James Hazell, better known by his stage name FuntCase, is an English Dubstep and drum and bass producer and DJ, from Bournemouth, England. Hazell first released drum and bass, under the moniker DJ Dose in 2007, and in 2009 released his first single under the name FuntCase. In 2010 he was signed to Flux Pavilion and Doctor P’s record label Circus Records, while also releasing music under the alias Haze. He is well known for performing wearing his signature mask.
In early 2013 he announced his largest release, the eight-track Don’t Piss Me Off EP. It was also announced that he and Cookie Monsta would present the second Circus Records Showcase album “Circus Two”.
FuntCase took the time to answer some of our questions right before the Magnetic Music Festival! Check it out!
When did you decide that you wanted to be a producer and DJ?
My mum has been a DJ ever since I can remember so I used to watch her mix all the time…I learned really fast and managed to mix after just a week of teaching myself, just for fun! As for producing it was by accident really, I used to mess around with the game ‘music’ on the first PlayStation and when I got introduced to reason I flourished from there.
When did you first listen to Dubstep and what is it that first attracted you to that type of music?
I was introduced to Dubstep by a mate of mine who was trying to get me into it saying it was sick. He sent me ‘Purple City’ by Joker, some Nero remix and a Bar 9 track and I thought it was cool but didn’t really feel it. I made that same guy a few Dubstep dubs for his radio show even though I was a DNB producer at the time. They seemed to go down amazingly well, and the tracks were ‘Gorilla Flex’ and ‘Make Our Day’!
Describe your music in 3 words or less.
Grimey, dancefloor, energetic.
What would be your dream gig?
Playing at a massive festival in front of over 100K people amongst a line up of the finest Dubstep and drum n bass artists!
How did you come up with the name FuntCase?
Again, it was an accident kind of…the dubs I made for my mate’s radio show I mentioned earlier, I didn’t want anyone to know it was me in case they started calling me a ‘bandwagoner’ so I sat and made up some names with him just for the Dubstep tracks. I obviously had no clue I would be where I am now and made up a joke name. I still remember pissing myself with laughter seeing my name on a flyer the first time!
How has social media affected your career?
I love it, not only is it a perfect platform to advertise your music and keep people in touch, but it’s linked me with a lot of massive artists I know today. I owe a lot to social media!
What are your career plans and/or goals for 2013?
Just keep doing what I’m doing, dabble in all sorts of music and have fun in what I do. Hopefully maybe even play some massive festivals that I haven’t yet!
Catch FuntCase spinning TOMORROW at Magnetic Music Festival! Grab your tickets before it’s too late!
