{"id":24099,"date":"2015-10-20T18:35:42","date_gmt":"2015-10-20T16:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.deephouseamsterdam.com\/?p=24099"},"modified":"2015-10-25T00:15:19","modified_gmt":"2015-10-24T22:15:19","slug":"interview-shadow-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deephouseamsterdam.com\/london\/interview-shadow-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Shadow Child"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s all about the music for the affable brit Simon Neale, a.k.a. Dave Spoon, a name he established himself on the UK and world’s dance scene. Eventually he would become known as Shadow Child though, his recent and most successful re-creation. While this new musical dawn as one of UK’s most sought after house music names has spun with mixes and DJ dates filling up the diary, Shadow Child is preparing big projects one after another. This time, Simon is bringing together his musical peers along with a carefully selected up-and-comers to present his project “Connected” at one of London’s most intriguing venues – the Oval Space. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Renaming himself as a Shadow Child<\/strong>, Simon laid himself a clean slate. Clean from expectations or stylistic frames, his alter ego Shadow Child<\/strong> has accelerated from its start in March 2012. Since then, loads of projects rose in the shadows of his studio. His very own record label Food Music<\/strong> came to be, in partnership with Kry Wolf<\/strong>, tours all around the world, aside all that Simon has been working as a radio DJ, previously as part of the line-up on BBC Radio 1<\/strong>‘s ‘In New DJs We Trust’ feature, and currently on radio RinseFM<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A project from last year Collected <\/strong>got everyone up their toes, thus this time Simon connected <\/strong>his musical peers on the new platform and is about to present the result in an album, but it will first be heard this Saturday in capital’s Oval Space<\/strong>. “Talking about the event, cannot mention Oval Space<\/strong>, described as a multi-purpose venue with 6000 square feet of unobstructed statement space in a unique London setting, which has become one of the ultimate top spots. Side to side, Simon got the garage legend MJ Cole<\/strong> on board to support the event. MJ Cole<\/strong> is known for his ability to join the dots between the past and the present, and so he will be expected to do on the night in the DJ booth.<\/p>\n

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Oval Space, London<\/p><\/div>\n

But, before all that, we had a\u00a0conversation on a big career, influences and, of course, music with Shadow Child<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

You probably just came back from Ibiza, where you have played the Together closing party of Amnesia. How was that? <\/strong>
\nHi.. yeah a couple of weeks back. I love Amnesia<\/strong>, I was Cream <\/strong>resident back in the Spoon days on the terrace so it was great to be back in my former 2nd home with Defected<\/strong>. I like playing for them in Ibiza, and I find the 2 rooms compliment one another at Together<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Just curious, to have a hint of the vibe, which track did you finish your set with?<\/strong>
\nI usually finish up with some older more well know Shadow Child stuff.. the Hot Natured<\/strong> remix is usually one but I think I played quite a few classics that night, things like Armand\u2019s remix of \u2018Sugar is Sweeter\u2019. Closing week is a slightly different vibe, like a festival set i my eyes. Love it.<\/p>\n

You are greatly sought after as a selector, and owner of an impressive back catalogue. Do you have a preference \u2013 DJing or producing?<\/strong>
\nThank you.. Producing is my thing, I never got into DJing until a while after making my own tunes back in the 90\u2019s. But they obviously spur each other on, so these days of course the DJing is so important for inspiration and buzz in the studio a lot of the time.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m not after any kind of fame or anything, the music can be famous, that\u2019s plenty enough for me.” <\/span><\/h2>\n

Currently you are working on your new concept Connected? Can you tell us more about it?<\/strong>
\nI had a pile of tracks i started with some peers and DJ friends which never quite got finished, so Connected <\/strong>is a platform to present those collaborations with some other solo stuff too, all in one place so there\u2019s an album coming. We\u2019ll take it out on the road too and all DJ together I\u2019m sure.. news on exactly who they all are soon. Happy to have Mr Penfold<\/strong> on board visually too.. he\u2019s a wicked street and graphic artist who\u2019s always doing great things. Look him up!<\/p>\n

(And sure we did:\u00a0Mr Penfold<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

You mentioned in one interview, that being a teenager you had the chance to meet Liam Howlett, the main composer of The Prodigy. Could you tell a bit more about that?<\/strong>
\nYeah it was a long time ago now, but I mention that a lot because meeting him made everything real.. like it was possible to do what I\u2019ve gone on to do. It was early 1993 when they played local to where I grew up and I was about to leave my school where we had a studio. I was making Rave and Hardcore in my music lessons so Liam<\/strong> took an interest in what I was up to and we stayed in touch for a short while. He encouraged me to send my music to XL and although I didn\u2019t get signed, it taught me a lot about being confident to make myself known to people. Speaking to someone from a similar background to me in his position was hugely inspiring, especially when I was just 16.<\/p>\n