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Features
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Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! | Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! |
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WiLDCHiLD Mayhem in Milton Keynes preview with Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell & Charlie @ Serious Artist Management
Reported by Chloe Leeks
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Submitted 08-04-05 09:35
Serious Artist Management was brought to us seven years ago when Sam (Judge Jules’ brother) and old school friends Simon Belofsky, Dan De Sausmarez and Charles Harris united to book out artists such as Judge Jules and Sonique. Serious went from strength to strength, holding regular residencies at large UK clubs and running tours all over the country. A record label was also born and appearances were made at major dance events.
Serious as we know it today is made up of five inter-related companies - Serious Artist Management, Serious Promotions, Serious Records (recently merged with Universal), Serious Worldwide Publishing and Serious Studio.
We caught up with some of the biggest artists on the Serious Artist Management books to see how they were preparing for Mayhem in Milton Keynes (MIMK) on 9th April.
Judge Jules:
A Radio 1 DJ who started out holding his own parties in the late 80s, Jules got his break at dance label Manifesto at Mercury Records and took a degree in law. Judge Jules is not an unknown in clubland, in retrospect, he is king. He has brought us Judgement Sundays and banging tunes to get ready to on a Saturday night. We met up with the 6ft 2ins DJ to see what he had to say about himself, his music and most of all, what exactly are we to expect from him at MIMK where Wildchild and Serious go head to head in Arena 1.
Eddie Halliwell
The 25yr old Scratch artist has been shaking up dance floors all around the world since he was voted Mixmag DJ of the Year 2003. We caught up with him briefly to see how he is preparing for MIMK.
And finally we caught up with Charlie - Director of Serious Artist Management who looks after Jules and Eddie, to see what he thought about Serious coming up against WiLDCHiLD for one night of mayhem.
Here's what they had to say...
Judge Jules
CL: So Jules, you’ve just returned from a tour around Asia, got a fab tan and banged out the tunes to the masses in Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Tokyo. How did the crowd receive you?
JJ: At the risk of sounding like an airhead Miss World contestant, dance music's an international language, and good tunes get equally well-received wherever you go. There are still a handful of places I've yet to visit, but just about every one of the 50+ countries I've played at has a strong club culture and people who really appreciate their tunes.
CL: You were back at this year's WMC in Miami, who do you think stole the show at this year’s festival of fun?
JJ: The notion that one track or DJ defeats all others at the WMC is a fallacy created by journalists. There are well over 100 different parties during a five day period, and probably more than 1000 DJs performing, covering every different genre of dance, so it would be impossible to attend even a fraction of them. The two events I played were certainly exceptionally good, and most importantly there were lots of old close friends to hang out with.
CL: What do you have in store for us at MIMK?
JJ: It's hard to talk specifically about a set, as it's all about turning up and performing to the best of your ability. I think one of my defining characteristics is being a showman... Dancing, gesticulating, motioning to the crowd etc, so that's sure to be a feature, although clearly playing the right tunes is what's fundamentally important.
CL: There are so many collaborations coming together all for one night of mayhem. Serious a brand that is close to you, Wildchild a fast rising event, Slinky and many more, it’s truly a treat. Do you expect that we will be seeing more and more of these collaborations in clubland?
JJ: On the same night I'm playing a Godskitchen and Goodgreef collaboration in Manchester, so I guess that proves it.
CL: Last September we sadly saw many closures on the white isles, including Bora Bora, Space Bar and other beach bars. What are you thoughts on this and what do you think we can expect this summer?
JJ: If Bora Bora and outdoor clubbing venues don't return to Ibiza the island will be missing a hugely important part of its culture. I hope they manage to return. Either way, our Judgement Sundays night will be back in the summer. It's long been by far the busiest night in the history of San Antonio, and most importantly, the atmosphere is incredible.
CL: What are your plans for the rest of 2005?
JJ: Ibiza, developing my men’s clothing label Strange Love, the re-opening of our Ibiza restaurant and Bar Kasbah, outdoor festivals and the release of my solo album, most of which is now completed.
CL: Your vinyl collection must be endless, where the hell do you store it all?
JJ: At my studio in a very disorganised fashion...
CL: What are your three top tracks of all time and why?
JJ: Massive Attack – ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ - Incredible production, beautiful lush mood, and the best music video ever produced.
Brainbug – ‘Nightmare’ - So much tension it's as if war has been declared on the dancefloor.
DJ Misjah & DJ Tim – ‘Access’ - Pure punk.
Eddie Halliwell
CL: What’s been your highlight of 2005 so far?
EH: Getting the show with Radio 1. It’s called ‘The Residency’, and kicks in on May 1st on Sundays from 3-5am. I start with Nic Fanciulli, and there’s the Trophy Twins, Kutski, Jon O’Bir and Chrissy Criss. They’re rotating residents, over all the genres of dance music. I can’t wait.
CL: Eddie, you have recently been voted 25th in the top 100 DJ Mag poll. How does that make you feel?
EH: It’s amazing to be part of it. It’s such an honour to be amongst DJs you’ve followed for years as a clubber. It’s pretty unbelievable.
CL: You are working with Pioneer to develop the next generation of DJ technology, is the future looking exciting?
EH: Definitely. We’ve got the 909 Tour coming up. It’s a new scratch mixer. We’re doing mixes with two back to back, and four CDJs, two off each mixer. We’re trying to bring it into clubs, as there’s the industry standard of the Allen & Heaths and the (Pioneer) DJM600s, so we want to challenge that. For me, new equipment and technology is a buzz. Being creative, and bringing the DJ and producer together, it’s only a good thing. I’m more of a DJ, but the technology lets you mix the two up.
CL: You have released BOSH cover CDs for Mixmag and are now evolving BOSH Live! with a tour around the UK. How did this come about and what other BOSH events should we look out for?
EH: It’s finished now. Not a tour as such, but a few exclusive events. There was such demand for the CDs that Mixmag got extra copies made! Ben and Barry from Goodgreef put it together. They said “you should do some events to give it out”, and that’s how it came together. It’s good to play in the club, rather than listening to the CD, but I did find it a bit difficult at times, as you’re playing the same set and not coming up with something spontaneously. But it was really cool. I’d love to do more of that.
CL: What are you most looking forward to at MIMK? Will you be sticking around to check out any other sets?
EH: It’ll be my first time playing for WiLDCHiLD, and it’s been a long time coming. Reece has been giving me some jip, trying to get me down for a while, but it’s not come about until now. But I can’t wait. It’s going to be great. Sadly, I can’t stick around as I’m off straight after my set to play at the MEN Arena for Goodgreef. It’s going to be a busy night!
Charlie
CL: Charlie, you run Serious Artist Management. How did you get to where you are now, can you give advice to any other budding Artist Managers out there?
C: It’s a long story I’m afraid. Judge Jules’ younger brother, Sam, is one of my best mates and we always swore that we’d run a business together whilst skiving off school!! I first started by driving Jules to his gigs whilst selling Serious tour nights into venues during the day. This was a great start as I got to know virtually all the promoters in the UK, personally in a very short space of time. This is my main piece of advice to any would be artist managers… get to know the people you deal with on a personal level. Problems are much easier to overcome if you are dealing with people whom you know and understand and who know and understand you!!
CL: What do you look for in an artist?
C: Talent, professionalism, style of performance (I think it’s important that DJs act a little crazy behind the decks and interact with the crowd) and image. It is also vital that I have a good personal relationship with the artists I represent!!
CL: Where do you see Serious going in the future, what are your hopes/aspirations for the brand?
C: As an artist agency, I primarily want to develop our existing talent. We have taken on some new DJs recently, including Johan Gielen, Reilley and Durrant, Oliver Lang and Matt Casselli and want to concentrate on furthering their careers along with our existing DJs. All of the artists we represent fit in with the criteria outlined above.
In terms of our promotions, we have a really big event coming up at Canvas on the 1st May this year. 5 rooms, 25+ DJs, the whole shebang!! We’re also doing a weekly Dusted party at Eden in Ibiza every Friday over the summer. In addition we have our clothing label, Dusted clothing to concentrate on, so we’re keeping ourselves busy!!
CL: What other collaborations has Serious been involved in and do you see more involvement with other brands in the future?
C: We have done a fair few collaborations over the years, including an arena tour with Slinky, two 35 date club tours with Golden in the late nineties, and the main trance arena at Creamfields in 2002.
We’re very excited to be working with WiLDCHiLD in particular, as it’s great working alongside one of London’s best promoters… something we’ve been working towards for ages!!
CL: Are you a connoisseur when it comes to DJing or do you leave your artists to the mixing?
C: The answer to both parts of the question is yes! As with a connoisseur of fine wines, I know a good bottle of Puligny-Montrachet when I taste it but I haven’t got a clue how to make the stuff!! Same rules apply to DJs and DJing. I have to admit that I do play out very occasionally, but my style is based more on playing blinding tunes than being able to seamlessly mix them together… doh!!
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Other Features By Chloe Leeks: WiLDCHiLD Mayhem in Milton Keynes Preview with Little Gem and Lucy Fur
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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