If you’ve ventured into the East End or up York Way to the Star of Kings recently then there’s a good chance you’ve happened upon the boundary bashing tech house and deep house sounds of Ben Coda at his Motek nights.
And if you haven’t yet, then he’s certainly a name to put on your radar. His tracks have already been supported by the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Hybrid, Roger Sanchez, Dave Seaman and Funkagenda, he’s got tracks going on plenty of labels and his tight energetic sets have been enjoyed worldwide.
If that’s not enough Ben will be warming up for his Main Stage appearance at Glade Festival by headlining the Glade Warm-Up party which takes place at Inspiral Lounge on 1st June alongside James Monro & Aliji. But in the meantime, find out more about a name that isn’t going to go away any time soon, Ben Coda.
Hi, Ben, thanks for taking to time to speak to us. What or who is on your left right now? Turn to your right what do you see?
To my left I’ve got my studio wall, pretty boring, but a bit to the right of that is one of my speakers, much more interesting . . . on the right is the window, weather is pretty rubbish… standard for the UK.
Ben Coda
What projects are you currently working on and can you tell us a little about any of them?
There’s a few projects on the go at the moment, I’m working on my first album, which is taking shape. Tying in with that is the live show, which is also coming together nicely, and will be debuted at Glade Festival this year.
On the gigs side I’m playing a lot in London and overseas, and I also co-promote a night in London called Motek, we do parties in various venues around town, including the mental Sunday afternoon sessions at Café 1001.
You’ve been planning your Live show for a few months now any chance we can get a little idea of the set up, or a E.T.A. on its arrival?
It’s all being put together in Ableton, using an APC40 as the main controller. I’ve got a big back catalogue of tracks now and I wanted to mix them all up together in a less linear way, so I’m breaking them down and pulling back in the bits I really like to make a live show. I’m also working on some exclusive new music for it too. I’m still working on it at the moment and the full debut will be at Glade Festival this year (with the possibility of a sneak preview if you catch me DJing beforehand)
What are you looking forward to this summer out of all that’s going on?
It’s got to be Glade, I’ve been going there for years now, and so to get to perform there is going to be really special. There’s also a lot of other gigs coming up to look forward to, including the Shifty Disco Glade Warmup on 1 June. London is always great during the summer and it’s looking like a bit of travelling is on the cards, including Ibiza, Greece, Sweden and more . . .
Any tips for first time festival goers?
I said this in another interview recently, but most important is to pace yourself, its easy to go bonkers on the first night, but make sure you save a bit of energy for the rest of the festival. And if the festival is in England remember your wellies.
Motek
Any festivals you’d recommend this year?
Glade, Boom, Ozora, Genesis, Waveform and Burning Man.
This is your First time playing at Glade on the Liquid Stage are you excited? Any other artists you want to check out?
Definitely, the fact the stage is outdoors in the woods is going to make it all the more special. Loads of artists I’m planning to check out, but a few spring to mind. Oliver Huntemann, Robert Babicz, Marc Romboy, Dillinja, SL2, Si Begg and pretty much all the Psychedelic Village.
What makes Glade so different for you as a festival in comparison to the rest in the UK, coming from someone who has been to the festival before as a punter?
It’s the atmosphere and the attention to detail. No other festival I’ve been to can match it. The musical programming is also spot on and it’s all done with an air of fun which is reflected in the crowd – it’s the best vibe in the UK.
Check out Motek Party
This is a 2-part question, who would you like to work with one who’s Dead?
Jimi Hendrix
And one who’s Alive?
Sasha
Favourite country to play in or tour in?
I’ve played in loads of great places, but so far it’s probably Canada, love it there.
Any Guilty pleasures that you’re willing to share with the world?
Chinese food, can’t get enough of it.
What sort of artists or people inspired you growing up and as an artist today?
Wow, so many, DJs like Sasha, Digweed, Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Oakenfold, guys who were playing music with an air of magic around it. Underworld were a big influence, Orbital, the Prodigy, Leftfield . . . all classic stuff. Outside music Bill Hicks was (and is) a big influence, funny as fuck and also not afraid to stand up to convention and challenge people.
How did you first get into producing music?
I first picked up a guitar aged about 13, and it went from there, I got my first set of decks at 17 and picked up Reason in my early 20s, then I moved onto Cubase and now Logic. I always loved DJing (and still do), but really wanted to start writing the music I was hearing, rather than just playing it, so started the journey into music production. It’s been a lot of hard work, there’s a huge amount to learn and I’m pretty much self-taught, but now to be able to play a whole set of my own productions is a great feeling.
Ben Coda is play the Glade Pre-party on 1st June at Inspiral Lounge in Camden on 1st June. He's also playing main stage at Glade Electronic Arts Festival at Kings Lynn, 14-17th June.
In collaboration with Shifty disco, we are bringing a little bit of Glade magic to Camden town on the 1st of June, bringing together some special talents including the legendary Flying Rhino founder James Monro who will be bringing us some new sounds from his more techno orientated 4D Audio label. On top of this we have Ben Coda, making waves in the international progressive house and techno scenes whose high quality production sets him apart from his contemporaries. Backed up by Shifty Disko residents Tom Real & Ipcress and inSpiral resident Aliji delivering a pumping techno set.
Deep in the English Countryside, diverse electronic genres unite in this mighty melting pot of a festival. Four days of groundbreaking and visually stunning venues, installation art, immersive decor, interactive performances and mind-blowing spectacles, you’ve never been to a party like this before...
Glade Stage
Forming the central hub for electronic dance music, we welcome the Glade Stage to 2012. Since the inaugural inception and various name changes, it’s played host to an eclecticism of music like no other, always endeavoring to break boundaries and bring the best of electronic dance music to you, this year we’ve pushed the barriers so you’re moving for 3 days straight… Are you ready?
The Psychedelic Village
* Origin Stage * Liquid Stage * inSpiral *
The planet has an alternative cultural movement which can be found in all its corners… born from the beaches of Goa, become a lifestyle choice for many and one of the most exciting counter cultural phenomena. We love it and we live it. And the UK is in so many ways central to it. It is only right that we have an area at Glade that is totally dedicated to this...
So much of the music that inspired the scene was made by people from the UK; Youth and his Butterfly Studios, Raja Ram and TIP and Hallucinogen, Shpongle and Twisted Records, The Green Nuns of the Revolution, Flying Rhino and so on… In so many ways it began here.
The Psychedelic Village is a celebration of this… With the mighty Origin Stage and Nano Records 10th birthday party, the new open air in the forest running till it’s light Liquid Stage, InSpiral chillout, Healing areas, Psychedelic Cinema, World Shift, talks, art, food and so much more… Come and join us. This is going to be proper… it really is… The team that built the incredible Ozora festival over 7 years from 2005 until 2011 have joined us, alongside Nano, Alchemy and Liquid, to take this part of the Glade to a level not previously seen in our green and pleasant land…. COME ON!
*Origin Stage*
Well what can we say???! Of course in so many ways the stage that started this festival in the first place. And this year going to be a massive. Firstly, it’s Nano Records’ 10th Birthday party. Secondly we have décor from the amazing Artescape.. We think this is the best psychedelic décor on the planet right now and if you’ve been to Ozora or Origin in recent years I’m sure you’ll agree… And then, well, a searing line up of the finest and most brain popping psychedelic music on this world of ours played through Funktion One, set up by Funktion One themselves… This is going to be mayhem…
*Liquid Stage*
We missed this. You missed this. And it’s back… The Liquid Stage is back at Glade. And it’s not just back.. it’s improved… it’s open air. It’s in the woods. And it runs until after sunrise… yes you heard that right… We have outdoor sunrise psychedelic trance in the woods… Repeat? You heard the first time… No we’ll say it again.. Open Air Forest party running until after the sun comes up. YES! With an eclectic representation of the very most excellent psychedelic music from the UK and beyond this is going to be pure brilliance…
*inSpiral Stage*
inSpiral will be going back to its roots for Glade 2012. A tranquil & stimulating space that will take you on a journey with chilled out dubs and grooves, intelligent electronica and world music running throughout the day and night. inSpiral will be a place where you can explore musical landscapes in peaceful surroundings outside the whirlpool of the festival. Sit back and turn on, tune in and drop out.
Other stages include:
Overkill
BETA Pyramid
E.T.A.
Gouranga
The Meteor
The Bassment
The Rabbit Hole
Dance Off Stage
Remix Rollerdisco
I Scream
Extras:
• Stalls
• Spectacles & Performance
• Healing Fields
• Spa and Hot Tubs
Trance. Acid Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Psy Trance. House. Bouncy House. Deep House. Funky House. Prog House. Tribal House. US House. Vocal House. Electro House. Acid House. Soulful House. Tech House. Acid Techno. Deep Techno. Funky Techno. Minimal Techno. Techno. Breaks. Club Classics. Electro. Soul. Chillout / Leftfield.
DJ's:
SVEN VATH (Cocoon)
ANDY C : ALIVE
EXCLUSIVE UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE from PLANTAGE 13
STEPHAN BODZIN
OLIVER HUNTEMANN
SYSTEM 7 (Live)
Stanton Warriors THE CORRESPONDENTS (Live)
LEWAH
RUSKO
VITALIC (live)
PRETTY LIGHTS (live)
FOREIGN BEGGARS (live)
TODDLA T & MC SEROCEE
MARC ROMBOY (live)
DRUMSOUND & BASSLINE SMITH
TRICKOLOGEY (Krafty Kuts, A SKILLZ & DYNAMITE MC)
DUB PISTOLS (live)
ROBERT BABICZ (live)
Freq Nasty DON LETTS
KILLAFLAW
BEN & LEX
GAUDI
KILLERWATTS, TRISTAN, Max Cooper, ACE VENTURA, AVALON, ANS VS REGAN (NANO RECORDS 10 YEAR SPECIAL!), HEDFLUX, DICKSTER, MASTERBLASTERS, LIQUID SOUL, DR ALEX PATERSON, AMD, PSYMMETRIX, SCREEN, CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ALLABY, JAMES MONRO, LUCAS, SOLAR FIELDS, Beardy WEIRDY, ALIJI, LIQUID ROSS, COMMERCIAL HIPPIES, LAUGHING BUDDHA, LOUD, IPCRESS, Shane Gobi, ZEN MECHANICS, ELECTRIXX, EITEN RIETER, RINKADINK, BURN IN NOISE, HIBERNATION, SLACKBABA, POGO, OOOD, DIGITONAL, MONK3YLOGIC, ATOMIC DROP, TWENTY EIGHT, TSUBI, GORGO, NAKED NICK, NOVA, ADE LAUGEE
Plus many many many many many more to be confirmed...
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Can't wait for Glade! 
I'll be warming up for it at Cosmo Festival next weekend! 