my current work,” he says. While some of his peers may short opening times dissuade people from going to clubs
bemoan the fact that Dublin or Ireland doesn’t have a and that this “makes it so much harder to sustain the
“A distance from
bustling scene like London or Berlin, the laidback club industry overall. Why would someone pay a cover fee
attitude suits him. to get into a club when they can just go to a late bar with
any scene or fad
“I am a reserved person and I work on music when I have no cover charge and drink until the exact same time?”
time from my day job: I like to lock myself in the studio Furthermore, the short opening hours mean producers
is a good thing in
and work away to unwind from the daily stuff. A distance or DJs can’t generate sufficient revenue at home, or have
from any scene or fad is a good thing in that it gives you the opportunity to road-test new music. that it gives you
space to develop your own style at your own pace, with “It’s traditional that electronic dance music is played in
no hangers-on or people looking over your shoulder,” he the later hours, and that’s when the real magic often
space to develop
says. occurs. I suppose we’re like a censored music scene in
some ways,” Sunil Sharpe says.
your own style at
At the same time, he feels Dublin lacks a focal point, like There is also a lack of recognition for electronic music as
your own pace.”
Berlin’s Hardwax, Submerge in Detroit or Glasgow’s a valid art form, which means there are no grants
Rubadub. available.
Lerosa
“There’s nothing comparable in terms of vision, intent, “It’s interesting in Europe how electronic music in
support, quality. My impression here is that everyone is general hasn’t got the stigma it seems to have attached
out for himself. If you go to Rubadub, the lads there will to it here,” Fran Hartnett believes. “Until the law can see
always actively and positively promote the quality local that it’s healthy to encourage and cultivate youth
artists and nights. Here this does not happen and when cultures like modern electronic music and visual arts, we
it does it is to such a small level and in such a will struggle on. I’d like a government that was into
disorganised way that it is of no consequence,” he says. keeping producers in the studio. Perhaps they should set
“Until you get some proper support network, you are not up some incentive for poor techno artists.”
in any danger of that ever happening. It takes hard work
and determination — all I see here is a handful of small The lack of official support was evident in the failure to
promoters working their arses off, forced to deal with provide adequate funding for the now-defunct Dublin
greedy club owners for crumbs, and poorly-managed Electronic Arts Festival, which showcased local and
record shops. Hardly the ideal ground to grow anything international talent.
of lasting value.” “We’ve prided ourselves on the tax breaks that the
government have given artists, yet the money DEAF
Restrictions received this year was pitiful,” Sharpe says. Despite these
One of the other issues hindering the development of the problems, Ireland has an abundance of talented
scene in Ireland is the restrictive opening hours for clubs producers, many of whom will become household names
— which close at 3am at the latest. While Edwin James over the coming years. As Sunil Sharpe predicts: “We’re
feels there is no link between early closing times and a now in the third generation with standards rising all the
shortfall in underground music, Brendan Gregoriy feels time — there’s definitely some special things to come.”
Sunil Sharpe Fran Hartnett
034
www.djmag.com
DJ482.irish_featurePROOFED, PLEASE MAKE MORE SPACE FOR FIRST PULL QUOTE.indd 34 15/1/10 10:19:53
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