This Saturday sees David Vunk returning for the Nerd Network night. Last time the energetic, Rotterdam-based DJ guested in the booth at Nolla was in November 2009. Since then David Vunk has been busy DJing all over the world, from Panorama Bar to Medelin in Colombia. He has also started a new sub label to his Moustache Records, Moustache Techno. Its first release was named record of the year by the renowned Dutch record shop Clone. The musical profile of his new label is reflected in his renewed interest for house and techno, David tells me when I catch him for a chat after a live set on Intergalactic FM.

I just listened to your Mixmas-mix and enjoyed quite it a lot. You run a weekly show on Intergalactic FM, right?

– Good to hear. That's right, the show is called Life is Live. I started out making mixes for CBS (Cybernetic Broadcasting System) in 2002 and when Intergalactic FM started I swapped to doing live shows for them. So for three years I've been doing this show non stop every Wednesday.

Apart from running your radio show, what other projects do you have lined up for 2012?

– I will continue working with my labels Moustache Records and Moustache Techno. Last year I only released two records so this year I hope to put out four or five. There is a new Moustache twelve inch coming out in two weeks by Neurox. It's an italo, new wave thing from the '80s with two great new remixes by Flemming Dalum and Steen Gjerulff. An EP that I've produced myself will come out some time soon and I also want to put out another Gesloten Cirkel of course, since that was our big hit of 2011.

 

Can you tell me a little about your musical background and what has influenced you over the years?

– Well, it all began with my stepfather who raised me since I was six. He had some number one hits here in Holland back in the days, really cool rock and funk tracks. I might even play something by him on Saturday. He plays the piano since forever and had a TR-909 and a few synthesizers that he let me play with when I was a kid. So I got inspired and wanted to make my own music and start a radio show.

– Later on I started playing club music out. This was in the late '80s and in '92 I got into gabber music. I liked that stuff for a short while, then I got into techno, harder techno. During that period I played at a regular basis at a club called De Vlerk in Rotterdam, a really underground club. While I was mainly playing techno there I started to listen to electro more and more. With that came eventually an interest in disco and italo. I remember when I booked I-F to a club for the first time back in 1996. He played italo like Doctor's Cat and I thought, ”Wow, this is great!"

Was it I-F that introduced you to the italo revival?

– Yes, but that was a year earlier when he played at Café De Hemel in Rotterdam. I had heard some italo tunes before that but I didn't really know that I liked it. It was after that, when I-F:s famous mix Mixed up in the Hague came out, that people really started rediscovering the italo sound in Holland.

How do you discover music these days? Are you a crate digger or a Youtube digger?

– Both. When I listen to the radio and DJ mixes I often look up tracks on Youtube. I'm constantly searching for new music of course, so I go to record stores every week. Others sources are DJs who play at my show and at clubs, and my girlfriend (Slick Chick). I also go on vacation to Italy searching for records, driving all around the country and sleep at gas stations.

That sounds like an interesting adventure. So you're sticking to good old vinyl?

– Well, I play CDs too. Many clubs don't have good turntables anymore and in some cases they don't have any at all. I always bring CDs just in case. I really like vinyl but only when the club is ready for it. If it's a serious club and their serious with the equipment, then it's fine.

You played at Nolla about two years ago. Should the crowd expect the same David Vunk coming back or has your sound changed since then?

– I'm really looking forward to coming back! Yes, My DJ style has changed a little. Last time I only played disco and italo but nowadays my sets are more eclectic and housey too.

Do you have any particular favourite tracks right now that you plan to spin on Saturday?

– Oh, there are a lots of them. I'm going to bring many secret treasures that I don't want to reveal but here are four favourites:

Manhattan Project – That's Impossible

Gesloten Cirkel – Insummer

Rushhour – Moogie (Alden Tyrell Remix)

Blawan – What You Do With What You Got

Words by Mattias Lodding