Dark by name, Dark by nature... Gaz West aka Dark By Design steps into the limelight for Frantic Brings U MORE!
Reported by benz
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Submitted 15-11-05 11:58
One of the big success stories in hard dance in the last couple of years, Gaz West aka Dark By Design came as a breath of fresh air when he broke onto the scene in 2003. His intense, euphoric sound combined the over-the-top build-ups and breakdowns of European hard trance acts such as DJ Scot Project with the tough, infectious sounds of hardstyle, which had begun to infiltrate into mainstream hard dance events. Added to these influences he brought his own unique production style, heavy on the filters and rapid snare rolls to create an exciting, peak-time vibe.
Gaz first got noticed by those good chaps at Goodgreef in Manchester when he pestered them with CDs of tracks he had knocked up in his bedrooom. When played at the Goodgreef events, the response to these tracks was unbelievable and Gaz was soon a firm favourite and local hero at the club. His success went worldwide with the inclusion of 4 of his stunning productions on the first Goodgreef CD compilation, which sold by the bucketload. His productions have been some of the biggest selling and most heavily played tracks of the last few years, for labels such as tidy, Tranzlation, Nukleuz and Goodgreef’s very own imprint. Notable co-productions with the likes of Phil York, Steve Hill and Rob Tissera have all been massive, as well as a slew of tracks with upcoming producers. His challenge now lays in keeping his sound fresh and relevant, after a fantastically successful first 2 years on the circuit.
With a stage presence and personality big enough to match the bold, extreme style of his music, Gaz offers the whole package for what you want from a big room hard dance artist. His first London gig saw him jump atop the decks in the foyer at Frantic vs Wildchild in June of this year, in a manic celebration of the immense reaction the crowd were giving him, a truly memorable sight which has paved the way for many more main room London appearences. One such gig is Frantic Brings U MORE on November 26th at SeOne London, where Gaz will step up for his main room Frantic debut. Not for the faint-hearted, and sure to be one of the most talked about sets of the year, this is extreme hard dance 21st-century style, and it’s the dogs bollocks!
Do you come from a musical background? Or are you more part of the digital generation?
I have no musical background, I'm just a digital kid.
What made you decide to take up producing in the first place? How long after you started making tracks was it before you had your stuff being played out by DJs?
I am quite a creative person, I like to draw and build things, play games etc. and making tunes is kinda like a puzzle game... Alex Kidd started playing my tunes about a year after I started, fun times!
You burst onto the scene in 2003 with a slew of exciting, peak-time hard dance productions. You were the talk of the proverbial town within months. What do you attribute this success to?
I have no clue, I guess the right music at the right time, played to the right people...
How important have Goodgreef been to you? Do you think you would have been able to achieve this level of success without them?
GoodGreef and the DarkbyDesign name are synonymous with each other, they brought me up.
How long have you been DJing? Since before you began producing or after?
I started producing about 3 yers ago, DJing about a year ago...
After having seen you virtually mount the decks in the foyer at Frantic vs Wildchild back in June, it was pretty evident that you love what you do. Was that your first London appearance? It must have felt pretty good to have got the whole foyer rocking to its rafters...
Yeah, it was awesome, I was a tad worried at first with it being an ACTUAL foyer, but the atmosphere was just amazing, really good night...
The foyer crowd during Gaz’s set at Frantic vs Wildchild
Which other gigs have really stood out in your mind as incredible experiences?
The sheer amount of people at Dance Valley 05, or the sight of my fave place ever, Tokyo, Japan.
You have also been doing the occasional live PA in addition to your DJ sets. Is the idea to keep the two activities running side by side?
The live set gives me a chance to make my sets a bit more intelligent (I need something to keep up with all these AMAZING DJs!) and it gives me the tools to add production live on stage with the showcase, the more I improve with time, the better it will be...
Which release have you been produest of?
Mine and Alex Kidd's remix of ‘The Second Trip’ by Hennes & Cold on Tracid, a massive release for me and the kid there...
What have you been cooking up in the studio recently?
Some good goulash baby...
What sounds are influencing you at the moment? Would it be fair to say that Scot Project has been a big influence on your sound? Who else?
Frank (Scot Project) will always be my biggest inspiration as he is the best. We strive to be the best.
November 26th sees you back in London for a main room DJ showcase at Frantic Brings U More at SEOne. What can we expect from your first main room London gig?
Nice big kicks, smashing London to death.
Do you feel your sound generally works better in bigger rooms?
Absolutely, my music is quite slow, but I use generally much bigger sounds to fill the space, which to me sounds great in big rooms/outdoors but can be a little too much for small clubs..
Why is this going to be a DJ showcase rather than a live show?
Because I’ll be using CDJs and not a bloody laptop and controllers!
Do you still get nervous in front of big crowds? At a guess I’d say no on the strength of your antics at Frantic vs Wildchild!
Always. I shit myself every time. Will that do you?
MORE
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On:
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Saturday 26th November 2005
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At:
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S.E.One [map]
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From:
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20:00-06:00
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Cost:
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Limited £14+BF Early Bird Tickets
£17+BF Saver Tickets
£20+BF Standard Tickets
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Website:
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www.franticuk.net
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Ticket Info:
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Frantic HQ 07949 618 035/ amanda@franticuk.com
Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Clubtickets: 0870 246 1840 / www.clubtickets.co.uk
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Frantic Brings U MORE
Saturday 26th November 2005
2000-0600
The SEOne Complex
www.seonelondon.com
ONLY Frantic has the Answer!
Frantic continues its God given mission to reinvent and reshape Hard House for a new generation. Gone are the so called big names and in is the unbeatable and scintillating next generation! ONLY Frantic has line-ups like this! We take risks, where others play safe! We promise ONLY DJs that really love Hard House like there is no tomorrow! All the DJs are handpicked for their ability to ENTERTAIN! We don’t want DJs who look moody and keep their heads down without so much as a smile to the crowd. Our DJs are chosen for their crowd interaction and technical ability! Nowhere sounds quite like Frantic!
Nowhere looks quite like Frantic either! 2005 has established Frantic as the Hard House Club that cares the most about the SHOW. MORE is going to push this vision to the next level! We will be totally transforming the mighty SEOne Complex like only we know how! Every Arena will look totally different from any other event at SEOne. Stepping into the venue will be like entering a magical all-night Palace of Hard House. There will MORE death star inflatables, MORE Frantic Décor, MORE Award-Winning Visuals, MORE Lasers, MORE purpose built stages, MORE Funktion One Sound and of course loads more 21st Century Hard House! This really is the brave new frontier for Hard House clubbing! If you want to experience the next step in Hard House clubbing - only Frantic has the answer!
MORE is powered by Funktion One Sound. This is the ONLY way to hear Hard House!
Limited £14+BF Early Bird Tickets
£17+BF Saver Tickets
£20+BF Standard Tickets
Frantic HQ 07949 618 035/ amanda@franticuk.com
Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Clubtickets: 0870 246 1840 / www.clubtickets.co.uk
Get some Hard House in your life; www.franticuk.net
www.clubkurruption.co.uk
www.seonelondon.com
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