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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! |
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Trevor Rockcliffe — Proactive — HeatUK & The Gallery NYE — 'nuff said?
Reported by e99
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Submitted 13-12-06 22:19
From travel agent to technoist, Trevor Rockcliffe’s story stretches way back into the origins of the British techno scene. Not long after he started playing at his hobby of DJing, his new found love of techno saw him bag a residency at Troll at The Soundshaft. Later residencies for legendary clubs like Trade and Ultimate Base saw his reputation grow far and wide, and particularly with Trade, forge himself a name with lovers of hard house. It’s this connection in part which sees him playing in Proactive’s Foyer at HeatUK & The Gallery’s massive NYE party at Brixton Academy, with a whole host of other techno, hard dance, house, electro, breaks and psy trance DJs.
It seems to me that techno has really started grabbing people’s attention in London again in 2006, so I was keen to hear Trevor’s thoughts on where techno is at, and also — where he’s at. We caught a few minutes with this legendary purveyor of meaty techno tackle to get inside his head. If it’s funked-up, groovy, tribal-tinged techno you’re after, you’d be hard pressed to do better than Sir Rockcliffe.
I was told that you started off DJing soul, funk, rare groove and so on. When techno came along, did you feel that it had much in common with your former musical loves or was it just something totally new and different in terms of feeling?
When I started DJing it was actually playing acid house music, which later progressed into techno...
How and when did you get your first big break DJing? Was it hard graft for you or more right place, right time?
My first big break came at Heaven, London, after DJing for about a year in a small club. A tape was given to the promoter and it went from there really. It was most definitely a case of being in the right place at the right time.
It feels like techno has had a bit of a resurgence in London in the past couple of years. Not to say it ever went away but it seems to be growing in popularity all the time. Would you agree with this? Why do you think it’s happening?
Well I don’t know about a resurgence, as I mainly play in Europe and feel that the scene for techno in London and the UK in general is still very small. There are still only a handful of clubs putting on techno nights, which is very slowly growing but still has a long way to go I think.
Which are the best techno events in London in your opinion?
Well Fabric is still very popular, Lost which is about every 3 months and so is Ben Sims night, Split. I’m hoping to start a night in 2007 to stoke things up.
Techno is massive globally, particularly in South America and Europe. Why do you think it has such mass appeal? It’s not quite as “accessible” as house or trance for instance...
In my opinion techno is much bigger abroad than it is in the UK, mainly because there aren’t much clubs here that let the clubbers hear it and I feel that most punters get the impression that techno is hard head banging music. They don’t understand that it has different styles.
Which producers have really delivered the goods for you this year?
For me it would have to be Marko Nastic, Carl Falk, Mark Antoni and Hertz.
What do you make of the whole minimal craze of the last few years?
I think it has taken techno music back about 10 years instead of there being progression. My belief is that the minimal music back in the day was far better than that of today.
You’ll be playing for Proactive at HeatUK & The Gallery’s massive NYE party at Brixton Academy in a their room which has got everything from breaks to electro to hard dance to techno obviously. Do you think more parties should take such a broad-minded musical policy?
Yes indeed, that’s what it was like in the early days. It was brilliant man! All genres coming together, educating folk. That’s why the older generation is more open-minded.
Your erstwhile production partner Christian Smith is also playing. How would you say your styles differ?
I think Christian and my style is very similar. We both play the best of the best; you know what I’m saying?
You must have played at some pretty crazy NYE parties in your time. Which really stand out in your mind as something really special?
I would say Trade. I’ve played some excellent NYE parties there, when it was the good old days of Trade. It was gay/ straight with loads of outrageous people going crazy. It was sick up in the place dogg!
What kind of vibes/sounds are going into your productions at the moment?
I’m just keeping it real in the studio. I’m not going down the minimal road. My sound has to have pure funk going on, with some house under tones.
Where do you stand on the whole vinyl thing? Now that Intec have decided to stop pressing it a lot more people seem to be taking notice...
Yeah, it had to happen really. There’s so many DJs playing CDs now and 70% of promos that I receive are download links or CDR. I feel that the punters prefer to see the DJ working the turntables; CDs take the fun out of DJing. I wouldn’t give up on vinyl just yet!
[b]What do you feel needs to change in the dance music/clubbing world? Or do you think things are pretty cool as they are?[/n]
The promoters need to be broadminded and try out other styles instead of just sticking to what they feel is the “fashion.”
Photos courtesy of Utopia DJs. Not to be reproduced without permission.
HeatUK & Gallery NYE - Fifth Anniversary
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On:
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Sunday 31st December 2006
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At:
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Brixton Academy [map]
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From:
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21:30 - 06:00
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Cost:
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Early Bird Tickets: £20 +BF (limited amount)
Saver Tickets: £25 +BF
Standard Tickets: £30 +BF
Advance: £40 +BF
M.O.T.D.
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Website:
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www.heatuk.com
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Ticket Info:
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Online Tickets:
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600100
www.viewtickets.co.uk
www.toomuchbutneverenough.com
Ticket Outlets:
Cyberdog (020 7482 2842)
Trax (020 7734 079)
Joint Tickets for HEATNYE & HEATNYD (£30 + BF) – Club Tickets 08702 462050
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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One of London’s most established and spectacular New Year’s Eve parties brings you the mother of all NYE sessions on SUNDAY 31ST DECEMBER, as HEATUK and THE GALLERY join forces to present HEATNYE: THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY at the CARLING BRIXTON ACADEMY. As London’s premier live music venue, The Academy has a long tradition for showcasing the biggest bands on the planet. Running parallel to that success over the past 5 years has been HEATNYE – the only club promoters in the capital capable of pulling off a sell-out show for 4,500 PEOPLE at one of the world’s most prestigious venues. Split over 4 ARENAS and featuring up to 30 DJS, HEATNYE offers you everything you could ever wish for from a New Year’s Eve party, but without that let down feeling come kick out time. The MIDNIGHT COUNTDOWN (featuring a mind-blowing pyrotechnic display) is worth the entrance fee alone and that’s without mentioning any of this year’s headline guests. Ok, so here goes…
At the top of the stack is ABOVE & BEYOND - undoubtedly the world’s most exciting new trance DJ/Producers of the past 5 years and the UK’s answer to the Dutch big guns like Armin, Ferry and Tiesto. Their genre-defining productions (mostly released on their own ANJUNABEATS label) have become an essential tool for the globe's leading DJs and in the process have set the benchmark for the new generation of dance music producers. This incredible threesome have just smashed their way into the NO.9 spot at this year’s DJ MAG’S TOP 100 POLL and they’re still on the trajectory, so who knows how far they can go… In 2004, they scooped Radio 1’s ‘ESSENTIAL MIX OF THE YEAR’ and since then have enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top, culminating in six nominations at last year's International Dance Music Awards in Miami. Earlier this year Above & Beyond released their debut artist album, ‘TRI-STATE’, to critical acclaim and having made a number of exclusive London appearances at The Gallery here in London town, the boys up the ante with this extra special NYE slot. Joining them will be The Gallery’s superstar resident, the one and only TALL PAUL. After another hectic year of touring and production, the big fella remains at the very top of his game and having missed out on playing at last year’s event (having blown the roof off the Academy in 2004), he can’t wait to be back. Neither can we. Fellow Gallery resident and host of The Gallery Radio Show (MOS Radio) GAVYN MYTCHEL also figures, as do dance music heavyweights ROB TISSERA (Kissdafunk) and the much-loved Dutchman, M.I.K.E – who’ll be dropping an exclusive PUSH CLASSICS SET featuring every single one of his global smash hit tunes including ‘UNIVERSAL NATION’, ‘STRANGE WORLD’ and ‘THE LEGACY’. HEATUK also welcome their own beloved residents to the mix, with IAN BETTS at the controls for the all important Midnight rush and MARC FRENCH firing up the floor later on, plus support comes from rising star AARON BASKERVILLE.
Elsewhere in the Academy, more mischief can be found with the 3 other rooms blasting out the good time NYE beats. First up is the FOYER; hosted by one of the London’s hottest new promoters of 2006 – PARTY PROACTIVE. Housed every quarter at Turnmills, Party Proactive have broken through the ranks, combining an unparalleled atmosphere with hugely credible line-ups across the hard dance, electro, breaks and house scenes. For this NYE collaboration Party Proactive have gone for the jugular with techno pioneer CHRISTIAN SMITH (Smith & Sellway) jetting in to join the hard-edged loving NICK SENTIENCE, PETE WARDMAN and old skool fave TREVOR ROCKCLIFFE. Party Proactive regulars THE *TING*, JACOB MOSS and STEELO also get fully involved. The BALCONY BAR will this year be hosted by house merchants AFFINITY & STEREOLOJIK, with the jackin’, tribal sounds of NEVER ENOUGH & FUNDAMENTAL entertaining the VIP BAR.
HEATNYE is of course brought to you by the people behind London’s most successful summer dance weekender – SOUTH WEST FOUR and GET LOADED IN THE PARK, as part of the METRO WEEKENDER. This August Bank Holiday witnessed a sell-out crowd of 40,000 arriving on CLAPHAM COMMON for the 3rd year in a row, with a further 20,000 people attending the first ever METRO WEEKENDER IN CARDIFF which also sold out in record time. In addition, HEATUK host some of the craziest parties in town – including their recent 5th Birthday bonanza at Koko, whilst THE GALLERY continue to bring London the finest house/trance/techno DJs every Friday night at TURNMILLS. Voted ‘BEST LONDON CLUB’ for the past 2 years, The Gallery remains the only night down south where you’ll catch the likes of Paul Van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold and Armin Van Buuren in action and with their 12th Birthday on the horizon the club remains as youthful and influential as its always been.
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Other Features By e99:
Fergilcious: PunchFunk & Excentrik take over The Key
Baklash take over the IceBox at HeatUK Aftermath '07
Goodgreef take on Frantic at NYE-NEC
HeatUK Evolution: Natural Selection — a look at dance music’s gone-but-not-forgottens
Tasty’s 5th Birthday and the battle of the brands
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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