Spencer Parker

“My greatest regret? Giving up the modelling work to pursue music. I don’t like to talk about it…” Spencer Parker takes on the quick-fire Q&A.

Why music?

Was there a choice?

If you weren’t making music what would you be doing?

Working as an A&R man (hopefully).

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“That colour really brings out your eyes.”

What inspires you?

My friends.

What’s the next big thing?

Behzad and Amarou – resident DJs at Concrete in Paris. Equally adept at setting it up for the plethora of underground legends that flow through this club as they are at smashing it out in their own right.

Best club experience?

Playing a nine-hour closing set at Panorama Bar, Berlin, Sunday night into Monday morning.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Toss up between Telesales Operative at Direct Line Insurance and Sales Assistant at Marks & Spencers. As if it couldn’t get any worse, both positions were at the respective companies’ Croydon branches.

How do you know when a track’s finished?

When I’ve played it out, and then made the relevant tweaks.

What was your last day job and when did you realise you could give it up?

I was working as an A&R Consultant for a UK-based record label. Unfortunately the position gave me up, so I was pushed rather than jumping. So far, so good…

Which song do you wish you wrote?

Thelma Houston – ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’.

What’s the easiest way to make it in the music industry?

Make a big record. This will also lead to lots of DJ gigs, regardless of whether you can DJ or not.

Recommend us a film.

The Secret In Their Eyes by Juan José Campanella. Quite simply the best film I’ve ever seen.

Recommend us a book.

Der Klang Der Familie: Berlin, Techno Und Die Wende by Felix Denk and Sven von Thülen. Out in French and German now – English coming soon!

Make a big record. This will also lead to lots of DJ gigs, regardless of whether you can DJ or not.

What or who is underrated?

Boris, resident DJ at Berghain. Ridiculously, stupidly and outrageously underrated!

What or who is overrated?

How long have you got…?

What do you lust over?

My beautiful Parisian girlfriend.

What is your greatest regret?

Giving up the modelling work to pursue music (I don’t like to talk about it…).

What one thing would most improve your life?

My own nightclub.

What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played?

That would be the one in Batumi, Georgia, where I was asked to play on two Numark decks with no styli, one CDJ that kept skipping because it was full of water and another CDJ that was broken so minus-eight was actually zero. When I explained I couldn’t play it was made pretty clear that if I wanted to walk out of the club, I really should. Oh, and it was a nine-hour car journey from the airport I flew into. Each way.

Collaboration: rich creative experience or pain in the ass?

Depends who you’re doing it with…

What one thing would most improve my life? My own nightclub.

How do you relax?

I go clubbing.

Art or money?

There is no choice.

Strangest place you ever wrote a track?

Staines

Must-read blogs/forums?

I don’t really check that many forums so I would have to say When You Live In Berlin.

What’s your single biggest frustration in the music industry?

The people that work in it and the people that think they work in it.

What’s your favourite label? Why?

White Material. Because they are making and releasing amazing music and doing it for all the right reasons. And they let me play the records before they come out.

What’s your motto?

Keep on keepin’ on.

Tweet us a tip. What’s the best production advice you can give in 140 characters or less?

The harder you work, the luckier you get… #nowletmeseeyouweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerk

Spencer Parker’s The Memory Not The Memory Remixes EP is out on April 14th on Work Them Records. Find Spencer on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.