RSD Festival Presents The Mighty Father Funk

Father Funk set to play Ravens Nest

The 19 year old ghetto funk producer from the Lake District is set to blow up the local music scene but before he does I thought I'd say hello and showcase the ghetto funk genre to all you lovely Ravenstonedale festivalers.

Warning:  Causes jigging, shoulder swaying and feelings of euphoria!

Father Funk "Dont Stop"

 

 



Father Funk DJing Eastern Med style in
Cyprus

 



 

Q&A with Father Funk

 

Will Williamson AKA Father Funk

Age: 19

From: Windermere

Lives and studies in Leeds

Music style: Ghetto Funk

 

RSD: Hey Father Funk! Its a pleasure to meet with you!

Tell me who is father funk?

 

FF: Well the name Father Funk comes from the kind of music I sample and that inspires me to make funk breaks, the original funk and soul artists from the 70’s and 80’s that dads would listen to – Father Funk!

As for my Father Funk productions, they came from producing electronic music for a few years, coming across Ghetto Funk and just having to get involved in what’s becoming a more and more exciting scene.

I was lucky enough to have all of my first few tracks promoted by the legendary (now award winning!) Spinforth on his Soundcloud Scour on the Ghetto Funk blog and that got me on the right track.

 

RSD: Are you a full time DJ and Producer?

FF: Right now I’m studying Music Production at Leeds College of Music, but I’m still getting a few gigs here and there and producing music all the time. I just do it because I love it!

RSD: Are you part of a producing team or do you ride solo?

FF:Father Funk is a solo project, but I’m planning to work with more instrumentalists in the future, and maybe even put together a live act, that would be sick.

RSD: What was the first record/CD you ever bought?

FF: The first CD I bought was All Killer No Filler by Sum 41, I grew up listening to mainly punk and ska punk - that’s the first sort of music I wrote and played with bands. I’m still in a ska punk band today called Late Night Fiasco, I play trombone.

RSD: What can you recollect listening to in your house growing up?

FF: Not a great deal to be honest, but maybe because there was a lot of different music going on I learnt to appreciate all kinds of music. I think that’s really important, especially when you’re a producer.

RSD: What age did you first spin a record/put a mix together?

FF: I think I was 17 when I first started mixing on turntables, but I had been messing around with various computer programs before then and learning the basics such as mixing in key and where to drop stuff.

RSD: What has been your biggest inspiration as a DJ and who do you look up to in the DJ world?

FF: Well first off I have to mention Stickybuds as his Shambhala 2011 mix is what got me into Ghetto Funk - he’s a wicked producer and DJ. A.Skillz is also killing it, I was lucky enough to support him at Monster Monster in Barrow as well as see him smash it twice in one day at Kendal Calling… Blows my mind!

RSD: What was your biggest music influence growing up as a child?

FF: Punk music showed me that anyone can make music, I think without that realisation I never would have got into it.

RSD: What do you do when you’re not mixing beats?

FF: I make beats! Either that or I’m in college, or bed!

RSD: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

FF:  I can’t even see myself in a year let alone 5 years! If the next few years are anything like how this years shaping up to be I’ll be more than stoked! Whatever happens I’ll still be making music, that’s for sure.

 

RSD: Whats so appealing for you as a DJ playing to festival crowds as opposed to club nights and what do you like most about Ravenstonedale Festival?
FF: Festivals are really close to my heart, going to festivals has been inspiring me to carry on doing what I do since I first went to Leeds Festival in 2007. They're just always such a great atmosphere, something extra that you just don't get in a club, no matter how good the DJ is.

Local festivals like Ravenstonedale are especially close to my heart - its like the music scene in the Lakes finally comes out of hibernation when it gets to summer. The rest of the year there never seems to be much music going on in the Lakes, so festivals like Ravenstonedale remind us that we have a small but thriving music scene that, like the festivals, gets better every year.

 

RSD: Well thanks for chatting to us here at Ravenstonedale Festival, the RSD team are more than hyped that your playing this years Ravens Nest. Personally I'm looking forward to your set and won't deny it will be a highlight for many of our festival goers.  
Until then good luck with your new ghetto funk EP and I shall see you in the Ravens Nest!

 

Until then folks here's a Ghetto mix from Father Funk to wet your music whistle. Enjoy!

 

http://soundcloud.com/ghettofunk/sets/ghetto-funk-presents-father-funk/