The road to ARC Music Festival in Chicago this Labor Day weekend leads to a chat with one dance music’s most coveted artists, Will Clarke. The house and techno festival sees a finely selected lineup, putting Clarke in the mix with Nicole Moudaber, Luciano, Patrick Toppings, Hot Since 82, Lee Foss, Channel Tres and one of his main inspirations, The Martinez Brother.
With a vast catalogue of timely releases on labels such as Filth on Acid, Drumcode, We Are The Brave and Trick, as well as his own imprint All We Have Is Now, it was a pleasure to gain some insight from Will before his ARC Music Festival set.
Your new track for Factory 93 out September 3rd, ‘Sometimes You Gotta Let It Go’, resonated with me today in particular actually. What is something you gotta let go sometimes in your life?
Hmm that’s honestly a tough one for me to answer because nothing comes to mind when I think about it. However I feel like sometimes we do all have to let things go especially when we have zero power in whatever situation it is. I’m a firm believer of “it will happen when it’s supposed to happen.”
What was one of the first tracks that got you into house music? What are some of the oldest tracks you still mix into a set?
Any records from Faithless or Chemical Brothers, they are pretty much the reason why I do what I do.
How do you prepare for a set for festivals, especially ARC?
Festival sets are always a little different to club shows. As I haven’t played many festivals since lockdown I am spending a bit more time prepping the sets. I’ve got a couple of ideas for some edits I want to get done before ARC. I want to make it a little more special than just any other set.
What is one key thing you can’t forget while performing?
That I’m playing for the people and not just for me.
That’s it, no ego. While in quarantine you launched a podcast and have since chatted with artists such as Layton Giordani, Reinier Zonneveld, Mikey Lion, Rebuke, Huxley, Mistajam, Shadow Child, Chip E, and Gene Farris. What have been a couple of favorite topics brought up on your new Podcast?
For me the podcast is just about having good conversation and is not really based on one topic. It’s been nice to learn more of the history of some of my friends that I’ve had on the podcast. Getting to know more about people’s views on life is always super interesting to me as well.
Festival sets are always a little different to club shows. As I haven’t played many festivals since lockdown I am spending a bit more time prepping the sets. I’ve got a couple of ideas for some edits I want to get done before ARC. I want to make it a little more special than just any other set.
What track might you claim as a worthy theme song for ARC?
Paul Johnson – Get Down… This is the only song that should be the ARC theme.
Can you share any insight into upcoming releases? Will you road test any at ARC?
After this current release on Factory 93, I have an EP coming out on Patrick Topping’s label Trick and my last release of the year on my label All We Have Is Now will be a track called “Searching” that I did with Shermanology. Also, I did a remix for Faithless that might eventually get released.
ARC Music Festival at Union Park will stretch across 4 stages connected with immersive art installations. There will be unique festival experiences such as Elrow’s ‘Psychrowdelic Trip’ concept (with Will Clarke), ARC Car Stage Powered by The GoodBus Featuring Chicago Residents and for the first time-ever Eric Pryda will perform under all three of his monikers in the same weekend: Eric Prydz, Cirez D as well as his progressive house alias Pryda for a sold out closing party at RADIUS available for purchase by festival-goers only.
ARC Music Festival Set Times
ARC fans will also be treated to intimate after parties in the birthplace of house music, across Auris and ARC partner venues RADIUS, PRYSM, Concord Music Hall with others to be announced.
Will Clarke Online:
Website | SoundCloud | Instagram
ARC Festival Online:
Website | facebook | Instagram
