Nic Fanciulli

NIC Fanciulli, as ever, is up to his eyeballs in it.

From being a shy, talented DJ plying his trade as resident at his local club, to becoming a global superstar, Fanciulli’s emergence as one of the true elite has been well-documented, and his working schedule rarely stops. He has graced countless covers of the most respected dance publications, and has garnered massive credibility from clubbers and colleagues alike. No question, this Brit maestro is one of the finest DJ talents of our generation – and he’s still far from finished.

‘I’m really lucky and fortunate at the moment to be playing in really good clubs around the world and travelling a lot. But there are good times ahead too,’ he says.

Too often it seems that the new generation of talent appears from nowhere. Young DJs are touted as overnight successes, without full credit for their commitment and hard graft behind the scenes. Fanciulli admits it took a lot to get him where he is today – but, as one of the lucky ones, the pieces began to fall into place.

‘I was taking to Damian Lazarus once and I said, “I think you should always work very, very hard on what you do”. When we are in a studio, we spend a lot of time there, and then we have the label [Saved Records], and all the production work and the compilations you do, and the DJing. And I think all the pieces are working well together right now but they’ll need to carry on this way,’ he says.

With a list of achievements that already overshadows many DJs ten years his senior, it’s clear that Fanciulli has proven how combining genuine talent with dedication can go a long way. And while his record label, residencies, productions and compilations continue to open the ears of thousands of people across the planet, the fact he has a whole host of future projects up his sleeve reveals that the best is still to come.

‘My main goals are just to become a better DJ and producer. I look at people like Laurent Garnier and François K and set the bar there,’ he says.

• Fanciulli joined the music world at 16, where he worked in the local record shop and DJ’d in the local bars in his hometown of Maidstone, Kent. It was in Maidstone that Fanciulli earned his first proper break, courtesy of the town’s house institution, ClubClass – a residency that would form the launch pad for his future success.

Now, Fanciulli boasts a portfolio of residencies across the globe that is both testament to his talent and versatility. He’s also developed Club Class from a provincial club event to one of the UK’s finest and most influential house nights and has started his own night, Atomic, at the now demised London club The End.

‘The End was somewhere that I’d always wanted to play, especially as I used to go clubbing there when I was growing up. I’d played Turnmills and Ministry, which were both great, but Ministry doesn’t have the same family vibe and underground feel that The End had,’ he says.

Atomic also provided a platform for Fanciulli’s acclaimed hook-up with friend and fellow DJ James Zabiela.

In 2007, the pair formed One+One, causing something of a press frenzy.
‘The whole point of the One+One tour wasn’t really about musical styles, it was about friends going on tour, travelling, getting inspired, and bringing our music together. We didn’t really need to compromise too much in what we play. When we play together we’re just both trying to make it go off as much as possible,’ he says.

The tracklisting for their joint mix album was an insight into the workings of both DJs, and included some fantastic old gems – Fanciulli often sneaks classics into his sets.

‘I always do it – especially this time of year with all the festivals coming up. We had a re-edit of Deep Dish’s Stay Gold on there as well, which is one of my all-time favourite tunes. Soothe was obviously inspired by the Sasha & Digweed album that was out when we first started DJing. We re-edited all those records to make them a bit more in time with the mix. It was a lot of fun working together – it was probably the easiest compilation I’ve ever put together, as you’ve always got someone to sound off to,’ he says.

Fanciulli’s production and remix work alongside Jerseyman Andy Chatterley, under Skylark and the more recent alias Buick Project, has also proved fundamental in pushing him through as both an artist and DJ, as has his regular work for Renaissance, and consistent touring.

Probably the most memorable stop so far, says Fanciulli, has been Tokyo.
‘Womb in Tokyo is unbelievable. I’ve done the last few New Year’s Eves there, and it’s just been amazing. I played 13 hours the first year and nine hours at the start of this year. Words can’t fully describe the experience!’ he says.
Clubs like that give Fanciulli the most complete opportunity to prove himself, to experiment, and to push the boundaries.

‘Kraftwerk’s Numbers is one of my favourite tracks but it’s weird in terms of programming,’ he says. ‘When I play it everyone just loses it, and no one knows how to dance to it. Sometimes I slip a bit of drum & bass in, which people don’t always expect – although I have to be careful where I play it: in Tokyo they loved it, but Miami we cleared the floor with it!’

Nic Fanciulli headlines a special Bank Holiday edition of CL!QUE at Pure this Sunday 2 May, with residents Peter De Momme and Ashley Ford, plus Rocksteady in Room 2 and Philosophy of House and *Boogaloo on the top floor