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Originally from the windy city of Chicago, Mark Farina obviously grew up on a healthy diet of dance music. In 1988 his path crossed with Derrick Carter’s and a lifetime friendship was formed. Living and working together, along with Chris Nazuka, they used their Detroit/Chicago associations for the greater good, and in 1989 they signed on Kevin Saunderson’s KMS Records under the Symbols In Instruments handle creating a classic cut called ‘Mood’. Soon DJ Farina began straying from straight house music and wandered into a down-tempo ‘Mushroom Jazz’ zone by experimenting with deeper substances – blending hip-hop, acid-jazz, disco, dub and more… 

Mark moved to San Francisco in the 1990s, only after he’d found an outlet for his unique sound through some mixed tapes – he called them, of course, ‘Mushroom Jazz’. In 1992 he co-founded a weekly jam in San Francisco under the ‘Mushroom Jazz’ name, which lasted for three radiant years before the club night transformed into a cool CD series and DJ tour with notable links to those purveyors of quality tracks Om Records.

Anyone who has heard Farina’s DJ sets will testify that Mark throws it all down, the jazzy side of Chicago house melts fluidly into a refined eclectic San Fran style; while on the production front Farina released a glorious debut artist album titled ‘Air Farina’ through Om in 2003.

Now in 2004 there’s more, like the live and unedited double mix album derived from a single Om night at Mezzanine in San Francisco. Here DJs Carter and Farina get a CD each to do their thang, and in the inspired hands of such great talents this is a bumping, soulful adventure not to be missed. The daring energy displayed in both sets is transferred to the listener through their refined choice of tunage, but is also amplified through the excited whoops and cheers from their live crowd. But don’t worry folks because you can hear this for yourself very soon as Farina will be playing at Pacha on 31st August for the ‘Underwater Vs Carioca’ night. We can also expect another enchanting ‘Mushroom Jazz 5’ episode later this year, but in the meantime you’re invited to check in now for our first Ibiza-Voice flight ever with the extraordinary ‘Dream Machine’ schemer Mark Farina… 

Mark greetings from Ibiza-Voice, how’s tricks in Farina-land?
MF: “Excellent, keeping busy as always. Recovering from an enjoyable Euro Cup tournament, and getting ready for my next project ‘Mushroom Jazz 5’. I also have a double mix CD coming out this month with Derrick Carter on Om Records.”

Indeed. On this latest release you illustrate a live, organic approach to the mix – that’s no editing or polishing with studio tools, even after the act. So was your recent Om mix mega stressful on the night/morning it was recorded (Friday 13/14th February 2004) and did you feel suspicious and/or romantic? (Also were you tempted afterwards to go smooth off the rougher edged mixes?)    
“Whenever I play with Derrick I get a little extra nervous, but knowing the night was being recorded was an extra twist. No mixes were polished afterwards and everything is the same as it was. Since we each played for two to three hours that night we had to pick a part of our set for the CD, and that was very difficult.”






To expand on that question, from the old Chicago mix tapes to MP3 mixing, do you think there’s too many slick studio-perfect mixes around as the art obviously digresses/progresses in the hands of an ever expanding technology?  
“Technology affects everything, of course. But it's still about creativity. I'm fortunate in not needing my mixes to be touched up, but for people who can't mix, technology certainly helps. When you're playing live you still have to be good, though.”




You’ve known Derrick Carter since the lovely summer of 1988. During such a lengthy friendship as yours what have possibly been the best and worst times that you’ve shared together?  
“When we were roommates in Chicago it would suck when Derrick would get some inspiration on like a Monday night at 4am and decide to work on a track while I was sleeping. But really there are just too many good times that we've had together; so many it was hard to move out of Red Nail loft in Chicago, where we had lived together for so many years.”

You now live in San Francisco, so besides the monthly ‘celebration of musical enlightenment’ (for Om) at Mezzanine, can you summarise what’s going on there with the whole scene currently?  
“Still lots going on here! Not as many house DJ guests coming through, but with locals here like Joshua/Iz, Miguel Migs, M3, Chris Lum, JT Donaldson, Lance Desardi, Jay-J, Jeno and Garth, there's always smaller stuff going on during the week. Ruby Skye, one of the larger clubs in SF, just got a new sound system too.”

We hear that you’re interested in setting up your own club over there at some point, how’s that ambition going?
“That's still on the ‘back-burner’ at the moment as I’m doing the usual DJ gigs. I just haven't got that involved yet.”












Your music interests are far reaching, so can you foresee your skills being used in TV/cinematic projects beyond the dancefloor in the next few years, we understand that’s something you’re drawn to?
“Yes I would like to expand my productions beyond the dance music realm.  It's challenging to think outside the dancefloor. Also, I'm always into any ways that may get people into electronic music, even if they are not club people.”

The Farina flight-themed website is cool, but do you surf the Internet a lot yourself, and if so, what do you check out?
“I like checking record stores online, and looking for obscure Nike sneakers and vintage American sports jerseys.”

On Tuesday 31st August you’re playing at Pacha in Ibiza with Underwater. What can we expect from your visit and do you have anything Balearic prepared? 
“Just me, bringing the newest, yummiest tracks and any hidden gems/classics that I might be feelin’ at the end of August. But I haven't found my copy of ‘Jibaro’ yet.”

Do you have any wild White Isle memories to disclose from your previous years?
“Sneak had stashed a bong on the island, so we drowned our sorrows of having luggage lost by smoking the weed.”

Have you any new productions or remixes in the crates that you’d like to mention here?
“Of course the double CD with Derrick, I’ve also just had a new 12" of ‘Dream Machine’ come out on Om. (There’s a superb JT Donaldson mix on that!) I did a remix for Gallery Recordings of ‘Troydon M.’ and I’m now working on ‘Mushroom Jazz 5.’”

How do you spend your free Farina-time at home when you get a moment to yourself?
“By listening to new tunes and chilling with my girlfriend. I also have a cat and a puppy, and strangely I like to clean the house!”

What else do you hope to achieve this summer, either personally or professionally?
“To keep doing the good shows and keep making quality music.”

Mark will be playing at Pacha on 31st August for the ‘Underwater Vs Carioca’ night along with Yousef and Darren Emerson. The double mix album by Derrick Carter & Mark Farina ‘Live At Om’ (Om Records) is out now, as is his single ‘Dream Machine’. Furthermore Farina is on tour supporting the Om release at the following places throughout August…

13th August – Om at Mezzanine – San Francisco 
28th August  – Creamfields, UK
29th August – TDK Cross Festival – Kings Cross, London UK w/ Derrick Carter
31st August – Pacha – Ibiza, Spain

Mark Farina’s latest single ‘Dream Machine’ is among Beatport’s top ten downloads as of 15th July – to hear and/or buy this sublime beauty, go to: