There are disadvantages to being one of the most in-demand techno DJs of the moment, as Sci+Tec boss Dubfire well knows. "It's been a pretty crazy year. I think I took on way too many gigs," says Ali. "Things look a certain way on paper or by email during the decision-making process, but when you're actually out on the road, then you realise just how little time you have for everything else." "Everything else" includes running his label, studio work and a continued relationship with Native Instruments. "I managed to work on the Underworld stuff [Ali contributed on a track for the band's new album, 'Barking'], I did a remix of another classic Plastikman song [as yet unreleased], and continued my close working relationship with Native, helping to road-test their new Traktor Kontrol S4 before it even goes into production." This year, Ali has also started to expand his label into the events arena. "Right now, I'm in the process of forming a collective of exclusive artists that I can regularly tour with so we can really push the Sci+Tec brand to the forefront and push some up-and-coming guys." Amongst all this work, it would be easy to forget to have fun, but not for Ali. He enthusiastically cites Timewarp festival as an inspiration, describing it as, "the ultimate club experience for its great line-up and attention to production detail." It's things like that, and the great music he reports to have heard this year, which mean the Barcelona-based artist is itching to get back into the studio. "I plan to devote the first half of next year to getting back in the saddle and working on a load of half-finished stuff I have," asserts Ali.
There are disadvantages to being one of the most in-demand techno DJs of the moment, as Sci+Tec boss Dubfire well knows. "It's been a pretty crazy year. I think I took on way too many gigs," says Ali. "Things look a certain way on paper or by email during the decision-making process, but when you're actually out on the road, then you realise just how little time you have for everything else." "Everything else" includes running his label, studio work and a continued relationship with Native Instruments. "I managed to work on the Underworld stuff [Ali contributed on a track for the band's new album, 'Barking'], I did a remix of another classic Plastikman song [as yet unreleased], and continued my close working relationship with Native, helping to road-test their new Traktor Kontrol S4 before it even goes into production." This year, Ali has also started to expand his label into the events arena. "Right now, I'm in the process of forming a collective of exclusive artists that I can regularly tour with so we can really push the Sci+Tec brand to the forefront and push some up-and-coming guys." Amongst all this work, it would be easy to forget to have fun, but not for Ali. He enthusiastically cites Timewarp festival as an inspiration, describing it as, "the ultimate club experience for its great line-up and attention to production detail." It's things like that, and the great music he reports to have heard this year, which mean the Barcelona-based artist is itching to get back into the studio. "I plan to devote the first half of next year to getting back in the saddle and working on a load of half-finished stuff I have," asserts Ali.
