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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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Airwave, 15th January, 2005 – a breath of fresh air for clubbers.
Reported by Starlet
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Submitted 04-02-05 15:00
DJ and passionate clubber Matt Jay was diagnosed with cancer of the airway in 2003. Matt’s condition meant that clubbing — and DJing — as he knew it, was totally out of bounds, it was too much of a risk to be in a smoky environment. After extensive treatment at his local hospital unit in Southend, he decided to do something to raise money — not only for other people in his situation but also for the people in the hospital unit who helped him. And so, Airwave — Essex’s first smoke-free clubnight — was born.
All the DJs involved had kindly donated their time for free and the people who help Matt run the night put in a huge amount of time to raise money for this worthy cause. As a non-smoker myself I often find I get a sore throat after clubbing (though this might be possibly partly due to whooping it up, generally getting over excited and screaming and shouting a lot.) However I’m sure I’m not the only person who has sustained cigarette burns on the arms (or once of the face too — ouch!) when in a throng of crowded clubbers. There are also the health benefits of being in a smoke-free environment too and if it means people like Matt can go out and enjoy clubbing too then it’s a good move. Not only this, but I think most people’s lives have been affected by cancer in some way, so it is good to have the opportunity to support such a worthy cause and also raise awareness. Airwave do go to great lengths to make things as easy as possible for smokers though, with nicotine gum and patches available and even the option of going outside for a sneaky fag if you need to.
Airwave is held at Club Ego in Southend and although it isn’t in the town centre it does have the added benefit of being adjoined to a hotel. The Airwave crew had arranged for all clubbers to get a discount at the hotel, so for not much more than the price of a taxi home all you had to do was stagger round the corner and flop into bed. Nice! Ever the cheeky skinflint who knows no shame, I also used the opportunity to nip back to our room with my better half for large swigs of vodka at regular intervals. Club Ego has a large main room decked out with laser and lights and a UV clubbing clobber stall in one corner and should you need to rest your feet, lots of comfy seating. Two huge video screens were positioned either side of the dance floor, one showing video footage of the previous Airwave, which provided much amusement for all the regulars seeing themselves and their mates caught on camera!
Airwave opened their doors at 8pm, which is in my opinion is quite early to expect punters to arrive at a club. As first up on the decks, I had kinda braced myself for the club to be a bit empty for the first hour or two. However, by 8.30pm people were already arriving, settling down with a drink (which were half price for the first two hours) and their friends, catching up and nodding their heads to the beat. I kicked things off in the main room, building up through some progressive house and trance, then making way for Matt Jay. Obviously enjoying himself, he played a no-holds barred set of pumping euphoric trance, ending with the cheeky white label tune Off Your Rocker, by Altered Ego. By this time, one thing that was particularly evident was the genuine friendliness of the all the crew involved — with huge smiles on their faces they went out of their way to make you feel at home and also got strapped into dancing straight away.
Graham Gold followed on from Matt Jay, not disappointing with a flawless set of sublime, uplifting trance with a few classics thrown in for good measure. Top marks to Graham too as he played some of my favourite tunes: the haunting Gabriel & Dresden mix of No One On Earth gives me goosebumps every time I hear it and Strange World, by Push, brings back memories (of sorts!) of a totally mad week in Ibiza a few years ago. I had the opportunity to speak to Graham and asked him his thoughts on Airwave.
It’s brilliant you have taken the time to support this event — what are your thoughts on Airwave and no-smoking events?
I think the aims of the event are excellent, and I wish more people supported these kind of events-after all, they still have good line ups and the money goes to a better cause than a promoter’s pocket! They already have it (no-smoking nights) in the US, Canada and Ireland! It's great not to come home and have your clothes stink of smoke, but as an ex -smoker (who stupidly stills has the odd one or two, even though I go to the gym every day) I can see why people still want to have the right (to smoke). NO-ONE would smoke if my girlfriend had her way, and I cannot light up when she is around!
Do you get involved in many charity events?
I do everything I am asked to do for charity events if I can. I did a Tsunami event in Blackpool at the weekend (15/16 January), plus I do the London-Brighton bike ride too!!”
Meanwhile in room two, things were picking up nicely. It was a much smaller room and had a more cosy, house party feel to it which was well suited to the straight-up funky house that was pumping out. Classics such as E-Samba were getting everyone grooving nicely. This room had a great vibe, complete with a stall with all sorts of clubbing knick-knacks and even vinyl for sale, plus those UV PVC clubbing outfits that really only the slimmest of slim should pour themselves into! Next up were Eugene Speed & Nobby Stylz who slammed in the hard house right away. Although the crowd in the room were enjoying it, hard house at +8 is a bit much for me and the smoke machine went into overdrive so we headed back to the main room, where JK Walker was about to start his set. JK Walker’s set moved things up nicely, with a tougher-edged feel to it. I must say his remix of Scot Project’s ‘L’ (want your love) is a tune that I really like at the mo — quite hard and techy, with a full-on euphoric hands-in-the-air-fest in the middle. In room 2, James Lawson was boshing out some hard dance and the crew in there were properly having it!
Closing set in the main room went to Marcos, one of the trance wonderkids storming the scene at the moment. Marcos is signed to Most Wanted UK and his productions are being supported by some of the biggest players in the trance world. With releases on some of the biggest labels, plus support from a lot of the main players in the trance world, Marcos is set for big things. He played a fantastic set, with a lot of his own productions with tunes such as Cosmicstring and Summer Solstice raising the roof. Marcos was kind enough to spare some time to answer a few questions after his set.
It's fantastic that you have made time in your busy schedule to play for a fundraising event! How do you feel about the aims of Airwave?
When I was first approached to play at Airwave I was extremely keen to help as I have recently lost a family member to cancer and my Aunt is currently battling breast cancer. Giving my time to play records to help funding to find better treatments or maybe even a cure was something that I didn't need to think twice about, I don't think anyone would do otherwise
And how do you feel about the no-smoking policy?
I am a non-smoker myself I and can't wait for the day when all clubs are smoke free zones. It’s not fair on people who don't smoke to force them to breathe in smoke from others. It was fantastic to actually go in to a club and come out smelling as good as when you went in!
Do you often play for fundraising events?
I have never played at one before Airwave but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to do one again as long as the cause was just. I have seen a few recently for the Tsunami appeal and
I hope that the money raised helps those less fortunate.
I think Airwave is a great idea for an event and the people behind it are totally committed to putting on a great party, which deserves support and to do well. With a lot of the clubbing industry increasingly seeming to be money-oriented it’s great to see people doing something to give a little back to others. Airwave will be running every other month, the next Airwave event is on the 19th March. This time the main room will be trance and hard house, with house and breaks in Room Two. DJs confirmed include Ian Betts, Sharon B and Jay AK. For more information check out: www.airwaveclubbing.co.uk
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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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Comments:
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From: Less is Bat on 5th Feb 2005 08:50.56
What a brilliant story and a great idea for a feature. More like this please HF!
From: Hannah Wild on 5th Feb 2005 13:27.32
From: The Scene on 5th Feb 2005 16:20.21
Quote:
| I also used the opportunity to nip back to our room with my better half for large swigs of vodka at regular intervals |
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 Curious you legend!
Nice article,  for clean lungs.
From: Adam White on 6th Feb 2005 00:49.50
Really looking forward to coming to play for you in May
From: annieree on 7th Feb 2005 10:25.18
See you there in March! 
From: Airwave on 7th Feb 2005 13:36.58
Thanks Lizzie you are a legend. Look forward to having you back.
Annieree - glad you can make it!
Adam - am sooo looking forward to having you down!
 
From: Airwave on 7th Feb 2005 15:15.29
and thanks everyone for your support! 
From: Jamesy on 7th Feb 2005 18:13.23
Great review Lizzie!
From: Jessica Alici on 8th Feb 2005 22:22.45
Good article Lizzie! & round of applause for the Airwave crew too!
From: TEK-DJ Management on 13th Feb 2005 00:40.33
Fantastic concept and an excellent worthy cause, wish you all the best!
From: Cerberus on 15th Feb 2005 14:51.52
A Canvey boy myself, and my family being friendly with Matt is saddens us to learn that he passed away this Saturday after losing his battle with Cancer. Myself and My sister Mel Gunn offer Matt's family our sincere sympathies...
From: Matt on 15th Feb 2005 23:24.23
Very sad to hear about Matt. I hope that Airway continues in his name and spirit. RIP.
From: Mrs Matt Jay on 20th Feb 2005 00:19.14
Lizzie, I would like to thank you for your write up on airwave, I'm just sorry my Matt never got to read it, he would have been so humbled you took the time to do such a feature.
My beloved Husband passed away last Saturday 12th February, I will never recover from the pain and sadness I feel having lost someone so precious.
On Matts behalf I would like to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE involved in putting airwave together, you know who you are. As our friends, the time and effort you all put in does not do the word 'friendship' justice. A thousand thank you's would never be enough.
To all at Club Ego, the fantastic line up of DJs who have donated their time, all of you for your comments and of course our friends and the clubbers for their support, THANK YOU.
Matt was truly grateful to you all and so of course am I.
xxxx
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