Darius Syrossian

What about the idea that a good producer doesn’t necessarily make a good DJ?  Aren’t the two different disciplines in many ways?

Yes, agreed. I could name many examples. Just because you’re a good producer definitely doesn’t mean you’re a good DJ. But I think what has helped me is working in a record shop for 15 years, selling music to DJs every day. You learn how people perceive house music and how they want to hear it. You then apply this when you’re up there playing to a crowd; you understand what people want to hear and how.

In theory people in New York or Tokyo could listen to mixes to understand where DJs are coming from musically and make bookings based on that rather than productions?

In theory, yes. But where are they going to have heard you from in the first place to go and listen to this mix? There are millions of mixes from everywhere, and I’m sure in Tokyo there are loads of talented DJs, so why should they pay all this money on flights to book a DJ who they personally liked from the other side of the world? And just because they liked the mix – the promoters, that is – does this mean the crowd are going to turn up? Because Joe Bloggs is playing? Like I said, the promoters will want to book someone that the crowd can relate to. If you’re a resident DJ at a very famous club, like Panorama Bar or Fabric, then the crowd will relate to the DJ in that way, and not through tracks he or she has made. That’s the key here.

There seems to be this unwritten rule in the scene of ‘if you don’t have anything good to say then don’t say anything at all’. Your Facebook page appears to be a refreshing exception to that rule. How do people react to your honesty online, and has it ever caused you any problems?

[Laughs] I knew this was coming. OK, well let me just say, having an opinion about something important to you doesn’t mean you’re saying anything bad!

Every gig I go to, people say: “Darius, please never change. We like that you’re one of the few DJs out there who speaks his mind.” Also, my Facebook inbox is full of messages from people saying the same: never change. It’s refreshing to see.

Sure, there are people who disagree with me, but some people are always going to like what you do and some people are always going to hate what you do. You can either express yourself, which is what I think life is about, or you can sit silent and carry on. Everyone is different. I like to debate.

For example, if I see an established party in Ibiza which books very big names, but only DJs from its own crew and inner circle and they charge an absolute arm and a leg for the parties they throw, and then the DJ is so wasted that the music stops four times because he has his back to the decks, too busy chatting up girls, then I reserve the right to say I think that’s wrong on my Facebook to see if people agree. And no, I’m not talking about DC-10 here. I love DC-10 and what they are about.

I just know I do what I do because I love music, and nothing else, and if I see ‘fakeness’ in the industry I point it out.

If I hear that an awards ceremony is run by a certain club, and it has a panel of judges handing out awards rather than a public vote, and the awards go to acts that are closely affiliated to that club, then I will point out that I think it’s wrong. Nobody has to agree with me, but a lot of people do. And some don’t. That’s natural.

I still see myself as the bedroom DJ who made it, not a big hotshot DJ from one of the crews out there. Sometimes I can see why some kids on RA forums get frustrated with big DJs because a lot of these kids are very talented and don’t get a break. I know this because I reply to every single message on Facebook and listen to every demo and I play a lot of the music these kids are sending in. Some of them are unbelievably talented and the music is great, but they’re just not getting the breaks. Then you see some established DJ on big money playing a set and the music is stopping because he’s wasted and chatting up girls!

Having an opinion about something important to you doesn’t mean you're saying anything bad!

Was hearing all this great unsigned music the catalyst for your ViVa mix CD?

I did that because there is so much absolutely amazing undiscovered music out there from kids who never get a break. Listen to the track on the ViVa compilation by the kid called Cecyl called ‘The End’. It’s such an amazing house track, full of soul and also energy. The same with tracks from Jamie Trench, Freeman & Farrelly, Dillon Joseph and Butler & Murt. They’re all amazing house tracks.

What was the process involved with putting the compilation together?

I decided to go on a massive hunt for quality unsigned tracks. I had five months and I searched and searched. I got some amazing tracks but there were some I couldn’t use because they didn’t work in the mix. That was another problem; it wasn’t just about the tracks, it had to work as a mix and represent my sound which is aimed at the dancefloor.

I didn’t want to compromise and make something too mellow and progressive, but at the same time I wanted it to have feeling and emotion in places. It builds and peaks in the middle with tracks like ‘Freaky D’, and from there it mellows back down with some really soulful and deep tracks. I’m really happy with it and I have to say thanks to Steve Lawler not only for giving me the opportunity to do it, but also for pressing it to CD and not just releasing it as a digital compilation.

I just know I do what I do because I love music, and nothing else, and if I see ‘fakeness’ in the industry I point it out.

Finally, what can we expect from you in 2013?

I have so much on. Firstly, a Sankeys world tour is just being finalised with dates throughout April and May. There’s going to be a lot of travel but I’m looking forward to it a lot. I have lots of productions coming out on loads of labels and I’m also doing a sample pack. I’ll be in Ibiza again in the summer and I’m looking forward to spinning in Sankeys out there. In January I’ll be doing Miami WMC and Sonar. It’s a lot of work but when you meet people on the other side of the world and they tell you how much they love your music it gives you energy to strive forward and do more.

Darius plays at The Warehouse, Leeds on Saturday February 2nd for ViVa Warriors with Steve Lawler and Detlef.

Find Darius on Facebook and SoundCloud.