10 ‘Firsts’ for James Monro Bazique Fest Headliner + Free tickets up for grabs
“It will be fat, hypnotic and just a little bit wonky” – the words of James Monro Bazique festival headliner, the last time we interviewed him on IDM Mag.
You can read that in-depth chat I had with James here.
It really is an absorbing anthology of the heady 90’s and early 2000’s when his seminal label, Flying Rhino, was at the forefront of driving a highly unique tech-trance sound that influenced so many modern-day tech and trance producers.
James headlines the Into the Wild night on the Rave Rover stage at Bazique Festival on Saturday evening and will deliver a four-hour techno set.
READ: Behind Bazique Festival Cape Town – art, music & absurdism
Yup, you read that correctly… four-hour set!!!
None of this one hour, one-and-a-half-hour nonsense! That’s not how he rolls and he’s well-known and revered the world over for his mega long sets.
A James Monro techno set is a journey into a psychedelic realm of pure groovyness.
You will hear music not often heard before at a regular techno or trance party and you’ll find yourself wondering, ‘why’ve I never heard such amazing techno before?’
True story…
You see, the art is in the journey and the story-telling.
And James has it down like a boss!
If there’s one DJ set I won’t miss this year, it’s the James Monro techno set at Bazique Festival.”
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10 Firsts and no sloppy seconds…
Captaining the ship at Boom Festival 2018, Alchemy Stage.
There’s a first time for everything in life, something that never changes, no matter one’s age.
Here are 10 firsts from James Monro. Enjoy…
1) You were how old when you first French-kissed a girl?
12 years old, fresh and sparky! 😊
2) The first record you owned was…
Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.
This explains a lot, James 😉
3) First band/artist you became a crazy fan of…
Jean Michel Jarre
As mutual lovers of synths and electronic music, we can’t argue with this one.
4) First band/artist you’d go and see perform live today if you could (any era/genre)
The Doors
Good choice!
5) First time you DJ’d?
My school discos in the mid 80’s.
Then, for electronic music probably a barn party in 87′ where after my first few tunes, I was asked to play something they could actually dance to. 😊
Nothing’s changed then, mate? Just kidding.
6) First time you sat down to produce music yourself?
Solo would have been around ’94.
Footnote: in those days the computer was not the central nervous system of one’s studio. We’re talking tons of cables, racks of synths and weird organic sounds. Argh how the digital age has changed us all.
7) First time you met the original Flying Rhino crew (Dom and George)?
88/89…? Bit hazy to be honest.
Flying Rhino was launched in 1994 by James, George Barker and Dominic Lamb and they had a very unique, techy trance sound, very different to a lot of the GOA trance of that era. The label closed in 2001 but has since been resurrected by James and ex-label artist, Grant Collins, who produces under the name Darshan. Check them out, really good deep tech and trance.
8)First time you ever got booked to play outside of the UK?
Paris, France for Techno Tanz doing a Technossomy live and DJing in an indoor horse showground… was nuts.
Did they hand out horse tranquiliser at the door? 😛
9) First time you indulged in recreational substances?
14 years old.
Mushrooms on the rugby pitch before history lesson and smoked 1st jay not long thereafter listening to The Cure and playing my first game of backgammon…laughed to the point of total hysteria.
10) First time you ever visited South Africa…
Easter ’96/97 I think…Vortex.
In their heyday, Easter Vortex was also known as a Flying Rhino label party and was one of the most highly-anticipated outdoor events of the year. James, Dom and George would perform each year along with guests.
James Monro will kick off his four-hour techno set at 5 PM on Saturday evening (16 March) at Bazique Festival at the Rave Rover stage. You do not want to miss this one!!!
In the meantime, listen to his incredible closing set on the Alchemy Stage at Boom Festival 2018.
INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW
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