Logic: 1999–2005 & interview with Logic’s new superstar Alek Szahala before he unleashes his magic on us this Friday…
Reported by Logic
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Submitted 27-07-05 20:14
With only a few days to go there is a certain buzz in the air in South London, particularly in Brixton. Clubbers and friends all over London are calling each other asking the same question, “Are you coming?” Ticket outlets are calling the promoters asking for ticket restocks as groups of excited revellers bulk buy in order to make sure all their friends are guaranteed entry. This can mean only one thing... Logic is back in town, bigger, better and brighter than ever, with a line up to suit.
Amongst many other things, Logic are famous for launching the careers of many DJs, for example, giving Yoji Biomehanika his first ever UK appearance, breaking Logic resident and now famous international superstar Proteus, and regularly booking the finest selection of London’s hardest working DJs such as The *Ting*, Shaf De Bass and Eduardo Herrera.
There will be no exceptions or holding back for Logic’s sixth birthday as once again they manage to compile another line up, mixing the best of London’s underground with two very specially thought out live shows. Firstly they welcome back the man behind Superfish and Tinrib Records, none other than Captain Tinrib himself, bringing with him his live percussionist to add some rhythmic drums to the mix.
The second live set of the night is from a young Finnish producer that has been making serious waves in the world of freeform and faster, higher pitched hard trance. This guy is a major pioneer in the recent progression of hard dance in Finland, having come 4th place in the Finnish Club Awards in 2003 and 2004, being beaten by just a few votes by Carbon Based (1st & 2nd places went to two mainstream producers).
Inspired by Proteus and praised highly by the likes of Kevin Energy, Logic are extremely happy to include the rising star Alek Szahala on their 6th birthday line up. We managed to grab Alek for a quick chat to find out a little bit about the man that has sent whispers through the London dance scene…
HF: Hello Alek, we’ve heard so much about you recently with DJs such as Kevin Energy and Proteus singing your praises to the London massive. How long have you been producing and playing your music for?
AS: I’ve been producing for over 10 years but began to get noticed when things kind of just blew up for me in 2003 due to a couple of my larger tracks, ‘Superstition’ and ‘Tlaloc’.
HF: What got you interested in the hard dance scene and who would you say are your biggest influences?
AS: Proteus! Without a doubt. He was my number one idol immediately from the very first time I heard him play. He played stuff by Tinrib, Lab4, Carbon Based, Epilim and Re-form which was all new to me. It just beat all the commercial stuff I’d been listening to before. I would also say that those five names have also been my biggest influences.
HF: How would you describe your sound and what other musical styles are you influenced by?
AS: My sound can vary depending on each track. Sometimes it can be more melodic, other times much harder and more aggressive, and at times psychedelic. I like to use lots of choirs, harsh saw-tooth leads and some hoovers for good measure. Usually I keep it somewhere between 160 bpm to 180 bpm.
There are many elements that influence my tracks but I’ve recently been listening to lots of melodic trance and Goa trance, which are influencing much of my recent material.
HF: Who would you like to most make a track with and why?
AS: I think my sound would work very well with Kevin Energy’s sound. He’s also one of my favourite UK producers at the moment. Lab4 would also be more than great to collaborate with.
HF: So, until we can arrange for you to get in the studio with Lab4 & Kevin, what collaborations do you have in the pipeline for the near future?
AS: I have quite a lot planned already actually. I’ll be working with artists such as Oli G, DJ RX and Pain on Creation. I also have some possible collaborations with Carbon Based and Ephexis Father lined up.
HF: Wow! Sounds like you’re pretty busy in the studio and from looking at your past bookings it also seems as though you regularly perform internationally, especially in Australia. Which has been your most enjoyable gig to play for so far?
AS: Yeah, I’ve been to Australia three times already this year. My favourite gig has to be at the Mayhem Electronic Music Festival in Brisbane. Everyone was really really friendly and they seemed to enjoy the freeform more than anywhere else I’ve played.
HF: Haha…those crazy Ausies. They sure love to party!
How long have you known Proteus for and how much had you heard about Logic before you got booked to play?
AS: I’ve known Proteus for a few years now. He was actually the one who booked me for my first ever gig and has helped and supported every Finnish artist a lot by playing and exposing our tracks all over the world.
Most people in Finland have heard about Logic because of Proteus’s residency there. It’s known as the greatest party in London and the pictures from past events look really amazing. I can hardly wait to play there this month!
HF: Many people that have heard your tracks are equally as excited about hearing you live on the main stage at Logic. I’m sure it’s going to be mental!
When you’re not making music or performing what do you do to relax and chill out?
AS: I usually just watch TV or listen to more music. I also like catching big waves in my canoe at sea. That is a real fun way to spend spare time.
HF: It says in your biog something about historical linguistics being an interest of yours. Care to elaborate slightly on that for us? What extinct languages are you interested in?
AS: I’ve been interested in languages for many many years now. I wanted to learn them all and as a result I tried to take on too many and have ended up not being able to speak any of them properly, excluding Finnish.
The most interesting extinct, or ‘dead’ languages for me are Sumerian, Gothic and Latin. By understanding old languages a lot can be learnt about our history, and it also helps us understand the origins of the languages we speak today too.
HF: Very true, and also interesting. Your English is also much better than our Finnish so well done there too.
What do your neighbours think about your music and do your parents love it?
AS: Haha! I think my parents are quite happy that I don’t live with them anymore. To them there was no difference between trance and speedcore. It was all just “annoying stomping”. The neighbours haven’t said anything... yet.
HF: Well, you’re obviously not playing it loud enough. Be a rebel, turn it up we say…they’ll probably love it!
What is the naughtiest thing you’ve ever done and did you get away with it?
AS: Hehehe… I’ve always been the ‘boring’ kind boy. Never really done anything remarkably naughty, except I once ran naked through Helsinki which was a bit stupid but I never got caught for that.
HF: Ahhh…nothing wrong with being kind, and what’s boring to some people is usually exciting and entertaining to others.
Thank you very very much for taking the time to speak to us and we will all be there to see what you’ve got in stall for your live set at Logic this Friday night.
See you there! 
Photos courtesy of Daf & www.alekszahala.com.
LOGIC Present: The SIXTH Birthday
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On:
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Friday 29th July 2005
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At:
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The Fridge [map]
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From:
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22:00-06:00
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Cost:
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£10 Limited advance tickets, £12, £15, MOTD | NUS & UB40 £10
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Ticket Info:
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Limited advance tickets £10, £12, £15. MOTD
£12 Paying guestlist (1 free for every 10) Email: logicguestlist@yahoo.co.uk or call: 07960 750303 or 07913 548250
24 Credit Card Hotline: 08700 600100
Cash Sales:
Maria: 0781 3684399
Kane: 07739 721753
Dave: 07913 548250
Shaf: 07960 750303
Outlets:
Cyberdog - Camden Market
Mad Records - Covent Garden
Swear Shoes: Camden Market
Kinetec - Oxford Circus
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Logic return once again to the Mothership of all London venues and our spiritual home - The Fridge, Brixton to celebrate our 6th Birthday in true Logic style !! This will be the first Logic for 5 whole months and we are coming back with one mighty bang!! - We've spent the past few months thinking up new ideas and concepts to make this birthday even better and bigger than the last one. Five months have seemed like an absolute eternity and the crew are very excited about what we have in store. As we have stated so many times before, Logic does not exist to become a thriving business. We limit Logic events to 5 or 6 a year purely to keep it what it has always been - A celebration of the people, friends, associates and their achievements inside and outside of the scene itself - We've all come a long way, people have come, people have gone, the scene has changed several times but Logic will always remain Logic. Thank you all so much for your endless support over the past 6 years - we would love you to come celebrate with us once again at the venue in which we were born....
Let the show begin !!!
Proteus, Logic's frontman is back home where he belongs. After taking up his exclusive UK residency with Logic back in 2003 Proteus has risen to international stardom, ranked in the top 100 worldwide and voted No.1 in the UK. We are VERY exited about having Hari back - This will be one MASSIVE show !! - Fasten your seatbelts !!!
In addition to this we bring you Finland's next rising star, Alek Szahala - the most talked about Finnish producer at the moment performing an exclusive London live PA - Check this baby out, Freeform madness, Finnish style !!! Since his explosive forthcoming in 2003 with tracks like 'Superstition' and 'Tlaloc' he has made a deep impact to both Finnish and international crowds and djs with dozens of amazing tracks;
The master himself returns. Jon Bell (AKA: Captain Tinrib) is one of the pioneers of the scene itself. We feel very priviledged to have Jon back. Those of you that attended may remember Captain Tinrib having to cancel his Logic debut at Camden Palace in 2003 due to technical difficulties - This guy performs totally live with live percussion and no back-up -His sets are simply a pleasure to experience. His stageshows and performances are unrivalled in their originality and energy.It's gonna go OFF !!!
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