The World According To Allister Whitehead

Allister Whitehead is one of the house scene’s biggest DJs. He’s mixed numerous Fantasia compilations and he’s resident at Zero-G in Nottingham…

From DJ, to remixer and producer. How did you pull if off?

“Really? I didn’t think I had. Err, well yeah, okay, I have then. People tend to think that you move on from these little stages of DJing to production. You don’t, you just start from the beginning and work your way into it”.

Did anything really piss you off in ’97?

“Yeah but it wasn’t a bad year. Hard, but productive, is how I would describe it. I hated trying to juggle two or three things at once, and I got mucked around a lot by the club we were doing, Zero G, but everything is fine now. The people annoying me aren’t around anymore, and things have calmed down a bit”.

Who are your favourite DJs?

“I get asked that question a lot. What I’ve started to say is that it’s all the people who have managed to carve a living out of DJing, because it’s very hard to do this”.

You’ve worked with some pretty big names over the years, who have you most enjoyed collaborating with?

“At the moment I’m working with Tom Frederick in the studio. He’s well known throughout the industry for his production. I enjoy working with Up Yer Ronson and Cream”.

What was the best remix of 1997?

“I think the Jamiroquai track, ‘High Times; is good, especially the remix by Roger Sanchez”.

Which record would you have most liked to remix?

“’I Am The Walrus’ by The Beatles, after having heard Oasis’ version”.

Which track of 1997 would you liked to have remixed?

“’You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’ by Byron Stingly”.

Where was your best clubbing experience?

“I don’t know. I’m not really very rock ‘n’ roll! Although I am getting better at it. It’s a hard one really…. I think just seeing people turn up, and going mad to what you do is as good as anything”.

What will be the Big Sound of 1998… speed garage maybe?

“I’m pro anything that’s good. There’s some good speed garage, and then, of course, there’s some bad speed garage. A lot of this disco sampled stuff is very big, and a lot of sound systems are getting better now in clubs. If you hear it on a whacking system, it’ll blow you away. This is why speed garage is doing so well, but I still prefer the big American sounds”.

What do you think of the state of the scene at the moment?

“Musically, everything is great. Fridays aren’t so great in club land. They used to be rammed out all over the country, but they’re bound to come to a halt at some stage. Clubs are not as good as they were, but the scene’s still fairly good”.

Is there anything you’ve done that you now wish you hadn’t? Be honest!

“For me, it’s more like what I didn’t do a lot sooner! Everyone makes mistakes. The one that springs to mind is spending lots of money on something and thinking ‘why did I do that?’ But you learn from your mistakes don’t you?”

Who do you admire?

“I quite admire Richard Branson”.

Will Tony Blair completely lost the plot this year?

“No not at all. The first time I actually saw Tony Blair, I said to somebody, he’s going to be the next Prime Minister”.

The best thing you’ve achieved from life is…?

“Doing what I’m doing now”.

The USA vs Saddam, is there an ultimatum?

“I don’t think it’s USA vs Saddam. The USA aren’t the police of the world. The UN on so many occasions are just firing blanks. I think that if the UN hadn’t gone in there like they have done, then there would be no problem”.

What makes you proud to be British?

“The music, the music is amazing!”