We talk to Krafty Kuts about music, festivals, Ibiza and how break beat is set to take over the world.

With nearly as many accolades for his music as he has records in his collection, Krafty Kuts is undoubtedly one of the leading break beat producers and DJs in the world regularly releasing re-mixes and original material to rave reviews.

He tours the globe endlessly with his party-pleasing mixes, but he’s also one of the most down-to-earth DJs there is. Dale Lovell, Urban Planet Editor, caught up with him before he embarks on his summer schedule.

What were your biggest influences when you started out as a DJ?

I grew up in the late 80s early 90s on electro and hip hop, both musical sounds that are a massive influence on the type of music that I make. The first record I bought was a 70s funk record by BT Express and the first seven inch was the Jam’s Too Much Too Young.

What got you into Breaks?

I was into hip hop and DJing in the clubs but I got bored of that gangster this and gangster that and ‘mother fuckin’ this. I just thought hip hops lost its edge. It used to be cool, funky and fresh. It’s too R&B for me these days. About 10 years ago there was a re-emergence of up-tempo funky hip hop and breaks, what people called Big Beat, though I was never that into the whole Big Beat thing. I just gradually moved up tempo with my music and decided that that was the music for me. Luckily then I started making some music of my own and here I am living the dream.

Not wanting to get too computer geeky, but what programmes do you use to make your music with?

I use Cubase, Logic and ProTools mostly. Logic is the easiest to work in, Cubase is very technical and ProTools is even harder to master.

How many records have you got in your collection?

I would say roughly about 6,000.

A lot of records – are they all alphabetically listed and in order?

I wish. If I could have that I would be a very happy man, I tell you. I do know roughly where they are though – if I need a funky record I can usually find one, or a hip hop record. It sometimes takes me a while though! I used to own a record shop so I have a massive funk and hip hop collection. I’d say it would be one of the best collections in the country. I have a lot of interests outside of music but I do live and breathe music day and night.

So how many records do you take out with you when you DJ?

Not that many actually. I’ve found lately that it is sometimes quite difficult to play a lot of records out in the clubs because the needles jump a lot, which can damage the records. I’ve got some really great records that I don’t want to break so I often put stuff to CD. I still scratch with records though and play some records from my collection. It’s a move forward really - carrying records all over the place can be bad for your back – I bet there are so many DJs out there with crumbling backs!

What piece of musical equipment could you not do without?

I’m sponsored by Pioneer so they give me some really cool stuff, but on a day to day level it’s got to be my iPod. I’ve got the latest all-bling metal 80GB one. I bought it in China – what a place to go. I loved playing there.

What have you been listening to on your iPod lately?

Funny you should ask actually – I’ve been listening to some easy listening stuff to inspire me!

Are you playing any festivals this year?

Yes, I’m doing loads: Glastonbury, Glade, V-festival, Leeds and lots of others around the world in LA and others. I was even asked to do the Hay Literary Festival in Wales! I’m also off to Ibiza for a time. It’s going to be a busy summer!

What club are you playing at in Ibiza?

Well, there are some really exciting developments taking place in Ibiza actually at the moment. The guy that owns Eden has just bought a new club, a small underground club right by Space that should be opening in time for the summer. Rather than bring over four or five big names to one venue he’s planning on bringing over just one or two names to a two room venue that’s not too big - so it won’t be too expensive to get in. He’s going to get in some really cool DJs too not these rubbish trance DJs.

Is there a place for break beat on Ibiza do you think?

The sound of breaks is really beginning to take off I think. When you look at the world we are all very similar in the type of music that we like: there’s always an uncommercial side of music that people always like. Through clubs like The End and Fabric in the UK and other clubs in the US, Canada and Australia I think this music is spreading around the world. Breaks is as big globally as house, techno, drum and bass and hip hop now. It’s a quality music that can stand on its own.

Look at Fabric they sometimes just have breaks line-ups and fill the venue with 3,000 people. I think other clubs in Manchester, Leeds and other UK cities could make a go of it too. I played a four day festival in Australia to 30,000 people and I was headlining it!

30,000 people - that’s entering stadium rock-god territory, so have you encountered any huge egos while on the DJ circuit?

Not mentioning any names but there is a lot of stuff that goes on. When I’ve been at the big festivals in Australia I’ve seen some outlandish demands being made and the promoters have had to run around trying to accommodate theses ‘stars’.

Surely no one in the break beat scene though?

No, actually. No one in the breaks scene is like that. They are all very humble people and that’s what makes this music great – there’s no attitude.

Tell us about the FabricLive 34 mix you’ve done?

I am very pleased with the way the Ralph Robles track – Takin’ Over - came out. I really like taking an old sixties Latin track and making something new with it. The bongo track I mixed it with by Madox just works really well with it. We put the Ralph Robles track into Ableton and when we added the beat underneath it was in perfect time so it worked like a dream. It was like getting an old record and making it new.

I also really like the mix I did with the Freeestyler’s track - In Love With You - and my track, There They Go - towards the end of the mix, too. I am very happy with the mix and think it represents the way I play and is a good indicator of the type of set I would play at a club like Fabric I suppose.

How come it took two years to put together?

Well, it was a matter of both sides meeting at the right time. I’d have loved to do it sooner, but I had a new album out and a world tour to promote. It took three months for me to come up with the initial track listings then a week in the studio. All the mixes and extras I did live. It’s an interesting selection.

You’ve mentioned that you’ve gone off hip hop, if you weren’t playing breaks, what style of music do you think you’d play?

I’d probably give Drum & Bass a go. I like the music - it has a good energy to it, too. Hip hop – I don’t think there’s enough good music to play these days. I also like some of that electro house stuff, too. I may even go down that route someday.

Any particular electro house acts that you particularly like?

Justice are good (www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous) - I really like all that French house stuff. I’m also a big fan of electro acts like Hashim, Pretty Tony and DJ Magic Mike.

Win one of 10 FabricLive 34 mixed by Krafty Kuts, Click Here

Find out more about Krafty Kuts at: www.myspace.com/djkraftykuts

5 Things you May Not Know About Krafty Kuts

Home Town: He live in Brighton.

Favourite DVD: Lee Evans Live in Cardiff is one of my favourite DVDs.

Football Team: Krafty Kuts is a massive Liverpool fan. I used to run a football team, too.

Previous Jobs: “I used to taste trifle; I was a bingo caller; I used to make fireplaces – I am a fully trained wood machinist, too.”

He has no age: “I don’t actually give out my age, its one of those things that I like to keep a mystery,” he says.