Ahead of his appearance at Social Festival this weekend, Richy Ahmed takes on our quick-fire Q&A.
Why music?
Because it’s my biggest passion and what makes me happy.
If you weren’t making music what would you be doing?
I’d be a positive life coach.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t try to be cool, just try to be good!
What inspires you?
Kind, positive and giving people.
What’s the next big thing?
Everything 4ThirtyTwo.
Best club experience?
DC10 2004 closing party.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
Scraping rust off TVs for about £1.50 an hour when I was just finishing college.
How do you know when a track’s finished?
I don’t think you ever know when a track’s finished – if you really wanna drag it out you can, but when it gives you that head-nod on the dancefloor, for me that’s when it works and sounds good.
What was your last day job and when did you realise you could give it up?
Last day job I had was as an account manager for a big IT company, and I realised I could give it up when I came back from Ibiza and they were shutting my office and wanting me to move to London or they were giving us three months’ severance, so I took the money and ran straight back to Ibiza!
Which song do you wish you wrote?
Michael Jackson – ‘P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)’.
What’s the easiest way to make it in the music industry?
Have mates that are DJs, lol.
What or who is underrated?
Craig Richards is underrated.
What are you addicted to?
I am definitely addicted to music and having a good time.
What do you lust over?
Pie and mash.
What is your greatest regret?
I don’t have any regrets – I don’t think you should have them.
What one thing would most improve your life?
To be more organised.
What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played?
A mad bar in Sheffield years and years ago where someone came up to us and asked if I had “anything good”!
Collaboration: rich creative experience or pain in the ass?
Rich creative experience for sure.
How do you relax?
I meditate a lot and watch documentaries about all sorts.
What one piece of software/kit could you not do without? Why?
Moog Voyager – because it sounds mega and it doesn’t matter what you do with it, you don’t have to tweak it or play with it – it just sounds analogue, warm and ready to go.
Art or money?
Art.
What’s your single biggest frustration in the music industry?
Chin strokers.
What’s your favourite label? Why?
There are too many to mention. Running Back is just one of my favourites. I like how they put out everything from electro to disco to techno effortlessly and it’s always classic-sounding.
What’s the worst thing about making music?
Repetitive loop syndrome – when you listen to your track all the time and by the time you finish you can’t stand it!
What’s your motto?
“At the end of the day it will be sound.” Or “fuck it”.
Tweet us a tip. What’s the best production advice you can give in 140 characters or less?
The most important thing is to make sure the bass and kick drums sit right. If you can get these to gel, everything else falls into place!
Richy Ahmed plays Social Festival at The Kent County Showground in Maidstone, Kent this Friday the 9th and Saturday the 10th of September. Find him on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.