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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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Living the dream: an interview with John O’Callaghan
Reported by DPressure
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Submitted 08-11-05 12:53
Dreams can come true. But making it right to the very top as a dj is no easy task. The secret as to how to develop from being a bedroom dj to someone appearing at festivals such as Global Gathering is as valuable as the Holy Grail. Whilst there’s never been more opportunities for djs to get gigs, whether they be in clubs or bars, breaking into the top flight and distinguishing yourself from the rest of the pack is a different matter. So when someone does like John O’Callaghan, it’s kind of special.
In an interview with tranceland’s future superstar and ahead of his gig this month at London’s Trance Generation on Friday 11th November, we caught up with the Irish dj who everyone’s talking about... including the tabloids!!
You’re the envy of thousands of wannabe djs. How does it feel to be up there alongside some of the best every weekend?
It feels great to be playing alongside some of the big names. I still have a long way to go myself but to have played alongside Paul van Dyk, Eddie Halliwell & Armin van Buuren amongst others, is a proud achievement for me.
There are so many djs out there today. Even the infamous song with the lyrics “my dog wants to be a dj!” How aware are you of the need to be individual now?
I’m not aware of it at all really. Everybody will naturally do their own thing. In some senses you have to be aware of current trends and how the music is developing, but for the most part I just go with what I think sounds good at the current time. I don’t conciously try to be invididual. Being a DJ now is more than just playing records. It’s important you have your own twist on things. Playing my own productions and new tracks/remixes in my sets tends to make them a little different.
Looking back, what was your big break? Was there any one defining moment?
I can’t see one obvious big break. There seemed to be a number of smaller breaks. Possibly Armin playing my remix of Gate 42 ‘Flow’ 3 times on his radio show, and making it tune of the week — that boosted my profile a lot. Tiesto playing my track ‘Mercury’ at his Tiesto In Concert series really helped to push my name to a lot of audiences. Also, getting to play at big gigs like PVD at Passion, Global Gathering Ireland and Serious at the Cross have been huge breaks for me. Coming out very soon is Recover World Live volume 2, which I mixed 1 CD for. That is also a first for me.
That’s a pretty impressive track record. But what was the first gig that you ever did?
Playing in my local town hall for a celebration with my school after we finished our final exams. As you can imagine there was lots of alcohol and out of control students enjoying themselves, so the gig was cut short by the venue owners!
So a stark comparison then to this year’s Global Gathering in Ireland!
It was amazing to be playing on front of 4000 Irish clubbers. It was a big milestone for me and I couldn’t believe the support I got from my home crowd. Irish events always tend to have a crazy energy about them, because they don’t really happen that often.
So how did that gig come about?
I had done some gigs in Ireland and a lot of people knew my productions, and so the powers that be felt it was time to give me a chance at the big stage!
Did you let your hair down after your set?
I stayed around for the whole thing. I watched Armin, Eddie Halliwell, Chris Liebing, James Zabiela, Marco Bailey, and finally Tiesto who played a great set to finish off the night. Set of the day for me was Armin.
Did you have a set planned at all or was it purely off the cuff on the night?
I had a large selection of tracks that I was possibly going to play, depending on the crowd and what I felt needed to be played. It all went really smoothly and I played for an extra 30mins as Eddie Halliwell got slightly delayed. So I got to play some tracks i hadn’t planned on. It was great!
As you mentioned earlier, your as much known for your productions as your djing. Do you focus any more on one that the other?
At the moment I spend a lot of time in my studio. I often spend hours working on tracks, and then a couple of hours in the evening on my decks. Production gets more focus because it simply takes up more hours.
Do you think that for any new dj with superstar aims, can you make it these days without being a producer?
Yes of course. If you are an extremely talented dj, production doesn’t really come into it. But it does take an huge amount of talent and unique style to make it just as a dj without any productions to your name.
Do you produce alone or do you have a co-producer?
I produce alone. I have some side projects which I collaborate with friends on. Inertia is myself and Neal Scarborough, who is making a name for himself now as a solo producer. Stenna is a collaboration with Dewi Roberts and Aled Mann from Wales. I had a track out recently called ‘Restricted Motion’ with Bryan Kearney. That track did really well and the follow up single is sounding really promising. I've also just done my 1st collaboration with John Askew, which is out now on Discover Records. I mainly work alone but it’s great fun to do collaborations and it’s interesting to see how different sounds come from different collaborations.
On the international scene, these gigs abroad these days comprise a large chunk of any dj’s diary. How far afield have you managed to travel?
The furthest I’ve been so far is to Vancouver, Candada. I played at a big event with Benjamin Bates & Scot Project. I have a tour of Australia scheduled for December as part of the Gatecrasher Tour with M.I.K.E . So that should be fantastic!
Which djs do you look up to and admire (if any) and who are your general influences?
I have huge respect and admiration for Paul van Dyk & Armin van Buuren. Paul van Dyk’s tracks over the years have been in my opinion, the best over any other trance producer. He always comes up with the goods and his dj sets are packed with energy. His professionalism and dedicated approach is something I aspire to. Armin also has huge dedication and has contributed so much to the trance scene. His record labels and his own productions have inputted massively to the current trance sound. I’ve seen Armin dj on a number of occasions and every single time his sets have been nothing short of perfect. He is also a really nice guy and has given me great support, which im very grateful for. My influences range from Chris Liebing, to Mauro Picotto, Agnelli & Nelson, Gabriel & Dresden, John Askew, PVD... and loads more!
Were you a big clubber before you started djing? If so, where?
Yes! Mainly in the Temple Theatre, Dublin, and the Red Box, Dublin. Seeing such djs as Mauro Picotto, DJ Scot Project, Paul van Dyk, Timo Maas, Mario Piu....
So for all the djs who are reading this, describe a typical day and in your life. Is it mostly taken up with practicing ?
I spend a large chunk of every day in my studio working on tracks and then a few hours in the evenings going through new tracks and seeing how they fit together for my sets. So it’s safe to say I spend about 75% of my day in music.
And finally, you’re playing at Trance Generation in Central London on Friday 11th November. For anyone who hasn’t heard you play, what can you promise them from one of your sets?
I can promise an energetic set full of quality trance/tech-trance tunes, with some extra special personal edits that you won't hear anywhere else. Looking forward to Trance Generation!
John O’Callaghan joins Matt Darey, Ronski Speed, Graham Gold, Gary Ramsden and Ehren Stowers at Trance Generation’s ‘Saints & Sinners’ Party on Friday 11th November 2005.
Trance Generation pres. Saints & Sinners
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On:
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Friday 11th November 2005
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At:
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The Soundshaft [map]
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From:
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10pm - 6am
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Cost:
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£13 before 11pm or £15 after
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Website:
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www.trancegeneration.co.uk
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Ticket Info:
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Advance Tickets availaible from Ticketweb
Tel. 08700 600 100
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Trance Generation get's all develish and angelic with their Saint's and Sinners party on Friday 11th and last TG pf 2005 at The Soundshaft.
Expect another cutting egde array of trance talent including the tried, tested and superb Matt Darey and Graham Gold alongside two of the cream up and coming sensations Ronski Speed and Ireland's Jon O'Callaghan. And if that wasn't enough to lure you out to kick-start your weekend, then appearing also are residents Gary Ramsden, Ehren Stowers, and Liquid Eyes and Matt Lock.
Room 2, following their success at The Gallery, Cheeky People return with speacial guests Prehab for down right dirty funky house. Feat. Mr Chip B2B DJ Boris, David Irvine B2B Chuck Watts, David Murtagh B2B Gary Optim and Funky Frankie.
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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: josie on 8th Nov 2005 13:04.28
I can't believe this is the last TG at The Soundshaft! I'm honestly gutted.
From: Andy Dunford on 8th Nov 2005 14:16.19
Excellent producer, The Chamber is one of my tunes of the year. And Emerald and Chameleon are pretty good as well. 
From: Jurrane on 8th Nov 2005 15:11.37
Producer Of The Year for 2005, no question. Just hearing there's going to be a follow-up to the astoundingly-good 'Restricted Motion' brings me out in goosebumps and I can't wait to hear John DJ'ing on Friday. O'Callaghan is leading the way for a bright future of incredible new trance producers - he deserves every success!
From: Pandora S-K on 8th Nov 2005 18:03.36
Nice interview there, Callaghan!
From: Lorenzo Barrero on 8th Nov 2005 18:50.22
Top producer! There are too many tracks that i own with his name on. Top productions for Afterglow, Six Thirty and of course Discover. Am sure 2006 will be even better for him!
From: Vicky Devine on 10th Nov 2005 12:03.28
Great interview John......your success is nothing less than you deserve. I won't mention our MSN conversations of a year or so ago.but don't say i never said "told you so"!!!!!!!!!! Keep it up, hope to catch up soon and send me some tracks!!!!!!!!!
From: karl davis on 10th Nov 2005 12:49.18
well done m8 keep the flag flying
From: James Terry on 12th Nov 2005 11:26.03
Every tune this guy makes is the bollocks
From: Alan-Banks on 14th Nov 2005 22:21.10
He is my Producer/remixer of 2005. Outstanding talent!!!!!!!
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