The London hard dance scene is littered with upcoming DJ talent but few beam with as much radiant enthusiasm as Janie Mac, resident at Flashbak and regular DJ guest at Tasty events. Since her formative 2001 awakening in Brixton's hard dance underground, the elegant but approachable blonde has doggedly furthered her DJ skills with the helps of deck guardians such as Skol, Brad Lee and Billy Bunter and now stands tall as one of the most exciting DJs on the circuit. Go girl! Even more encouragingly, she remains every bit the irrepressible hard dance clubber she always has been and is regularly found grinning, sweating and cutting shapes with the best of em at her second home the 414. Of course, it is in 414's house-party styled hollows where she first showcased her euphoric NRG charged DJ sound for Bunter, at his intimate Edge shindig two years back. But while she openly proclaims herself a small club girl - highlighting the good times clubber within her - she'll be courting on a bigger stage come April 1st when she plays main room at The Mass for Tasty's talent packed Good Times event. Fresh from rockin' the Mad Hatters House Party for SeOne's Raindance, we caught up with the rising star to chart her impressive ascendancy and track her main inspirations.

With stormin sets at Just Groove, Flashbak and Hidden, your stock within the London hard dance scene has been rising rapidly of late but how did you first get hooked into the hard dance movement and what were you listening to before that? Was it a case of that one tune capturing your imagination or did it take a friend or sibling to show you the light?  

It was actually my dad and brother who showed me the way! I was quite a jungle and hardcore head, but I never really went clubbing. My dad (Fin) and big brother (Rob) dragged me out kicking and screaming and took me to The Mass. I was terrified! Here was me, going out in Brixton! As I walked in, I heard Miss Shiva Dreams and I never really looked back, I absolutely loved it!! I was lucky I had Fin and Rob there with me though; I met some of the strangest people in my life that night, most of them are now my best friends!! 
 
What the main points on your clubbing compass when you first started venturing out? Did you have a regular haunt or were you just out everywhere and anywhere?  

Because I went to The Mass first, that became my favourite club, until I experienced the 414. I couldn't believe it the first time I went in there. It was like someone's house!! I fell in love with the place. I also enjoyed going out to the big clubs though, The Fridge, Brixton Academy, Turnmills, Camden Palace but I'd say, I'm more of a small club kinda girl! 

With competition among upcoming hard dance jocks fiercer than ever, what first inspired you to try your hand at mixing yourself and did you always hold aspirations to play on the big stage? 

I didn't go into DJ'ing to become famous or anything, I just wanted to try my hand at it. I love hard dance music, and wanted to give myself a challenge. It took me ages to learn, but I had a wicked teacher, Brad-Lee. My only aspiration as far as DJ'ing was concerned was to play in the 414! Billy Bunter gave me that chance about 2 years ago, to play at The Edge. I loved it!! I would love to play main stage at Brixton Academy though, don't get me wrong, although the nerves would probably kill me.  
 
Who were your main DJ influences during your formative mixing days? Were there any DJs that you would always make sure you caught no matter what?  

I'm an old skool girl, so I always made sure I went to see Skol, Craig Mac and Roosta. I loved the tunes they played and how cool they made DJ'ing look! Once I heard Steve Blake play too, I became a bit of a fan. My mate Brad-Lee was also a massive inspiration to me, he played hard style and hardcore, but he's an absolutely amazing DJ. I had always followed Billy Bunter, from his old jungle days so he was like a real celebrity to me (although having now met and worked for him for 4 years, he's a real pussycat) so I made a point of catching his sets. 

What was your first main booking and did you suffer from a severe case of the nerves (i.e. were you bricking yourself!)? 

My first booking was The Edge at 414. Nervous? Me? Urmmmm.. I think I threw up about 4 times. I was on the line up with Anthony Atcherley, Roosta and Billy Bunter. I nearly fainted when I saw my name on the flyer! I thought I had hit the big time! I had been following these DJ's for years and now I was playing along side them!!! 
 
What has been the strangest DJ experience you've had since you started playing out? 

I think it has to be my set at Raindance last week actually! I played first, so assumed I'd play to a half empty room, but it was packed at 10 o'clock!! I had a trancey warm up set all prepared, but the crowd were so up for it, I had to pick up the pace a bit! It was crazy!! Good fun though, seeing so many people wanting to party so early on. Them Raindance lot are bonkers! 

Since you've started playing out, your name has been closely linked with Brixton's hard dance underground and parties like Flashbak, Just Groove and Pulse. Do you think there is a different vibe at Brixton parties compared to those in other areas of London? What is it about the area that makes it such a special region for London's true hard dance troopers?  

Brixton is the capital of the universe as far as I'm concerned. It's where it's at! I don't know why these people flock to Brixton in their hundreds but they do! I think there is a real underground feel at Brixton parties and it just can't be matched. It's the idea of partying in a converted church like The Mass or walking round at 4am and everything in Brixton is still buzzing - where else can you get that? 
 
You site the unfashionable Club 414 as one of your favourite venues. While some disregard it as a dingy hole, what is it that sets it apart as such a friendly and fun venue? 

414 is my second home. I feel completely safe when I'm there. No where else could I walk into somewhere on my own and guarantee to bump into a friendly face. The staff are amazing, I adore Cybil and Louise they're such an institution! I love playing in there too. No other club that I've played at paps like it does in the 414! 
 
Which other London venues would you be most keen to play? 

I'd love to play main room of the Fridge (hint, hint) ha ha ha

 
At the Heat Christmas party you had the pleasure of playing a memorable main room set with Tasty's main man Billy Bunter but when was the first time that you crossed paths with Big Bill and what were your first impressions? 

Ha ha ha Big Bill! Wicked! My first impressions? I was a bit star struck to be honest, until I really got to know him that is! He was someone I had heard on the radio, had seen his name everywhere, so when I met him he was like a celeb! In reality though, he's been really supportive of me and backed me 100%, become a good mate. I've worked for Tasty now for four years and he's a reasonable boss. Although a pay rise wouldn't go amiss Bunter! 
 
Whose initial idea was the back to back set and were you at all daunted by going head on with the rave legend of 15 years? How did the set go? 

He asked to play back to back with me!! What an honour! Ha ha ha It was the best set of my life. The system in Turnmills is amazing even though I couldn't see over the decks to see how many people were dancing! Bunter made me stand on his record box whilst I was mixing to get the reaction of the crowd!! 
 
Recently, you played SeOne's nocturnal rave haven Raindance in the Mad Hatters Hard House party. Is there an old skool raver within you and did you throw some shapes to some rave classics once you were done and dusted on the ones and twos? 

I love old skool music! Lots and lots!! I was in heaven with the massive old skool room they had. I was throwing a few shapes on the dance floor much to the disgust of my mates who were like Janie, calm it!! I just can't help it though, old skool music rocks. I'd love to be able to mix old skool, if anyone wants to volunteer their services!!?? 
 
Do you play any others styles beyond hard dance and what is on the Janie Mac home stereo at the moment? 

I can mix trance and have loads of cheesy old trancey tunes at home which get dusted off once every so often. I'd love to be able to mix old skool and old style hardcore and jungle. When I'm at home I listen to all sorts of stuff, I just recently moved house and found an old Speed Garage CD which I've played to death! KC and JoJo - Show Me Happiness - Tune! 
 
At Tasty's Love Muzik, you'll be playing in the hard dance room alongside Kutski and Billy Bunter. What can we expect from your set and what three tunes are you sure will be in your box come the 17th March? 

I always try and drop Heavens Cry, Til Tears Do Us Part into my big sets cos it's a guaranteed winner, plus it's my favourite Hard dance tune! It always gets the dance floor jumping around. I've also borrowed (stolen really) a white label of Love Shy which is wicked. I borrowed it and plan to give it back after my set at Tasty (yeah, RIGHT!) and a few more little beauties I have tucked up my sleeve.

Finally, what are your main ambitions for the remainder of 2006 and will we see Janie Mac venturing into the studio any time soon?  

I'd love to write a tune! If I was going to do that, it'd have to be with Mr Bunter or Roosta, they're the best at it in my opinion. As for 2006, well, I hope to enjoy playing as much as I did in 2005. I don't plan to take the hard dance by storm or anything. This IS my year though watch this space.