IVAN SMAGGHE Interview - Stealth 6th Brithday

To headline the >ZLEEP< room at the Stealth 6th Birthday this Friday, we are looking forward to welcoming back a man who stands at the crossroads between glamorous Parisian hype and musical integrity, Stealth favourite IVAN SMAGGHE.
Ivan's 'Test' radio show and compilations imposed a new vision of leftfield electronica on Radio Nova and his programming for the two past years has been a faultless example of quality eclecticness. Though Smagghe hails from the early days of the Parisian underground - both through his connection with the defunct Rough Trade record shop and remixing contributions on various formats - he came back to music production in 2001 by launching his own Set imprint.
How long ago did you start djing & producing?

First paid set in 1992. Production came later, ‘96 probably.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Soft Cell's ‘Tainted Love’ was the first I bought with my own money.

And what was the last record (or track) you bought?

An EP by Dionigi called 'They Have Black Eyes’ on Quantity Division: Italian. Amongst others.

Who were your main inspirations that got you into djing & production?

My dad and his love for Tangerine Dream. Throbbing Gristle, Severed Heads, and Soft Cell probably. Belgian new beat. I'm coming from a 'rock' background, so Weatherall has to be the man responsible for getting me properly into dance music. Dimitri from Amsterdam was a DJ I loved and loads of others. Harvey counted a lot at some point. Many others over the years really.

How many records are in your collection?

I stopped counting and collecting when I lost 20,000 records in a fire back in 1998.

What are your 3 most played tracks at the moment?

Some unreleased tracks by French hopes DARABI (check Get The Curse for more info), 'Broken Clock' by CHALLENGE on Marketing, and an EDDIE C remix of SEAN BROSNAN on Needwant.

What do you do when you are not djing / producing?

Read. Watch movies. Not TV, movies. Being angered by too many believing in the final victory of capitalism.

What is your biggest fear?

Loss of a loved one. Including my cat.

Stealth is 6 years old this Friday. What did you do on your 6th
birthday?

Too far away to remember I’m afraid. But I asked my mum for my first record in 1977. 'Manureva' by Alain Chamfort, a French pop track of which I’ve always wanted to sample first four bars.

If you could pick 3 Dj's (past or present) to play at your party
who would you pick?

Dimitri from Amsterdam circa 1992, Poltergeist, an early Belgian legend whom I was never able to hear, and Nathan Wilkins really playing what he wants. They’re 3 amongst many though.

What is your favourite memory of Stealth?

The quality of it's residents, Matt Tolfrey and Dave Congreve. And it was always a pleasure to see James Bailie.