Ahead of his set at Traumatik on Thursday 13th September we had a chance to catch up with headliner Charlie Banks. We heard about how he has kick started his career in the house music industry and what it was like coming up in Bournemouth.
You started Djing from a young age, what inspired you to start at 15?
My brother gave me Ed Banger Records Volume’s 1, 2 and 3 to listen to and they sounded like nothing I’d really heard before, I then just started to dig deeper into electronic music. For my 16th Birthday got my first set of cdj’s and it all just went from there really.
You’re from Bournemouth, what was your experience of DJing on the south coast like?
Well Bournemouth’s music scene isn’t amazing but it’s gradually getting better, I’ve been playing all over Bournemouth since I was 16 and have also had the occasional gigs in places like Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton and I definitely think underground music on the south coast is getting bigger by the day.
Growing up, what did you like about electronic music?
Just that it sounded different from anything I’d been listening to before (mostly rock, indie), I also like the fact that electronic music is normally a continuous groove and it doesn’t stop and start after every track.
We are all for helping new talent and they often ask how DJ’s got established in the scene – How did you get your first booking?
I practiced for hours and hours in my bedroom and then when I thought I was ready I sent mixes round to night’s I thought looked good in Bournemouth and hoped for a reply. I can’t remember what the first thing I played at was, can’t have been any good though!
What was your set like? 
I can’t remember ha probably quite ropey ha
Your EP (Saying What) was released by Dirt Crew Recordings – How did this partnership come about?
I made my EP last summer and when it was complete I sent it to Dirt Crew hoping that they would like it, luckily they did, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. They have been a huge help in kick starting my career as a producer and DJ.
You are now working with Hypercolour – Can you tell us a little about this project?
Yeah, well Jamie (Cedric Maison), who is now also my manager hit me up on facebook saying he liked my Dirt Crew EP, he wanted me to do an EP for Hypercolour which I’m so excited about, he also hooked me up with Avant Booking, I’m slowly working on the EP and it’s all starting to come together.
Have you got anything else exciting lined up that we should look out for?
A few collaborations with other artists that I can’t quite say at the moment, all will be revealed shortly. I also have a remix I’m doing for one of my favourite labels at the moment Love Not Money Records.
What inspires you to make music? – What is your creative process?
I love djing and I guess it’s just to help me get more gigs. I always get inspired by new music I listen too and I guess this always just pushes me on to make music. I will build a loop on the computer, and then when I am happy with it I will just build the track out from there.
This summer, what are the top 3 tracks you have been playing / listening too?
That’s a tough one.
1. After All – Franck Roger
2. Sally – Adam Port
3. Freaky D – Darius Syrossian
Catch him at Traumatik on 13th September
