After more than two decades as a DJ and 12 years as the label manager of Bedrock Records, it can said that John Digweed is a constant over-achiever. He’s persistently pushing himself, and crowds, with his signature progressive house and techno sound, which you can check out on the latest release, ‘John Digweed: Structures 2.’

“There’s always going to be challenges,” Digweed tells Spinner. “Once you become successful, you’re in the spotlight, and then they expect more. As a DJ, I’ve always wanted to give 110 percent because that’s my nature. The reason I’m still here is because I have that mindset of giving it all; I want to play the best new music that I’ve got.”

As a savvy label owner, Digweed is extremely selective of the music he releases. Focusing on house and techno, it’s rare that he would venture into the slower bass-heavy dubstep or drum’n’bass sounds. But with technology so easily accessible these days, it’s not difficult to produce something that sounds good. He has his sights set on promoting original sounds and creative ideas.

“I don’t want there to be a traditional Bedrock sound, I just want the label to represent good quality music. I think that’s something that’s taken a few years, but people now look at the label and trust my judgment. They know that I’ve probably played out the track for a few months on the dance floor to test it out before it’s released. I only put out a dozen or so [tracks] a year.”

The Bedrock label was born in 1999, a time when the rave still raved strong, and Sasha and Digweed were ambassadors of the house music revolution, enjoying mainstream success for the first time in the U.S. The first release, ‘Heaven Scent’ (produced with label partner Nick Muir, released under the moniker Bedrock) was appropriately placed as a feature track in the rave-y feature flick, ‘Groove.’ His music direction may have evolved since those days but Digweed feels that it’s the fans and their passion for the unexpected that keeps the electronic music culture alive.

“For the true fans, it’s never always been about the venue; it’s about the people and the experience,” he says. “If you have the right people or a good sound system, that’s all you need. You could have a party in a cave if you want to. For some, it’s about the adventure of going somewhere with a bit of edge or excitement.”

To keep excitement levels up, he’s released ‘John Digweed: Structures 2,’ following the extremely positive feedback from the first comp. The triple CD package features a downtempo mix, great for listening to on hot summer days by the pool or, as Digweed quips, “at 5AM after the club whilst mashing your head into the ground.” It also features a live set recorded at club Avalon in L.A., and a track-by-track disc of fresh Bedrock tunes for the DJs.

Like any perfectionist, Digweed records every set he plays. But when it came to selecting one for the comp, he knew the Avalon gig was the obvious choice. “The gig was just amazing from start to finish. It could have come from London, or Beijing, but that one really stood out. I also play in L.A. regularly and bring out a very special crowd, so it’s a bit of a thank you to the fanbase over there.”

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