Jon Hopkins
February 5th, 2007 by rui
Ahead of particularly special session this Thursday, with Tunng and Nick Luscombe both guesting, we catch up with another bar regular…
Who are you?
Jon Hopkins.
What’s your session at The Big Chill Bar called?
I’m afraid it doesn’t have a name.
What have you been up to before this?
Writing and releasing albums about once every 3 years on the Just Music label. Remixing for people and playing live when I’m asked to. And producing stuff for other people.
What’s the music policy for your night?
There isn’t one, everyone just plays what they feel like playing. I try and vaguely ask people whose choices I think will compliment each other.
Who has played, or is going to play at your night?
In the past, Ulrich Schnauss, The Memory Band, Tempo Tantrum DJs and Echaskech, and this very Thursday the 8th of February, Tunng and Nick Luscombe.
If money was no object, and you could book any line-up of DJs and bands living or dead, who would play?
I doubt these things would go together at all, but Smog, Sigur Ros, Caribou, Lone Pigeon (on his own), Sufjan Stevens, maybe John Martyn as he was in the 70s. And The Chemical Brothers as they were when i first saw them about 12 years ago. I don’t really know many DJs apart from Zilla who I saw at Digital City and thought was amazing.
What are your current top 5 tunes?
In no order, Twelve Fold Chain by The Books. Ship by Isan. Solid Liquid by E.O.G. Us Late Travellers by James Yorkston. Ending (from the Hired Hand soundtrack) by Bruce Langhorne.
What do you think of The Big Chill Bar?
I think it is great.
What three things would your ideal bar have to have?
I have to confess to not really liking bars generally. Apart from the Big Chill Bar, which I think is great.
I’m just on my way to the bar – what can I get you?
I like beer. Can I have a beer please.
Ideal evening chilling at home?
Bed.
Ideal evening chilling out?
Seeing my favourite people somewhere.
Favourite places?
The river which I live next to. Devon. The East Neuk of Fife. The Grand Canyon.
What are you reading at the moment?
The Wind in the Willows. It is f**king poetic.
What are you working on at present?
I am producing some tracks for the new King Creosote album. I also recently did some work on an extremely bizarre but interesting improvised project with Herbie Hancock, Squarepusher, and Brian Eno. Also doing a bit of sound and atmosphere stuff for the new Coldplay album. Plus when I have time, trying to finish my next solo album which is "70% finished".
What’s coming up next?
I have two new remixes out over the next few weeks, the first is for the Memory Band, and is out on Peacefrog on limited edition vinyl with a Four Tet remix on the other side. The second is for James Yorkston, which is out on Domino in March some time, also limited edition vinyl, along with remixes by Kode9, King Biscuit Time and more. I am also supporting The Bays on two dates, 1st of April at KOKO in London and 8th of April at Audio in Brighton. And playing the next Digital City, on the 16th of March at the Epicurean Lounge, along with Radioactive Man and some mighty VJs.
What would you most like to achieve over the next five years?
Happiness. Not that I haven’t acheived some of it already. Just more, please.
What would you like to see change most in the world over the next five years?
Less dominance of religion over world events. And people eating better.
Highlight of your life?
I don’t think it has happened yet.
Favourite pie & favourite cheese, please?
Favourite pie was this one I had in Brighton last week, which had in it Moroccan aubergine, chick peas and feta. Gravy and mash were involved too. Favourite cheese was this one i had in a restaurant but I don’t know the name of it so let’s just say Edam.
At a festival – tent, B&B, or hotel for you, and why?
If I had the choice, hotel. But they are always miles away from the site and staying in one means truncating your night or finding someone who wants to drive, so inevitably I end up in a tent, and liking it more than I intended to.[/b]
What was your Top Big Chill moment?
When Enchanted Gordon played a Helios tune in the Enchanted Garden, thus providing me with my first taste of Helios, just as the sun was going down, when I was sat surrounded by friends and family and full up with booze and etc.
Describe the essence of The Big Chill in a few words…
The best thing you can do in Herefordshire…
Thanks!
Jon Hopkins plays The Big Chill Bar on Thursday 8th February, alongside Tunng and Nick Luscombe.
