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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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Interview with Steve Hill
Reported by littlemissgenki
/
Submitted 17-02-04 01:01
Frantic's fastest flying kiwi returns to London this week to get straight off the plane at Heathrow and into the studio with James Lawson to finish a track for next weekend's Hard House Academy. With sets at Hardware this weekend, Amsterdam's HQ and Sundissential as well as studio time with Jon Langford, Paul Maddox and Guyver, this is going to be one hardcore holiday! HarderFaster caught up with Steve Hill just before he jumped on the plane in Sydney...
You rate Wellington, New Zealand as your hometown. What prompted the move to London? Was it difficult to establish yourself as a dj here in the UK?
Wellington is my home town. Best place in the world to play. Period. As for why I left? It was more to do with wanting to get into the thick of it all musically – so London it was… for nearly 7 years! It was hard work at first, but as soon as I landed a job at Pure Groove and was awarded regular spots at Frantic – that got the ball rolling. I have to say though – money was so tight at the beginning I had to decide whether to spend my last £250 on a months rent or a one way ticket home…glad I chose the rent option and gave it my best shot! I got a full time job two days later!
How long did you live in London for? What were the highlights of your time here?
I arrived in the UK mid 1997 and stayed for 6 and a half years. I had no idea what I was in for when I arrived and by the time I left it dawned on me what I had done. In that time there are too many highlights to mention but working at Pure Groove, running Y2K and Tripoli Trax, being Frantic resident, making some pukka records, and touring the globe – plus making some friends for life are definitely up there!
As a Frantic resident you’ve watched them grow and evolve as a promotion. Did you prefer Frantic when it was a smaller more underground club or now it’s larger, more commercial and more successful? Has Frantic had much influence on your own musical development?
Frantic was the first gig I did in London and the last one I did before I left…in that time it’s certainly grown and evolved. It’s been an interesting ride because the scene has certainly been through peaks and troughs in the last 7 years, and so has Frantic.
To me Frantic is, fundamentally, built on the same philosophies it was 7 years ago, although now you’re playing at bigger venues. I don’t see it as more commercial because the music philosophy has stayed the same which is what, essentially, the club is about. It’s hard to keep things fresh but as long as Frantic keep booking the best DJ’s, great up and coming talent, listen to the clubbers, work with new musical trends, and use a variety of venues, they will always come out on top.
I love being resident there – it’s always a great party with a fantastic crowd. It’s funny though, the first Frantic gig I ever played was at Bagley’s, now Canvas, and it was the last one before I left. Frantic and Steve Hill go back to their roots…
Which party do you remember the most out of all the nights you played here?
After playing for them for so long there are many highlights, but Camden Palace is always legendary and Hard House Academy is just…well…unreal! Doing Dance Valley last year was the T-shirt for me! There are so many times I’ve stood in front of the crowd and thought – how good does life get? Not much better than this!
Why did you decide to leave London at such a key phase of your career? What was the attraction to Sydney?
The decision to move to Sydney was a tough one to make and I spent a long time planning it. I had to be able to continue the momentum I had started in the UK for starters. I’ve never been a full time DJ / Producer, and while the idea sounds great, my heart is really in the music business, all aspects of, including running labels, marketing, legal, artist management, and publishing.
I get to do all of that in Sydney as Head of Business Affairs for Central Station, plus I run my own publishing company, record labels, DJ tours, have my own compilation series and keep producing tracks.
DJ-wise I’m managed by the Nukleuz agency in the UK, by Dance Valley in Holland, and have agents in Australia and Japan too, so that side is well taken care of. I know Sydney isn’t the capital of Hard Dance but it’s great working on a range of projects and artists such as releasing Tiesto, Jason Nevins, Panjabi MC and Jay-Z over here.
My day job may have changed but my passion still lies in all things Hard!
Has it been difficult to settle in to life in Australia? What are you plans there?
Australia is pretty easy really. It’s just living with Australians, loads of bugs, and the heat that you have to get used to! Last night it was 25 degrees, and a couple of cockroaches flew into the 5th floor apartment window. I mean – what??? Weird… Apart from that this place rocks! My plans here are to work hard at establishing the place as my base in the long term, learn more about the music business and promote Hard Dance to the Aussie massive.
As well as being a successful dj you’ve also had a very prolific career in production. What plans do you have in the studio for 2004?
The last five months of 2003 were spent touring and producing. In that time I amassed a tidy set of tracks for release on various labels. I’m pretty fussy about what I release now so I keep tweaking them which is why it’s taken so long for some of them to come out. I’d rather make a track like ‘My Lovin’ which stands the test of time than one that dates quickly. As my mentor Mick Shiner told me – you only need one good one to retire…
Who are your favourite djs and producers? Who do you rate the most at the moment?
I’m fortunate to be working with most of the producers I currently rate. James Lawson, Jon Langford, Guyver, Paul Maddox, Warp Brothers, and Matt Williams. The likes of Nick Sentience, K90, and BK are always going to be producers I’m aspiring to as well.
I’ve loads of fave djs – house, trance and hard dance. In London I’d always make sure I saw Rob Tissera, Ian Betts, Oliver Leighs, Spencer Freeland and Steve Blake whenever I could.
There is so much talent out there I’m constantly impressed – so it’s hard to list them all!
Best set of 2003? JP at Dance Valley – perfect from start to finish… one of those sets you were just drawn into. Unreal.
On February 28th you’re back playing the main room at Hard House Academy. Has your sound changed much since the last HHA? What can we expect from your main room set?
3 words…Euphoric, Hard and Cheeky…as always…it’s what I do…and it’s what I love to play!
You’re also playing a funky set for the Thirsty djs’ balcony. Is this a move in a new direction for you? Surely you’re not mellowing with age?!
The two biggest genres in Sydney clubbing are hard Style and house. Especially house. It’s the climate I reckon. At night it’s usually around 20 degrees! So I’m at home here with my penchant for house!
I love playing it – so any chance I get to I do. This will be the third time I do a House set at HHA so it’s not a new thing. Guffy and I once begged Will and Thibaud to open the top room at The Coronet during Yojitime so we could play some House – it was so much fun – you couldn’t get us off – I think we did 5 hours before we called it a day (the bar closed!!!)
Where else are you playing when you’re in Europe? Do you have any other plans when you’re over here?
Within 3 hours of touching down I’m in the studio with James Lawson finishing off a track for HHA! Every day I’m in the studio with Jon Langford, Paul Maddox, and Guyver or travelling to gigs. I’m doing everything from Hard House Academy in London to HQ in Amsterdam and Sundissential in Birmingham.
There’s no time for jetlag…
If you weren’t working in the music industry what would you be doing?
Owning a bar / restaurant…I’d love to become a chef…
Djing can put a lot of pressure on your personal life, especially when you’re also working during the week and producing. Do you find it difficult to juggle things? What do you like to do to get away from it all?
You have to juggle things and have the most supportive and understanding partner the busier you get. My girlfriend Lex is a legend! I don’t see a lot of what I do as work because I enjoy it so much so that is a bonus. I find it easy to chill out when I have down time – you just have to make sure you book some in… it keeps you ripe!
Vinyl or cd? What do you think of djs who just ‘mix’ using cd decks?
Doesn’t matter what format you’re playing as long as the tunes are wicked and the floor is going nuts. Half of my set is on CD because it isn’t pressed yet or I’m road testing it before it does go to cut… I’m not fussed…
Recently there’s been a lot of negativity in the hard dance scene in London. What would you say to people who claim the scene is dying? Is there a similar trend in Sydney at the moment? Is the scene very different over there?
Yeah I hear it all the time. Negativity does no one any favours.
Times are tough. Be realistic. It is in all genres. Move on. You have to work harder to make a quid. Nothing wrong with that.
The scene isn’t dying – it’s evolving.
Get used to it. It’s exciting. What’s going to happen next?
I’m looking forward to the next 12 months not worrying about it…
No doubt there’s quite a few HarderFasterers reading this who think you’ve got a dream lifestyle. What advice would you give to those who want to live and/or dj in Australia? What advice would you give to readers wanting to make it in the industry in general?
I am lucky. I know that. To be doing what I did in London was lucky enough. Being able to base myself in Sydney and do it is a fluke. I know I have to work twice as hard to make it work though. Not being in the thick of things means you have to be more organised, determined and have a tight network around you.
I wouldn’t be where I am now without the help of some significant others!
The hard dance scene here is relatively underground. The biggest local djs here are house, breaks and hardstyle ones. I’d love to help change that. I love a challenge…watch this space!
Finally, what trends would you like to see in the dance scene in 2004?
More producers coming through…
More musical diversity…
More ideas…
More positivity…
Steve Hill will be playing at Hardware on Sunday 22 February and at Hard House Academy Saturday 28 February.
Big thanks to Midnight Expressions and mrbicgit for the use of their photos.
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Other Features By littlemissgenki:
HeatUK (The DVD) – From The Backyard To South West Four - World Premier Preview: Interview with SnowBall Productions
Paradise City 001 Preview: From free parties in pubs to private jets—interview with Antiworld promoter Enrico Sorbello
Blatantly Brisk: interview with Paul Nineham
Paradise City 001 preview: interview with Mauro Picotto
Never Enough Maria: Interview with the Queen of Hard Dance
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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![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1-xmas.gif)
Nice interview. I look forward to seeing you Mr Hill 
