The Warehouse Project has, over the last 6 years, become the UK’s most popular and highly respected music event for both world class DJ’s and Electronic live acts alike. We managed to get a few minutes with WHP resident Krysko recently….
How long have you been DJing?
If you mean when I first tried it, it was when I was 12… so nearly 20 years I suppose. It’s that usual story you hear all the time – got given some rave cassettes when I was at school, then used my mates brother decks when he got them, Soundlab DLP1′s… using his records. It’s a variation on a usual story but that’s how it started. Then it went from there – school discos, mate’s nights etc… then I ended up in Manchester and before you know it you’re 30 odd – scary!
You have got quite a diverse style, how would you describe it to those who haven’t had the pleasure of listening before?
It really does depend on when and where you come to hear me – as the last 12 have been as a resident (Sankeys Soap – Tribal Gathering, The Redlight, Tribal Gathering and now Warehouse Project) that usual means you do the warm-up which means setting it up for the guest/headliner. It doesn’t mean you copy there sound or their style, it means you have to develop your own sound and style whilst knowing how to hold a crowd and play to them without smashing the back out of it! that said when I play out I play house – I like to think the best kind of house as well, old and new.
You used to be resident at Sankeys but moved over to WHP, what do you think about the rivalry between the two?
Each feeds off each other I reckon – what the WHP brought to MCR can only be a good thing for the city in terms of getting people to travel to the city. A monopoly in any scene is boring, people need options and have there own tastes so everyone’s needs to be catered for, and between WHP, Sankeys and all the other nights I hope that is the case for Manchester as a whole.
So you have been resident at the WHP since it began, how did this come about?
Natural transition… I had some of the most enjoyable years of my like being resident at Sankeys Soap, and I met some of my best friends I now have in Manchester during them years. But when it’s time to move on and try something new you know, and it was.
WHP has now left it’s Store Street Venue, how do you feel about this?
Happy, nervous and excited – and probably in that order. Again it’s a natural transition if you stay in one place for too long things become expected, stagnant and predictable. In music that’s a killer. You need to try something new, take things to a different level, if it works it works, if it doesn’t, then at least you’ve tried. It will work though! Store Street was better than we ever expected, and we aim to do the same… but better.
Anything you can tell us about the new venue?
Not much, sorry! my lips are sealed…
How much has being a resident at such a world famous event helped you raise your profile?
Of course it helps, you gain exposure by playing to quite diverse crowds for the different nights and you get gigs of the back of it… that’s how it works. For me it’s about playing the music I love in one of the best rave rooms & sound systems in the country, that’s what does it for me.
We have heard some productions from you before, but nothing as of late, why is that?
It’s one of those things… I’ve worked with various people in the studio like Paul Woolford, but it’s a case of getting into a groove with productions and finding your own sound – which isn’t easy. But I’ve never put pressure on myself, if things work then they work, if not they don’t. Myself and fellow resident Greg Lord have actually been working for about a year on productions and we are finding our feet and sound, so maybe it’ll happen, maybe.
You have played at some huge festivals including Glastonbury, which was your favourite and why?
All the big festival are fun, like Glastonbury, Bestival etc… when your mates are there and you stay for the full shebang they’re great. But I like the smaller ones; my favourite being Beatherder. I’ve done most of them now playing in the woods called the toiltrees and usually on a Sunday and it’s fantastic. Great people, sound and setting.
