In a fascinating twist, three-time World Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden, known for his dominance on the speedway track has now embarked on a thrilling new adventure in the world of electronic music. Inspired by top-tier artists like FISHER and motivated by his natural drive as a professional athlete, Tai is releasing tracks on Armada Music and collaborating with legends like Gabry Ponte.
We caught up with him to explore his fresh perspective on music, balancing life as a DJ, racer, and father, and his plans for the future.
You are best known for your impressive career as a 3x World Speedway Champion, what made you decide to also pursue a career in music?
Well, we have Paul Fisher to thank for that. I went to his festival he did in Australia and his partner Chloe Fisher hooked me up with some backstage passes and I remember thinking he was a pro surfer and look what he’s doing here following his passion for music too.
FISHER inspired me so I locked in and here we are releasing a track on Armada with Gabry Ponte! Life is wild…
What lessons have you carried over from your speedway career into DJing and producing?
I don’t know if there are any lessons, but to be a professional athlete and achieve what I have over the years it takes a certain kind of mindset and drive and I will carry that forward as that the only way I know how to live.
How has the response from the electronic music community been since you began pursuing DJing?
So far so good but were only just getting started!
There’s a famous quote by American basketball legend Shaquile O’Neal that when he’s on stage performing as DJ Diesel, he has the same feeling as a playoff game. Do you also feel that same energy?
I’m not sure yet, because until I play to a 55,000 capacity music crowd, the equivalent of the racing audience at Warsaw Polish Grand Prix, it’s not until then I can truly compare. However, I know one thing, I thrive in them high pressure situations like Diesel did when he was shooting hoops!
How does your background and experience as a professional athlete influence the way you approach music?
Well, like I say I’m good under pressure and I guess the touring aspect of a speedway racer’s life is very aligned with that of a DJ on the road. Just swapping the bikes for decks.
Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to electronic music?
I love watching Will Sparks perform he always brings great energy. Fred again… is a true musical legend and his skills with instruments is super impressive. Then you have James Hype the master of the decks! There are too many amazing people in the scene to list them all.
You released a track with Gabry Ponte, a legend in the Eurodance scene and best known of course for being part of Eiffel 65, did you (like me) grow up listening to that style of music? What was it like collaborating with him?
I grew up listening to everything that my mum would be blasting on the stereo, often Michael Jackson. My youth days were loading up the skits mix CDs with my mate at the weekends and raving all night while his mum was working night. Then, when I was 16, we jumped the fence to go see Pendulum, but my heart is main stage techno.
We sent the track to Gabry’s team and just two days later we got a reply saying that he loved it and wanted to get straight to work on finishing touches. I’m stoked with how it turned out and to have such an enthusiastic reaction from someone of his level is really motivating.
How do you go about balancing being a father, your career in racing and music, vlogging, and creating content on social media?
Ahh yeah some days it can be tricky…
Socials are super easy. It only takes 5 min to post. I do all my own stuff, I put the vlogs on the back burner as we’re not allowed to use any race footage, so it just did not make sense to do a race day vlog with a few clips of racing. For now, racing and producing works super well it’s a nice balance and allows me to switch off from the racing.
The hardest part is being away from my wife and kids but I’m the provider and I want to give them the best life possible. We home school the kids when we’re in UK so we get so much time with them as we can when I’m home and it allows us to jump on a plane and they can all come so I feel we make the best of it. But my wife Faye is the key, she is very understanding about what I do for a living and she is our rock, the heart of the family!
We have already lived ten lifetimes in the last ten years and I can’t wait for the next ones!
Final question, where would you like to see your music career and racing legacy evolve in the years to come?
There is still more that I want to achieve in the sport so I will continue my path and see where we end up. As for the music scene, I’m only just getting started and if it’s anything like my racing career it’s gonna be one hell of a ride!
