When the Needle Drops with ATFC

Interview || ATFC Speaks Music Not Football

“ATFC is not a football team, in fact it’s one man who stands alone in his quest for keeping the funk alive & kickin and he’s been doing so for over a decade. He is Aydin The Funki Chile!” 

Seamus Haji, Big Love.

ATFC’s picture hangs in the House Music Hall of Fame. OK, so it’s on a rusty nail in the toilet under the stairs at the end of the hall, but the point is that it’s there; a proud testament to one man’s ability to both devastate dance-floors with his explosive, peak-time sets and deliver sickeningly slick productions at an awe-inspiring rate.

This heavyweight of House was born to Anglo-Turkish parents who immediately named him Aydin Hasirci; Ottoman Turkish for “He who blends 2 records skilfully, is a purveyor of slammin’ yet soulful house music whilst simultaneously being a master at whipping up a delicious Spaghetti Carbonara”. Longwinded yes, aspirational most certainly but also quite a burden to lay on a newborn baby. Happily though the young Aydin blossomed into exactly what his parents had prophesised and now occupies a unique position within the occasionally rich and often beautiful world of dance music.

Hi There ATFC thank you for doing this interview for us it’s a huge pleasure,

1. How are you doing and what it’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear south Africa ?

I’m fine thank you, just getting over August and settling into September. The first thing I think of when I hear South Africa is that I’ve never been there – I’m open to invites ;)

2. We cant help it  but when we hear ATFC we think football, and we have to ask why did you name yourself after a football team just kidding. We know it stands for Aydin The Funki Chile  can you tell us the story behind your name?

Early on in my career I was the youngest dj in town and played Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul etc. The name was given to me and it just stuck. Then, I realized people couldn’t pronounce it, so I abbreviated it to ATFC. Plus I now charge 11 fees and ask for 11 flights wherever I go. Genius ;)

3. Tell us more about yourself on a non musical front

I’m just a normal guy really. Triathelete, Quantum physician, part time model, father and husband…

4. How did you find yourself in the career of a musician,. While growing up did you know you always wanted to be in music?

Pretty much, although football was my first love. I began throwing parties for school friends from the age of 13 and have been a DJ ever since. I only began making music to get more DJ gigs. I finished school and went to University but stuck with music and there was a point where I had to make a choice, so I went to work in a record shop. The best decision I ever made.

5. Sell us your music in 3 words?

From the heart 

6. What encourages/ inspires you to produce music e.g. other music, surroundings, feelings, emotions? Do you ever feel like you have to stay restricted to just one genre?  

No, in fact I’ve just remixed Janelle Monae ‘Queen’ and, although the label were expecting a house mix, I gave them a hip hop mix and they loved it. It was a risk which paid off. Inspiration normally starts with something in my record collection. A sample or idea which I think can be updated or translated for today’s dancefloors. Then I simply put my spin on it. I rarely start from scratch as, although I can play very basic keys, I’m not a musician. I have good ears

7. We are bungled with new music being released everyday how do you keep up to date with new releases as well as selecting what you play?

I get hundreds of promos a week and regularly shop online. I look at charts and generally try to keep my ear to the ground. However, I still play a lot of old music in my sets. People have short memories and it’s not just about playing new music nowadays. House music hasn’t evolved that much

8. In celebrations of Toolroom Records turning 10 you were given the task of remixing Mark Knight and Funkagenda- Man with the Red Face, what was the experience like and how did you go about the remix?

In fact I asked to do it. I was chatting to Hardwell at a festival in Belgium who told me he was remixing MWTRF and I immediately contacted Mark Knight. I had an idea to do something more like ‘A Hundred Birds’ version, but it turned out slightly differently. I’m really pleased with it though. I think it’s one of my best.

9. Its currently Ibiza season, when was the 1st time you visited Ibiza, and what do you remember from the experience?

Lisa Millett was doing a PA of Bad Habit at Pacha so I went along. Of course I got very drunk and don’t remember a great deal after the first verse!

10. How do you go about planning your set? 

I don’t!

11. Do you have any comments from fans about how your music has affected them or changed their lives?

Well yes I get that and it’s very flattering. It’s always good to know people are listening!

12. If you had only 5 minutes to play one track that could leave a great impact on the world, what track would you play and why?

The first one that’s sprung into my head is Stevie Wonder’s ‘For Once In my Life’.

1. Because it’s Stevie and 2. Because it’s 2.46m of pure joy.

13. The music industry especially the EDM industry is very negative how do you turn the negative into positive?

Social media is the reason for the negativity. I’m sure it didn’t used to be like this. Rap has always had it because they dissed each other in their raps but dance music didn’t have that. Now dance music has twitter to vent grievances. The best way to be positive is not to start from a negative. The guys who create bad feeling within the dance world on Twitter are now starting to be seen as a bit of a joke now aren’t they??

14. What can we expect from ATFC in the future?

More music, some collaborations and more fun. I’m really at a point where I feel like taking risks and throwing some swerve balls. If it makes me dance and smile in the studio, it’s getting released.

Any last messages for your fans

Check out my weekly ‘Shots From The Hip’ radio show on itunes and soundcloud.

Email shots@atfc.com for your shout outs

Soundcloud.com/atfc

Facebook.com/atfcofficial