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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! | | Goa based party animal and artist extraordinaire Nirmal talks punk concerts, metal sculptures, flying and rippin' it up on a High Tide! | | DJ Wired talks to us about the Rise of the Hope and parties, ahead of his upcoming set at Tribal Village on 14th January 2022! |
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BK Discusses The Nu Wave, Collaborations and Hard Dance Olympics!
Reported by Tom Cypher
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Submitted 08-09-08 16:18
Five times Winner of Best Producer at the annual Hard Dance Awards as well as winner of Best Hard Dance Producer at the recent Beatport Awards, BK is one of the most respected figures from the hard dance scene. Following up from last year’s excellent Under The Influence LP, BK Presents The Nu Wave is the next offering from the don of hard beats, an artist collaboration project that provides an essential snapshot of the 2008 scene. We catch up with BK to find out more.
So how has your year gone so far?!
It’s been a great year! I've been keeping busy in the studio and running labels Riot! and Traffic with Scott as well as gigging - I've had some great international gigs in Canada, Russia, Sweden, Ibiza etc. I'm now looking to having a small break from the studio, so I can hit the clubs full pelt with the album material now it is released.
You have had a baby recently (well your lady has, haha) how is this effecting your world of hard beats?!
Its great, she is no problem at all! I'm used to not sleeping lots anyway so it wasn't too much of a shock to the system! When she was born I took 6 weeks off the studio and cut my gigs down to about 3 or 4 a month so I could have some time at home. Then I eased myself back into it by concentrating on the next studio project rather than hitting the road too hard. I have been hard at it for a long time and it was the first time I took a conscious effort to slow it down for a while. The only major difference is it is no longer all back to mine!
You have a new album coming out called BK Presents The Nu Wave – what’s the concept behind it?
It’s all about the new- collaborations with people who in my opinion are also keeping themselves at the forefront of new music, whether by DJing, producing, running labels or even events. It’s a snapshot of what’s hot in 2008 and these people are all pushing the sound forward. What's great about this album is each of the tracks are very different so it’s a real overview of all the styles around hard dance. I wanted to take what each of these guys do and push it forward and give it the BK treatment! A perfect example is the Alex Kidd track- I wanted to create a more UK friendly version of his hardstyle sound and make a track we could both play.
What are the pros and cons with collaborations?
Sitting on your own in the studio can get a bit lonely, so its nice to have some company for a start! Its also a good way of keeping me on my toes as far as production goes plus a great excuse to do something new. Having someone to buzz off makes a big difference - I think you tend to take more risks when working with someone else. I usually know all the people I work with really well so it’s always a fun time which I think is important and gets reflected in the music. Con wise, the only thing I can think of is the logistics of getting everyone together! We are all pretty busy people so finding the time when we can meet up can be a nightmare!
How would you describe the current hard dance scene?
Musically it’s more exciting now than it has been for a long time. I've harped on about new music and for the scene to be more accepting of the different types of harder music for ages. It’s now here in full force. People on the dancefloor are so much more open to all the styles out there. The rule book is out the window! Because of this, the scene is coming back strong and is attracting new clubbers who have a passion for new harder music.
I think it suffered a bit when a few die-hards refused to move with the times. Bootlegs and re-edits can be a great addition to a set but a whole set of it is lazy. Also everything turned into massive events and as a DJ you needed to play big tunes as you had to play to the masses. There was a lack of an underground scene where you could get a chance to road test ideas. Now there seems to be loads of new clubs happening as well as the big events so it’s all good.
Tell us a bit about your studio – is it clean / messy, etc?! What’s your favourite bit of kit that you couldn’t live without?
At the moment it’s a tip! It always is at the end of a big project as there is no time for any house keeping! It’s located in a studio complex in London and we have two studios up and running on a daily basis. I use a Mac with Logic with loads of plugins etc. I also kept hold of my favourite outboard gear A Juno, Novation Bass Station and a Virus C which is my most used piece of kit.
Your fellow scene mates Tidy are going to stop making vinyl releases, what are your thoughts on this?
They are just moving with the times, we are going to be doing the same. We are going to be releasing our singles on CD with a bonus DJ mix and sample packs etc. These will also be a collection of various artists. Our first one features Yoji, VinylGroover, Anne Savage and Kutski, all with new singles.
Outside of music, what do you do to chill out / have a laugh?
At the moment not a lot! It all seems to be taken up with work and any spare time I do have is spent with the family. Babies are just so much fun, I am always teaching my baby new things which is hours of entertainment! Also just catching up and hanging out with mates is high on the list - I love a Sunday down the pub after a good night out.
If hard dance was an Olympic game, who would win gold off your album for general hard dance stamina?!
It would have to be Lashes! She has been at the top of her game for ages and still has an amazing passion for what she does.
What's next for BK?
I never know really, I usually just have an idea and run with it. I'm looking forward to being out the studio for a bit and hitting the clubs again. It’s nice that I can do that plus it keeps things from getting stale.
Any messages or shout-outs for Harderfaster readers?
Yes, well done for being harder music fans you have good taste! See you on a dance floor soon!
BK Presents 'The Nu Wave' is out now on Riot! Recordings.. You can buy the album from all good outlets and download stores.
Check out www.bkworld.net for more info and tour dates!
Photos courtesy of BK. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Puzzle Project's 3rd Birthday!!
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On:
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Friday 12th September 2008
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At:
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CLUB 414 [map]
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From:
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21:00 - 07:00
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Cost:
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£10 B4 11pm £12 after / Conc £8 B4 12 £10 after / Advanced tcikets on £6 on DSI
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Website:
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www.puzzle-project.com
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Ticket Info:
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LIMITED TICKETS ONLY £6 on DSI
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More:
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We've only gone and bloody done it, haven't we? That's right, we've gone and done what a lot of parties can't manage by reaching our third year, which in this game sets us up to receive our freedom pass for the buses! If that isn't cause for a wee celebration, we're dumbfounded as to what is...
After 36 events, and over 288 hours of sheer hard partying, it's time we excelled even our own standards yet again with a line-up to blow the socks off our usual offering of top jocks! Some of you may have already heard who we've drafted in to take the controls for this landmark even, and thos who haven't better sit down before reading the following...
Realistically, we could never even consider having just one headline guest for this event so we haven't bothered. We've gone for all the 3s!
3 years on
3 headline acts
3 times the dance floor mayhem
Organ Donors have for a long time been a firm favourite with Puzzle Project, having been booked about as regularly as they get at the party. This time we invite them down to show off their latest creation in the shape of their new artist album on Tidy, “Old Skool Autopsy”! That’s right, Scott and Matt join us in Brixton longest serving hard dance venue as part of the eagerly anticipated launch tour. Word from resident Gordon Darley, who has already had the pleasure of hearing the album, is that this is going to blow your socks completely off with a genius blend of old skool classics with more upfront techno and European sounds. Don those white gloves and brace yourselves people…
Is it a bird? No... Is it a plane? Definitely not... Is it hard dance uber producer and scene legend, BK? Yes, actually it is and he to has a new album to show the world as we also play part in the launch tour for his new album “BK presents…The New Wave”.
We're on for one wild night with this one folks, as we invite possibly the biggest innovator the world of hard dance has ever seen to the 414. Just in case you need reminding, BK has been the Number 1 producer on the scene for well over 8 years, having been main nob-twiddler at Nukleuz. To say this man is the personification of class harder music would be the understatement of a life-time!
The last of our head liners is a familiar name on the world circuit. Well, lots of familiar names as it goes. Some of you may know him as Jurgen Vries, some as Angelic and Orion. All of us I'd imagine, know him as DT8 Project... That's right people, we bring to the 414 the shockingly talented Darren Tate! Darren has worked with more movers and shakers than the average man can count, from Judge Jules to Charlotte Church and has mixed compilation albums like Beyond Euphoria. All in all, he's been everywhere and done it all in the world of dance music and truly is a superstar….
We know that this is more than enough, but we still have more to keep you all occupied in the shape of Party Proactive breaks extraordinaire, and the boy your parents warned you about; Steelo, who is joined by Magnetix resident/co-promoter and DIFM’s Dean Zone to accompany residents Phil Lankester (aka Libra 9) with his signature Ableton psy-trance set, Ben Bennett who will be closing proceedings with his first laptop set of his trademark driving upfront hard trance (which is being recorded for Kiss FM!), trance and uplifting hard dance master Matt Church and the ever-handsome Gordon Darley who has some freshly signed material and all sorts of tough promos to unleash…
Be part of the Puzzle…
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Trance. Acid Trance. Euro Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Psy Trance. Nu NRG. Hi NRG. Techno. Breaks. Electro.
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DJ's:
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Organ Donors (“Old Skool Autopsy” album tour)
BK (“BK presents… The New Wave” album tour)
Darren Tate (Jurgen Vries / DT8 Project)
Steelo (Party Proactive)
Libra9 (aka Phil Lankester / resident)
Ben Bennett (Impact Digital / resident)
Matt Church (www.mattchurch.co.uk / resident)
Gordon Darley (iDJ / resident)
Dean Zone (Magnetix)
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Other Features By Tom Cypher:
Perfect Stranger Takes a Leap of Faith With His New Album
Marco Scherer's Patchwork 17
Lee Mortimer goes Loopy.
My Digital Enemy
Studio Talk with Organ Donors
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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