Will Atkinson; the 25 year old responsible for over 80 Radio 1 airplays since 2008, the man who engineered over 90 records between 2011 and 2013, the teenager who began producing at 14 and the boy who began mixing records at the age of 7...
Championing Judge Jules as one of the main reasons he got into Dance music after striking up a relationship following one of his gigs in 2008, Jules gave Will his first ever radio airplay, playing his track ‘Perpetual Sunrise’ back in 2008. This relationship continued with Will joining Judge Jules to play at Digital, Newcastle with the event recorded live as part of BBC Radio 1’s In New Music We Trust.
Will has since racked up over 80 BBC Radio 1 airplays from likes of Judge Jules, Pete Tong, Kutski & Simon Patterson. His track ‘Cloud Surfing’ was played 6 times over 6 consecutive weeks. His work has claimed numerous Number 1 spots on Beatport in the Trance, Psy-Trance & Breaks charts his productions have been signed to some of the biggest record labels with releases on Armada, FSOE, Subculture, Perfecto Fluoro, Spinnin Records, Vandit and Monster Records. Official remixes for Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Aly & Fila, John O’Callaghan, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Simon Patterson & Alex Morph top off Will’s very impressive discography to date.
With so many successful release’s & remixes to his name, Will has developed a string of A-list supporters. Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, Eddie Halliwell, Paul Oakenfold, Simon Patterson, Judge Jules, John O’Callaghan, Paul van Dyk, Sander van Doorn have all shown support to his music.
Not content with what he has already achieved in the industry he created the alias ‘Darkboy’. Darkboy was created to focus on the darker, psychedelic elements of Trance. The first release under this new alias was signed to Perfecto Fluoro, “Darker Shades of Black” hit number 1 on the Beatport Psy-Trance chart.
2011 & 2012 he Engineered & co-wrote over 60 tracks & performed in USA, South Korea, Mexico, BAT festival Argentina, Luminosity, Poland, Iceland, Godskitchen, The Arches, Coloursfest & Goodgreef with 2013 saw his debut Spain, Hungary, Ibiza & 3 Beatport Top 10 releases.
2014 was one of his biggest year with tours in Australia, USA, festivals in Holland, Poland & Argentina.
His natural talent and un-rivalled passion for music with hard work is set to make him future star in the scene so keep your eyes peeled & expect a lot more from Will Atkinson very soon.
His latest releases are entering thick and fast the top places of the beatport trance chart and the crowds adore him so we ask for an interview with him and we are glad he found the time to do it and his answers are great like his music. Big love for the Scottish trance hero!
Interview is written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, music journalist and 1mix radio host
Dimitri: First of all it would be great to take us for a trip in your childhood and tell us if you have ever think back then to have this great career in the electronic music scene and when exactly you start developing a passion for djing and producing?
Will: Most people know that it was my Mam that got me into Dance music. Way ahead of the times! I grew up on the small island of Orkney. Northern North up in Northern Scotland ha. There was literally no scene so I was sitting myself listening to Radio 1 on Friday nights back when I was 10 or 11. It was either Football or Music and I chose the Music. I was messing around with records at the age of 10 and producing at 14.
Dimitri: In your bio one name crops up as your mentor and that is Judge Jules. Would u like to tell us his opinion for him, how did you met up and what advise he gave you back in these days?
Will: Jules really took me under his wing during the late 00’s. I had been listening to his Radio 1 show religiously most Saturday nights. Since meeting him for the first time which was coincidentally opening Orkney’s first Nightclub, I was sending him music week in week out. I’d love to hear some of the tripe now. The best advice he gave me was to find your own sound, and create music with a character. I think that pays testament to the sound that he has always pushed.
Dimitri: Have you attended any college to learn how to produce or you are self taught? Where and when did you learn your tricks in the trade of producing top tunes?
Will: I’m 100% self taught and I take a lot of pride in that. At the same time I’ve never turned down the chance to work with other producers and engineers. Experience is invaluable, don’t ever turn your nose up at it. I finally made the difficult but inevitable move from Orkney when I was 18 and attended college just outside Glasgow. That was working with bands, running live gigs and recording sessions. Totally unrelated to what I’m doing now, but definitely an interesting couple of years. I made the call of dropping out after 2 years and moving into Glasgow and just throwing myself into it. Frightening but the best thing I did. Passion and Persistence is the key.
Dimitri: Do you have your own studio? What kind of equipment and what software you use for your productions?
Will: It’s literally an old mic booth which I’ve used as a studio for the last 4 years. No windows, No air con, No internet. It’s served me well but I’m moving early next year literally into the room next door
It’s leased to me by the Soma Records/Pressure crew so you see some pretty cool faces floating about up here. I’m producing music with Ableton and have access to a cool source of samples. I’m mainly writing with Zebra and Spectral. Really organic sounding. I’ll be looking to bring in some outboard synths next year when I have the space!
Dimitri: Are there any suggestions that you would like to make to those who design music software? Do you find certain limitations that should be tackled and improved?
Will: I guess I’m lucky to be gifted with a good ear so any problems I can usually find my way round it. I guess I’m holding out on certain synths to be upgraded to 64bit so I can throw everything at it, but even then, I’m finding less is more ;)
Dimitri: You have releases on many record labels that performed very well at the beatport charts. It would be top notch to pick your all time will atkinson production and remixes Top 10?
Will:
1. Mesmerise (Feat. Rowetta)
2. Through Spirit
3. Limitless (With Nick Callaghan)
4. Victims
5. Numb The Pain
6. Game Over
7. Sharpshooter
8. Heartfelt
9. Fresh Meat
10. Sun Slip
Dimitri: Can you recall which track took the most time to finish and which track was produced super fast and became success?
Will: Limitless with Nick Callaghan was hands down the longest both of us have spent on any track. It was more a statement than anything. It took at least 2 months solid graft and a few all nighters - in the end were just glad to have it finished. The quickest was my Darkboy rework of Human Resource - Dominator. I made it whilst taking the train down to a gig in Manchester. It took me about 3 hours and I played it out on the night. Outrageous.
Dimitri: You produce wide variety of trance subgenres. In which of the many subgenres you feel more comfortable and more excited to produce?
Will: Right now I’m really buzzing on a crossover Techno Trance vibe. Not to be confused with Tech-Trance ;)
Dimitri: Your latest release on FSOE recordings is the first ever vocal trance release. How did you decide to work with Rowetta on vocals? Are there specific reasons that make the production of a vocal track more intense and demanding from instrumental trance tracks?
Will: I first became aware of Rowetta when I was sitting in my living room watching the X-Factor back in 2004. The first time hearing her I could immediately hear her voice in a Trance record and told myself one day I’d work with her. Fast forward 10 years I had these really cool chords and a catchy top line but with it was missing something. This year it finally clicked what was missing - a mesmerising vocal hook. I emailed her on the off chance she would be up for collaborating and she replied the same day to say she was interested in working together. I sent her a rough demo and some lyrics I had written out and she was really cool to work with them and put her own twist on them. We booked out a studio near Manchester for 8 hours to lay down the vocals but we had it nailed in 45 minutes. 5 takes. Mesmerise was born. She’s an absolute genius in the scene and was at the heart of the Madchester era and still tours with The Happy Mondays. Her voice is perfect. So much depth and soul, something Trance lost many years ago in my opinion. It’s literally the track I always wanted to write. Wouldn't change a single thing about it.
Dimitri: Are you going to produce more vocal trance tracks and have you approached any vocalists that you admire?
Will: I have approached another Vocalist I’m really loving and we are going to start working on something next year. I can also confirm that I’ll be working with Rowetta on a follow up to Mesmerise next year which I’m extremely excited about.
Dimitri: Mainline is the name of your radio show. In what ways your show is different from other radio shows and are u going to introduce anything new in the coming weeks?
Will: The Mainline Show is basically me talking bollucks for 2 hours over a pile of good records. I build the show up the way I envision a night out in a club. First we find ourselves in the Front Room where I showcase some of my favourite current vibes in House music for the first half hour. There is also a Back Room section dedicated to the more darker vibes of my musical mind before finally finding ourselves in The Main Room rounding the show into a frenzy before settling back down with a more obscure pick. There is numerous features in between but you should go check it out for yourself. Catch it every 1st Wed of the month: www.soundcloud.com/willatkinson
For people who prefer all the “Whack” without the Chat, The Mainline Mix covers all things banging exactly 2 weeks after The Mainline Show.
Dimitri: You play in many wonderful countries and places so I will go with the obvious question which countries are your favourite to play and why?
Will: Obviously the standard answer to this question is Argentina. But other recent places like Singapore and Sydney have also been really cool vibes.
Dimitri: Everybody is concerned for the rise of the big festivals and the death of the local club scenes. Do you think that is this the case or you feel that still trance clubs are strong in UK?
Will: I only have to look a couple miles into Glasgow City Centre to answer that. Having seen The Arches follow suit in the recent trend of clubs closing their doors. And after hearing of more places following suit, it wouldn't surprise me. There seems to be a couple of new nights popping up here and there but it’s not definitely not great right now for Trance in UK Clubs. The biggest nights happen every 6 weeks or so now. Compared to House and Techno weekly sell outs, its a no brainer really. The Trance scene needs to refine itself.
Dimitri: You are coming from Glasgow but you are a global citizen travelling to spread your message of love. Would you like to see Scotland independent or you prefer to be part of the UK?
Will: Everyone seemed to turn into a politician as soon as the independent vote came around. I don’t know too much about it but I would personally like to see independence for Scotland. A chance to vote in a government we actually want sounds good to me.
Dimitri: From your dj sets so far in which club or festival you had the best time delivering it and for what reasons this experience is unforgettable?
Will: Clubs like The Arches, Digital in Newcastle, Kelly’s @ Portrush and Magic in Buenos Aires have been standout moments in my career without a doubt.
Dimitri: Which tracks we have to expect in the coming months and which clubs or festivals that you are booked you are looking forward to perform?
Will: I’m working on new music for Subculture, Kearnage and also getting into a more melodic phase. I also have collaborations with Bryan Kearney, Grum and also remixes for Freedom Fighters underway. It’s all about next year.
Thanks to Will for finding the time to reply on this demanding interview
Thanks very much to William Daniel for organising this interview
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