Cambridge born and London based 27 year old, Ali Wells, aka Perc, Spartak and Votion, could be accused of being a musical obsessive, with a career that takes in spells in rock and indie bands, various dj-ing residencies, soundtrack work and his final destination as a producer of some of the most innovative yet accessible dance music currently in circulation. After completing 5 years of music business and music production training in Manchester and Newcastle (UK), Alistair spent a brief time at the now legendary Platipus Records cutting his teeth.

Working with such a range of quality labels and deriving influences from the likes of Underground Resistance, Danny Tenaglia and drum & bass, Ali is original in his diversity while still being hugely dance floor friendly, a rare feat indeed.

Ali’s unmistakeable percussion led sound was originally championed by James Holden who signed him to his own ‘Easy Access’ label . In 2008 Ali has already released his ‘Serious Moonlight EP’ on Chris Liebing’s CLR label and a single ‘Work Harder’ on his own Perc Trax label that picked up support from Dubfire, Adam Beyer, Joey Beltram, Len Faki, Miss Kittin, Laurent Garnier, Phil Kieran, Konrad Black and many more. Since his early releases and remixes on some of the finest dance labels , Perc has clearly found favour with dj’s, producers and clubbers across the globe …

What was your first big breakthrough as an act?
Getting signed for the first time back in 2002 really got things moving for me and it came at a time when I had almost stopped sending out demos. And signing to Drumcode and Kompakt last year was like a 2nd breakthrough and suddenly everything to do with my music jumped up a few levels.

What’s the first record you bought?
The very first was a 7” single of Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer, my first album was by Huey Lewis on cassette, first 12” was something by Guns & Roses and my first CD album was Altern 8’s ‘Full On Mask Hysteria’.

What do you see as your main strengths as a producer?
I always try and make something detailed and different that does not lose touch with the dance floor. A lot of people tell me my music has a distinct sound and that they can spot my tracks a mile off, which I take as a compliment. I also hope that I can make tracks that have energy, power and a touch of aggression without them being relentlessly pounding and monotonous.

What can people expect from your live show?
It’s a mixture of new unreleased tracks and remixes of some of my older tracks. A PC running Ableton plays all the parts but there is a lot of other equipment on stage with so that each sound can be changed and mangled live. I worked for a long time to get something more visual than just a pc with a midi controller and I think I’m starting to get where I want the set to be. The live show is not something I do every weekend, so each performance is different from the last and also offers something very distinct from a DJ set by me.

What’s the biggest crowd you’ve played to?
About 2,500 at TLV in Tel Aviv and more recently there have been a few crowds of around 1,500 in Milan and Amsterdam. It is hard to tell how many people are at a gig once it gets past a few hundred. But I remember that Tel Aviv crowd just seemed to just go on and on into the distance.

Is there a different reaction in clubs from different countries across the globe?
There is, but I think the reaction is more down to the specific club and the night of the gig. If you play in a country once or twice it is pretty risky to then think you know exactly how that country’s crowds will react to certain types of track next time you are there. In the UK though there is a definite distinction between the bulk of London crowds and the crowds up north or in Scotland or Northern Ireland, in terms of the tracks that go down well and how the crowds react.

Who is rocking your boat these days and who are your top tips for 2008?
Marcel Dettmann is a favourite of mine at the moment; his sound is quite retro at times but with a modern spin that works well. Other producers I always look out for are Adam Beyer, Par Grindvik, Kyle Geiger, Norman Nodge, Go Hiyama, Shed, Ben Klock, Len Faki, Surgeon, the guys from Audio Assault in Holland, Luke Slater, Misc, far too many to list here. Of the new producers coming though Gary Beck is doing a lot of great stuff and new Perc Trax signing Sawf could be big in 2009, but he does not have anything out yet!

If you ever walk around the house in pants and slippers and what do you listen to?
Cabaret Voltaire, Burial, Aphex Twin, Photek, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin. Anything that is not 4/4 club techno really, unless I’m checking out promos I’ve been sent.

What are your favourite production tools /gadgets?
Apart from Ableton, which I spend ¾ of my life staring it, it would have to my valve compressors and EQ’s, which are really a key part of my sound. Also my Nintendo DS is starting to kick out some nice sounds running the new DS-10 cart and some homebrew programs. And I have a test oscillator, like the kind you would use in a school science lesson. Anything that can go from earthquake-like sub bass to a dog-torturing squeal with the twist of one control gets thumbs up from me.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
‘If you hate your day job then why don’t you quit and try and do your music full time.’

Your favourite movie of all time?
The Wicker Man, the original version, not the terrible Nicholas Cage remake. A huge Wicker Man poster is pinned up above my PC in the studio and the soundtrack to the original version is amazing as well.

When was the last time you got so drunk you threw up?
Last December at my own house party, a disgraceful performance by me, which was left in place for me to clear up the next day. Minging.

Any news, updates, new productions, events, etc that you would like people to know about?
My next EP is called ‘Swords’ and should be out at the end of October on the Lost Souls’ label complete with a remix by Misc. There is also a house track called Bosworth, which is a slightly different sound for me so it is just going to be a digital release on Perc Trax. It has already been licensed to the next Global Underground CD. My remixes of Passarella Death Squad, Simone Tavazzi and Jean Ramesse will be out in the next few months and the next Perc Trax release is a biggie from Gary Beck with mixes from Soma’s Harvey Mckay and myself. There are a lot of great gigs coming up for me; London, Amsterdam, Belfast, Naples, Liverpool, Glasgow, Montpellier, a short Japanese tour and possibly my first trip to Canada.
See www/myspace.com/perctrax for dates & details.

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