I still remember the first time I saw Cassy, a Sunday morning in the glacial Berlin winter where my friends and I had found refuge in the warmest club in Ostbahnhof, of which everyone knows the name. Of course I’d already gotten a taste of the multiple goodies that Cassy’s dished out on some prestigious Lables like Perlon or Cocoon .But the energy that emanated from the set that morning was just phenomenal, from an austere techno dub to old school deep house while keeping the sexy and captivating side so particular to this artist from Barbados. After having made two mix compilations, the first installment of the «Panorama Bar» saga which is a true masterpiece of contemporary house, Cassy has tackled a new challenge by signing a new compilation, this time for the legendary club Fabric in London. We wanted to learn more about this iconic figure of the global electronic scene, who, despite her shyness and discretion has agreed to answer our questions.
Jacker / Can you rapidly present your career to our readers ?
Cassy / Cassy Britton, DJ, Producer... I don’t really know what else to say... (laughs)
J / You’ve got Jamaican origins, did that have an influence on your music ?
C / I’m from Barbados, more exactly, of course my background has had an influence on my sound, my father is Austrian, but none of these countries has had a stronger impact on my music than the other, but that this is where I come from so it has inevitably influenced me in some way.
J / We don’t often find you playing over here in France, what do you think of the current French scene ?
C / It is a scene that has recently evolved well, there are a lot of interesting things happening, but I am regularly in Paris I have a residence at the Rex, however I’m rarely in the South, but tonight I’m here !
J / Let’s talk a bit about what’s new with you, you released a compilation mix for Fabric recently, how did you manage the track selection ? Was it a difficult process, or on the contrary, did it happen naturally ?
C / It was really interesting because Fabric is really a place apart where you can play whatever you want, its not just a big club where you’re only supposed to make a certain kind of performance. You can really express whatever you want in a set, that’s why I incorporated so many little-known tracks that you can only find on vinyl, the choice itself wasn’t difficult , I just wanted to put stuff made by the producers that I’ve always loved. I don’t really know how to explain how it happened, but it was really intuitive.
J / You’ve already released a few compilations, including «panorma Bar Vol.1» and another one for Cocoon, amongst others, what kind of atmosphere did you want to create through this Fabric ?
C / I wanted this mix to represent the music that I generally play, everything that I like ... I wanted to relate something that you can only relate when playing three or five hour sets, I wanted to be as expressive as possible in the given time for this mix.
J / You’ve been touring a lot lately, what places have left a mark on you recently ?
C / I live in Ibiza in the summer. That season down there is really something special, I’ve got a home in DC-10 and what happens there is really interesting, as much in terms of the music as in the public which is really receptive. I also played at Space for the first time recently and it was really impressive, whether it be the sound system, the public, the staff... I really loved playing there..
J / How do you see Techno in the years to come ?
C / I don’t really know... I think it’s gonna stay like before, always with highs and lows...
J / What track have you been dropping the most since the beginning of summer ?
C / Hummm... (long hesitation). These days i often play an old Danny Tenaglia track, but I always have a large range of tracks, I find it pretty hard to stay stuck on certain songs or to make playlists, its pretty instinctive.
J / Do you have a little anecdote to tell us ?
C / I still remember the first time that i went to play in Brooklyn, at the Output, a really impressive new club with a really cool Sound System, the club is neither too big nor too too small, perfect for keeping a good vibe. I was able to play for five hours, nothing but vinyls, it was a really good memory and i hope to go back there one day.