DJ Focus: Darc Marc
Author: 303
Darc Marc
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After more than two decades of rocking dance floors and over fifty releases and remixes on a plethora of labels, Darc Marc has carved an indelible name for himself as a DJ and producer of some of the finest techno to come from the UK. But his appeal isn’t limited to his domestic audience; by releasing on labels Stay Up Forever, Cluster, Maximum Minimum, Working Vinyl, Carnage, Technik, Gazole, Highway 46, Lifeform Recordings, Subvert, Rough Diamond, R.A.W. BR 909, Wemoodswing and Beetroot Records among others, Marc has established a fan base of listeners worldwide.
As well as his work with techno as a solo artist, Marc has produced releases for other artists including Anderson Noise, Julian Liberator and Chris Spero and also works regularly on projects with Lenny Dee and Chris Liberator. Marc has also revealed a more eclectic side in some of his collaborative efforts, including blending elements of ska and dub into his music, which has been released under the pseudonyms Nu Fast Agents, Rebel Shaker Gang, Nexus Twins and X-dB.
In 1991 Marc picked up the headphones and began his DJ career, inspired by the rave explosion in the UK at the time, before going on to create his own club night called Impact that ran for the next three years. As well as throwing his own parties he was also a frequent guest at Rowland the Bastard’s The Fun Factory and could even be found behind the decks in fields and forests playing for legendary southwest free party crew, The Lazy House.
London called in 1998 and after relocating to the capital, Marc started playing for free party stalwarts, Underground Sound, Manic, Malafaiteurs, Sonic and Everyone Sound. After establishing himself on the squat party scene, at the turn of the millennium he went on to create a dedicated techno record label called Purenoise. Early releases on the label unleashed Marc’s own brand of hard edged techno with groove, a style which hinted at his pre-techno love of thrash metal, rock and punk.
As well as producing techno, Marc has continually worked outside the genre, notably when he played synths, guitar and provided vocals for the live electronic dance band, Def By Disco. This project, which he spearheaded with singer and musician, Francesca Lombardo, toured the UK extensively between 2004 and 2008. More recently, Marc has set up the label Wemoodswing records to release electronic dub and ska, which he has written in collaboration with French musician, Matteo Boyero.
Nevertheless, it is Marc’s skill with techno that has taken him all over the world to perform. From the UK to France, Italy, Poland, Germany, Canada, Venezuela and even Brazil, once playing a gig there to mark the country’s triumphant appearance in the football World Cup Final in 2002.
2012 has found Marc as busy as ever with him starting work on a new live project called Smash The Box with a singer/songwriter Arianne and and Oly one half of the electronic group Motor, a project that will see releases and live shows in 2013. Always wanting to push his own performance boundaries, Marc’s DJ sets have also recently evolved with him now combining vinyl turntables and CDJs with a Roland TR-909.
As well as performing, Marc has also had new techno releases featuring most notably on Stay Up Forever 99 and 100. The pioneering acid techno label is celebrating the immense landmark of a hundred releases by issuing four records over the course of 2012 and part 3 will see a another pounding collaboration between Marc and Chris Liberator.
The end of 2012 saw Marc going strong with especially rocking sets in Nottingham at Dagobah Sound System’s Pure Filth fifteenth birthday party and the Stay Up Forever party, London Largin’ It at The Jamm in Brixton. With new releases coming soon on Polish label Scythe Squadron, Acid Resistance from Barcelona, a new collaboration with Sterling Moss and a techno remix for spanish hardcore producer Richie Gee, Darc Marc doesn’t look like he’ll be slowing down any time soon.