...written and compiled by spank.

DUKE DARREN OF ESSEX
As I walk into the room, Darren Emerson, Lord of the Underworld and Duke of Essex, settles his court; “Don’t listen to this lot, I know what they’re fucking like”. This is my chance, for I too am an Essex boy. What words of advice can this Romford lord give me on coping with the reputation and stigma our creed have acquired? “It’s a big thing the Essex thing but it doesn’t really mean fuck all to me. Essex is a suburb just like anywhere else- you get your ‘Sharon and Tracey’ clubs everywhere”.

LAGER, LAGER, LAGER...
Outside the more discerning circles Underworld are best known for the chart topping ‘Born Slippy:Nuxx’, propelled to fame through ‘Trainspotting’. At festivals such as Reading it seems the Underworld have gained a certain beer boy contingency. Is it hard toeing the line between credible and commercial? “We don’t go too deep. I don’t see a load of lager boys, just a load of people having a good time. Dance music is overground now, mate! It’s not like when we used to go clubbing. I don’t mind though, its making me a bit of money!”.

FUCK DAT!
The Underworld live show has to be seen to be believed; an ongoing mutation of sound and tracks influenced as much by DJ mixing as traditional live bands. “It’s not on DAT, it’s just a jam. Myself and Rick are on the mixing desk bringing stuff in and out. Karl works his vocals and guitars around this, as well as having his own control tower. In the studio it’s completely different, we all have our own areas and work separately and then cross over ideas. At the moment Karl and I are working upstairs together whilst Rick is downstairs”. So you’re not in your parents’ garage anymore? Darren returns a wry smile, “No, I’ve moved out. At the time it was just that I was living at home, it was near and it was convenient”.

THE MRS. MERTON APPEAL FOR CHARLIE
Hearing a cohort shriek “Got any Charlie?” I cheekily ask whether Darren ever finds the music industry pompous. “Yes and no. As long as you keep out of it most of the time it’s all right. I went to the Brit Awards this year, but on the whole it is nice to stay on the outside”.

DARRENINTHEINFANTS
You’re quite a bit younger than Rick and Karl, how did you meet up? “A friend of mine was Rick’s brother-in-law and told me that Rick had just left his band Freur and was looking for a young DJ to help him get into dance music. At the time I was a runner in London so jumped at the chance”.

DARRENINTHENEXTFEWMONTHS
“At the moment I’m in the studio recording the third Underworld album. We had a meeting the other day and we’re not going to do any festivals this summer - we don’t want to do the same thing over and over again. I’m still running my record label ‘Underwater’, on which I’ve got tracks coming out from Sterac. Darren Price is about to go back in the studio to do some stuff for me. I don’t agree with residencies but I DJ once a month at the End, as well as regularly at Voodoo, Bugged Out!, Slam and Cream. I’m also doing some solo stuff which is taking a jazzier direction, influenced by Ashley Beadle and Nuphonic’s Dave Hill”. With the interview at a close I humbly thank Darren Emerson, Duke of Essex for his time. “Leave it out mate! No worries”. I curtsy and leave.