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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! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna |
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Lashed Preview 2: Interview with Charlotte Birch
Reported by Tom Allen
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Submitted 20-04-04 08:35
As we continue our interview sequence with the top female DJs in hard dance, we come to Charlotte Birch. Charlotte started DJing in 1996 then playing a mixture of funky house, disco and old classics which has evolved over the years into her current hard driving style which sees her playing at top UK clubs Sundissential, the upcoming Lashed and Dropzone. Charlotte's first production, 'Gladiator,' on Bulletproof records, proved a massive hit among the hard dance faithful, went on to reach number 11 in the Massive Dance Chart and was played on Radio 1. Read on for more.
Charlotte, you're generally regarded as one of the top names in the hard house scene - how did it all start for you? When did you first get into DJ’ing and how did your career develop in the early days?
I began djing in 1996 when I used to go to all the raves like Amnesia house, Vision, Mythology and Spectrum. My mate Ryan was a rave Dj and I used to go everywhere with him and watch on the stage in awe! On a couple of occasions he didn't get paid and the promoters were always disappearing and he got p*ssed off with paying for vinyl and petrol and not getting paid. So one day he said that was is and he was selling the lot. I was gutted that I wouldn't be able to go on them and suddenly thought why don't I buy them!!! I started playing out almost straight away and got my 1st residency at Bakers on Broad St Bham. The rest is history!!
Your first career was as a professional model... are there any times that you wish you'd stuck at it or is DJing professionally a better profession to be in? What similarities and what differences are there?
I lost my modelling job because of my Djing!! I was up at 5am every morning driving miles north and south and then up all weekend Djing. Lateness, tiredness, weight loss all took their toll and I couldn't keep it up. They sacked me for being too skinny and all the samples used to hang off me. This was just as my Djing career really started to take off. The only similarities really were the 1000's of miles travelling.
Does it concern you that as a result of this kind of promotion you might be booked for a set based on your appearance rather than the music that you play?
I really don't think I could get away on looks alone behind the decks. I am aware of being a girl in a notoriously male world, however I am a perfectionist behind the decks and take great pride in my production. There is no room in my world for dodgy mixing or sh*t tunes. I think I can hold my own against the boys in fact I'm better than a lot!!!! If people say I'm booked purely on appearance its bullsh*t.
We're seeing increasing numbers of female DJs both at the 'up and coming' and established levels. What is it that you think has drawn both new female DJs into the scene and made promoters more likely to book them?
I think the sudden influx of female Dj's is a result of clubbers seeing the girls doing it on the decks and them thinking I can do that. Fairplay to them all. There were hardly any girls around when I started apart from the original Lashes, Savage etc. So I do think there may have been a certain amount of novelty factor back then. I think female Djs are the norm now and only the good ones will survive as with the boys.
Picture thanks to hardhouse.co.nz
What do you think it takes to succeed as a female DJ today? Do you think it's easier for a female DJ to succeed in this industry or tougher? Has that always been the case?
It may have been easier years ago as I said before females were few and far between, however I have noticed that I do play at a lot of all female line ups now. Girls night are becoming more and more popular. I don't think its easier to be a female DJ. You have to work harder to build up your credability and get taken seriously.
You had plans last year to launch your own clothing label - what happened with that?
My plans to launch my own clubwear label got a bit sidetracked due to a couple of suppliers letting me down. My designs are still in place and I still plan to do that. My record label "Dropzone Recordings" finallly got off the ground. We have had the first release signed to 4 albums already and we are very busy with that. I'm in the process of taking on more staff to release me to concentrate on the clothing, so watch this space!!
Your main residency is of course Dropzone, which you help run your brother James. It's the 2nd birthday this weekend - did you ever think it would get this far and what do you have planned for the birthday celebrations?
Dropzone the club is run by me and my husband Gaz James. It has gone from strength to strength. It all happened when I decided to have a birthday party at Sofa Sofa and 1000 people turned up!! It certainly wasn't planned and I never expected it to turn into a succesful night. Now we're celebrating our 2nd birthday and record label launch party at our new venue Hidden. To celebrate we are giving away copies of our 1st release, launching a DJ competition on the night to win main set at Dropzone and have got magazines doing shoots and entertainers coming down. Its expected to be very busy.
Have you been in the studio recently? If so who with and what have you been working on?
I certainly have! I've just finished a track with Ingo called "Get Down" which I was going to put out on Dropzone, but I think it maybe used on something else but I can't really talk about that at the moment. Also I have finished another track with Colin Barratt called "We got the Green" which is awesome. Bit trancier than I normally go for but it is so powerful and sounds better every time I hear it. It almost sounds famous and anthemic already.
You're style has evolved from funky to hard house. How would you describe the style that you're playing today? Do you still mix funky house or any other genres still?
I don't play funky any more, I maybe planning an exclusive funky set at Dropzone in the not too distant future. My style at the moment is technoy hard dance. I still like to play hard but I would definitely say my production and sets have an element of techno.
Do you regularly incorporate techno into your DJ sets? How do you see techno fitting into the music played in hard dance clubs?
I definitely see techno filtering into hard dance clubs. My husband has just finished a wicked track with Colin Barratt. Its proper techno and I will defintely be playing it at Sundissential. A lot of the stuff I play is tecno percussion with a hard house bassline. Its definitely the way forward.
You mixed the second album from Sundissential a year or so ago - how was that experience for you and did it have a significant effect on improving your profile?
The sundissential album was a great honour to mix. It definitely helped raise my profile. At the end of the day I played my very first hard house set a Sundissential so it was great to be asked to be involved on the album. I am still signing the inserts now. I signed one in Adelaide not so long ago so that was quite nice to know it was being played on the opposite side of the globe.
What do you do to relax when not DJing or in the studio?
When I'm not djing I'm addicted to the dance mat!!I went down to star city (cinema complex) and there were loads of people round the machine. I went on and did loads of levels on maniac and kicked all the teenagers off it!!! I'm also addicted to Spot the difference machines. I reckon I must have put about 500 quid in the one at my local pub but I have got all ten top scores!! Sad but true!
What do you consider to have been the highlight of your DJing career so far and why? Are there still any particular ambitions that you have as regards places you'd most like to play or DJs you'd most like to play with?
The Street Parade in Rotterdam was propbably the highlight, I think there were over 40,000 people lining the streets. They were hanging out of all the windows of every building. There were people as far as the eye can see but my decks were on springs and I had a 10k sound system on the back and about 30 people dancing on the lorry which was pretty hard!! I had a security guy hanging onto each deck to stop me needle jumping!!
Are you booked to play any of the major festivals this year?
I'm not doing any outdoor festivals. I was supposed to be doing the Polysexual arena at Global Gathering but I'm back in Australia. I do Holland quite regularly for HQ, 4 Elements and Street parade. They're not really festivals but they're normally about 20,000 people. And I did an 8000 people rave called Helter Skelter in Sydney in Feb.
Which of the current crop of up and coming DJs and producers has caught your ear recently as offering something special?
I think Tara Reynolds is good. I played her track "Mercy" loads. She's definitely got girl power!
We're going to see you down in London soon with the imminent launch of 'Lashed' at S.E.One. What have you heard about this party and what do you have in store for us?
I'm well looking forward to Lashed in london. I have seen loads of promotion for this event but it will be my debut for Lashed. Loads of new stuff to play and probably will get Lashed afterwards with Lisa!! Look forward to seeing you there.
Finally Charlotte, what do you regard as your top 3 tracks of all time?
SJ - Fever - Tony de Vit mix on React
Paul King - Odyssey - Full on
Pants and Corset - Jealous Bitch - Overload
Thanks Charlotte for your time
LASHED in London
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On:
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Sunday 2nd May 2004
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At:
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S.E.One [map]
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From:
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8pm - 6am
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Cost:
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500 Early Bird Tickets £12.50 +bf / £17.50 +bf thereafter / VIP Packages Available
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Website:
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www.djlisalashes.com
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Ticket Info:
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500 Early Bird Tickets: £12.50 +bf
Standard tickets: £17.50 +bf
VIP Packages Available.
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Press Release & Club Listing
Courtesy of Frantic
GET LASHED – LIVE in LONDON – Sunday 2nd May, 2004
SEONE, Stainer & Weston Street, London – 8pm till 6am
Ultimately the most outrageous, excessive, intense and extreme event to hit London in years! With over
3,000 of the world's maddest clubbers, more than 40 DJs and 3 LIVE PAs, this is 10 hours and 6 rooms of NEXT LEVEL clubbing! This is the one and only upfront underground dance event you will never have experienced before! Are you ready to GET LASHED IN LONDON?!
After last year's groundbreaking opening season in Ibiza and the massive 3,000+ road-blocked Xmas Reunion at the Emporium in the Midlands, Lashed is on fire and going global!! We have rocked the world from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Liverpool and Shanghai to Beijing, Seoul, Miami, New York and Boston, and now we are thrilled to bring you the record-breaking Lashed in London on Bank Holiday Sunday, 2nd May, 2004!
This event is the very first Lashed event in London for 2004 and will be filmed and recorded live for Lisa Lashes’ forthcoming DVD & album release – Lashed around the World! Be a part of the biggest night to be remembered! We are making history; be there and join in the experience that is Lashed!
Main Room – Lashed
Providing the main soundtrack to this amazing event is the crème de la crème of hard house DJs. Everyone’s favourites and then some and, for the first time ever in 2004, the two best PAs in the scene playing under one roof! It doesn’t get much better than this…
LISA LASHES
BK
ANNE SAVAGE
LAB 4 Live
K90 Live
PAUL GLAZBY
GUFFY
A-STAR
NEIL APPEAL
Room 2 – Girls…Girls…Girls!
This room is solely dedicated to the finest UK female DJs in the hard dance scene. Boys, be afraid, be very afraid as this room is going to give it to you the only way these girls know how….hard, fast and very dirty!
VERY SPECIAL GUEST
CAROLINE BANX
TARA REYNOLDS
CHARLOTTE BIRCH
DONNA BIRT
LUFY FUR
ZANA MILLS
THE *TING*
Room 3 – Ibiza Reunion & Meet-Up for 2004!
If you have been, seen and got the t-shirt from the beautiful white isle of Ibiza over the years, then this is the place to be! Providing cool summertime vibes and funky house classics from seasons past as well as future soundtracks and anthems of the coming season, we give you a little ray of sunshine from the cats that do it best!
VERY SPECIAL GUEST
VERY SPECIAL GUEST
FILTHY RICH
MOOSE
GRIFF
Room 4 – Frantic NuBreed
With Frantic fully supporting the underground scene of new and up-and-coming DJs, we have provided a room for the NuBreed to show off and show you why they are the hot favourites for 2004.
ANDY WHITBY
ALI WILSON
RICHARD LAUNCH
GEORGE E
SHAF DE BASS
TIN TIN b2b CRAIG PAXTON
SIMON RUTHERFORD
PAUL REEVES b2b PAUL HENRY
TONY P
BEN YONG
Room 5 & 6 - VIP Lounge
This strictly ticket-only, Willy Wonka-style VIP lounge plays host to an orgy of champagne, canapés, a separate bar, comfortable leather sofas, private toilets, and one-off DJ sets, including a live performance from Canada’s version of the Cuban Brothers vs Fatboy Slim, but without the nakedness!
Information:
500 early-bird tickets now on sale for only £12.50+BF; standard tickets priced at £17.50+BF (more on the door).
Frantic Office - 07949 618 035 / Lashed Office - 07866 316 796
www.lashedworld.com, www.djlisalashes.com, www.franticuk.com, www.nukleuz.com
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Flyer:
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Other Features By Tom Allen:
Hardhouse Academy Preview: Interview with Nuw Idol
The Thirsty DJs Interview with DJChewy
Interview with Nick Rafferty
Interview with Jana
PhilTime Preview: Interview with Phil Reynolds
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: Stevie on 20th Apr 2004 08:48.17
Great interview Tom, but I reckon you shouldve asked her how much having her tits and arse hanging out in the publicity shots improves her DJ skills  :
From: King Boogie on 20th Apr 2004 09:28.10
"Possibly one of the most, uh, dramatic picture disks that we've seen was the Sundissential one with you clad only in underwear pushing a hooveraround..."
Where's the answer? More to the point, where's the picture?!
And what exactly did you mean by "Was there any fallout as a result"? I hope you weren't talking about her babylons.
Other than that, good interview. Altho it has left me a little confused as to the nature of her relationship with Gaz James - surely it ain't legal in the Midlands to marry your brother?
From: Zi on 20th Apr 2004 10:22.10
Good luck to her and all, but I don't care what anyone thinks, if it weren't for her looks I don't think this interview would've materialised. And the pic disc is probably one of the best one I have.
From: Tom Allen on 20th Apr 2004 11:08.29
KB - James Birch is Charlotte's brother, Gaz James is her husband 
From: Miss BPM on 20th Apr 2004 12:15.39
Wicked review! Charlotte Birch is brilliant! Nice one!
Pure talent and sexy too!!  she played a BLINDER the last time she played X-Static!! 
From: Barne on 20th Apr 2004 15:07.16
Nice set of pic's and a nice interview to go with them
keep up the good work Tom and ofcourse you Charlotte Birch
too
barne
From: maddog-E on 20th Apr 2004 15:18.44
Good interview and all the best for the future Charlotte....
Keep on stomping...What picture disc???
From: Hannah Wild on 20th Apr 2004 21:58.17
Top banana!! Am playing alongside Charlotte on Friday!!! 
From: Paul Henry on 21st Apr 2004 09:49.54
Was this interview in the flesh? You must have loved that!
From: Stevi D on 21st Apr 2004 15:21.52
Nice review, nice view, looking fwd to seen you in London sometime.....
From: Busta on 22nd Apr 2004 14:43.15
its all good , innit
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