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Features
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| 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! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! |
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Sex, lies and videosnake: Snake gets ready for Snake Eyes @Pacha
Reported by VinDiesel
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Submitted 02-03-05 21:53
Snake (real name Christoph) plays across-the-board hard dance. He now also plays funk, electro and breaks. He is fresh back in London after a 14-month break back in his homeland South Africa. He used to be a regular guest for Riot and Frantic among others. He will be relaunching his UK career this Friday night at Pacha. The night will be called “Snake Eyes” in his honour...
Vin Diesel : How are you Snake?
Snake: Not bad mate.
You’ve spent quite a bit of time abroad… What brings you back to the UK?
My music and my people.
How did you first get involved with Heat?
A friend of mine called Kylie used to work for them and told me about their backyard party. The first Heat party I went to was Boxing Day 2001 at the Freedom Club near Piccadilly Circus, where I met Damo for the 1st time.
In June 2002, I played for Heat for the first time at a party called from Dusk til Dawn, which was at Camden Palace in the upstairs room.
My 1st mainroom event for Heat was in 2003 at Turnmills, when Damo asked me if I could bring a nice crowd down for one of their nights, which was prior to their Heat in Ibiza trip. I got booked for the next one and from there and it took off. This was in 2003. The first party was at Turnmills.
What were your musical influences as you were growing up and getting in the DJ scene?
I grew up in a family heavily involved in music. My dad played in a band. I started playing musical instruments from a young age and then I wanted to have my own band. But there weren’t really any other guys around who were really into playing instruments.
I have always wanted to entertain people with music, so I had to go solo. I started doing mobile disco jobs playing at weddings, 21st birthdays and any other parties that required music. I was going to come over to the UK to save up money and go back home and train to be a pilot. But I got bitten by the DJ bug when I started reading DJ magazines and that was it.
I then set myself the goal that if I can’t make it as a world-wide DJ, at least I want to be nationally known.
I brought my decks at the end of August 2000 when I had been clubbing for 7 months. My first gig was in about June or July 2001 in Camden for a private party and I just fell in love with playing out! I sent out a demo to Fevah and 4 or 5 months later they called saying they liked it and asked me if I would like to play for them.
For me if was like a dream come true to get a first official booking for a big promotion. I got booked to play the 2nd to last slot. Then two weeks later I got booked for my first gig at Quench. It was on the same weekend as both Fevah and my birthday – and just over a year to 14 months from me first getting decks.
Do you think it’s better to play at smaller parties first, establishing your name rather than going for the big parties all the time?
Yeah, very true. These days, promoters won’t just take you based on a demo, especially one created on a computer. Smaller parties are how I started. I started off playing at house parties. I built up a great following at these parties and when I did my first gig, I had around 60-80 on my guestlist.
Who are the producers whom you think are making an impact on the scene?
Nick Sentience and BK have always been the guys leading the way. Other guys like Paul Maddox, Ingo, Colin Barrett and Ali Wilson have also had a big influence. And don’t forget the guys from the Edison factor.
Do you think producers can become just as good at DJing ?
Yes they can. But not all of them. I have seen some that are better at producing than DJing.
Do you think you need a good musical background to become a producer?
No not necessarily. A lot of DJs have taught themselves to become producers. But it does help. I can play keyboards and that way I can come up with my own riffs rather than get an engineer to create them.
How did you get the name “Snake”?
My dad had blonde hair. He got a nickname in Afrikaans which basically translates to “flour-bag” (like his head fell in a bag of flour. And by the way, our family also has a wheat – wheat, not weed - farm…). It changed to “flour worm” and then at high school he changed it to “flour snake” because worm was too childish. Naturally I became known as “little flour snake”. When I started my mobile discos, my dad made my partner and I some business cards. Both of our names started with a C so we called it ‘CC’s Mobile Disco’. A year later I bought all the shares and changed the name to “Snake’s Mobile Disco”. And I have been known as Snake ever since.
For the forthcoming Heat event ‘SnakeEyes’, you will be playing at Pacha. Have you played there before? And how do rate it as a hard dance venue?
I have never played there. I have never been there. But I have heard very good things about the venue and I very curious to see it. It carries a good reputation and a superb sound system which I am keen to get on and play on!
You’ve played at number of different events over the past few years including Mind Over Matter, Qwench and Heat. What is your favourite event that you’ve played at?
There are so many of them including Sunday School, Frantic, Tasty and Qwench. I have always enjoyed playing at Riot. And then playing for the Heat crowd was always a great pleasure. I enjoy events where I am up close to the clubbers.
A lot of DJs are used to getting feedback from clubbers. But how do you deal with feedback from a promoter you’ve played for - especially if it’s negative?
Before I play I always speak to the promoter and clearly understand the style of music they want and the pace at which I should play.
If I deviate from this style then I would expect criticism from the promoter… But so far I have never had any!
You have played in a number of different countries including South Africa, Norway and Australia. These are countries with great responsive crowds who are very reactive. But how would you deal with a situation where you were playing in country where the crowd were totally unresponsive?
I would get on the mic and say ‘What the f**k are you doing here!’ Just kidding. The main thing is to read the crowd. Don’t stick to one style if they are not responding. I usually play across the board and see how they take to this.
What do you see as your future goals?
To become a well-established DJ and a respected producer. Basically I just want to travel around the world and entertain the crowds.
Thanks Snake for your time!
No problem mate!
Photos taken by Fran Rye, littlemissgenki, matt, mrbicgit and Uncle Phill.
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Other Features By VinDiesel:
Bioshokk Triplicity: Matt Melody speaks to Webbo, with VinDiesel taking notes to make the magic three
Across the divide - It's Alex Mac and Zeebra Kid
Alf takes the Technikal View
Cheers! ReFre5h is 2
Get attracted to Magnetix
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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can't wait to see you play out again mate, your sets at Riot! were some of the most enjoyable hard dance sets I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing.
A great talent and a bloody good bloke as well. 