Q+A: Dubfire

When was the last time you saw Sharam?

He’s actually arriving today. He’s playing tomorrow morning at Vista in Privilege. He’s married with four kids, lives in the suburbs, and me? I’m single and living between three places. When we first split it was pretty rocky, and the reunion [in 2014] got off to a rocky start, so it took a while to rekindle the friendship.

Is seeing him like seeing an old girlfriend?

Exactly the same, yeah. You care about that person because you spent a lot of time with them, you had a lot of crazy arguments and you have a lot of fond memories. So in that sense we’re still very connected and I think we will be to the end of our days, but we don’t really hang out.

Outside of music, what are your other passions?

I’m really into fashion, I’m into film, but there’s not a lot of time. Because I do so many gigs and because there’s so much music out there now it takes time to sift through the mediocre or the stuff that just doesn’t speak to me. I used to skip college classes and go to record stores and sit on the floor all day long, digging through records. I could only afford to leave with two and I’d study them inside and out. I’d read every part of them, the artwork, the label, the vinyl. I geeked out like crazy over vinyl back then!

What are the chances of you listening to a tune someone’s emailed you?

Music somehow finds its way to me. Pretty much everything I’ve released on SCI + TEC has found its way to me organically. It could be a kid at the front of an intimate club who just hands me something. But right now I’m carrying around with me a real big bag of USB sticks [I’ve been given]. The bag has never fully emptied. It’s symbolic of the guilt. A big bag of USB sticks.

I know you’re also a massive foodie...

On the road, the only way to gain some insight into where I am is by going for a meal with the promoter. Unless I’m on my deathbed from five gigs in a row I’m up for going out to eat. It makes me feel connected to where I am – otherwise it just becomes one endless loop.

Your brother told us your mother is the best cook in the world. Is she?

She’s actually amazing. So good that throughout the years I’ve always made sure I’m home for Thanksgiving, no matter what state I’m in. The night before Thanksgiving is a big night to play out. I’m usually DJing somewhere, but I always end up at home and she cooks a feast. Sometimes I’ll invite friends or other DJs, to come. Joseph Capriati has been over the last two years, Sander Kleinenberg, Carlo Lio. So many others.