St Patrick's Day Celebrations Continue With John Daly: Spank! Records Interviews The Irishman.

He's been compared to Moodymann and Lindstrom but Irishman John Daly has a sound all his own pulling influences from techno to deep house to everything in between.

The legendary Francois K took notice of the man's talent and released his tracks on his seminal Wave Music label after Daly had sent him some of his own material from his label Feel Music in the hope of scoring a US distribution deal. 

He's just recently released his first long-player after working on it for the past four years. It's called 'Sea And Sky' and is out on Wave Music and combines some older tracks that have been previously available on EPs as well as brand new material.

Now Daly hits our shores for the first time headlining the latest Co-Op gig at the Civic on Saturday night in an epic 4-hour set. To be sure to be sure!

He took a little moment to answer a few questions.

I read an interview where you said you wanted to be in Iron Maiden when you were a kid? From rock to electronic music – when was the change? What turned your  on to beats?

I still want to be in Iron Maiden! I guess it was the massive dance music scene we had in Cork when I started to go to college in the city in the late nineties - it was everywhere...you couldn't help but get into it. It was a very inspirational time for me.

Do you secretly get out ‘Number Of The Beast’ and rock out every now and then?

In my spare time, I only really listen to rock music.

Living in Ireland, how was the scene there and when did you start clubbing?

See above.

Who was your inspiration to become a DJ?

All my friends and I got into it around the same time. It was a very natural transition and was exciting for me at the time.

Tell us about your first gig? Everyone has some story to tell about their first performance behind the decks?

It was to promote a compilation CD of local promoters. I turned up with a load of David Bowie and Led Zeppelin records, needless to say I was swiftly removed from the decks.

When did you start producing and how did that come about?

I started to mess around with recording when I was in a rock band, in my late teens. But really, I still consider myself a musician first, producer second.

How would you describe your sound when you first started producing and how do you think it’s changed to, let’s say, on your new LP?

Back then I was making hip/trip hop, loungey type stuff. It took me a while to get my head around making house music, but I guess then the album isn't really house either...I just sit down to it and whatever comes out, does. I don't impose genre restrictions on myself.

How did the connection with Francois K come about? Were you awe-struck when you first met him?

I sent stuff to wave hoping to get American distribution for my label, they didn't do that anymore at that point but they did want the tracks for themselves, so of course I was delighted.

Tell us why you set up your own label? Was it just so that you could release you own tracks?

Pretty much. I didn't want to go down the road of sending demos to labels. I never really did that. It puts you in too weak a position.

How do you go about writing new material? Can you let us in on the process and hardware/software you use?

I use a combination of hardware and software, each has its advantages...I don't have a set method of working, I just play around until something jumps out at me, then I follow it. It's different every track.

Can we expect to hear your production-style sound in your DJ set?

I guess so yeah. I take DJing very seriously. I don't just play music, I try to connect with the crowd, otherwise it just feels like work.

Give me a track that you have to play at every gig cause you love it so much?

Bas Noir 'My Love Is Magic' (Nu Groove Records).

Murphy.