Carl Johnston, is one of London’s lesser known heroes, one of those 'suburban superstars' that beenseen is so keen on digging out of the Saturday night woodwork!"
Carl has gained his love of music from years of traveling, from not only serving in the Royal Navy traveling around the world for free, but to taking himself to the far flung corners of the globe, partying in Some of the best clubs in the world listening to some of the best djs on the planet.
Starting his dj career 10 years ago learning his trade playing hard dance at parties for RAW, Smile and Xstatic as well as Erratic in Brixton. Today the bpms have slowed a little but don’t be fooled his music is still as full on as ever. He describes his style as “the harder darker side of house". Not surprising considering his hard house roots. Today he counts his influences on the likes of Steve Lawler, Sib Fontanne, Tom Stephan, Timo Mass and Erick Morillo.
He has even had a go at promoting. Carl and good friend Ben Dela Pena run a night called AbitofaDo at Bar Latino for 2 years in Croydon playing chunky vocal house in an attempt to educate the locals in the finer points of House music. Carl currently has two residencies, one at Zipcode a night run by Ben Dela Pena for 3 years, helping to take the night from Croydon's award winning loop bar, to Plan B Brixton in 2006. This is a night were you can catch him pushing the boundaries of house, playing along side some of London’s hottest dj’s such as Ben Dela Pena, Joe Cullen, Shane Watcha, Tanya Von Pear, The Soulpreachers, Stuart Geddes, Lynda Phoenix, Sophiedj, Terry Farley and more. And the other residents playing for the beenseen.com parties alongside James Scully.
2006 has been a quiet year so far, for one of London’s best kept secrets. So we got together for a drink and asked him a few questions.
SB- So we haven’t seen you playing out a lot this year is there any reason for that?
CJ- No not really, been keeping my head down getting on with some other projects at work and at home, but ive been doing my resident bit for Zipcode at Plan B in Brixton, which I must say is getting better and better every time.
SB- What other projects are involved with at the moment
CJ- Well iam one of the co-founders of www.beenseen.com which we launched summer time last year, we have being doing some behind the scene work over the 6-7 months to make it easier to use and are relaunching mid October, it’s a cross of my space and don’t stay in, a online tool for all those aspiring DJ and Promoters.
SB- Back to your DJ’ing, how would you describe your sound?
CJ- that’s easy funky dirty twisted progressive big loud and good dam stomping house music!!!!!
SB- what have you got planned for the future
CJ- Since ive been keeping my head down, I’ve not pushed myself really hard in getting gigs, but that all about to change as iam getting ready to re-launch myself back into the world…..
SB- What club night would you love to play at
CJ-I don’t even have to think about. Toolroom sessions at M.O.S I think Mark Knight has got to be one of the best Producers’ and DJs about at the moment, and his night rocks, Mark if you ever get to read this interview book me now!!!!!!!!!!
SB- I think he should because I think you would rock any dance floor.
CJ-thanks for that
SB-Any highlights in your career so far
CJ- There’s a couple, Playing alongside Ian M at one of my 1st gigs for erratic, the man's a legend in the world of hard dance and to play after him was surreal, and then I Played after Terry Farley at the 1st Zipcode. Well it made my night I can ensure you…….
SB-thanks for the drink I think that covers pretty much everything. Is there anything you would like to add?
CJ-thought you were buying!!
Interview by S. Brockwell 1.10.2006
Hopefully you might just be lucky enough to catch Carl Johnston rocking the floors in various clubs and bars in London, some of which have include Plan B. Turnmills, The Imperail Gardens, The Fridge, The Fridge Bar, The dogstar, The Factory, Hidden(studio 33), Fire(Viaduct), Collisium and BRB.
