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Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance!
Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’!
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Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works.
Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain!
Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September!
NEM3SI$ - 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
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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!
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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!

Happy Birthday Feersum: Part Two

Reported by Craig Paxton / Submitted 06-10-09 08:09

Continuing our two part special celebrating Feersum’s 10th birthday, this time round Craig Paxton puts Ian Betts under the spotlight. Get ready to help blow out the candles.



Some people would say that you started your career in the trance room at Feersum. Tell us about some of your earliest memories of playing at Crash?

I always remember the back room at Crash being a great place to play. It's one of those rooms where the DJ is right in amongst it all, so you can really feed off the crowd's energy - a proper sweatbox! One of my abiding memories of the Feersum crowd is just how much energy they had - they were a really vocal lot who were mad keen on their trance and kept bouncing right through to the end of the night! I met a lot of people at Feersum whom I now regard as some of my closest friends - it felt like you knew everyone who went and you could get lost for hours chatting to people on a simple mission to the bar!

Your priorities have obviously changed as a result of being a happy, family man. How do you still find the time for your music and do you still get the same buzz from it when you play?

The sad truth is that I struggle to find the time for DJing these days (although I have been able to devote time to my production work) - it means I get so much more of a buzz when I do play! I've probably played no more than half a dozen gigs this year, but I've made the most of every single one. If I'm being honest there are lots of aspects about DJing that I don't miss, but I haven't lost any of my passion for the music itself or for the crack of having a big night out!!



From Amnesia in Ibiza to Dance Valley and Main Stage Brixton Academy, you have had some truly amazing highlights during your career. How have you got to where you are now and what advice would you give to anyone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

I've been very lucky in having one or two key individuals who believed in me and were prepared to promote me to some of the big players, although I'd like to think that this wasn't based on blind faith! It's becoming harder and harder for DJs to make a name for themselves - it takes patience, effort, passion, networking, persistence, marketing and not forgetting talent! The best advice I can give to listen to advice but trust your own judgement, believe in yourself and be true to yourself - don't try to be something or someone you're not and play the music you want to play.

During your career you have played alongside some of the greatest DJs ever to have graced the turn-tables. Who was the most awe-inspiring and what is the biggest Diva request you’ve ever encountered? (No need to name names on that one!)

The most awe-inspiring was Paul Van Dyk, simply because he was one of the DJs whom I revered before I started DJing myself (Paul Oakenfold and Steve Lee were the other two) and because he was the number one DJ in the world at the time. The biggest diva request - one very well known DJ who demanded that no-one was on the DJ booth/gantry at any point before he walked on to play his set, and then again after he walked off, just so he would be the sole focus for the crowd!



Music Production has played a massive part in raising your profile, how are things going with the label and who is really exciting you at the moment?

The Friendz Music label is going really well - the first three releases have all been massive tracks supported by the big names and helped raised our profile more quickly than we ever thought possible. We've got about four or five tracks signed up for subsequent release, for which we are putting the remix packages together at the moment. On a personal level I've just had the satisfaction of releasing an EP on Discover ('False Gods'/'Cone Shaker') which Armin made his Tune of the Week! I'm really into the stuff being produced by Akesson, Sly One & Juranne, Peppelino, Rozza, Nucsive and of course Activa who has to be the man of the moment.

Many people seem to think you can tell a lot about a person by their iPod, what are the top 10 most played tracks or albums on yours, and what does that say about you?

Status Quo "Live"
Led Zeppelin "How The West Was Won"
Jimi Hendrix "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)"
Dodgy "Ace A's and Killer B's"
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac "First Album"
Thin Lizzy "Live and Dangerous"
Tall Paul - Gallery 1st Birthday tape
Jet "Get Born"
Screaming Trees "Sweet Oblivion"
AC/DC "Riff Raff"

I think that basically says I'm a wannabe guitar hero!



Let’s say that you could have any five people, past or present, back to your pad for an intimate house-party, who would they be and what items would you ask them to bring with them?

Michael Palin - the original 'Life of Brian' script
Michael Atherton - his blueprint for the future of English cricket
John Bonham (drummer with Led Zepellin) - his drum kit
Anna Friel - a big bag of sex toys
Damian from Heat/Lock'n'Load - Club Damo

Finally, what would you say to convince anyone who is thinking of coming to the Feersum 10th birthday party?

You'll always regret it if you don't come!!!


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FEERSUM 10th BIRTHDAY pres 'Nostalgia'
Send an eFlyer for this event to a friend Include this Event in a Private Message Direct link to this Event
On: Saturday 10th October 2009
At: Union [map]

From: 10.00PM - 7.00AM
Cost: £8 ADVANCE, £10 BEFORE 12.30 and £12 THERE AFTER
Ticket Info: CALL 07770787907
OR 07971889447
EMAIL FEERSUM9909@GOOGLEMAIL.COM
More: FEERSUM RETURNS FOR A NIGHT OF NOSTALGIC BEATS FROM SOME OF ITS ORIGIONAL CAST WHEN IT ALL STARTED BACK IN 1999. THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE ONE YOU WILL WANT TO MISS, IF YOU LIK YOUR CLASSICS THEN THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT!!
Flyer:
-
Region: London
Music: Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Nu NRG. Hi NRG. House. Bouncy House. Deep House. Funky House. Hard House. Prog House. Tribal House. Electro House. Tech House. Minimal Techno. Techno. Electro.
DJ's: FEERSUM HARDHOUSE NOSALGIA

Ian M (TRADE WILL BE DOING A LEGENDRY CLOSING SET)
STEVE THOMAS (FEERSUM RESIDENT CLASSIC TRADE SET)
Superfast Oz (KAKTAI SHOWCASE OF THE LAST DECADE)
Dan Madams (ORIGIONAL FEERSUM RESIDENT)
Danny Gilligan (TWIST)
Simon the Fireman (XLR8 AND REGULAR FEERSUM DJ)
MAD PAUL B2B Craig Paxton (MADE PAULS LEAVING SET)

UPLIFTING ROOM

Adam White (PERFECTO)
Ian Betts (HEAT RESIDENT AND FEERSUM REGULAR)
Raymondo (FEVAH RESIDENT AND FEERSUM REGULAR)
Paul Allen (FEERSUM)
SLEEPLESS ANDY
PAUL B (GUEST HOUSE DJ)


Who's Going? (26) : Dan Madams, Danny Gilligan, DANNY TAPPENDEN, Euphoria, Gems, kevster, littleraver, mattcoxdj79, Menthol Taz, minimoo, MissNasty, MR_S, NatNat, Pathfinder, pslip33-66degree, ravechick, richbowenuk, rob.O.T.T., RussT, SchemaDesign, SleeplessAndy, smiley M, STACE, Timmy Whiz, treesa, wykah 

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Other Features By Craig Paxton:
Unity with Steve Hill
Happy Birthday Feersum: Part One
Innovate interview: MDA & Spherical
Interview with Danny Gilligan
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.
Comments:

From: Danny Gilligan on 6th Oct 2009 09:35.21
Question is which room is going to be going off the most? The trance room line up is looking really solid!!

From: Timmy Whiz on 6th Oct 2009 10:27.33
I was always torn between the 2 rooms.....but could never miss Mr Betts Woooooot!

From: Menthol Taz on 9th Oct 2009 10:25.35
ditto

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