Denats

Who are you and what is your artist name?
I am Adam, also known as Denats. Irish originally but living in Australia now for over 20 years.

What’s your background?
It goes back a while, but I am fortunate to have been around for what I think was the golden age of clubbing and dance music back in the early 90’s. At the time in Dublin there were so many great parties, gigs and clubs and it was all new and exciting. I immediately got the bug and very soon after got some decks and started buying vinyl, an addiction that lasted for many years. I’ve been djing since then and it has always been a passion of mine and something I make the time to do every week. Whilst I’ve dabbled in production over the years it never got the focus it needed and dropped off as life took over. In the last couple of years I decided to really focus on it and see what can be achieved. Pleasingly after putting together many many terrible tracks it’s now starting to get traction and releases are coming out that I’m proud of.

How has your practice change over time
I’ve gone from not having a clue what I am doing to almost having a clue. Key though is constant practice and feedback. I make music every day even if it is for just 5 minutes and it is a habit that I prioritise.

What music genre do you most identify with?
I always struggle with genres and play somewhere between House and Techno. But House music is my passion, underground and jacking ideally. 

What themes do you pursue?
Quirky, fun bounce music that you can’t help but nod to.

What’s your scariest experience?

Becoming a parent, something I also didn’t have a clue about. I’m sure my daughters would say I still don’t have a clue. 

What’s your favourite art work?
Whatever one of my daughters has just brought home. 

Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
Too many to describe, I get it everywhere and often. From what I’m reading, watching , seeing or listening.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Again too many to describe, most start with me saying “Watch this…”

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
I started my working career as a kebab technician, thankfully I have moved on from that and now run a digital team in a corporate environment. Surprisingly, it has many parallels with my music, constant iteration and progress is something I am passionate about over trying for perfection … thats too hard and arguably unachievable.

Why music?
Why not, it’s always in my head and I have discovered it’s my own version of mindfulness.

What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Cool track bro….

What food, drink, song inspires you?
Anything fresh, fresh produce, fresh beats…

What do you like about your work?
Musically, I like that it is constantly evolving but it is instantly identifiable as me. 

What makes you angry?
Stupidity and inefficiency

What superpower would you have and why?
Teleportation, one of the worst parts of living on the other side of the world from where you grew up, is that you have to frequently spend a day on a plane to get back. It is the worst.

Name something you love, and why.
My family, I wouldn’t be who I am without them.

Name something you hate, and why.
When technology fails, when it works it’s great and makes everything easier. But when it fails it’s a pain, recent example is when a hard drive failed and I spent a week trying to recover stuff that should have been backed up…

What is your dream project?
Collaboration with like minded artists to see what the sum of all the parts can deliver.

Name three artists that inspires you
Phil Weeks, Demuir, Green Velvet

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Focus on quantity over quality. If you focus on doing lots of the things you naturally get better, but if you focus on trying to make the best thing you’ll never get anywhere. This applies to anything: music, work, life, …

Professionally, what’s your goal?
Just to see what I can put out and ideally get on record labels I admire and respect.

What wouldn’t you do without?
Musically it’d be the Console 1 system and Serato Sample both were game changers for me. In life Coffee to get me going in the morning.