[INTERVIEW] Mark Knight Discusses Managing The Toolroom Brand

With almost two decades of forging groovy club heaters, it is no surprise that Mark Knight is one of the figureheads of the house and disco movement. His uplifting signature sound has bridged these two genres together into an electrifying blend of percussion-fueled basslines and chilling vocals. Hailing from the U.K., this innovative producer-DJ hybrid has racked up over 120 million streams and nearly 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

In addition to his iconic dance anthems, such as “Man With The Red Face” and his remix of Avicii's “My Feelings For You”, Mark has written and produced for the likes of David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and the Black Eyed Peas, to name a few. On top of the major successes across his solo artist career, Mark is the founder of Toolroom Records, a leading label and event platform in the world of house music. Now, Mark has shared his extensive knowledge, musical experiences, and inside scoop on his latest original tracks with us.

Check out iEDM's exclusive interview with Mark Knight below.

iEDM: What factored into your decision to select Alok and James Arthur’s “Work With My Love” as a track you wanted to remix?

Mark Knight: I’ve long been a fan of the Johnnie Taylor – “What About My Love” sample, and have been wanting to do something with it for a while. So when this opportunity came along, I jumped at it. I think Alok and James are great at what they do as well, so it was fun to put my own spin on it.

iEDM: How were you able to create a balance between elements from the original and put your own twist on your “Work With Me Love” remix?

Mark Knight: I think when you’ve got a great sample like that to work with it is actually fairly straightforward. I just wanted to make it something that I would play in my own sets, so made it a bit tougher. Also, I increased the tempo and gave it that added drama and tension that you need in the club, but not necessarily from a radio hit.

iEDM: What are the toughest challenges that come with adapting a song that is less house-centric into your signature sound? How are you able to overcome them?

Mark Knight: Tempo is always a factor, being able to make something right for the dance floor without it sounding totally forced and unnatural. If you end up pushing it too far, it’s just never going to work. Additionally, having some melody to play with that you can either enhance or flip in some way that’s going to sit well alongside the rest of the records in your set. To be honest, it’s something that over time you can hear pretty much immediately.

iEDM: Your recent single “Make You Happy” is a huge collaboration with a bunch of veteran artists. What sparked the idea for this house heater and what was the process behind all working together on it?

Mark Knight: The vocal is something that’s been around since about 1994. It was one for the heads back in the day, and I’ve always wanted to do something with it. I've known Todd for a long time and we’ve always talked about working together. When he mentioned the vocal, I jumped at the chance.

iEDM: What are the main advantages in regard to teaming up with many artists on a single? How does “Make You Happy” embody each of your unique production styles?

Mark Knight: Experience. We’ve been doing this for a while now and each know our strengths, and are pretty confident in our sound. But it’s always great to work with other artists, especially of this caliber, as no matter how long you’ve been making music there’s always something new to learn; some little trick or technique you’ve never come across before. I think that’s what keeps all of us on our toes, that willingness to have an open mind and learn from others.

iEDM: In 2022, you linked up with Lukas Setto for your groovy single, “Get With You Tonight”, which was followed by a dub mix and extended mix of the track. For people who are just getting into house music, can you explain the variations between these three versions and the purpose for making them?

Mark Knight: “Get With You Tonight” was very much written with radio in mind, even though it is definitely a song I play early on in my sets, especially if I’m playing all night. So you have the radio mix for that audience, then the extended for DJs. The dub is a bit trackier and with less of the vocal, almost a DJ tool that just opens it up to a new audience again.

iEDM: What advice would you give to upcoming house producers who are trying to separate their image from the rest of the pack?

Mark Knight: It probably sounds corny, but one of the biggest things is to believe. Believe in yourself, almost at the expense of everyone else. If you look around too much for inspiration, you’ll end up sounding like everyone else. If you believe in what you do and you are passionate about it, then you’ll find success. What that success looks like will be different for different people of course, but there’s no point chasing something if you don’t believe in its worth.

iEDM: Congrats on 20 years of Toolroom! How do you feel when looking back at your label’s success over the years and where it is now compared to where it started? What is something that Toolroom has accomplished that you are most proud of and why?

Mark Knight: I think that just the fact that we’re still here, 20 years later, and stronger than ever is something I’m very proud of. Having respect across the industry, an incredible, loyal fan base, and a roster of amazing artists, plus everything we’ve achieved with the Academy – it’s definitely quite an achievement.

iEDM: How is the lineup chosen for Toolroom events like its Miami Music Week 2023 takeover? What artist attributes are considered in order to prepare a well-rounded group of DJs that reflect the imprint, while showcasing their own special identities?

Mark Knight: That’s a good question, as it’s absolutely not just about booking all the obvious big names. You have to consider how the day will build, how the acts will compliment each other, how you’re going to give some up-and-coming artists a shot, and of course which artists are ticket sellers in a particular territory. Our Miami shows have always been landmark dates in our touring schedule, and with this one launching our anniversary tour, I really think we’ve knocked it out of the park with the lineup.

iEDM: Why do you think the National Hotel and its scenery are a great fit for Toolroom Records? What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming pool party?

Mark Knight: The National has a legacy of hosting great pool parties, as was part of MMW’s history when everything started moving to South Beach. It’s the perfect place for us.

iEDM: What are your biggest ambitions for Toolroom and yourself as an artist in 2023? How do you plan on reaching these goals?

Mark Knight: Discover some amazing new artists, continue championing our fantastic roster, make some brilliant club records, and continue to build our fan base globally.

Photos Courtesy of Mark Knight