Credited with introducing footwork into the larger vocabulary of UK bass music, DJ and producer Addison Groove’s impact on the UK music scene has been colossal.
Born Anthony Williams, Groove is no stranger to fame and sobriquets. As Headhunter, he achieved legendary status in dubstep circles with as many as seven releases on the influential label, Tempa.
In 2010, Addison Groove was introduced to the world through Footcrab, a bass music anthem of massive proportions that bridged dubstep’s mid-tempo shuffle and footwork’s fast paced rhythms.
Taking inspiration from Chicago ghetto tech and juke scenes, Addison Groove introduced the Chicago club sound and footwork to a broader audience, not just in the UK but around the world.
What or who do you count as your inspiration(s)?
My inspirations… DJ Randall for sure is one and I really enjoy Gilles Peterson as well.
One unusual place where ideas for tunes come to you?
Not unusual in the strictest sense, but the airport. For sure.
What’s your latest?
The cheeky, Afrobeat-inspired, Changa.
The song that is playing on your iPod on loop right now?
I’ve been listening to Kenya Special: Selected East African Recordings from the 1970s & ‘80s released on Soundway Records, a lot lately.
If there’s one musician from India that you would collaborate with, who it be? What do you hope to do?
I actually got in the studio with Sarathy Korwar which was great, but he’s from the US but grew up in India, so does that count?
What’s the best career advice you’ve gotten so far? And what’s the one piece of advice you’d give?
Take this advice to heart: Don’t taste smoke machines.
What have you heard of Bengaluru before?
That it is full of tech companies and that it has a good nightlife scene!
— As told to Sneha K Sukumar
