"Ed and Andy from Plaid invited me to Black Dog Towers to collaborate with them on some tracks back in 1991 - and that was my first hands-on experience in a studio."
So reports Kirk Degiorgio some 18 years thereafter, during which time he's unleashed his own productions and remixes through labels like Mo' Wax, B12, Clear, Ninja Tune, Versatile and Hydrogen Dukebox.
"A fortnight later," he contines, "I went on a record buying trip to Chicago and Detroit and saw first hand that producers such as Juan Atkins and Derrick May used similar setups. That was my cue to sell my record collection and invest in some equipment of my own."
Although close to two decades have since swept by in an industry plagued by short attention spans, Degiorgio asserts that motivation has never been an issue so far as he's concerned.
"I have no problems staying motivated as music is a way of life for me. It has been since I was eleven years old, listening to soul and disco shows on the radio and making my own charts and stuff. There have been so many changes over the years, but obviously the whole house music phenomenon of the late '80s really changed everything."
Apart from employing his own name, Degiorgio has worked under a variety of aliases, principle among them As One. "As One literally means all of my influences coming together 'as one'. It reflects the fact that I inject a bit of soul, funk, jazz, electro - whatever - into my productions," he says.
"The various aliases allow me to work with different labels without remaining tied down to any exclusive contract. Most of them are still 'alive' as it were - but mostly I prefer to release under my own name these days."
While unfazed by trainspotting journos like myself, the man does tactfully skirt the issue of what gear he uses in the studio.
"I use a combination of hardware synths, outboard processing and software. I like to have the best of both worlds so, whilst I think it's important to have analogue hardware for sheer sonic integrity, I also like to embrace the more experimental plug-ins or software instruments too."
Then he momentarily relents when we brush up against the topic of the most essential element in his particular production suite.
"Definitely my cat," he confesses. "If I'm overdoing the high end on the EQ he will wake up and scratch at the door to escape. That's when I know I'm cranking it too hard and need to take a break to rest my ears."
On and off since 1991, Degiorgio has also run his own labels ART (Applied Rhythmic Technology) and Op-ART.
"ART has re-surfaced this year and it's been a great experience. The first release 'Mass' has been well received and the 'Swarm' EP is due in a couple of weeks. It's a more overtly club-based EP from myself and is the first part of a dance division series of releases on the label - specifically geared for peak-time in the clubs," he outlines.
"Fortunately the first release on the re-launched ART has made a tidy profit, so I will keep the vinyl format going as there is obviously the demand. CD's are a different matter. I don't think they are so relevant these days as more and more buyers get used to selecting individual downloads of their favourite tracks rather than purchase an entire albums worth of material."
Degiorgio is having none of the vinyl-is-dead routine. "Obviously [it's] not - as ART8 demonstrated - but it will become more marginalized if distributors and retailers keep disappearing. They need to adjust and diversify to survive - just as most dance producers now DJ and perform live more than they release their own material in order to make a living."
Over the years these labels also released stuff by Carl Craig, Aphex Twin, Stasis, and The Black Dog - though the decision-making process behind the roster was surprisingly simple. "I just went with my ears! No other factor came into it."
As with many producers, Degiorgio has a growing presence on online digital carriers. "I particularly like Beatport as it offers the option of downloading full quality WAVs," he says. "This should be standard for all digital stores."
Do, then, DJs really need to continue to use vinyl or can they instead construct entire sets out of stuff they've downloaded off the Net? "It's been possible for several years to construct sets without using vinyl. However, I still find quite a few releases that are vinyl-only so I haven't managed to completely do without it myself. My own 'Jitter World' EP on Abstract Forms earlier this year was vinyl-only for example."
Degiorgio has been reasonably prolific in 2009. Along with the 'Jitter World', 'Mass' and 'Isomer Shift' (on B12) EPs, he also had a track included in the Detroit Grand Pubahs' mix The Detroit Connection Pt. 4 and has been busy resurrecting ART.
Making time to do this interview was a bonus treat, and once it's finalized he takes the time out to chuckle. "Heh-heh... many thanks for the questions - hope the answers are cool."
