The Nine Lives of John ‘00’ Fleming

The nine lives of a cat refers to a swift reaction to changes in time, with the endurance to remain in the game and the presence of mind ready to evolve. The one thing that never changes in this world is change itself. We are in an industry where the last two decades have seen the genres of trance and house decentralise into a licorice allsorts of sub-genres. Our attention span lasts no more than a second, change comes with every BPM, and being relentless comes more with a bass line than the profession. It takes real guts to stay constant and endure. John ‘00’ Fleming’s nine lives have seen him survive within a tumultuous industry, and as a result, he remains eternally dependable. We always know what to expect from J00F: that driving sound, the enormous range of music within his set, the ever evolving styles of music he can play through: these alone unite to form the foundation of a constant and enduring career.

Indeed, J00F has triumphantly come through more than twenty years of trials and tribulation. He balances a respected livelihood as a DJ, remixer and now producer with wisdom and experience, his skills behind the wheels of steel tempered by a steadfast outlook in knowing exactly what works on the dancefloor. J00F is not shy in his beliefs. He is humbled, yes, about the achievements and talents he has sacrificed for and worked so hard to acquire. But he is far from timid in his perspectives on what it takes to be a good DJ, how a warm up set should be played, what role a ’proper’ DJ plays to the dancefloor and that an atmosphere is what a proper DJ sets out to create.

In the lead up to the debut of his solo artist album and upcoming club tour around Australia, John ‘00’ Fleming presents the reasons why his star endures. Brash, inspiring, mesmerising and irresistible, J00F is armed with new music and technology, always moving forward and never compromising on his music selection nor his sound.

What is your…

Favourite drink?
You can’t beat a nice cuppa tea in the morning

Favourite track to drive along to?
Talk Back Radio. I work with music all day long and all night long and just need a release to get away from it all and keep my ears out of work mode

Favourite DJ of all time?
There are so many to choose from. If I had to choose any, it would be John Peel

Top tech toy?
The original black iPad. I use it alongside DJing and it keeps me company on flights.

What makes a good DJ?
This might seem a bit old skool, but I’m from the generation when DJs used to be DJs. I think we’ve lost that feel of a DJ - it’s a rare breed these days. Someone makes a track in the studio and suddenly they’re a DJ. It takes many years of experience acquiring the skills as a DJ and this is what we are actually lacking in the scene at the moment. That’s what the new generation of people don’t know or understand; like how to open a room, how to warm the room, how to control the room, learn to play and adapt to them and give the audience what they want and play with them: that’s the skill DJs don’t have now. They just turn up with their computer, with all their set on there, and press play. They’re used to playing big hit, after big hit, after big hit; and they think that’s DJing - and it’s not. It is if you’re a wedding DJ - not when you’re playing in clubs.

But that’s where you come along and teach us, right?
That’s what I’m trying to do at the moment. I think it’s really sad that this is missing. Not that the crowd need educating but they’re used to the Wedding DJs scenario of big hits, big hits; there’s no skin in that, there’s no soul, no feeling and it’s bang bang bang bang bang! And they miss out on that real experience; where a proper good DJ gets hold of you, batters you up, down, left right centre, and a whole range of music in their set. It’s missing.

Is creating an atmosphere what you try to achieve every time you get behind the decks?
Yes. That’s part of the reason why I’m doing club tours now. I ‘m playing longer sets because that’s what I’m used to as a DJ. I play a whole range of music in my set. I’ll play 4, 5, 6, 7 hour sets and I can do that. The new generation of DJs don’t know how to do that. Over 2 hours, they start getting lost, because the crowds naturally starts getting tired after 2 hours of getting walloped over the head with anthems. It starts getting boring after a while. As I said: it takes years to acquire the skill of truly learning how to DJ. I’m returning to my roots, playing longer sets - like a proper DJ.

Well, it’s like making love isn’t it? You either bang it out, or you seduce somebody?
That’s a pretty good analogy. But two minutes can feel like two hours when it gets banged it out; or you could be like me and go longer.

What are you most looking forward to when you get to Australia?
Aussies are going to get the first hearing of my solo artist album when I get there. It’s taken a few years to make, and there’s going to be lots of surprises. Nine Lives is a reflection of the ups and downs of my life. I’m like a cat with nine lives, so it makes sense for me to name my album this.

Also, I’ve always had this close connection with the Australian crowds. This is my 11th or 12th year now since I’ve been coming over. And they get me. Since gig 1, they get me. I don’t play like the others. Yeh, I’m into the trance, but I’m not like the other guys and they know they’re going to get a different flavour with me. I’m proud of playing new music; of playing a proper set. I’ll play a game with them with my music. It’s like watching a movie, a thriller; where you’re on the edge of your seat and you don’t know what’s happening, where you’ve got the twists and the turns and you’re excited what the ending’s going to be. That’s what I tend to do to people when I play a set. Other DJs are like Hollywood with all the effects, the glitter and glam and I’m not really into that. People have followed me for that reason and that’s what Australians allow me to do. They get it and understand.

How do we compare to your European and American fans?
I’ve just always had this connection. It goes back to my underground days in London. A hell of a lot of my fans were Aussies in England, travelling. I first got used to the Australian crowds in London; got to know them, to experience them. And it’s wonderful for them to see me on their home turf. I feel welcomed, and I feel the excitement; watching everyone share my enjoyment. Every year I look forward to coming down under.

For the newbies: where does the ‘00’ actually come from?
Years ago, DJs used to have gimmick names; not many people would use their real names. I had to think of some name; I didn’t want something cheesy but I wanted to keep my real name in it. Ian Fleming – who I’m not related to – was the writer of the James Bond books. So I played off the ‘007’ bit and it’s been my name ever since. John ‘Double Oh’ Fleming. Depending upon what part of the world you come from, it’s ‘Jewf’ – that’s what I’m used to. Some foreigners will say ‘Yoof’ though.

You’ve had quite a few changes to your sound in the last few years: What would you say is the consistent J00F sound?
It’s not like I’m jumping from genre to genre, I’m just evolving. If I didn’t evolve, I would be playing the same music I was playing 20 odd years ago and it would be boring to me. As technology moves on, the accessibility of technology is bringing new producers, with new ideas, new sounds, new tricks. That’s what I like, and that’s what I’m known for: playing new music and moving forward. I’m still connected to the trance world, but I have my different take on it. I’m known for all styles. I can start my set really slow, and if it’s a long set, finish up really banging. I can play a whole range of music. Today’s generation of DJs seems to be pigeon holed, caught in this loop of whatever sub-genre of music they’re into and they don’t play any further than that. 10 years later, they’re playing and producing exactly the same kind of music. That’s just not me. I want to move on, keep discovering new things.

Why do you think people react so much at these changes of genre? So many interviews exclaim when a DJ moves through tech, then to trance, then goa trance and then psy trance. At the end of the day, isn’t it just good music?
It is – but today’s generation is so focussed on a genre and a sub genre. “I’m not just a trance DJ, I’m a tech trance DJ” - and they’ll have these blinkers on to everything else. Years ago, it wasn’t like that. We were true DJs. I believe true DJs are missing from the scene. A true DJ has the musical tools to open up the crowd, to be able to play a big set, to warm up, to drop them down; to play for every moment of the night. All the best DJs have all the tools to cover and jump in at any point to play any set. Anything can happen, and they may need to jump in and take over. Now, that’s a real DJ; they were never pigeon-holed in any kind of genre; they were a DJ. We need to get back to real DJs again.

Does this mean we could hear a house set from you one day?
I get into progressive house. I won’t go down that way [with house] too much, but I play progressive house – and that’s as far as I’ll go. I will drop breaks or go deep in my set – for a memorable moment – but this is to go somewhere else.

You are considered one of the most underrated DJs in dance. Where would you say you are now, compared to where you were say 20 years ago, and 10 years ago. As you look back, do you feel as though you are where you want to be?
I want to remain underrated. I haven’t set off to be a pop star, to be famous. I don’t want to be the best DJ in the world. And that’s why I’m happy where I am today. I don’t have the pressures to make a hit record. I don’t have the commercial stress on my shoulders. I’m in the most happiest place at the moment: I have a wonderful life, I play brilliant gigs, I play the music I want to play at gigs. If I went a step further, I’d have a management team screaming down my shoulders telling me “this is where it is, this is where it has to go, this is how it is, it’s about the brand and we’re doing this and we have to build this” - and my control gets taken away. I’d be playing music I don’t want to. I’d end up whoring myself just to earn some money. I wouldn’t be in a happy place. I’d rather be happy doing what I do musically. If I went in the other direction, I might be a multi millionaire, but does money bring you happiness? No – I’m happy where I am. That’s why I continue to do what I’m doing. I have reached everything I want to do. The only thing I want to achieve is to bring back the real club vibe with specialist clubs and specialist DJs. I think that’s missing and that it’s neglected.

What would make you happier?
Rather than being a pop star and having hit records, I would like be involved in helping bring back a more serious club land. These new DJs that are desperate for gigs and so talented but can’t get gigs because of the pressures of commercial land; I would love to offer them a place and support and infrastructure that they start playing and being DJs. For me, that would be the pinnacle of my career. If I could achieve that, then I’d be a happy man.

As a result of your attitude, your direction and your focus, do you feel alone or separate from everybody else?
You feel alone because you feel like you are one man. It’s not that I want to change the world. I don’t feel it’s a bad thing either. I’m friends with a lot of the DJs in the commercial world, and I see the pressures they’re under and see the internal battles. “Who’s got the best gigs, who’s done this, who’s made the best track, who’s got the most friends on facebook?” It’s a big competition. Being alone is a positive in my eyes. Sod all that lot! I don’t want it! Being in my world, you find that you’re a lot closer to people who are like minded to me. Take Christopher Lawrence for instance. I’m so close to him. We’re like two geeks about tracks. We’ll be on the phone to each other telling each other to listen to this track and work through it across the phone. There’s me and Christopher vibing off each other. That’s what I love – that’s why I’m so happy.

Up the other end, the commercial end, they hold onto that track like it’s a secret weapon. They hold onto it quietly and don’t tell anyone, don’t get to share it. It’s power and competition. And it’s not for me.

Where you are now has a great deal to do with the years you’ve put in. Has your longevity allowed you to pick and choose?
I’ve managed to stamp my message across. I’m not a commercial guy – and people know that. When commercialism took off and a few became superstars, suddenly everyone wanted to be a superstar. I made it clear from that day: don’t expect that from me, that’s not going to happen. I think people know the music I play and the music I produce. Whether you call it selling out or what you want to call it, I’ll never do that. I’ll never go that way. From this day until I retire (whenever that is, in many years time), I’ll just keep doing what I believe in and what I enjoy doing.

This means we can rely upon you!
Yes, I’ll never let anyone down!

www.john00fleming.com