UMP3: Could you please, introduce DJ and producer Funk D Void, briefly?

FDV : I’m Scottish DJ and producer Lars Sandberg, best known for the end-of-nighter ‘Diabla’ which bridged house and techno (and was flogged by everyone from Danny Howells to Sven Vath). And if you look carefully, recently you’ll also spy my name in the liner notes of releases by “newcomer” Francois Dubois, another one of my pseudonyms.

UMP3: Describe your musical evolution up to date. Which styles you went through? Which of these you still like to listen to?

FDV : I guess I started to listen to 80’s pop and had favourite artists like Kraftwerk and tangerine dream that really affected me as a chile growing up. At around 1985 I got into hip-hop and Electro, then this morphed into house and techno and I’ve kind of stayed with these two styles since I started Djing.

UMP3: Remind your DJ beginnings. What about the very first gig?

FDV : I used to sneak out of my mother’s house ion a monday night and go to the first house club that Glasgow opened, at around 1986. It was the Chicago house sound that was prevalent at this time and it was here I played my first set – my direction in life was sealed from that very moment!

UMP3: Have you ever been a resident DJ in any club?

FDV : Yes, many times. Right now I’m a resident at the Moog club in Barcelona, I have a monthly wednesday night.

UMP3: When and which label did you release your debut record on?

FDV : It was a track called „Kiss The Baby“ and was on a record label called Bomba. Very rare!

UMP3: What inspires you to compose a music?

FDV : Being infatutated with a girl. Or being generally happy with life – that’s what worked for me.

UMP3: You cooperate with a number of labels all over the world, could you name them?

FDV : I work primarily with Soma and Urbantorque, but have worked with many labels as a remixer, for example Toolroom was the most recent one.

UMP3: Are you an owner of any label? Do you plan to launch any?

FDV : Not right now,no. I’m too busy with my own businesses.

UMP3: Have you ever organize or cooperate on any events as the organizer?

FDV : I tried promoting once before when I was young but it was way too difficult – and I was ripped off!

UMP3: If you have no limits for the event organization, which line up would you arrange?

FDV : Funkadelic, Herbie Hancock, Jamie Lidell, Laurent Garnier, Underground Resistance, Knights of the turntable, De la Soul, DJ Cash Money, and a few others!

UMP3: What about the current situation there at the UK scene? We can see a quick progress all around in Europe, but I think UK is still the strongest and most progressive with a main influence to the world of electronic dance music scene all over the world, am I right?

FDV : Well the global scene is always place-dependant, but I would say that the UK scene has played the most important part during the 90’s…right now I would say that Germany is the strongest market right now for electronic music. The brits love to party and go out, so it’s more the club scene that will always remain strongest there. The DJ culture in the UK has always been insane…

UMP3: Who do you like to cooperate there in UK with? Are the relations between artists, DJs and promoters friendly or is there a hard competition?

FDV : Well sometimes there is an unspoken respect for each other’s area…it doesn’t make sense to put on too many events close together and at the same time, so some degree of co-operation is necessary. As far as Djs go, I treat them the same as I would any other person – but I don’t have time for fevered egos.

UMP3: Your tracks a part of many fantastic compilations and you personaly mixed very good CDs for Cocoon, Soma and other labels, could you please name these and introduce the very last one Sci–Fi Hi-Fi?

FDV : It’s flattering to have all my tracks on these mix comps, and also it’s really an amazing process when you have the opportunity yourself to make a „perfect“ mix – which is what I have tried to do with the Soma Sc-fi release. I spent soooo much time making sure every mix sounded like it was made for each other. I also love cars so I did the mix so it could be played in cars for long journeys back from the club…

UMP3: You produce as Funk D Void and Francois Dubois are there any other nicks, we can find your music under?

FDV : Sure, Chaser is another one, or Frank Dubois. My new project is a secret, it will be more commercial! Hahahha the underground is going to kill me…

UMP3: There is a boom of net-labels all over the world. Do you think that we are at the beginning of the end of vinyl record?

FDV : Just a quite phase. Vinyl has had such a huge impact on DJ culture it has to remain in some form – even as a control record! The only difference is I have to listen to 5 times as many promos as before, because all you need to promote your track is an email address to send it to.

UMP3: Do you use Final Scratch or other technologies in your DJ sets?

FDV : I use Native Instruments Traktor 3 with Traktor Scratch. It’s the best one out there.

UMP3: Are you interesting in all new technologies in the DJing? Do you look for this and try as one of the first or wait till it is checked and than decide to use it?

FDV : I don’t have the time to try out and test new ideas…I have two kids. But my Pacemaker DJ system is being delivered next week…it’s an amazing device.

UMP3: Do you play live gigs?

FDV : I’ve started to again, but I much prefer Djing…the range of music you can play is much more exciting for me. I hate playing my own tracks usually.

UMP3: Have you ever played at Creamfields? Which festivals enjoyed you in 2007? Which festivals are you looking forward to in 2008?

FDV : Never! I can’t wait…it’s going to special for sure, Eastern Europe is one the best regions the play so it’s a dream come true for me. I’ll be playing at some festivals in Holland this year - they have 3 a weekend over there!

UMP3: Do you use sofware or hardware studio?

FDV : A bit of both…my studio is like a museum, lots of analogue gear. I just think it sounds warmer..but in the end I shove it all into my computer as audio!

UMP3: PC or MAC?

FDV : MAC! Pcs are so….ugly.

UMP3: How do you relax? Which kind of literature do you like? Are you interesting in any other cultural categories as architecture, painting, photography, … ?

FDV : I love realxing with my kids, when you become a father there is little time for yourself, and being an international travelling DJ/producer you are never home. I think I have a good eye for a photo (check my pics on myspace), and of course I’m a big fan of old BMWs, I have a couple now. Basically I have one mistress…music! She demands most of my attention….

UMP3: Are there any Funk D Void´s new productions about to release now?

FDV : Yes! Check them out, some interesting stuff happening:

CURRENT Releases:
SCI-FI HI-FI MIX COMPILATION CD (SOMA) 25.2.2008
BEROSHIMA “HORIZON (FUNK D’VOID REMIX) (SOMA) 21.1.2008
FRANCOIS DUBOIS & MASTER H “LA BALANCE” (URBANTORQUE) 31st MARCH
NO LOGO “DARK STAR (FRANCOIS DUBOIS REMIX) (URBANTORQUE) END OF APRIL
SKYLARK “BLOCKED IN (FUNK D’VOID REMIX)” (SAVED) END OF APRIL RELEASE
Projects working on:
New follow-up Dubois single, New Funk D’void single, New collaboration with Sian, New collaboration with Phil Kieran