Tracey Thorn quizzes Ben Watt

The Buzzin’ Fly boss chats about weddings, records and programming jukeboxes…




Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn are long term partners, both on and off the pitch. They formed Everything But The Girl in 1982, and over the space of two decades released a plethora of groundbreaking albums together, with a constantly evolving sound that ranged from folk to jazz to electronica and beyond. By the mid 90s they had achieved global recognition and had hit the charts around the world with the multi-million selling track ‘Missing’. In more recent years, both have achieved solo acclaim, Ben as an award winning DJ/producer-come-label-boss with his deep house imprint Buzzin’ Fly, and Tracey as a solo artist with her fantastic 2007 album ‘Out of the Woods’. With Ben’s Buzzin’ Fly residency here at The End going strong, and his next night rapidly approaching, we invited Tracey to pose Ben ten questions…
Tracey Thorn: When was the first time you ever DJ’ed, and what was the first record you played?
Ben Watt: I was a very late starter. I didn't even consider myself a potential DJ until my thirties when Howie B talked me into it. I blagged a gig at James Lavelle's night 'Dusted' at The Blue Note in 1996 and played 45 minutes of drum & bass and deep house, totally petrified. However, this was pre-dated by a seminal moment a couple of years earlier when I entertained New York film-maker Hal Hartley and his entire production crew, including actress Parker Posey and actor Martin Donovan, by programming the CD jukebox at the Cedar Tavern in New York one night. My selection is still talked about as a society high point, and with it I realised the power of the DJ.
What are the three best records in your bag right now?
Martin Stimming's 'Kleine Nachtmusik' (due out on Buzzin' Fly in the summer), Dominik Eulberg's 'Kuckucks Lichtnelke (Lychnis Flos Cuculi)' and Johnny Cash's 'If You Could Read My Mind'.
What is the thing most people say to you when they lean over the booth to shout in your ear?
Blokes: 'Top tune, mate!'
Girls: 'Is Tracey here?'
Would you like to DJ at a wedding, and what would you play? (This is not a proposal!)
I would LOVE to play at a wedding. I love the certainty of the open-hearted emotion and sentimentality the day would inevitably bring. The chance to play pop classics, dance killers and heartbreaking ballads is perfect. Any offers?
Do you prefer the beginning or the end of the night?
The beginning, always. I love the sense of anticipation, the build, the seduction process. I also like about one hour before the end of the night when everyone is totally in the zone and I am usually playing some of my favourite deep records. But the very end, with the lights on, the stragglers and the “one more tune” I find somehow dispiriting, like a spell has been broken.
Is the dancefloor a good place to find the love of your life, or is the library better?
For me, a library, but then I like brainy skinny girls and a chance to impress them with my sensitive side. Clubs are too loud. I remember talking to one girl in a club and it was so loud I just nodded pretending I could hear her and could understand every word. Then suddenly she turned and marched away. Her friend told me she had in fact been speaking to me in Polish and I had just nodded when she'd asked me if I thought she was ugly.
What is the best book written about DJs, nightclubs etc?
Tim Lawrence's 'Love Saves the Day'.
Who is the most famous person you have ever looked out and seen on the dancefloor while you were DJing?
Er, you?
Is it harder to write a book, record an album, or decide in which order to put records on?
Well the only book I have written came quite easily because I had an amazing story to tell. Records I find fiendishly hard because I find it very hard to be objective about my own work musically. Playing records is relatively easy but it needs a lot of preparation, and an ability to second guess the crowd a little bit.
Do you mind me leaving my handbag underneath the mixer while I'm dancing?
No, it's always useful for a tenner when I need a drink.
Published: 18/04/2008