James Dyer: The 'Wednesday Alternative' Mix

Music

Soon after Bristol DJ James Dyer warmed up for Artwork in 2017, the Art's House boss added him to his favourite warm up DJs he'd played with that year. "That guy from Motion Bristol" was tracked down after a shout out on social media and Artwork invited him to play at his XOYO residency. High praise indeed. Even more came recently when Andrew Weatherall handpicked him to warm up for him this coming New Year in London.

Back in his home of Bristol, as well as being one of Motion's residents, James runs his own party Club Blanco, where he's honed his craft warming up the floor for the likes of Moscoman, ALFOS and Massimiliano Pagliara

We invited him to take control of this week's Alternative mix which showcases that perfectly measured and judged warm up we speak of: psychedelic slow burners and low strung tribal rhythms that build to a hypnotic climax. This is two hours you don't want to miss…

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I am James, also commonly known as Chez. Currently on planet earth, half man half mushroom

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

Where was the mix recorded?

At my studio in the heart of the peoples republic of Stokes Croft, Bristol

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Riding a camel into the night

What should we be wearing?

A heavily embellished slip dress with a cascading neck line

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Gloucester services (M5 Southbound)

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

It is a collection of favourites. Some new, some not so new and some old

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Don’t have a favourite of such but here are some that spring to mind or really resonated with me at a certain time: Optimogeddon, Hunee – Things Behind The Sun, all the old Harvey mixes, Jonny Rock – Old School Rider, Job Jobse 190 minutes of strangelove, Laminate Radio

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Alfredo, Amnesia terrace in the 80s. I think we would make some magic

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

2 x CDJ 1000s and a 2 Chanel mixer. Now it is 2 x Technics 2010s and an E&S DJR400

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Both

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first record I remember buying would be Hall & Oats – I Can’t Go For That, originally purchased for the dismal b-side remix. Turns out the original is an actual masterpiece I only came to appreciate years later. The last record I bought was Harry Thumann – Experiments which I picked up yesterday. Re-issue that's just came out on Best Italy. Cosmic disco in the upper echelons. Looking forward to aligning the stars on a dance floor with this sometime soon

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

A slightly overdone pastel de nata

If it was an animal what would it be?

A frog

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Nothing is impossible

Upcoming in the world of James Dyer…

Been really busy in the studio recently so some music from myself upcoming. There's an unreleased track in the mix which is seeing the light of day for the first time. Will be seeing in the new year with Mr Weatherall at Mick’s Garage which I am very much looking forward to. Also have some Club Blanco (party I do in Bristol) lined up for 2020, first of which we have Roman Flügel in February as a warm up for Love International