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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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Twist with a twist prevew: Let's meet The *Ting* and Tommy Four Seven
Reported by Annabel
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Submitted 22-10-04 16:22
Have you ever sprinkled pepper on a strawberry? It sounds bonkers, but try it? The pepper brings out the flavour and it tastes delicious. That’s exactly how I viewed the upcoming b2b set at ‘Twist with a Twist’ featuring The *Ting* and Tommy Four Seven. Surely the idea to combine Ting’s very hard and fast sounds with Tommy’s sumptuous electro funk was complete lunacy. But after I thought about it, I realised that if you put Tommy and *Ting* together you get hard electro and like strawberries and pepper, or better still champagne, that sounds truly scrumptious.
The *Ting* and Tommy Four Seven
In truth they both have lots in common. Not only are they both Twist residents, have names beginning with T, are blonde (for the moment at least), but both are incredibly versatile dj/producers who have never been before been interviewed for Harderfaster.
As such I was dying to know a little bit more about this 18 year old electro whizz kid, the infamous *Ting* and their decision to produce a hard electro tune together.
First I spoke to Tommy
You’re 18, you’ve only really started playing out from this year but you’ve already got yourself at least three residencies, playing in Ibiza, played at Wildchild, the main room at The Fridge had one of your tunes played on Radio One. How did you manage that?
I’ve been playing out since I was 14. Back then I was playing mainly break beat and Drum 'n Bass, but producing house and trance breaks. I was on numerous pirate stations and ran my own night. House music has always been my love, but being young, most people were into Drum n Bass just to get noticed. I stuck with it.
That was until a DJ/Producer called Hutch introduced me to Harderfaster. Since then, things just took off. I soon decided to focus on my true love Electro, House, Techno, and Breaks because Harderfaster allowed me to network with promoters. In a way it’s the classic send your demo in scenario, however I always make the effort to meet the promoter and check the night out. My first result of this was with Kurruption, now monthly at the Finbourough Arms in Earl's Court. It now hosts rooms for events such as Wildchild and Frantic.
However it was the demo I sent to Steve Darragh, promoter of Twist that really got me noticed. He gave me the opportunity to play a guest slot at Twist. Playing ‘Electro Tech,’ . I had a unique sound, which Steve was looking to push. Now Steve has devoted the sound of Room 2 to ‘Electro Tech,’ something that no other Hard Dance promotion has done before.
Tommy and his hat
What was the tune that got on Radio One? How old were you when you wrote it? How did you create then?
I was 14 when I wrote it and 15 when Judge Jules played it on his Radio 1 show. The funny thing was, I didn’t spend a penny to make the track.
I produced it on; my mate's Play-Station and his copy of a music programme called ‘Music 2000.’ Then with the use of my sister's TV, my parent's Hi-fi system I was away creating riff after riff, night after night. I gave a copy of one of the tracks to Jules and due to him endorsing the PS2 programme, he knew what it was all about and said he was amazed at what I had achieved and of course liking the track he played it on Radio 1 back in June 2002.
How did you feel to be offered a residency at Twist and Blast – a party where lots of djs would love to play?
I was really excited and still am to be given the chance to play what I want to an awesome crowd. Twist is full of open-minded people and is the best place for me to test out new sounds. Playing for Blast, was the first time I had ever played the Fridge. A club I had always wanted to play, so I was really appreciative of the opportunity I was given. It’s good to be a part of something that is looking to push new ideas and sounds.
What do your parents think of your music? Do they like it? Or did they always used to complain that you were always locked in your bedroom making music rather than studying?
My parents have been really supportive and yes I suppose in the last 5 years they have been constantly knocking at my door, shouting, ‘turn that racket down,’ but that’s mainly because they were concerned about my studies. However they do appreciate my music and sometimes give input on some of my productions.
On your profile it says you have already have over 1000 records. That’s quite a lot for someone of your age. How did you amass that many?
Buying records since the age of 13 allowed the large collection. Including Breaks, House, Techno, Tech-Trance, Drum ‘n' Bass, Trance ‘n’ Bass, and Electro.
You’re obviously very talented and ambitious. What would you like to see happen during the next 12 months?
Well I’m building my new studio at the mo and would like to collaborate with other DJs/producers, as well as producing other genres.
I have been offered a place to study music technology so depending on my situation next year I may take that. I would also like to see myself playing across the country and abroad, pushing my sound to as many people as possible.
As well being a sublime Dj The *Ting* is also known for her flamboyant personality and image. Has she tried to dye your hair pink and wax your eyebrows yet?
Pink hair I wouldn’t mind. Eyebrows; hmmmmmm
Thanks Tommy, now let's meet The *Ting*
You're very much known for a 'mix and match' style of djing in that your sets often combine a whole range of styles from hard trance, to freeform, breaks, tech house etc? Do you think more djs on the circuit should mix things up a bit?
I think djs should play their passion, if you don’t play what you love then you’ll be sending out the wrong energies, and that’s the part which really comes through in a set. For me at least.
The Furry *Ting*
You are most well known for playing fast and effervescent hard sets, but it's not all you play is it?
No aside from my current hard projects, and the tough electro thing with Tommy, I’m also involved in a vocal house project with Angie Brown and a few others called House Junkies and we run a monthly event called Casa which celebrates vocal house. Not only do I play melodic house I also sing live. It’s another friendly up for it party. I love it.
You're obviously incredibly creative and artistic. What else do you do to expense this energy?
I practice yoga and singing as much as I can, and I’m currently working in the studio with Sharkey, Ed Real, Greg Brookman, Ali Wilson and DMF as well as working on my own home studio at present.
You play on the fetish scene as well as the hard dance scene. How do the two scenes differ musically?
The fetish scene is obviously a lot more diverse as the main focus isn’t the music it’s the dressing up and ‘playing around’ that counts. This means that you can experiment more as people get into diversity instead of looking at you like you’re some kind of nutter.
You're about to play at HQ in the Netherlands this weekend with that rapskallion Ed Real and I hear you have a disco bus organized. Tell us about that?
The bus unfortunately will not be going to Holland as their bridges are too low! However it will be travelling around Europe early next year, the idea is to tour London Clubbing Proper and party at every capital and help promote peace through www.p10k.net and http://www.n2owar.net/I’m still very much looking forward to Amsterdam and will be singing live there as well as bouncing around like a total head case. How can I not!?
In a recent interview Ed Real said that if he entered an Extreme Djing competition his entry would include 'Getting smashed whilst piercing the old chap mid spinback'. What would yours be?
Throwing myself and the decks out of an airplane and mixing at 30,000 feet.
You've got so much energy and persona behind the decks that it is exhausting to watch. Were you a hyperactive child and did you get in to lots of trouble?
Not when I was really young, I was always enthusiastic but I didn’t start getting into trouble until I was 13 or 14, but then I kicked off proper! 
Are you a full-time Dj/producer now or do you have a proper job as well?
I have been a full time DJ/Producer/Label Manager etc since January 2000 working for the likes of Torture Garden and Cyberdog and since June last year I’ve just been working very hard on producing my own tracks, creating fabulous stage shows as well as running my new label Proactive Records with Paul Jack and Joanna McEwen. www.proactive-records.co.ukBowaiiii!
You've been known to turn up to play in anything from a ball grown to your bra. What's the most outrageous outfit you've worn?
I think the space woman outfit (see below) at the last Logic when I played b2b with Proteus, I knew something extra special had to come out of the bag for that one. BUT just wait for HQ! The new outfit is currently in the throws of creation from costumier Satia James.
Space Cadet *Ting* at Logic
No let's hear what they have to say about Twist with a twist
You've been in the studio together for the past few weeks cooking up a new audio treat? You're not the obvious pairing? How and why did you decide to produce together. Who's idea was it?
*TING*: Twist originally threw us in at the deep end, and frankly I was a little surprised. But I think now there is certainly room for a tough electro sound. Bringing in elements of techno to really toughen it up.
Tommy: Definitely surprised, but more excited. I love experimenting with sounds. Electro is becoming very diverse and playing with Ting means I get the opportunity to play the tougher stuff. We thought it would be interesting and appropriate to produce a track together.
*Ting* and Tommy head to head
What's the track called and how would you describe it?
*TING*: Industrial Machine and well f*ck me.
Tommy: See what I have to put up with in the studio. In other words it’s a Hard Electro track taking connotations from Hard Dance and Electro.
How did you go about creating it together; who did what and who bought the vodka?
*TING*: Hmmm government endorsed drugs, are out sista, bring on the nitrous! The main body of the track is down to Tommy and I have written the lyrics.
Tommy: Yes I like the distorted sound of nitrous.
Did you have any 'artistic' disagreements?
*TING*:Not yet, but I think we’re working on that now.
Tommy: INDEED!
Will you release it?
*TING*:That’s the plan.
Tommy: Bloody hope so.
I heard a rumour that *Ting* will be singing on this track? Is that true?
*TING*:It sure is and I’m very much looking forward to it. I love a good grungy, dirty sound and this certainly has one of those!
Tommy: Yup, and I’m defiantly looking forward to hearing the final outcome. Tings voice is quite unique.
Looking to the future
You're both residents at a weekly party - Is it hard having to playing fresh and interesting sets week in and week out?
*TING*: It would be if we stuck at the same time slots each week. Just moving around means you need to fit into a different sound each week anyway. That works for me!
Tommy: I have a more regular time slot, usually 8am-10am, as the flow after Lady Bianca works well. Im always tune searching and keeping tricks up my sleeve to make sets interesting. It also depends on the crowd, as it’s not always the same as the week before.
What would you say to someone who says that weekly residents just get complacent and play the 'same old sets' each week?
*TING*: Open your ears and listen!
Tommy: Music moves and so do the crowds.
You will be performing your new track at Twist with a Twist on Sunday in the main room when you play b2b. How do you think the normal main room crowd who are used to a hard sound will react to it?
*TING*: It will go down really well, mainly because it should be a bit diverse, but it also has a good groove to it. Bit funkier, people may need to try a different dance pattern perhaps.
Tommy: It’s the toughest electro track I have made and I think the response will be very positive. I’m very excited.
Why do you think Twist is able to pull in such a large and diverse crowd week in and week out? What's its secret?
*TING*:Fantastic sound, awesome lighting, excellent venue, and a friendly open environment where you are able to really let go.
Tommy: It’s one step ahead of other Hard Dance promotions.
Wow I can't wait. And you can catch this treat at Twist at Fire on 31st October
Thanks to Ben Bufton and Daf for photography.
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Other Features By Annabel:
Scot Project Album Launch Preview: Interview with S.H.O.K.K
Twisted’s Sixth Birthday Preview: Interview with Dave Parkinson, PrimeMover
A few days in the life of a Tidy Weekender Promotions Manager
Extreme Ironing: Ed Real goes one step beyond!
Interview with Pete Wardman in preparation for Blast at The Fridge on Saturday 14th where he joins his old mucker Ian M
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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for ya both. 
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