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Mark Farina Om Records - Interview by Smalz. Published in BPM Magazine
His career is chock-full of highlights. His music is deep, jackin’. It’s funky, intellectually obscure. Its jazz infused with slick and smooth down-tempo beats. He has single handedly championed and perfected his own sub- genre of stylishly urban organic tunes. He is one of the world’s most well known and loved DJ. He is Chicago’s own Mark Farina.
Now happily transplanted in San Francisco I caught up with him at his home, as he took time from his busy schedule to talk to us. He is considerably in good spirits despite the time differences when I called. I immediately got stuck in quizzing him on how his day had been panning out. “I’m flying to play at DJ Heather’s birthday this Saturday with Derrick Carter at the Smart Bar’ he muses in his fatherly deep American drawl. “So I’m just getting some music together” Now, any self respecting Chicago house punter would be green with envy after hearing this piece of information. Considering that the three of them worked together at Chicago’s famous record store the Gramaphone in the 80’s. The Smart bar is where his DJ’ing career unfolded layers culminating into some tightest collaborations. I weaved the conversation towards his latest Mushroom Jazz installment. “It takes some months of preparation, to do the licensing and get the CD out. “I’m lucky because I know a lot of producers which helps with finding great tracks” he adds. Unlike past volumes of Mushroom Jazz, when Farina used tracks from bigger names like J-Live and Pete Rock, has focused more on lesser-known, though just as talented, acts like the Jazzual Suspects, relative newcomers who are understandably featured twice. “Yeah, I try and get promos from people – new music that isn’t out yet or super –played out” “I like getting tracks by J-Boogie Dubtronic Science, King Kooba, Miles Maeda and JT Donaldson” Taking his cue from early Talking Loud and various other acid jazz labels, and artists like Young Disciples to underground hip-hop geniuses, Mark has nurtured and cultivated his distinctive sound. Not bad from a guy who’s been able to attract a worldwide religious following inspired by different styles of music and the ability to creatively blend them together. "I was into the Cure, Smiths, Ministry, Depeche Mode, Early U2 and Kraftwerk”. “Played drums in a cover band as a teenager.” I quickly asked him if there were any noticeable changes in the music and house scene specifically. “The German interpretation of Tech house has caught my attention” he pointed out. Constantly traveling to spread his music manifesto since the early 90s, Mark has seen and experienced many different cultures and their local music scenes. “Musically I keep aware of different sounds and musical history synonymous with that particular region”. I sometimes end up playing both down-tempo and house sets in one night in one venue” I quickly caught up with myself realizing that I was getting carried away and my time running out. I wrapped it up flipping the script, getting all groupie on him asking when he’ll be touching down our shores. “I look forward coming there soon” he says laughingly. Delving deep into the belly of underground house movement can be quite a pleasant experience I thought to myself. Perhaps in order to look forward one must look at the beginning – and coincidentally the underground is where true house music is at.  Views: 620 views
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