Behind the circular saw: we interview Vicious Circle’s head honcho — Paul Glazby
Reported by MostwantedJonathan
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Submitted 22-07-05 17:37
Vicious Circle is without doubt one of the UK’s leading harder edge labels, headed up by some of the scene’s more dedicated people. Paul Glazby, Ben Stevens and Kate Hammond are responsible for all things Vicious, and are behind the very in your face I Love VC campaign. It is of course all about the forthcoming breathtaking album mixed by messieurs Glazby and Stevens. With an event that is set to shake the foundations of the capital on Saturday 30th July and a mammoth tour set to follow, Kate, Paul and Ben have their work cut out. We caught up with Paul Glazby on his return from a two week tour of Australia to find out a little bit more about the man with not many words.
It has been five years since you made your mark on the hard dance scene. Tell us where it all started?
My big break came at Insomniacz in Sheffield. Tom really helped me at the start getting gigs etc, and then I got onto Tidy Management when that started. It all snowballed from that.
Vicious Circle has done incredibly well if you consider the fact hard dance has been slammed from pillar to post. Why is it do you think Vicious Circle has stood the test of time where other labels have fallen by the wayside?
I think for the most part we’ve consistently put out good releases. We’ve had a couple of tracks I wish we hadn’t put out but out of nearly 50 releases on VC I don’t suppose a few turkeys are too bad.
Tell us about the whole I Love VC project.
I Love VC started as a t-shirt idea our designers came up with which we were going to release this summer but I thought the logo was so iconic it would be perfect for the upcoming album we were about to do, after that we organised the event to launch the album and that took on the name too!
The plan is to use the I Love VC branding for all future events with the debut event being our album launch party on the 30th July @ The Fridge. On the big night in the Vicious Arena we have guest DJs Andy Farley, Justin Bourne and Simon Eve playing alongside Tim Clewz, Ben Stevens and myself then we have Tim Clewz doing a 3 hour set alongside Donna Birt and tenpm in The Techno Lab. We’re really excited as this will be our first big scale event that we’re hoping to set the bench mark with for all our future events.
We’re doing all we can to make this different from the usual night out. I will be unveiling my new ‘Kick It’ remix for the first time, so anyone who’s there will be able to remember the first place they ever heard it!
The album is mixed by Ben Stevens and myself and features 32 tracks with loads of upfront material including my new ‘Kick It’ remix. Like the Vicious Circle albums before it this album hasn’t been watered down to appeal to a more commercial market, what you get is exactly how Ben and I play in a club, no nonsense hard house. It will be available at the I Love VC event before anywhere else, another good reason to attend!!!!!!!
The album will be backed up with a national tour visiting The Union (Cardiff), Euphoria (Dublin), Sundissential (Leeds), Paradise Factory (Manchester), Polysexual (Birmingham) & Housework (Leeds).
You’re launching the album at the Fridge on Saturday 30th, what made you choose London as the city for this huge party?
London is the place to be at the moment. The Fridge is one of my favourite venues so it seemed like the natural thing to do.
The 10 Commandments is a project that everyone is talking about this year. For those who don’t know about this, can you fill them in on what it’s all about? And where did the concept come from?
Basically I’m either writing or remixing 10 tracks in a row on VC (40–49). I hadn’t been doing much on VC since ‘Hostile’ and that was a bit of a joke since it’s my label! Kate had the idea of the 10 Commandments to really get me back on the map production wise and put VC back in the direction we wanted it to go. It was a bit daunting at first but to date we have 40–44 in the bag, I’m in the studio as I write this remixing 45 (Ben Stevens’ ‘Attack’), and I did 46 (a new original track called ‘Realise, Real Lies, Real Highs’) before I left for Australia so we only have a few left to do!
Tell us about an average day in the life of Paul Glazby?
Believe it or not but these days it’s up at 6.30 for breakfast, at the gym for 8, back home for 10.30, then if it’s a studio day, get there for 11.30, work ‘til 5.30, home for 6, cook dinner and eat around 8 then relax with the lady!
We all know your rework of ‘Kick It’ is a closely guarded secret, so as a taster for its first airing on 30th July, can you tell us what you’ve done to it?
I did it with Paul Maddox so the updated production makes it sound so much better, but we recreated the original then added some big synth patterns over the top to make it more full on!
You’ve probably got one of the closest knit internet communities at www.vicious-circle.net — how did that come about, and have you any stalker stories to share with us?
Yeah there a good bunch, some of the topics are a bit dubious sometimes but that’s the internet for you! I’m not sure how it all started really, I don’t get on there enough to be honest, Kate keeps em in check though!
We see you have launched a micro site to run alongside the album & event promotion — www.ilovevc.com. Do you plan to take this any further or is it solely an information base for all things I Love VC?
Yes we do have plans for ilovevc.com, can’t say too much at the moment but by the end of the year all will be revealed!
What does the rest of 2005 hold for you & Vicious Circle?
Well with the rest of the 10 Commandments to do, the album, the tour and our birthday event in October we’re at full stretch. I think there’s another Australia tour planned for me in early December and I’ve got Ibiza dates for August, Dance Valley & Tidy Weekender 8 to look forward to, so I’m pretty busy!
I Love VC
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On:
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Saturday 30th July 2005
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At:
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The Fridge [map]
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From:
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22:00 to 06:00
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Cost:
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£12 Adv Tickets
£MOTD
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Website:
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www.ilovevc.com
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Ticket Info:
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Industry Guest List:
craig@mostwanteduk.com
tinamartinuk@aol.com
Ticket Outlets:
www.ilovevc.com
Vicious Circle: www.vicious-store.net
Ticketweb: www.ticketweb.co.uk 08700 600 100
Club Tickets: www.clubtickets.co.uk / 08702 462 050
Cyberdog Camden: 0207 482 2842
Mad Records: 0207 439 0707
Kinetic: 0207 323 5303
Info Lines:
01895 255 050 / 01142 540 147
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Five years ago, hard dance vinyl dominated the floors of HMV, Virgin, and independent record stores alike. Today, only those who’ve consistently delivered the goods at the highest level are still around to shout about it, and ride the wave of continued success. Vicious Circle Recordings is one such label.
With 40 releases safely under their belt, a further 10 scheduled for release by the year end, and 2 best selling compilations to boot, it’s no wonder they’ve christened the next compilation ‘I love VC’. Mixed by VC head honcho Paul Glazby and wonder boy Ben Stevens, this compilation looks set to be THE most hotly anticipated collection of harder music this year. August 1st is the day of release, but if waiting till then is thought not worth entertaining………..read on.
I love VC is not simply a compilation – it’s an event, its merchandise and it’s a statement of just how the peeps at Vicious Circle are feeling right now. Saturday 30th July is when it all kicks off at a gig that will re-shape the mould for harder clubbing. I love VC - The Event will take place at The Fridge in London; which boasts a sound system powerful enough to take the might of Paul Glazby, Ben Stevens and their guests. Andy Farley, Justin Bourne, Simon Eve and Tim Clewz complete the Vicious Arena line-up, leaving tenpm Donna Birt, and special 3 hour set from Tim Clewz to run things in the Techno-Lab.
This event will sell-out. Special buses are being arranged to bring the Northern Vicious Circle massive, south, ensuring no-one is left out. The album will be available on sale at the event, giving you the opportunity to own it 2 days before it hits the shops. Brand new merchandise will also be available, plus exclusive VC giveaways.
KICK IT, the track that kick started Vicious Circle, a track that even today, 5 years on doesn’t sound dated, has been re-worked by its creator and will get its first ever airing at 3am. A heart stopping visual experience will precede this moment – it cannot be missed!
The story continues at www.ilovevc.com
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Other Features By MostwantedJonathan:
Girl Power! Kate Hammond, Vicious Circle’s leading lady
Relocation relocation with Twisted's very own Hannah Willis
Tidy Weekender 9 Live preview with Lisa Pin-Up
DTPM - the birthday: interview with the legendary Malcolm Duffy
Nick Rowland — Innovate Preview
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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