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We Interviewed Kerri Chandler...On a Rollercoaster!

The charmed ride operators at Eastern Electrics held up the Xtreme Machine so we could chat with a house music forefather.
Matt Shea
London, GB

Kerri Chandler is really nice and a really good DJ. He also really likes going on rides. Coincidentally, so do British ravers, so we happened to be right next to one of those spinny fairground ones when I met him at

Eastern Electrics

last weekend. I knew I’d never have another chance to go on a (kind of) roller-coaster with Kerri Chandler, so I asked him if he could use his mystical DJ aura to get us on the ride for free. Sure enough, the charmed ride operators held up the “Xtreme Machine” just for us, and strapped us in.

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Before we knew it we were spinning high above the Essex countryside, to the cheers of wide-eyed ravers underneath. We didn’t really have time to conduct an interview and go on a ride for free, so he kindly agreed to do both at the same time. Shouting questions into Kerri Chandler’s face while simultaneously waving a camera in the air and holding onto a tiny harness for dear life is a pretty surreal experience. I suggest you try it if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

Noisey: Fuck it, should we just do the interview on this ride?

Kerri Chandler: Ohhhhhh shit. We’re gonna do an interview on this? How?

I’ll sit next to you.

Okay. That’s hilarious. Really?

Yeah, just try not to throw up on me and I’ll do the same for you. I’ll bring my camera.

[Laughs] “No loose objects.”

So did you just get here tonight?

Yeah, I wish I was here before, actually. I wanted to see the whole thing.

Someone earlier described the crowd as being filled with “bug-eyed, shuffling bros,” do you agree with that?

God no! I have a bunch of friends out there I’d hate to see somebody calling them that, that’s crazy.

Did you see that guy up front during your set with a shirt that said “raver” and blood coming out of his nose?

No, God no. Anybody who comes down to see me, I’m happy. If the room is packed I’m happier. When people are smiling, I’m happier than that. When the hands go up I’m happier than that. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s a wonderful day; it’s not too hot, it’s not too cold, it didn’t rain.

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Not your usual British Festival.

Yeah, that’s what I’m saying, so hell yeah.

How do you have the energy to play so many shows in a row?

People. It’s the people, honest to God. ‘Cos when I’m done I’m dead.

You have one of my favourite “in the moment” DJing faces.

Oh, thank you.