Interview – Rob da Bank

Sara Whatley spoke to Rob da Bank, a superstar DJ, radio presenter, festival creator and wellness advocate, who is a self-confessed nature boy – with a love of daily sea swimming

From running club nights, DJing around the world, hosting new and experimental music shows on both BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, and founding one of the most popular and enduring festivals on the scene, to teaching meditation and being part of the wellness scene, Rob da Bank isa busy man. “Busier than ever!” he laughed when he kindly took some time to have a chat with me recently from his home on the Isle of Wight.

For the past 12 years, Robby has lived on the Island permanently with his wife Josie and children – before this, they lived here part-time when they first started Bestival 22 years ago. “We’ve got four boys – once we got to number three in London, we felt it was getting a bit small for us, we needed more space!”

With his long hair, chunky silver rings and thick Perspex glasses, Robby cuts quite an eclectic figure, yet comes across as a reserved, very grounded chap who believes he has been very fortunate in his career. “I never set out to be a DJ – known or unknown, it all happened by luck,” he said. Even so, to have good luck you must still show up for it.

“Turning up, being there on time, not letting people down is probably the most important thing I ever did,” said Robby. “Whilst I was turning up there were a hundred people who were not doing that and falling by the wayside. It wasn’t even an effort for me – my dad was always getting me up early on the weekend to move the garage two inches to the right or dig up that tree. Turning up has been so crucial in my career,” Robby insisted.

Let’s rewind. Robert John Gorham was born in Portsmouth in the 1970s.

He spent his childhood riding around with his mates on BMXs, but also nurturing his interest in music. “My dad made us join his brass band when we were kids. None ofus really enjoyed it at the beginning, but it taught me life skills. I learnt how to read music and play in a band with other people, and I also did quite a lot of travelling with it.”

From there it was anatural progression forRobby into the music scene– through listening to John Peelon the radio (whose radio show he would later cover after Peel’s death in 2004), buying his first vinyl, getting his first set of decks, and a bass guitar. The late 80s and early 90s saw the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays from Manchester, bringing the ‘Madchester’ scene, fusing indie rock, dance, funk and rave culture. The look was all flares and smiley

t-shirts. “I was still in the brass band at that time, but I was fine with that – it wasn’t the coolest thing, but I enjoyed playing music. I haven’t really continued, though. I went into DJing and raving, but I’m always pleased I’ve got that background,” said Robby.

DJing grew to putting on hisown club nights, which in turn led to presenting various radio shows. First came The Blue Room on BBC Radio1 with Chris Coco in 2002, focusing on chillout, dub and indie. In 2005, Rob da Bank started hosting his own weekly Friday night/Saturday morning (5-7 am) show which was popular for its left-field electronica – perfect for clubbers returning home or putting a spark into early morning listeners. Robby stayed with BBC Radio 1 until 2014 when he switched to sister station 6 Music and did a series of DJ spots for the 6 Mix. By this time, he also had his own record label and business venture, Sunday Best.

Like many creative things in life, the idea for starting their festival, Bestival, came out of a drunken evening for Robby and his wife, Josie. “We were already running clubs and club nights, being part of weekenders and other people’s festivals, so it wasn’t completely a leap into the dark,” he said. “But I don’t know how we put it together to be honest... We found the venue – Robin Hill on the Isle of Wight – we didn’t have any mentors – we just pieced it together ourselves – and the first two or three years were total carnage. We were flying by the seat of our pants!” Again, they had luck on their side; in 2004 when the festival started the market was not yet saturated. “There weren’t that many festivals to compare it too – so no one knew if we were doing it right or wrong! It was a baptism of fire, but we were learning the most amazing lessons along the way,” said Robby.

At its peak in around 2013 (the year I happened to go to with my then boyfriend – now husband), Robby estimated there was probably around 60 thousand people there. “I remember standing on the stage just before Elton came on to a sea of people reaching as far as you could see. I was totally blown away.” Then he got a call to say Elton wanted to meet him backstage, and there he was, sitting in his posh portacabin with a shiny black tracksuit on, making tea and biscuits and chatting about new music. “It was incredible; things happened at Bestival that I will never be able to recreate anywhere else. Magical times,” smiled Robby.

Bestival ran successfully until 2018, but its sister festival, Camp Bestival (founded in 2008) is still going strong and is lauded as one of the most successful family festivals around. The theme for their 18-year anniversaryis ‘At The Seaside’ and at the time of going to press, they have Fatboy Slim & Friends headlining on the Sunday. “We started Bestival in 2004 and started having kids in 2006, so in 2008 we launched Camp Bestival when our eldest was two. Bestival was going really well, and we thought, why isn’t there a family version of this? We saw a gap in the market. It’s been easier to run and more successful to be honest, there's always going to be more families coming round the corner,” said Robby.

With four boys, Robby and Josie have their very own band of happy helpers. The children have grown up being part of the festival, and as Rob told me, they all lend a hand. “One of them runs a sweet shop, two of them work with the art and design crew, and the little one thinks he’s a security guard!”

Work ethic, life skills, and lessons learned outside of the usual parameters are obviously important to Robby and his family – “I’ve got this slightly middle-aged thing with my kids where I say, ‘You don’t have to be Einstein at school, but I want you to learn a language and play an instrument’,” he said.

This enthusiasm has ledRobby to start the Rob da Bank Music Club, a creative space for youth to get together and playmusic. It first started in 2013and has just reopened followinga hiatus, and is now a monthly thing.

“It’s been a brilliant project,” he said. “I want to enthuse youth with music!” When they turn up, people can expect a warm and welcoming environment, noisy and busy with

different stations such as vocals, drums, guitar, DJing, and stage management. There are different tutors and special guests such as Nick ‘Chicane’, Mark King from Level 42 and his daughter Marlee King. “I hope the word spreads that it’s a friendly, super-chilled place, people can come and just sit in the corner and watch,” said Robby. People with no previous music experience are welcome, as are those who want to learn something new. “It normally ends up in a jam, which is always fun,” he smiled.

Robby knows how challenging it can be. There is not always music at school or affordable lessons, and music can have a reputation of not being ‘sexy’. “My dream with this is to rollit out as a national thing. The amount of youth clubs that have closed down is crazy, and the opportunity to play music is diminishing. I would love to reach that vision of having music clubs all over the country. Even if two kids turn up and get something out of it, it’s worth doing,” enthused Robby.

As well as music and festivals, Robby and Josie da Bank are also part of the wellness movement. Josie teaches yoga, and Robby is a meditation teacher – “I practice twice a day. It’s not for financial gain, it’s something I love sharing and teaching people, and it’s so needed at the moment, now more than ever,” he said.

About three years ago, the couple jumped on the sauna trend, just as the UK industry and interest in saunas was booming. They launched Slomo, where they offer a mixture of complementary therapies such as yoga, meditation, cold water plunging, and breathwork. “A bit like everything we do – we’re givingjoy and escapism to people, offering the chance to do something different from their daily lives,” said Robby. “Whether it’s the festivals or radio shows, DJing, saunas – it’s all got the same purpose – to put a smile on people’s faces.”