As one of the fastest rising stars in UK Dance music, Davey Asprey is taking giant steps up through club land, with his eyes tightly fixed on the top spot. His technical ability is a quality exhibition to witness and no show passes without Davey impressing with his dexterous deck talents.
Born and raised in Walsall, a small town in the West Midlands, Davey built his appetite for music at a young age, steered by his mothers New Wave collection. His early interest in electronic music progressed into a passion for Trance, which guided Davey to the mecca of Dance music, Ibiza. During his time on the white isle, he made the journey to see his hero, Eddie Halliwell, at super-club Amnesia; this would be the foundation that his dreams were to inflate on.
As soon as Davey landed back in the UK, he made it his mission to follow in his hero’s footsteps and promptly acquired his first set of turntables. The following year consisted of Davey immersing himself in the art of mixing, working non-stop in pursuit of his vision. Fast-forward one year and a technically proficient Davey Asprey was primed to take his show on the road. His first gig at Nailed, in Leicester opened the floodgates for Davey as this new kid on the block skilfully cut, scratched and blended his way into the local scene. The eruption of the start of his musical career was underway.
His peers soon took notice and it wasn’t long before Davey was sharing the stage with Dance legends including: Armin Van Buuren, Judge Jules, Ferry Corsten, Sander Van Doorn, Marco V, Calvin Harris, Gareth Emery, Richard Durand and most significantly, the man who inspired Davey to chase his dream, Eddie Halliwell. The list of brands that engraved Davey’s name into their line-ups is as complete as any with the likes of: Passion, Digital Society, Goodgreef, Cream, Gatecrasher, Judgement Sundays, OTR – Off The Rails, The Gallery, Ministry of Sound and Armada, happy to have him charm their crowds with his extensive arsenal of mixing techniques and impressive FX manipulation.
From the core of Dance music at Eden, Ibiza to 13,000 clubbers at Slammin’ Vinyl’s New Years Eve mega-party for Goodgreef, Davey’s stamp on the industry was heavier than ever.
Eager to keep himself at the front of the pack, Davey, alike to most Dance music success stories, took to the studio to back-up his DJ talents, where he collaborated with mastermind producer Steve Allen. His first track with Steve ‘Glitch’ was the beginning of a succession of dance-floor smashes that hold Davey’s name. ‘Nightshift, ‘Rogue’, ‘Chimera’, ‘Bellerophon’, ‘Causality’ and remixes for Ernesto vs Bastian and DJ Feel were all globally acknowledged and confirmed Davey as much more than just a DJ – a complete package that has proven his worth among the top tier. Monster Tunes, Lange, Infrasonic, Audentity, Alter Ego and many more were convinced enough to release Davey’s tracks, all of which could be heard across the globe in the most prominent of Dance music venues, supported by many of the greats, including Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Markus Schulz and Paul Oakenfold.
Name: Davey Asprey
Location: Studio, Walsall, England, United Kingdom
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest achievements in your music career in 2014 as dj & producer, label owner, radio host and your personal life if it is something that you wish to share with our readers?
Davey Asprey: My biggest achievements of 2014… ok, here goes.
As DJ it would have to be playing the return of Godskitchen Clash of the Gods to Birmingham in April. Was an honor to have been approached for it to play alongside Aly & Fila, Lange, Sean Tyas, Max Graham, Standerwick, Suckley, Kearney etc.
As a producer it would have to have been seeing a video of Ferry Tayle dropping ‘Illusions’ at Lumi this year! Seeing the crowd going off like that when it drops…. Makes it all worthwhile in my eyes.
Another achievement would be having my monthly radio turning 3 years old! She’s growing up so fast!
Dimitri: 2014 was packed with releases from so many different styles, which Electronic Music style you believe is the absolute Electronic Music Style Of 2014 in the mainstream indifferent if you like it or not. Why you believe this style became so successful in 2014?
Davey Asprey: For me, Trance is king and always will be. But I have been finding myself drawn to the more crossover Techno championed by Alex Di Stefano and Mark Sherrys new Outburst label! I think this will be HUGE in 2015!
1) Best Track:
Davey Asprey: This is a tough one……. For me, it’s either between Cold Blue ‘Black Rock’ or Max Graham ‘Purple’. Been hammering both all year!
2) Best Artist (Dj & producer):
Davey Asprey: John Dopping without a doubt. Huge talent!
3) Best Remix:
Davey Asprey: Rene Dale pres STR84WARD - Sometimes (Dreamy Emotional Dub)
4) Best Remixer:
Davey Asprey: STANDERWICK
5) Best New Talent (Dj or producer):
Davey Asprey: Chris Porter, Dreamy and Billy Rutts!
6) Best Electronic Music Album:
Davey Asprey: John Dopping ‘Words in Colour’
7) Best Electronic Music Compilation:
Davey Asprey: Acid House Anthems
8) Best artwork/cover of an Album or Compilation:
Davey Asprey: Any of the Kearnage and Mental Asylum artworks are next level!
9) Best Lyrics in an Electronic Music track:
Davey Asprey: Orbital ‘Halcyon & On & On’
10) Best Vocalist/Singer featured on Electronic Music track:
Davey Asprey: Kristy Hawkshaw
11) Best Electronic Music Label:
Davey Asprey: MONSTER TUNES!
12) Best Electronic Music Video:
Davey Asprey: On Fire by Luke Bond and Roxanne Emery
13) Best online Funny video related to Dance Music:
Davey Asprey: This ! lol
14) Best Online Social media network:
Davey Asprey: Twitter!
15) Best Twitter or Facebook message you received from a fan or friend or you have read on someone else’s account:
Davey Asprey: It was on Twitter and I had a barrage of tweets from a buy while on the bus home after playing ‘Bellerophon’ for the first time. Got me right in the feels.
16) Best personal selfie of the year, where, when and under which circumstances you took it?
Davey Asprey: I’m getting quite proud of my post gym session selfies haha. SweatON!
17) Best music composition software:
Davey Asprey: Logic X!
18) Best Event or Open Air Festival:
Davey Asprey: Xstatic Festival
19) Best personal Dj Gig:
Davey Asprey: My first ever gig at a club in Leicester called Nailed! Thank you Captain Jack! ;)
20) Best Dj set of the year from other fellow Dj:
Davey Asprey: Jordan Suckley Global Gathering!
21) Best country that you have visited to perform with the most up for it crowd:
Davey Asprey: Ukraine! Haha crazy crazy crazy night!
22) Best Radio show:
Davey Asprey: ASOT!
23) Best Radio station:
Davey Asprey: Afterhours.fm
24) Best Online Record shop that you purchase your music:
Davey Asprey: I used to love HTFR, now I’m ore of a Beatport man.
25) Best Website that you visit frequently:
Davey Asprey: Google News!
26) Best Smart phone/Mobile phone device:
Davey Asprey: Samsung galaxy S4
27) Best Dj equipment (software or hardware):
Davey Asprey: Pioneer at heart, but really starting to love my Traktor setup more and more these days.
28) Best new sound or sample that has been used in Electronic Music this year perhaps introduced first by you?
Davey Asprey: A friend of mine Tim Waters from Canada sent me a sample of one of his tracks with a “clap” in which was recorded while slapping his partners backside haha.
29) Best piece of advice you got in relation to your career in 2014:
Davey Asprey: Just to believe in myself and stay away from “party politics”.
30) Best hobby or activity that you spent a lot of time in 2014:
Davey Asprey: I discovered TES: Skyrim… vanished for a good few months.
31) Best holiday destination for 2014 that you manage to visit this year either to relax or to perform in a club or festival:
Davey Asprey: Ibiza for one of my best friends Stag parties….. Absolute carnage haha.
32) Best Book of the year preferably related to Electronic Music:
Davey Asprey: DJing for Dummies.
33) Best Movie of the year preferably related to Electronic Music that may inspire you to compose a track:
Davey Asprey: Guardians of the Galaxy. The soundtrack was perfect!
34) Best online/PC/video game of the year that you have played this year?
Davey Asprey: TES: Skyrim or GTA:V
35) Best soundtrack for video game of the year:
Davey Asprey: Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol 1.
36) Best track used on video game or TV/online advert in 2014:
Davey Asprey: Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' for Destiny
37) Best piece of News you learnt this year related to Electronic Music Culture:
Davey Asprey: Anything on Wunderground
Dimitri: Finally, 2015 is ahead of us would you like to tell your plans with your future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, Dj gigs.
Davey Asprey: Several tracks signed including collabs from across the Trance spectrum and some pretty exciting gigs, nothing I can announce just yet. You’ll have to keep your eyes out:-p
Thanks so much to beloved dj & producer for his fantastic answers. We discover many things we didnt know!
Thanks to James at Monster Tunes for organising the interview
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