40 Questions: Marco Bailey

With a history book that reaches back almost three decades, few have done it better than Techno pioneer Marco Bailey. The Belgium native climbed the ranks in the earlier 00’s with tracks on Intec and Bedrock, and has since built several outputs of his own.

His labels MB Elektronics and MBR Limited have served as a home to top names such as Adam Beyer and Joseph Capriati, not to mention the wealth of EPs and albums Marco has laid out himself.

The latest offering in the Marco Bailey story comes in the form of his Gravity Drag EP, recently released at the end of October via MBR Limited.

01. Where are you right now and what are you doing?

In Milano, Italy where I have our MATERIA Halloween event tonight.

02. What year you were born?

Hasselt Belgium, most cozy city in Belgium. I’m not telling you what year that was though!

03. What’s the coolest thing in your house?

Our cat.

04. Worst experience as a DJ?

NYE a few years ago, when I arrived in Lisbon and there were no CDJs and no turntables. I asked the promoter and they said back: “Look for the equipment yourself, go and find it!”.

05. Best experience as a DJ?

I love playing techno in Belgium, back in 2004 when I did my live set and also in Argentina, every time I play there it’s just amazing. I love Buenos Aires so much.

06. Favourite record label?

Sorry, too many to name, so here a small selection: WARP, MBR, Delsin, Parabell, M PLANT.

07. House or Techno?

Techno.

08. First record you ever paid for?

Deep Purple – Made in Japan.

09. Studio or DJ booth?

Both really, as they’re totally different for what you use them for. Studio is generally for creating and the booth is for playing those creations! I love both, but as I am an entertainer at heart, lets choose the DJ Booth!

10. Your dream collaboration?

That’s a tough one, maybe getting an Aphex Twin remix or doing a remix for Moderat, awesome & super amazing people!

11. Tell us something we shouldn’t know about you?

That would be something I really wouldn’t tell anyone.

12. Cats or dogs?

Can’t choose as I love animals, and both are lovely creatures!

13. Ever smoked?

Yes, sorry.

14. Ever done drugs?

Yes.

15. Ever stole?

Never.

16. Busy city, or quiet beach?

Quiet Beach!

17. One act who’s inspired you your whole career?

Moderat, Jon Hopkins, Sven Vath & Aphex Twin live, all very different artists, but all have such amazing skill and taste in what they produce.

18. If you weren’t in the music industry, what would you be doing?


Definitely be playing sports, that is actually what I was doing before music, up to when I was about 18, it’s still a big passion of mine, but now more a hobby.

19. Worst job you’ve ever had?

In a factory, making electricity cabins! Every day the same boring bullshit non-stop with no end. Never again!

20. Favourite record right now?

Shifted.

21. Favourite record of all time?

Aphex Twin – X TAL.

22. One thing you couldn’t live without?

My girlfriend.

23. Favourite food?

Thai Spicy soup (only medium spicy though).

24. Movies or books?

Movies but I should read more books, but TIME is always the issue.

25. Vinyl or CDJs?

Cannot possibly choose, I am a huge fan of both for very different reasons.

26. Favourite country to travel to?

Thailand.

27. Favourite club you’ve played at?

Well it’s not so much a club, but my own night MATERIA we create the best atmosphere wherever in the world we take the brand. So that could be any venue, inside or outside. There are so many on my list from the last decade, that it’s easier not to choose just one!

28. Favourite festival you’ve played at?

As you can tell I am not someone who is good at choosing things, but here are a few of my top ones: Mandarin Park, Timewarp, Awakenings, I Love Techno, Pukkelpop and Dreambeach.

29. Craziest story of being on the road?

When I had gig in Siberia, and the promoter turned around to us and said “Lets do a picnic for the artist dinner”. It was minus 10 degrees and raining.

30. Weirdest request as a DJ?

Haven’t really had one yet.

31. Coke or Pepsi?

I don’t like either!

32. If you had one super power what would it be?

If I had a super power, I guess it would be to make the world a better place with more tolerance, so that’s kind of what Superman does right?

33. Late sleeper or early riser?

Late sleeper.

34. Favourite fruit?

Watermelon.

35. Strangest video you’ve watched on YouTube?

Too many, I wouldn’t know where to start.

36. Shower or bath?

If there is enough time, (which is almost never) 100% a bath.

37. The top thing on your bucket list?

I don’t have one thing, apart from always staying happy, and make sure you enjoy life, because then everything else just happens to fall into place and you experience amazing things along the way.

38. PlayStation or Xbox?

Definitely neither! I don’t have time for a bath, let alone playing games.

39. Do you have any pets?

Yes, two lovely cats.

40. Anything to add?

Passion and love in your life and career is all you need!

You can catch Marco at his next MATERIA event which will be held at Kompass Klub in Ghent, Belgium on the 25th November. Special guest Black Asteroid will be joining the line-up.