Where did you begin your clubbing days? Were you already DJing when you started going out to parties or did this come later?
My sister Steph was my biggest influence when I was younger. Although she never DJed herself she had a massive up-to-date vinyl collection and decks which I regularly used to go and hijack when I was around 12 or 13.
I started going clubbing at about 15, the only Djing in front of a crowd I had done at that age was for school discos and friends parties - everything from Whigfield's Saturday Night to Chumbawamba's Tubthumping mixed on some really cheap CD decks and a bottle of 20/20!
Did your parents help with your musical formation at all or was it more a case of self-discovery?
I come from quite a musical family. They always supported me in whatever I wanted to do as long as I was enjoying doing it. My dad used to DJ when he was younger as well (with much more hair than he now does) so I think he understood why it was something I loved and wanted to do.
Speaking of which, have your parents ever been to see you DJ?
Actually they have! It was earlier on this year when I was playing at Peach Goes Hard at the Scala b2b with Seany Sean. I had mentioned to them on the phone that they should come and see me play when I had a main room set at a parent friendly set time. I was only being half serious but they seemed really up for it so they drove down to London for the weekend and I brought them along with me!
I really wanted them to get some glow sticks and some laughing gas and loose it one the dance floor but they were quite happy sitting up in the VIP area with their Gin and Tonics watching me from afar! (see photo!) Was a very strange experience but I'm glad they got the chance to see me do the thing I love to do most - I think they were proud
You work for Truelove, an organization that is steeped in Hard House history. Could you tell us about the company and where it stands today?
Of course!
We look after absolutely loads of different labels including ones like Hydraulix, Cluster, Stay Up Forever to only name a few as well as selling new tracks and releases through our online store (PLUG www.truelove.co.uk :thumb:). It soo much fun being able to have a nine to five job in the music industry! I'm very lucky and happy!
The main thing we are concentrating on at the moment are MP3 and digital formats as it seems to be an ever more popular format for DJs and clubbers alike.
A lot of my time is spent getting the masters of new and back releases, converting them to MP3 format, tagging them, uploading them, and adding them to our extremely massive online catalogue! It's a very long task but rewarding as our MP3 catalogue is HUGE now!
We recently saw the launch of your own night Divine at Deep Blue in London. How did the party go? Are you planning on putting on any more events?
The party was loads of fun and a great night for me! I had done No Limits in the past but this was my first solo project so it was very scary! I was planning on doing a load more parties but that was before I started full time work. Unfortunately I never seem to have the time to fit it in anymore along with work and DJing. It is something I want to do again though but it won't be until I have more time on my hands to give it all I've got - but watch this space!!
I'm very passionate about promoting and wouldn't want to do it half-heartedly!
August 13th sees you playing back-to-back with a certain Dirty Bitch at Frantic's 8th Birthday at Koko. What do you know about this feisty femme?
Well I actually met her in the back of Lucy Fur's car when I managed to hitch a ride with them up to the WiLDCHiLD event in Milton Keynes. She's a really wicked person and a super DJ! I've seen her play loads of times at Afterlife and other places and can't wait to get behind the decks with her!
What kind of stuff will the two of you be dishing out?
I think you can expect lots of pure Frantic classics from the past 8 years, some brand new cheeky booties and mash-ups especially made for this event, loads of tracks to have a good stomp to and the both of us having a stupid amount of fun and frolics behind the decks!!
When did you go to your first Frantic event? What did you think at the time?
The first Frantic I ever went to was at the Shepards Bush Empire. I can remember thinking how much Frantic's clubbers really knew how to party. They would fill the venue from the second the doors opened and party hard until the music finally stopped at six!
The set that stands out from that night has to be Steve Hill (who I'm a massive fan of!). The crowd absolutely loved it and he is the ultimate party animal! I'm really looking forward to hearing him play at the 8th Birthday too.
Since that night there haven't been many Frantic parties that I've missed!
Which CD is currently getting heavy rotation round your gaff?
Hmmm, This is the question where I should say something to make me sound street and not at all cheesy but I have to admit I've just bought Clubland 7. I have a reason for buying it though and that's because I've just come back from holiday and a lot of the tracks remind me of it other than that it would have to be The Tidy Boys live at the Tidy Weekender 2 I know it's really old now but I think It's one of the finest sets of all time and gives me inspiration for my own sets!
Are you a fan of afterparties? What is your ideal post-club set up?
I usually find myself at Twist most Sunday mornings and was a massive Milk fan and regular back in its day. (Big up to the Milk massive!)
For me the most important thing at afterparties is the chill out area! If your energy is starting to lag after a long night out it's important to have somewhere cool to relax. Also it's nice when they have more than one room. It's good to have a few different musical styles going on so you have the choice. By seven in the morning I know I usually want to listen to something different then what I've been listening too for the past 8 hours.
Oooo, and a shower facility would be neat!
And finally, why should we come and see you play at Frantic's 8th Birthday? Convince us!
Not a problem!! There are loads of reasons why we should not be missed!
We both have a stupid amount of energy and it'll all be going into this one hour set!! It will be filled with lots of banging Frantic classics to remind you what makes Frantic the hard house event that it is today and finally I've just finished a new CD that I'll be giving out only during our set. (12 - 1am) If you want one you'll have to be about then!
Also it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
