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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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Interview with Weirdo
Reported by Leía
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Submitted 19-07-02 11:17
Dom Harding, whom most of you will know as ‘Weirdo’ but also works under the following pseudonymys Airhead - Tonkin', Butch & Sundance - Shock, Redemption, Disco Outlaws -Tinrib, Yelmo - Redemption, Klanga -Redemption, Chac - Duty Free, Dr Strangelove - BPM Holland.
His debut album "I'm In Touch with Your World" grew stronger and stronger by word of mouth after it's initial release. 2 years on, emails are still being received at Tinrib HQ by people feeling they should get in contact, expressing that the Weird One has really 'touched their world'.
The master mind behind producing some of the greatest toonz this century  - I had great pleasure in finding out a little more about the Weird One.
Leía: Dom - you’re a drummer for various groups including rock, easy and jazz bands plus you've been making dance music for the last 10 years, evolving from techno, rave and house to what it is now. Have you always made a living by playing in bands and making dance music and what would you be doing if you weren’t making music?
Dom Harding: For too long I was a graphic designer and I guess I’d still be doing that if I wasn’t making music. It was better than doing a proper job I suppose, just moving shapes and colours around.
L: I’ve read that you're into bands such as Thin Lizzy, Zeppelin, Bacharach, Ronnie Aldritch and his 2 pianos. How do you incorporate your tastes in music into achieving the mystical, emotional and twisted ‘Weirdo’ sound and who inspires you with regards to making dance music?
DH: Mystical – like that! I do like all sorts of stuff but it all overlaps. A lot of rock and dance isn’t that different after all one uses guitars, the other uses synths. A lot of it comes down to good riffs – that’s half the battle. I still like Zeppelin and other old rockers like Neil Young, but anything from a good lyric or vocal or even the mood a track has can inspire me.
L: The tracks that you’ve recorded under other aliases have elements of the classic ‘Weirdo’ sound: when you make a tune what specific elements of it makes you decide if it’s going to be a ‘Weirdo’ track rather than it being produced under a different alias? How is a ‘Weirdo’ tune different from tunes on the other labels?
DH: Weirdo tunes are usually a bit more twisted and a bit fiercer. I’m a Gemini with a bit of an alter ego so I dip into the dark side more for weirdo tracks. I like writing a mixture of stuff – I’d go a bit bonkers writing just weirdo toons all the time – need a bit of light and shade and all that.
L: What piece of equipment/instrument could you not live without and is absolutely needed for making the ‘Weirdo’ sound ?
DH: Other than my kettle it's got to be the JP8000. It cuts thru the mix better than any other bit of kit I’ve got and ends up doing the main riffs on most tracks.
L: Which track you've produced so far is your personal favourite? What makes it your favourite?
DH: Tricky one - still pretty pleased with Curva, although I am thinking of doing some new mixes someday. More recently “I know a plaice” has got a good feel to it and I still like “Get on the floor” just cos it’s a bit different from typical weirdo tunes.
L: Which producers in the scene do you have the most respect for?
DH: I’m really crap at remembering who’s who and who wrote what but Signum always produce class tunes. De Nero, Andy Farley, K90 and of course Captain Tinrib always impress as well.
L: Can we expect to see any more collaborations between yourself and other producers apart from Tinrib ones and whom would you most like to work with?
DH: Nothing on the books for definite at present, at least not as Weirdo. I work in such a bizarre way I don’t know if anyone else would tolerate being in the studio with me. I collaborate on slightly softer stuff but the Weirdo approach is to chuck a load of ideas at the wall and see what sticks and to anyone listening it’s a pretty messy business.
L: Have you always been a ‘techie’ ? How important is it in dance music?
DH: As with most people I suppose, I have a love/hate relationship with computers and technology in general. The more sophisticated it all gets the more chances there are for it all to screw up. That’s why I used an Atari for so long. People widen their eyes when I tell them all the first and half the second albums were recorded using a fifteen year old 1040. Its getting the balance right between using equipment to help the process rather than slow it down. It’s good ideas that count more than being up on all the latest gear.
L: Do you think it is important for a producer to be a DJ, because of how dance music is constantly changing? Having asked that, you do not DJ, apart from the occasional live PA, what do you do to keep up with the changing styles in music being played in clubs?
DH: I’ve got a few mates that DJ so I get some hot tips off them from time to time. Other than that I just do me own thang. Obviously I keep my ears open but I’m not consciously trying to keep up with what’s going on in clubs all the time. If a tracks good it’ll last regardless of whether its using all the latest sounds or little tricks.
L: Is there a fine line between DJ’s and Producers?
DH: Yeah. Its all about knowing how to make sounds work well together and in that way I think most successful DJ’s are pretty musical. Sure, they might not know the techie stuff so much but that’s really only a small part of making good dance tunes anyway.
L: There is a lot of talk that the Live PA’s on the scene at present are not truly playing live. What are your feelings on this and do you think the scene needs more Live PA’s?
DH: I’m no fan of getting on stage and miming to a DAT so I think there has to be a bit of live interaction between the performer and equipment. Again, it’s getting the balance right. I think it can be just as dangerous to try and do too much live as it is to do too little. I used to play a full drum kit live during P.A.s in the early days. I must have been mad. I couldn’t hear anything, least of all the click track. It went down alright tho’, I think people must have appreciated the effort!
L: How did you hear about Tinrib? What was it about Tinrib that made you decide to send your demo, Curva Peligrosa.
DH: I heard Tinrib from a cover CD on WAX a few years back and instantly liked the sound. It just seemed a natural choice to send them a demo.
L: Was CP the first track you ever produced or was it just the first track that you submitted to a label ?
DH: No, I had my first release a couple of years before Curva on BPM Holland with a tuff little trancer called “I want you” and I’d been sending out demos for years – no overnight success story I’m afraid.
L: How long did it take you to make Curva Peligrosa? Was much of the original altered once released?
DH: It was on the desk for quite a while and went thru a complete overhaul at one stage. As I remember, we (Jon and me) chopped out 4 bars in the middle but other than that it's as on the original DAT recorded in my lounge!
L: Was there anything specific going on in your life at the time CP was being made that influenced the way it came to sound? And what does it mean anyway ?
DH: In between version 1 and 2 I went to Mexico and that must’ve helped things along a bit. Unfortunately I cant afford to do that for every track! Curva Peligrosa actually means Dangerous Curves in Spanish. I saw it on a road sign in Mexico...
L: How much of your success do you attribute to being signed to Tinrib early on ? Do you think you would have achieved the same degree of success if you were signed to another label ?
DH: Who knows?! I think the Weirdo vibe suits Tinrib really well and vice versa and I’ve certainly no regrets signing with them – they’re good guys.
L: How much has producing for Tinrib influenced the Weirdo sound ?
DH: Its meant I’ve kept things pretty tough but other than that I just do what I do. I think Jon (Captain Tinrib) and I have both got our own individual sound but we’re definitely on the same wavelength.
L: How much say do you have in how and what gets released?
DH: Well certainly for the last few releases it’s been a case of when the tracks are ready they get released – simple as that!
L: Do you draw much influence from current ‘hard dance’ club music or from elsewhere ?
DH: Yeah, I listen to a fair bit of dance stuff but any old music can give you a spark to feed off. I’m listening to the Beach Boys at the moment – might do a track called “bad vibrations” – not really.
L: Your views on the different labels popping up at the moment. Do you find there is more quantity than quality?
DH: Its tough for labels to survive, particularly right now, so unless the emphasis is on quality, they won’t be around for long.
L: Apart from doing the occasional Live Weirdo PA, where else would one be able to see you play live? What about being able to see you as drummer in one of your bands?
DH: Mysterylands & Dance Valley – Netherlands. Couple of out of town gigs coming up. 26th July I’m at Lunartick at the Albert Tavern, South Parade on Portsmouth Pier (!) then next day , 27th July, I’m in Bristol at Lakota. Should be back at Superfish at the Fridge later this year as well. The last drumming gig I did was at a christening in essex in a tent in a garden. Yeah, rock ‘n roll.
L: On your ideal weekend night out, where would you be heading? Do you even go clubbing??
DH: I do go clubbing a bit to see mates play and stuff. Other than that, if I’m not in the studio I might try and get out of town for a couple of days. I do like the seaside.
L: How does it make you feel, with regards to the emails that are sent to you by people letting you know in much detail, (some explicit) how your music makes them feel?
DH: Honestly, I love it! Some people get it and some don’t – that’s fine. I do try to put a bit of emotion in there and if people pick up on that then great.
L: Last but not least, did you foresee the impact you’d have on the clubbing scene?
DH: Yep – it came to me in a vision! No, not really, and there’s still a long way to go yet.
L: Think that's about all from us... thanks for your time Dom.
DH: Thanks for having me.
Relevant Links:
Tinrib site
Weirdo artist page
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Other Features By Leía:
Interview with Grant Thomson
Toasted Frog Interview
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: James Jaye on 25th Jul 2002 16:44.12
Mystery Tour is a quality tune!
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