Ahead of gracing Wonderland’s stage at Field Day this Saturday, crate-digging production aficionado FOLD talks experience, essence, and what to expect from an OG set.

Field Day has long been woven into the fabric of London’s eclectic and evolutionary electronic movement. Brushing off a wave of adversities, this year – this Saturday, 23rd May, in fact – the festival is back with a bang, near sold-out (move fast!!!), with the best line-up it has bolstered in years, at its fairly new home of Brockwell Park. Whatever your dance music bag is, the day event has most likely got you covered. From the undeniable anthems of Eliza Rose to the UKG intricacy of MJ Cole, from the devilishly good patois-infused DnB of Flowdan to the pulsating house of sim0ne, and from the groove-laden techno of Honey Dijon to the technical genius of Floating Points. It’s set to be a blockbuster day.

That’s without even mentioning the pantheon of artists gracing the Wonderland stage at this year’s festival. We’ve got a notorious Jungle headline from the legendary Andy C, sets from Just Jane, Larimae, Lou Nour (FKA SICARIA) and Silva Bumpa. Oh, and the goat himself, Joy Orbison. So yeah, pure heat. 

The final artist who is set to spin us into a euphoric daze is none other than Fold. The Hackney-based DJ and producer is among the most respected if-you-know-you-know names in UK electronic music. With origins in pirate radio before becoming a mainstay on platforms like Rinse FM and NTS, the esteemed spinner has long been a staple in venues across the capital. Of late, he’s been keeping busy on the live circuit, and also in releasing circles, collaborating with fellow producers like George FitzGerald on recent banger “Milk”, and cu.rve on hard-hitters like “Business” and “Caramel”.

Ahead of his performance on Saturday, Wonderland get to know the production general a little better, talking about his pirate radio roots, what to expect from a Fold set, and who he’s excited to see at Field Day festival.

Listen to latest track “Caramel”…

Read the interview…

Yes Fold! You’re playing Field Day this weekend, how are you feeling about the show?

Ez! Thanks for having me! Yeah, looking forward to testing some new works in progress to see what needs to be tweaked before releasing them. Home town crowd and a decent set time too so it should be pop off.

What’s your relationship with the festival? What drove you to want to play there? 

I’ve lived in Hackney for 15 years or so, and historically, the festival was at Victoria Park. I’ve been to a fair few of them over the years, and the programming is always solid. Being able to walk home after was always a plus. This is my first time playing for them.

From your perspective, how important is FD for new wave electronic acts?

We all have a duty to support up-and-coming acts. This is how the scene evolves. If we care about things outside of ourselves, this should be a given. Fortunately, I have an opportunity to contribute to this through my radio residencies and the label I co-run, Well Street Records. FD does well to tap into an emerging talent pool as well. 

Who else on the line-up has caught your eye? Who will you be going to see?

My mate Pete (Joy O), who is playing after me on the Wonderland stage. Just Jane is also on the same stage and one to watch for the future. Andy C is after Pete, and the 15-year-old version of me (a massive drum and bass head) is very interested in that…

How would you describe the essence of your DJ set?

A marriage of shameless self-expression and gratifying the desires of the audience, haha. Trying to find the balance between what I think people should be introduced to and what they would really like to hear in that moment, and usually that’s the sweet spot.

How has your set developed over the years?

I guess with ‘experience’ comes a calmness in assessing what is unfolding in front of you and hopefully being able to provide what is being called for in the moment. Ultimately, I play to the needs of the individual environment because each set is unique. There are so many factors to be considered when preparing. I think it’s important to have the ability to be able to shift with what does and doesn’t land during a set. 

You’re a mainstay in radio platforms like Rinse FM and NTS.  Why are these institutions so pinnacle in the electronic music landscape?

They help nurture the next wave of artists and provide a platform to encourage expression and experimentation. They are edifices of cultural exchange and community. I’ve met a lot of like-minded people in these spaces and learnt so much more about music because I was part of a shared circle with other inspiring creatives.

You very much came up on and through pirate radio – what influence has it had on you over the years?

I was obsessed with it. Early on, the artists on Kool FM (super Sundays were a favourite), Rude FM, and Force FM were like celebrities to me. Your location would limit what you could tune into and record to tape. They were the forefront of what I saw as counter culture to the mainstream and really elusive, which added to the mystique. You could tune in sometimes, and it would just be static. Or driving through a new manor, pick up new stations depending on their transmitter strength. The fact that it wasn’t instantly accessible really added to that feeling that it was precious and left you wanting more. You had to be in the know. You had to put a lot of effort into seeking it out. It felt like a naughty secret, and you were rewarded for being persistent by becoming initiated into cutting-edge music.

What’s your earlier memory of electronic music?

The very earliest would be staying up late as a boy and watching MTV when the more expansive music was played instead of the radio hits. Then hearing speed garage, jungle, balearic house and trance coming through the walls of my older brother’s bedroom. I was naturally very curious about it all, so any chance to uncover something new or seemingly left-field, I would lean into. I think it’s probably related to my parents playing a lot of amazing music when I was really little as well.

To you, what do you think sets your work out from your contemporaries?

I would like to think a lifetime of collecting and researching music from a wide body of influence. Starting out at such an early age probably helped; we were collecting records and technically proficient while we were still in school. It all comes from a place of pure love and enthusiasm for music, and a feeling that there was nothing much else going on we could connect to. 

While producing, I’ve been taking the time to perfect the craft and not looking for instant success. I’ve always kept a full-time job, and I don’t have to rush my ‘art’. I really hope that all of this comes across in my music or my curation and that it feels genuine and authentic. I feel like those who know of my work might back that, but to a wider audience, I’m probably yet to be discovered…

You’ve been dropping tunes with cu.rve, where did that link up come from?

Yeah Charlie is an amazing producer, we came together through mutual respect of each others craft and realised we work together in a complementary way. 

What else is to come from you, this year and beyond?

Charlie and I have more very exciting music lined up. We’ve got our first Fold & cu.rve set together at Gottwood festival, which should be fun. My next solo single, “Soft Launch”, drops on my label FLDIN2 in June, and I’m planning on releasing a couple more EPs this year if all goes well. Love International festival is on the horizon as well, so lots of bits to look forward to over the coming months.

Words – Ben Tibbits