Apart from your own which have been the tracks that you have listened to most this year?
I had a chat about that yesterday; the point is I’m not a regular DJ, so I am not really into the latest stuff always. I have been listening to quite a lot of old stuff, though. I think I should maybe mention one track that has a major influence on a track that is coming out in January on Permanent Vacation. The original track is not exactly a cover but it really inspired it. It’s called What I like from Anthony and the Camp and it’s from I don’t know which year [1986 - Smartarse Ed.] but it’s from the 90s or the late 80s and it’s produced by Jellybean.

As in Jellybean Benitez?
Yeah I really like him, he is cheesy sometimes but there are always good parts in his tracks.

Your name Tensnake, where did it come from?
There is no reason, it was just there it looked good and there was no Tensnake on Google. So yeah unfortunately there is no story behind it, no ten-inch snake!

Is there a story behind the track?
Actually the track is pretty old, like two years old and there wasn’t a particular reason for it; no broken heart story behind it but it was I guess inspired by personal situations and stuff and that’s always a good force to produce some stuff! I just had this line on my mind and it just happened.

This chart is called the Furtive 50. Furtive means to do something with stealth or in secret… What is the most furtive thing you have ever done?
Maybe... Actually I cheated last night in Dublin, I didn’t pay the mini bar.

What is the one thing you wished you had done this year that you haven’t.
Definitely finishing my album and moving my studio, I really need to find a new place.

What is the one thing you need to do next year? Though I guess that is an easy answer?
Yeah I need to finish my album and move my studio… it’s boring isn’t it?

What is the weirdest thing that has happened to you this year?
In the last year the weirdest thing was… I think, well I was pretty amazed at the success of the record on Running Back. That was really weird, I didn’t expect anything and it worked pretty well. I mean I’m number 1 on DJ History now!

I interviewed Greg Wilson a couple of weeks ago and he said that his favourite record of the year was your record.
This is something, I mean I am following podcasts and stuff and Greg Wilson is one of my heroes and it is the best thing that can happen to you when someone like him is playing your stuff.

Sade has a new album coming out. Do you like Sade and what is your favourite track?
What a Beautiful woman! I love her! My favourite track is hard to pick, but it’s a bit obvious and it isn’t a secret or anything but it’s Smooth Operator. I remember when I was little a small boy I always thought I was going to marry her but it never happened. I really was in love with her!

Can a track that is 100bpm be classed as house music?
Yeah definitely! I don’t think in those terms, I mean yeah for sure it’s the way it’s produced, a feeling, the arrangement, the sound. I think that some people need to have these terms to organise things.

So that when they are using Serato it can be filed in the right folder.
Yes... that is house music, put it in the 120 to 130-bpm folder.

BRENNAN GREEN
Brennan hit home in 2009 with, among several other great remixes and productions, his amazing remix of 40 Thieves' Don't Turn It Off. We caught up with him to find out his favourite chocolate and other equally important matters.

Other than your own what have been your favourite tracks of the last year?
I had the pleasure of meeting a man named Baris K while i was on tour in Europe. And his set and collection of Turkish funk has managed to turn my entire record collection into a bunch of flattened plastic. Also seeing Alpha Blondie live in central park was incredible.

How did the remix of Don't Turn It Off come about?
I was in Oakland for New Year's Eve two years ago and Layne played it for me at Corey's place. While listening, comfortably next to Qzen, a warm fire place, and a fresh bowl of cherries I calmly demanded the parts, as I had in my possession at the time a machine of the TB persuasion. During a drunken programming session i squeezed a line out of that funky silver box. the following morning i applied the melody of her vocals to the rhythm of the line and voila! DJ History is made.

Did you know the original track?

Yes i did, it was a repeat offender played at Gypsy Bogdan's and my night at APT in NYC.

The remix is of the 40 Thieves version of an old Hot Chocolate track... Have you ever stolen anything (what?) and what is your favourite chocolate bar?

Have i ever stolen anything? What kinda interview is this!? Chocolate....Meiji makes the best chocolate. Not just because I'm sitting in Osaka with one in my hand either. It's the 100th anniversary of the Yamonote line in Tokyo this year and they've painted the subway cars to look like big blocks of chocolate on wheels. It's wonderful.

What's one thing you wished you had done this year but haven't managed too?

Finish an LP
.

And one thing you wish you could do next year but probably won't?

Grow up ; )

What would you say is the weirdest thing that has happened to you this year?
I didn't grow up… go figure. 



This is called the Furtive 50. Furtive means to do something with stealth or in secret... What is the most furtive thing you have ever done?
“Have i ever stolen anything?”; “What is the most furtive thing I've ever done?” Who gave you these questions, my mom?

Sade has a new album coming out soon, I love Sade... do you?
Of course I do.

If you do, what is your favourite Sade track?
Love Is Stronger Then Pride. Hey, do you remember the house mix? the one on white from the mid 90s? They said it was Kenny Larkin and Stacey Pullen but I never got to the bottom of it. Any ideas?

Is 100 Bpm too slow for House music?
HOUSE IS A FEELING not a fucking bpm!

Interviews by Mark Treadwell for DJhistory.com.