Tim Sweeney is a legend across the world. Not for his productions, famous record label or mind-blowing DJ sets, but for his wide-reaching, all encompassing radio show, Beats in Space. One half of the show features a chat with, and mix from, a guest, whilst the other is an hour of Sweeney’s own selections. Over the 12 eclectic years the show has been running from its base in NYC, everyone from Nico Jaar to Soul Clap to Roman Flugel has visited the hallowed studio between 1030pm and 1am each Tuesday night…
Before he plays for us on this thursday at Cielo, then, we thought we’d catch up with him to talk GTA: San Andreas, about the biggest douche bags in electronic music and about the new BiS label which is about to be born…
The show’s been going 12 years now, right? Without missing a week? Did you ever dream it would last so long?
Yeah, 12 years starting this September (the beginning of the school year)! I occasionally miss one if I’m going somewhere really far away like Japan or Australia though. I’ll just prerecord the show for that one. I don’t think I ever thought about how long I would go with it. Just as long as I was still having a good time!
Has it been much of an effort per se or more just you being you, doing what you love? I mean most things would become a chore after 12 years of doing them…
It doesn’t feel like a chore at all. It’s what I love to do. I don’t get paid a dime doing the radio show after 12 years! Every week I’m there, it’s because I want to be there and I love it. Would I like to get paid for it? Umm, yes, please.
What initially drew you to the radio at such a young age? What appealed about the format?
When I was in high school I really liked listening to these pirate radio mix shows that my brother would bring back on tape from the record store. That really got me interested in the beginning. Then I played on a couple college radio shows when I was in high school and really enjoyed it, so I knew it was something I wanted to do. I like that it feels like you’re just at home. Nobodies watching you. Just your record, the turntables, mixer and the mic.
How much of an effort was it to get the show off the ground? Was it a bedroom set up at first or…?
I started the show as soon as I moved to New York to go to New York University for school. They had a pretty big radio station set up then. Unfortunately, radio has gone down in value for the university and they kicked us out of the nice space and have moved us a couple times to our final home in the basement of a freshman dormitory! Pretty sweet. I feel older every week I come in.
Did you have a close affinity to radio as a child I presume? What sort of shows did you listen to? What did you like about it?
Just those pirate radio tapes and, since I was living in Baltimore then, the Baltimore Club mix shows. Miss Tony was the one!
Do you ever imagine the global audiences you are broadcasting to each week, and tailor to them, or is it always a personal thing for you?
No, I don’t really think about that too much. I mean, I can see a response later from what people say and email, but when I’m there doing the show it’s just whatever I want to do.
could do some scratches. Tim and I would DJ a lot together and Tim was producing that first Hercules record at the time. So, yeah, it was probably Tim who told him to ask me.
So too Soundtrack Supervisor at Rockstar Games… does that mean you’re responsible for the classic house channel on San Andreas? Did you get briefs for each one or was it all your own concept or? That one in particular was legendary….
Yeah, that house channel was nice! What I was told would be something like “we need a station of the best hip-hop from ’90 to ’92″ and “we need a house station, but it can only be up to 1992″. I would just go out and try and find as much of the best stuff from those genres and time periods as I possibly could. Then we’d sit down, go through the playlists I made and start to mark it down to the 20 or so tracks we could license for the game. It was a great experience. I definitely got to learn about a lot of different music during that time!
So you have a close association with DFA and your disco edits are notorious… is that your preferred aesthetic if you had to pick one? What draws you to those sounds do you think?
Hmm. Good question. I definitely wouldn’t say disco edits are my preferred aesthetic. They’ve been fun to do, but it does get old after a bit. I’ve been working with DFA since the beginning of the label, so it’s definitely had an influence on me and my style. I think that’s just natural.
How come you don’t produce more yourself? Never been drawn to it? Is it something you can see yourself doing or…?
It’s there! Somewhere. Let’s just put up a “Coming Soon” sign.
And how is the label going… have you had any releases recently? Anything in the works? Is it just an extension musically of the show I assume, or does it have its own mission/values?
Yes! The BIS label is really exciting for me. The first release is coming September 20th! It’s from this group from Paris called Paradis. They just sent me their demo one day and I really liked, so I thought it was time to get started on my own label and starting putting these things out. I have two twelve inches coming from Paradis, then a twelve inch from Lauer in Germany and finally one from Secret Circuit in LA. Then after that, we’ll see what happens. But yes, I think of it as an extension of the show. Anything goes!
Paradis “La Ballade de Jim” BIS Records 001 from Tim Sweeney on Vimeo.
And how you looking forward to playing for Autobrennt? What should people expect?
Oh, I can’t wait for this one. It’s going to be fun playing on that Cielo sound system with all these guys. Good times all night long! I have no idea what I’ll play yet. We’ll see!
Have you heard much about our parties?
They’re at the heart of the cosy NY scene! Only about the legendary Sigu! And I was told to keep those stories secret.
Rooftops, poolside, you name it… are intimate vibes like that ones you like playing in?
There’s a time and place for everything. In the end, it’s about a good party though. Just a room full of good people and good music make it a good party. Whatever size that might be. Are you someone to do much planning for a set or is it more off the cuff? I don’t plan out mixes, but I’ll search through my records to find things I want to play that night. I don’t like to the same set at every party. Have to keep mixing things up!
Who are you on the daily, outside of music?
Sometimes it might be a club set or sometimes it might just be weird stuff I’ve been listening to at home. It really just depends on how I’m feeling. But changing it up like that is what keeps it interesting for me. If I had to stick to the same style for 12 years, I don’t think I would still be at it.
People always talk of the poor state of the US scene… is that an exaggeration would you say? Or is part of the pull of radio to you – that it broadcasts internationally, beyond the usual boundaries?
Even though I know there are probably more people around the world downloading the show later in the week than listening live on the FM radio in New York, I still think of it first as a New York radio show. That’s what it is. We’re broadcasting live to New York City! Tri-state area! Other people are just listening in on that experience later.
Sure you get asked this most often… anyone evaded you so far that you’d really like to have on the show?
Well, Dixon has evaded me for a couple years now, but I finally got him this week! Besides that there are a ton of Detroit guys I’d love to get: Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Omar S, Theo Parrish, Moodymann, Kevin Saunderson, Mad Mike, etc. It’s so difficult with those guys sometimes. But I’m always trying! One day it’ll happen.
Ever disappointed by someone you’ve had on? They do say never meet your heroes…
You want me to get into some shit talking? Okay, you know that guy Juan Maclean? Asshole. And a little strange. Brennan Green? Banned from the show.
Did you take to radio broadcasting straight away or were you nervous or lacking in any department? It must be a pretty steep learning curve?
I’m still learning! I wasn’t taught a thing. I would love to have someone I could talk to more about radio stuff, doing interviews, etc, but there aren’t that many people doing radio anymore!
Have you ever had any awkward and/or unenthusiastic guests? Have you learnt to deal with that? Do you have fall back questions or tactics or techniques or…?
Sure! All the time. Either I give them a few beers to loosen up, or I just start drinking until I don’t care anymore. It’s very professional. If the interviews really start to suck though, I just stop with them. If someone isn’t giving answers or gets awkward, then you know what? We just play music. Nothing wrong with that. Let the music speak for them. I’m happy with that too.
How much time do you actually spend looking for new music for the show each week? And what are you looking for? Anything specific?
I’m not really sure exactly how much time, but it’s the DJ’s life to always be looking for new music, right? I mean, if I’m could do some scratches. Tim and I would DJ a lot together and Tim was producing that first Hercules record at the time. So, yeah, it was probably Tim who told him to ask me.
So too Soundtrack Supervisor at Rockstar Games… does that mean you’re responsible for the classic house channel on San Andreas? Did you get briefs for each one or was it all your own concept or? That one in particular was legendary….
Yeah, that house channel was nice! What I was told would be something like “we need a station of the best hip-hop from ’90 to ’92″ and “we need a house station, but it can only be up to 1992″. I would just go out and try and find as much of the best stuff from those genres and time periods as I possibly could. Then we’d sit down, go through the playlists I made and start
lots of other interests too. Someone who collects records, always seems to be collecting other things. It’s not good! Too much stuff.
What else you got coming up?
Well, it’s pretty last minute, but on Sunday, September 25th I’m going to be doing a big outdoor party in Williamsburg from 12pm to 9pm to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the radio show and the first BIS record release. It’s at this space right across the street from the Music Hall of Williamsburg. I can’t announce the final line-up just yet, but I think it’ll be a fun day. I’m crossing my fingers it all goes well! Besides that we have the first BIS 12″ from Paradis coming out on September 20th, which you can listen and pre-order from here: http://igetrvng.com/discography/110/
