straight in Korea.”
Who in he music industry inspires you and why?
“It’s generally other label heads and DJs that have stayed true to the house music scenes and not jumped on the various bandwagons over the years. Simon Dunmore of Defected is a truly nice bloke and a very clever businessman; Joey Negro never fails to deliver quality music via his Z label and David Guetta proves that you can be extremely cool will making some of the biggest party tunes ever.”
What are your all-time top five party-starter tunes and why?
These aren’t so much party starters as end of the night hands in the air anthems…
Solu Music – Fade (Eric Kupper Mix)
Brand New Heavies – Back To Love (Graeme Park iMix)
Joe Smooth – Promised Land (Club Mix)
Bruce Hornsby – The Way It Is (Unreleased Dub)
Patti Day – Right Before My Eyes (Club Mix)
If you weren’t running a successful record label, what would your dream job?
“This is my dream job… the only thing that would make it better was if I was sitting on a large pile of money while doing it!”
Finally, anyone you want to give a shout out to?
“Just a big huge massive shout out to everyone who supports us, buys the records and comes to the gigs - ultimately you are why we do it …and it’s an honour to still be doing it after 20 years!”
Interview by: Mark Collins / markcollinspr.com
Fierce Angel Records: Click Here
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