You're unlikely to meet anyone who's on the run as much as Ross March, aka Liquid Ross. He takes the old cliche of living, sleeping and breathing dance music and asks for a triple round, with a lavish chaser of visionary art.
Having just helped put together an epic line-up for the Liquid Stage in the Psychedelic Village at this year's Glade Festival, he's also actively involved in Boom, Cosmo, Sunrise and Waveform Festivals. Basically, if Ross isn't at a festival this summer, then it probably isn't worth going to. On top of all this, he runs his own event, Elixir of Life with Shane Gobi, which celebrates visionary art alongside the best in underground dance music. With the Easter Bank Holiday edition of Elixir almost upon us, we caught up with the man who's so hard to slow down...
You're considered something of an institution in the UK dance scene. For the few randoms reading this who don't know you, please give us a quick run down on how you started DJing, putting on parties and running one of the world's top psy trance labels?
Ummm (looks to find last interview where I was asked this...), I started DJing in my student days, at the Student Union and then very soon at the Kent warehouse parties, playing a very eclectic blend of breaks, Goa, psybreaks, techno, acid techno and all sorts, as well as hosting regular Sunday meltdowns for friends and trip heads in Kent. By 2000 I’d started taking it a bit more seriously.
Your music has changed and evolved over the years. How would you describe what you play now compared with what you'd spin 10 years ago?
In essence I think it’s still got quite a similar mood, pace and vibe, just different artists, although I still play the likes of Eat Static, System 7 and still like dropping a few breaks into trance sets, as I was doing more than 10 years ago. I play the odd alternative set these days, and I’m still not sure how to define the content… I’ve been seeking advice on this!
Liquid Records recently celebrated its birthday and you then made the decision to move away from running the label. Given that you've been nurturing and developing it for over a decade, what inspired you to move on to new things?
I moved on from Liquid Records without making a public drama as it got to the point where no-one could effectively manage it and the affairs of the artists who we were responsible for, due to there not being enough time in the day and/or money to fund a label manager to help deal with all that is needed to run a label. After a month of actually moving on, I met up with my partner in Liquid and long-time friend from college, James, and we decided to make changes in the company to allow for employed management. And now it seems the label is very quickly on the up again, and I'm prouder and more excited than ever about the releases in the pipeline!
You must be one of the hardest working guys in the dance scene and are usually juggling a number of projects at any given time. What's taking up your time at the moment?
I generally spend my time at the Ritzy in Brixton, InSpiral in Camden, the other Camden place opposite the cinema – I can't believe I’ve been in there for a year and haven't worked out its name, hehe – running most of my projects and things from my little laptop. I’m always busy, I do a lot of random small marketing jobs for music-related businesses and some really random clients too. Events include the re-awaking of The Synergy Project, co-running a visionary arts gallery and working on a permanent gallery space, Elixir of Life events, programming the line-ups for many festivals in the UK and some overseas, reading a lot and getting back into running – which I guess technically in not yet taking up my time, but is on my mind hehe! I'm also restoring a rare piece of musical nostalgia and history from the broken body upwards.
In addition to playing and putting on parties, you've started dabbling in the world of visionary art. The first Elixir of Life event celebrated the work of visionary US artist Android Jones, you then put on up_rize at the end of last year and recently emanations at the inSpiral Lounge. What lead you down this path? Given that the UK art scene is considered quite conservative and a difficult nut to crack, do you think the visionary art by the likes of Android Jones and Emma Watkinson has a place here?
There is a thriving unknown scene in the UK that is largely set apart from the trance or psychedelic scene, and there is definitely space for a bridge to be build (or a portal maybe) and potentially a floating pontoon in the clouds. When I was in college the work of Alex Grey inspired loads of us, and I've been very touched by visionary arts since then. I think the current party scene needs to embrace the arts like it used to back in the ’90s and early 2000. I'm not one to sit round and complain about what is not happening, I guess I always wanted to help create what I would want to see myself (insert Gandi quote!). Meeting Emma Watkinson last year was amazing as we found the missing part in all our stories and having her on board with Elixir and Emanations Visionary Arts had just bought things to the next level. Watch this space for the next instalment…
If I knew absolutely nothing about visionary art, which artists and events should I check out?
Personally I love the work of Amanda Sage, Martina Hoffmann, Emma Watkinsn and Alex Grey, and for a more psychedelic vision, Luke Brown.
While the visionary art at Elixir gives the party a real psychedelic edge, you also book some incredible DJs and producers to play. Please talk us through the line-up of your Easter eggstravaganza.
This is our fourth Elixir and we still struggle to decide on line-ups and generally go for the artists we think are the best, whether they’re new or old or known or unknown. Etnica was the best set I saw at a festival in 2011. Slinky Wizard we’ve been talking about for a long time, and working closer with George and Flying Rhino meant it was going to happen. We tried at the Twisted party back in 2006 but sadly he had to cancel, so this really is the first exclusive old school Slinky Wizard set! Banco de Gaia, The Egg, Slackbaba, Ans... not sure how to explain, but to me it all makes perfect sense.
The NYE Elixir of Life encountered a few logistical challenges. Aside from the new venue, what changes have you put in place to ensure the Easter event runs a lot more smoothly?
Logistical challenges? Remind me to ask you to be a copy writer for us hehe! April is certainly not New Year’s Eve so we’re not expecting the influx of people we had at NYE. We’ll have two security teams clicking the door for a slick body count, plus the venue we’re using is not still under construction, so we’re actually getting what we’ve paid for.
It's safe to say you're embracing the digital age, with a number of events and labels seeking out your digital marketing prowess. What tips to do have for DJs and promoters reading this to get ahead? Or is it all top secret?
As Jean Luc Picard would say, "engage!" Don't just shout and sell your product, listen to your audience and be human and humble, unless you really are a superhero. Speak to people, make new friends, and if you’re short of time, learn to use Twitter on the go, and use the automatic tools for it to update news on your other pages. Enjoy it. Make the most of all that is free – and it really is all free!
You're playing at this year's Cosmo Festival, which you're also helping promote. With Cosmo celebrating its third birthday this year, why should readers come to the party?
It really has a true underground feeling and massive diversity in trance sounds. The ticket cost makes it more assessable to the current trance party head, and Paul Bacon is heading the production with a capital P! Expect the sharpest sword of safety. Also Hypnocoustics are playing, best thing since sliced bread.
You're also heavily involved with promoting Boom Festival, which would have to be one of the world's biggest trance parties. Being a seasoned Boomer, what tips to you have for newbies preparing to embark on the adventure?
Boom is probably the most amazing festival I have ever been to. The level of art and production and diversity and consciousness, it’s jaw-droppingly inspiring. To be honest, I wanted to cry when I had to leave the festival in 2010. It’s a hot and harsh climate so eat and drink well, have some Acai every morning and loads of water – but do enjoy the hedonism too, if that's your thing.
You started the year in Brazil and have also had a stint in Goa. As someone who spends so much time on the road, what are the three things you don't leave home without?
Books, with a balance of fiction, non-fiction and educational. I try to unplug from the internet as much as possible while overseas or on holiday and I find books one of the easiest ways. My iphone4 for its camera, music player and Wifi, not for talking as I spend as much time not talking on a phone as possible. A suitcase with wheels – never again will I carry a heavy rucksack through hot countries and cities.
What would you consider the highlight of your career so far? And what goals do you still have for the future?
Tough one that, probably creating the Liquid Connective back in 2000 as that lead to so so much for me and so much more for maybe others. Working an office job last year as I was so proud that I was actually employable!
What, to you, is the elixir of life?
It was something that came to me when I was seven years old playing on a Commadore 64 computer but began to understand a bit more a bit later in life. I'm still unsure to be honest but I am seeking lots of advice from some serious amazing people. The journey continues.
Where do you hope to take the Elixir of Life brand in the future?
I've always liked the idea of Southend or Slough and Shane is quite into the idea of Peterborough or Maidenhead, but we’re still looking for the perfect venue to settle in and grow from. We’ve budgets being offered to us from festivals and connections from overseas events, none of which we’ve decided to accept or do we know if we ever will do. After the Easter Bank Holiday party, our next confirmed event in the last Saturday of October in lovely London
What else do you have planned for the rear of the year?
So so much. Loads of festivals, including Sunrise, Glade, Tree of Life, Cosmo, Sol, Waveform, Boom... a complete month off life in August, opening an art gallery in September, a bit more running and better health, eBay my Star Wars figures, finding out the RAL code for Blueroom blue, getting a new phone, a new monthly psychedelic night in south London, and some other stuff.
If a movie was made of your life, who would play the staring role?
Probably Charlton Heston. He always ends up in something epic on a horse being chased by gorillas with guns and finding a half submerged Statue of Liberty at the end on a beach… I can kind of relate to this. But he's dead so maybe I should consider someone else. Batman or maybe my good friend Aliji, although I was told by a Tibetan monk that his Scottish accent is too strong for English class. On a serious note, probably A Guy Called Gerald.
Images courtesy of Ross March. Not to be reproduced without permission.
KOXBOX
SLINKY WIZARD
ETNICA
MASTERBLASTERS
Beardy WEARDY
BANCO DE GAIA
THE EGG
ZUBZUB
FRANK E
SLACKBABA
M-THEORY
GEORGE BARKER
ANS
Shane Gobi GRANTLY
LIQUID ROSS
JUSTIN CHAOS
JOSKO
Andy Force HUGO
MILLI MOONSTONE
Gates open 12 noon Friday 1 June, music starts 2pm
Cost:
Phase II tickets £60 until end of March; Phase III tickets £76 until the end of May; £85 on the gate.
Weekend Passes: Saturday to Monday: Adv: £50 +bf; At the gate: £60; Sunday to Monday - Adv: £22.50 + B.F; At the Gate: £30
Cosmo Festival is the UK’s only purely psychedelic electronic music festival. This gathering of the tribes began in 2009 with a vision to create self-awareness and joy through dance. We are celebrating our third anniversary from 1–4 June 2012 with a cornucopia of world famous musicians, fire performers, workshops, healing therapists, market stalls, restaurants, licensed bars and lots more going on to keep you thrilled and entertained – over three nights of camping in a beautiful southern country location surrounded by panoramic views.
At Cosmo, the Main Stage is designed for you to visualise and enjoy the intelligent depths of psychedelic trance: twilight, forest, full-on, groovy full-on, Goa and progressive. We’ve handpicked a fine selection of live artists from all over the globe, including Kox Box (DK), Flooting Grooves (SA), Electrypnose (CH), Grouch (NZ), Arjuna(IT), Sensient (AU), Hoodwink (UK), Tantrix (UK/IT), Ianuaria (AT), Digitalian (JP), Annoyingninjas (DK), Deviant Species (UK) – and many more.
Hosted by Planet Bob’s+Chai Emporium, the Lunar Stage presents you with a unique feast of eclectic international talent from the realms of progressive, house, minimal techno, chillout, ambient and acoustic. Australian label Zenon Records will be showcasing the likes of One Tasty Morsel, Reactant and Pspiralife – all making their UK debuts – and there’s rare live sets from Aes Dana (FR), ISHQ (UK), Radioactive Cake (DE), Sattyananda (IN), Hypogeo (IT)[b] and [b]De Fuego (HU/ESP) as well as local legends like Lemon Tree, Kained & Able, Sprocket, Liquid Ross, Spindrift, Mr Mush, Lorraine, Andy Force and many more.
This year for our third anniversary we’re extremely happy to announce the introduction of a third stage in association with our good friends at Jacks House. Featuring the perfect summer soundtrack to chill to in the sun with your friends, Jacks-house Stage will cover underground house, electro, minimal, tech-house and all things in between to give another dimension to this celebration of electronic music.
But Cosmo is not just all about the music. The beginning of a world consciousness is dawning and a new realisation of our cultural roots as human beings has begun. With our extended capacity brings more décor, visionary art, workshops, documentary films, fire performances and a healing area for the body and soul.
Cosmo 2012 is also very excited to see a momentous change in our festival's age group profile. Children under 12 will be allowed at the festival for free when accompanied by adult parent/guardian. Children between the ages of 12-18 are not allowed to attend Cosmo Kids Zone will feature games, performances, crafts workshops, circus performances and many more fun family activities. Detailed info for children's entry procedures and helpful tips for parents will be up on our website very soon...
With the economic downturn affecting everyone, we’re keeping our ticket sales as low as we can in 2012. Our Phase II saver tickets are just £60 until the end of March and Phase III are £76 until the end of May!
❖ CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
❖ LECTURES & WORKSHOPS
❖ VISIONARY ART EXHIBITION & WORKSHOPS
❖ ART INSTALLATIONS
❖ HEALING AREA
❖ FOOD MARKET
❖ MARKET STALLS
❖ INDEPENDENT MOVIE CINEMA SPACE
❖ FIRE SHOWS BY PROFESSIONAL FIRE TROOPS
❖ FACE PAINTING
❖ DRUMMING CIRCLE
❖ MULTIMEDIA AREA Featuring VJ shows & documentaries
► COSMO KIDS AREA ►
❖ KIDS ARTS & CRAFTS WORKSHOPS
❖ KIDS DESIGNED PERFORMANCES
❖ CIRCUS STAND UP"S
❖ KIDS ZONE
❖ INTERACTIVE GAMES#
From: Jessica Alicion 2nd Apr 2012 20:27.20 Nice interviews guys Good work Tara & Ross
From: Cosmo Festivalon 21st Apr 2012 22:11.19 Looking forward to having you play at Cosmo 2012!
From: Anu Shuklaon 23rd Apr 2012 19:16.12 awesome interview tara and a great depiction of one of the psytrance scene's favourite DJs and characters! ;-)
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Good work Tara & Ross 
