It’s getting hot when Welsh DJ, producer, artist Mark Newman alias Running Hot steps on the ones and twos to share his 90s infused House-sound and Marks knows the golden era of electronic music quite well. As a regular in the Berlin club-scene, where he moved a while back from London, as well as being home in clubs and on dance floors around the globe, he’s maybe not seen it all but definitely left his mark. Aside from his highly praised DJ-skills Mark has a small but excellent discography with all his EPs being self-released. His remixes though have been out on labels like Jitter, Fauve and Rhode & Brown’s Slam City Jams. In-between all his tasks Mark found the time to chat with Torture the Artist about his Berlin-move, digging records/ music, his relationship to the Love on the Rocks-crew as well as the early days of Running Hot. Additionally he mixed and compiled the latest edition of the art:cast-series.
As a DJ I’m already part of the most embarrassing sub-culture in the world so I have nothing left to hide.
Torture the Artist: Hello Mark, tell us something about your day!
Running Hot: I just woke up at home in Berlin. I’m having a coffee and have been going through some records as I’m playing at an in-store later today.
Torture the Artist: You are originally from the UK but now live in Berlin. What made you leave the UK and why was Berlin your chosen destination?
Running Hot: That’s right, I was born in Wales but lived in London for a long time. Mostly I had just got a bit tired of life in London. It’s an amazing city but it’s a very expensive and stressful lifestyle and I fancied a change. I’d visited Berlin a few times previously and liked it as a city so thought I’d give it a try. Obviously the music scene here is a plus too.
Coming from London Berlin feels like a really small city to me.
Torture the Artist: Would you call Berlin your home or is that still the UK and further, what do you enjoy more in the German capital than in the UK and vice versa?
Running Hot: Berlin is definitely home for now. Coming from London Berlin feels like a really small city to me. It’s really easy to get around quickly by bike and that means it’s a lot easier to see friends and do impromptu things, which I like. The biggest thing I miss from London is probably the pubs, German Kneipen don’t quite hit the same.
Torture the Artist: When founding Running Hot it was you and Paul, now it seems as if you continue solo. Can you fill us in on what the situation is with Running Hot at the moment, meaning have you and Paul split or is he only partly part of Running Hot? If so, what are the reasons behind it?
Running Hot: So Running Hot now is just myself. Around the same time I moved to Berlin Paul moved to Stockholm which made the logistics of doing something together much harder. At the same time I was working on a lot of solo production work which I then started to release under the Running Hot name so we decided it made more sense for me to take the Running Hot project forward on my own. We’re still good friends though and I’m sure we’ll do some other things together in the future.
Torture the Artist: Let’s speak a little bit about your music, so far you’ve released music on Fauve Records, Permanent Vacation, Jitter and you also contributed a remix for NairLess’ track First Wave on Slam City Jams. Latter track/remix has been a scene favorite and been supported by lots of artists. Is the remix your most successful release so far personally as well as in terms of being perceived as an artist?
Running Hot: It’s been really nice to see that release do well, also for Thomas (NairLess) as it’s one of his first releases. We actually met in person for the first time at Love International festival and heard Job Jobse play that remix which was a nice moment. In terms of my original stuff The Spanish Dance is probably the most popular release I’ve put out so far, I heard that one out a lot this summer, obviously the sample gives it a pretty broad appeal 🙃
Torture the Artist: Until now, you have released four self-released EPs out. How come you prefer releasing your music on your own rather than giving it to another label? Additionally, are you meaning to change this or is this the Running Hot-way?
Running Hot: I definitely prefer the DIY approach. The main reasons for doing it myself are control and speed. I get to release what I want, when I want. I’ve had releases with other labels that have taken over a year to come out, which is just insane to me. When I finish something then I want to be able to put it out pretty quickly and move onto the next thing. BandCamp also makes the whole process incredibly easy to be able to sell directly to your fans and understand who is actually interested in your music. I’m not totally against working with other labels in the future, particularly for one-off compilation tracks or remixes or whatever but it would have to make sense.
Torture the Artist: What is a label you would love to have your music signed to, and why?
Running Hot: Following on from the previous answer, I don’t really have one. It’s not really something I’m focused on right now.
Torture the Artist: Musically you seem to enjoy everything that was good in the 90s but make these musical influences shine like new. First off, where does your preference for 90s House and its various nuances in the sub-genres come from and secondly, why do you think this kind of music is having its second wave 30 years later?
Running Hot: For me I think it’s largely a nostalgia thing. I grew up in the 90s so a lot of the stuff that is cool now was released for the first time at the time I was first getting into dance music. Those classic 90s rave sounds are probably something that will stick with me for life.
As to why it’s having a second wave now, I guess the short answer is it’s just part of the hype cycle that sees us re-cycle old trends every 20 years or so. If I go a bit deeper then I think the vinyl renaissance, which has seen a lot of people go digging through the pile of forgotten releases from that era, has played a big part in it and there’s also a certain beauty in the simplicity and naivety of some of those 90s releases from a time where electronic music was really fresh and new that really appeal to a lot of people.
Torture the Artist: What’s your personal favorite track from the golden era of House music, namely the 90s, and where do you remember hearing it first respectively what memories do you connect to it?
Running Hot: This is impossible to answer as it’s always time/context dependent but at the moment I’m going through a big DJ Tonka phase so I’ll give you one of his tracks. The track is called She Knows You. He has a bunch of great tracks and the best ones all have a really poppy appeal without ever crossing the line and becoming too cheesy. The video is also amazing, with lots of footage shot at the legendary Bora Bora in Ibiza where I’ve had lots of fun times. It’s impossible to hear this track and not smile.
Torture the Artist: Berlin is rich in record stores, where do you get your music or rather where do you dig for new music and what’s your favorite physical store in the city?
RH: These days 95% of my digging is done online. I used to dig a lot more when I was living in London as the selection of music you can find there is much broader and more interesting in my opinion. These days I sort of know what I’m after so I find it’s quicker and easier for me to dig online.
My favourite store in Berlin would have to be Sound Metaphors, it’s got a nice selection of records, the people who work there are always super friendly and knowledgeable, they release lots of interesting music themselves and they throw some nice parties too. They’ve managed to build a whole community around the store rather than it purely being a place to buy records from.
I’ll be DJing until I’m in the grave.
Torture the Artist: What was first, producing music or DJing and what do you prefer over the other?
Running Hot: I started DJing when I was 13 so that came first and will always come first to me. I’ve dabbled with production throughout my life but only really got serious about it in the last couple of years. Like a lot of DJs I mainly started producing music to try to get more gigs, and whilst I definitely enjoy the production more now than I did when I started, in large part because I don’t suck at it quite as much as I did, it will never replace the DJing for me. When I’m producing I’m always coming at it from a DJs perspective of how a track would work on the dance floor. I don’t really have a desire to make music for any other contexts right now. I’ll be DJing until I’m in the grave.
Torture the Artist: Where do we find you partying (in Berlin) and what’s your favorite spot to go to on the weekends besides the well-known nightlife clubs like Berghain? Do you have any ‘secret spot‘ you can recommend?
Running Hot: All over really. I know it’s the cliched, obvious answer but in terms of a specific club I think Berghain is still clear of everything else so if there’s not a specific night going on somewhere else then that’s my go-to. In terms of individual parties, we’re spoiled for choice in Berlin. Cocktail D’amore, Fandango, Hypersoft are some of my favourites.
Torture the Artist: If you go out, can you enjoy listening to other DJs or are you too critical when it comes to other artists, meaning a not so smooth transition can turn you off or a track that’s a bit off?
Running Hot: try to go out as much as possible both to see people I already know and like as well as trying to check out new DJs. Every DJ in the world makes mistakes, bad transitions or whatever, that’s what happens when it’s live and you try things out. That’s part of the fun of it and isn’t something that spoils my enjoyment as long as the overall set is good.
Torture the Artist: Besides yourself, who is your favorite DJ, and why?
Running Hot: Another impossible to answer question but if you put a gun to my head I would probably say DJ Harvey. Peerless disco master.
Torture the Artist: What do you still want to achieve as an artist, that keeps you doing what you do?
Running Hot: I don’t really have many things I want to achieve as a producer other than to keep on improving the music I make. In terms of DJing I would just like to play more regularly at as many great parties as I can.
Torture the Artist: How are you musically and personally socialized in Berlin, meaning who are the artists you enjoy hanging out and/or working with and how did that come about?
Running Hot: My core crew (mercifully!) doesn’t contain too many DJs which means we can keep the Discogs and Rekordbox chat to a minimum. Mostly it’s just a lot of lovely humans who like to go out a lot. Two good friends who you should check out if you aren’t already familiar with them are the wonderful Vio (Vio PRG) who’s a resident at both Renate and Refuge Worldwide in the city and Constantinos aka Instagram music blog sensation Anacalypto who’s also a top DJ and digger.
In terms of other DJs Alex (Kassian) and Paramida and the whole Love on the Rocks crew are friends. We originally met through them asking me to do a mix a few years ago, we did some digging and partying together and got on well. They’re people I respect as DJs and artists so it’s nice to be able to learn from them.
Torture the Artist: Where would you love to hear your music being played, and why?
Running Hot: I’ve been incredibly lucky to hear my music being played at some of my favourite clubs at festivals around the world. Places like Panorama Bar, Dekmantel and Love International. I guess the next thing would be for me to be able to play my own music in some of those places (please promoters! 🙏).
Torture the Artist: What’s a subculture you’d be part of, if nobody could see?
Running Hot: As a DJ I’m already part of the most embarrassing sub-culture in the world so I have nothing left to hide.
Torture the Artist: You’re responsible for the latest art:cast (our mix-series), where do you recommend to listen to your mix, and why?
Running Hot: Go for a late night drive and slip this one in your 6 disc CD changer 💿
Words by Holger Breuer
Pictures by Lucas Las-Casas
Torture the Artist 