Reported by Proactive HQ
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Submitted 02-11-05 21:24
Alex Parsons has been a well-known face on the London hard house scene for four years. Starting out as the youngest ever resident for the legendary XLR8 parties, he was playing the main room of the Fridge after only six months of DJing and soon gained residencies at Afterlife, Proactive and Skwosh, as well as playing most of the Capital’s major promotions including Frantic, Twist and Heat to name but a few. His decision to no longer play hard house may sadden a few of us, so I caught up with him to find out what he’s doing!
So Alex, why the change from hard house to house?
It’s a really hard decision I’ve had to make. I really enjoy playing both hard house and house and have always thought it an advantage to cover both styles, but as I’m progressing further in the house scene I’m finding that this versatility seems to be holding me back. I’ve decided to focus on the one style, as it’s proved difficult to promote myself as a DJ who plays both and have chosen to stick with house and breaks as I seem to be achieving more and at a quicker rate in that scene.
Do you still enjoy going to hard house events or have you fully given up on the scene!?
I have to admit I’ve been spending more time in the house rooms of these events but that definitely doesn’t mean I’ve fully given up on it! The line ups at the moment definitely seem to be getting more and more interesting and I’m sure I’ll be seen head-down, dancing in those main rooms more frequently soon.
You are resident for Party Proactive and Afterlife. Where do you stand with these events now? Will you still continue to play for them?
It actually works out well in some respects. Party Proactive has always considered its two rooms to be of equal importance, with its harder-edged sounds, spanning from electro and techno through to the harder side of house in one room and its (quite often just as tough) breaks and electro house in the other. I’m really happy I’ll be able to continue as their resident, playing in the house, electro and breaks room.
Unfortunately 18th December (their Christmas celebration) sees Afterlife’s last ever party. I’ve always enjoyed playing for them, whether it has been hard house or breaks and electro and it will be sad to see it coming to an end. I am however happy to be able to say I have been there since their 1st ever party and will have seen it all the way through to the end, being their resident for most of the haul.
Which hard event was the most enjoyable one you played at and which night would you have liked to play at but never got the chance!?
I played a b2b set with Simon the Fireman a while back at the 1st More event run by Frantic. We played in the fully packed second room of SE1 just before Lisa Pin-Up at 2am. Up until then, it was my 1st set at the Fridge for XLR8’s Reconstruction of Your Senses party… I’m getting vivid memories of dressing up as a giant beer bottle and dancing to Rolf Harris at 5.55 in the morning!
I always wanted to play main room Riot! at The End. I never really got as far as that playing hard house but I made up for it by playing last weekend in the house room!
And what about your hard dance production? Will you continue to produce and if so who would you like to work with in the future?
That’s a side of it I am definitely going to keep up but to keep things separate from my house and breaks, I’ll be going under a different name. I’ve got a couple of releases coming up on Acute Digital and NEC Live and am currently working on collaborations with Marc French and Matt Smallwood. Future-wise, I’d actually like to do some more solo work as I’ve mainly been doing collaborative projects recently. I’d like nothing better than to lock myself away in my studio for a while and see what I come up with.
What now then? Will you find it difficult starting out a fresh in a new scene and having to build up your name again?
I guess like anything, it’s not easy dropping everything and starting out a fresh but I’ve been given quite a good head start, having recently been made resident for Kurruption and with Proactive and Afterlife behind me. I played for Kurruption on rotation for over a year and joined the agency as soon as it was established a few months ago. With the opportunities Zoelee is giving her DJs, including sets at the Ministry Of Sound and Turnmills, I have my full trust in her and in any decisions that are made.
I hear that ‘Chocolate Makes Your Clothes Shrink’, the track you did with Tommy Four Seven, is being released on Brique Rouge. Can you tell us a bit about the label?
Yeah, we’re pretty chuffed with that. It’s one of France’s most respected labels run by David Duriez focusing on the more underground sound of house music. They’ve got some really strong releases coming up from Josh Wink, Mike Monday and David Duriez to name but a few, so we’re in pretty good company there!
What style of house should we expect to hear from you and how would you describe your sets?
I’m into so many styles of music, so I draw in ideas from all over the place. I tend to play the quirkier, more upbeat side of electro house and edge in a bit of breaks, to keep sets moving. I’m really into Touché and David Duriez’s styles, so I get quite a lot of inspiration from there. Also, a year or so ago, I finished a Masters in electro-acoustic composition and that got me listening to some of the most unusual styles of electronic music. It’s meant I’m not happy playing just track after track and like to use sampling, fx and scratching to manipulate the music as much as I can without disrupting the sets.
Right then, when and where can we catch you playing the final hard dance sets and will there be a small lump in your throat?
My last ones are all in the first weekend of December. I’ll be starting off the weekend at Zoology on the 2nd, where I’ll be playing a lot of my own new production material. On the 3rd, I’ll be warming up for Billy Nasty at Party Proactive, playing a mix of electro house and techno, which is kind of a mix of both of my styles. Then I’ll be finishing off my weekend with my last ever Afterlife, playing a set of my favorite hard dance tracks from when I started mixing. If you manage to get to all three of those, you’ll hear me play just about every style of hard dance I’ve played since starting out!
Any future house events we should know about?
Well, of course there’s Kurruption at Hidden on the 12th November with guest Aston Harvey from the Freestylers and 2 live bands. Also, I’ll be playing for Volume on the 18th November at the same venue.
After the massive success of our event on Saturday 8th October, Party Proactive will be returning to the infamous Fire club for another round of Party Madness.
Continuing the theme of bringing something different to the scene Party Proactive have a few surprises for you all
In the Hard Beats Room...
Top 100 DJ, techno master Billy Nasty will be spinning an extra special set on 3 decks and hard dance superstars the Organ Donors are going to smash the dance floor with a very special set; Baz from Type 1 – fresh form his residency at Riot!, will be battling it out with resident Danny Gilligan.
In the Electro / Breaks / House…..
We have yet another top 100 DJ - Mark Moore. Mark Moore can quite easily claim the title of King of Electro! He has been rocking dance floors longer then most of you have been clubbing – the legend behind the massive seminal dance floor hit S –Express and a headlining DJ worldwide. The *Ting* will be doing a very special b2b breaks set with fellow resident Steelo and we also welcome back the Kurruption Crew and Tommy Four Seven for another full on funk session
Flyer:
-
Region:
London
Music:
Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Nu NRG. Hi NRG. HardStyle. House. Deep House. Funky House. Hard House. Prog House. Tribal House. Vocal House. Acid Techno. Deep Techno. Funky Techno. Techno. Breaks.
Other Features By Proactive HQ: Proactive interview with superheroes Ed Real & The *Ting*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.
Comments:
From: Matt Smallwoodon 2nd Nov 2005 21:32.20 Nice one Alex, all the best mate! Looking forward to getting 'Funk Trap' finished!
From: Zoeleeon 2nd Nov 2005 22:12.06 Well...Get it sorted boys and arrange a day in the studio!
From: dani don 2nd Nov 2005 23:50.22 Nice interview "Little Alex" ,keep it electro
From: ~deleted5662on 3rd Nov 2005 09:33.40 Love hearing Alex play house and breaks. Long may it continue.
From: Less is Baton 3rd Nov 2005 10:01.28 Im not gonna say sad to see you go cos in my eyes...you are moving to the darker/better side rolllll on proactifff
From: Lizzie Curiouson 3rd Nov 2005 10:03.03 A very very talented individual, I think you will go far Alex! Chocolate Makes Your Clothes Shrink is not just an awesome track, but possibly one of the best titled I've ever come across! See you on the 12th at Kurruption!
From: Jacobon 3rd Nov 2005 10:14.40 Best of luck Alex in all your future projects.
From: Nick Basicon 3rd Nov 2005 10:25.54 What can I say.... everything good has to come to an end and the harder side will miss you Alex . Great guy and brilliant producer. Wish you all the best Alex.
From: Will Franticon 3rd Nov 2005 10:36.13 Good luck Alex...
From: HHLon 3rd Nov 2005 10:50.38 I am going to miss you playing harder, but you seem to do well with other stuff too.
From: Stevi Don 3rd Nov 2005 11:02.16 Good luck Alex And i trust you have made the right decision. For your sake that is. See you soon buddy!!
From: ~deleted1390on 3rd Nov 2005 11:32.05 Pleased to have you playing again for us, especially for one of your last Hard House sets.
We'll just have to book you for a house set next year as well.
From: Type 1on 3rd Nov 2005 12:28.51 good luck fella, altho u wont need it! loving the electro at the moment myself! good on ye!
From: paul jackon 3rd Nov 2005 12:37.31 wicked stuff alex - proud to have you as a resident
From: James Jayeon 3rd Nov 2005 12:57.16 Best of luck Alex!
From: Richard Launchon 3rd Nov 2005 15:06.27 Bring it on Alex. Loving your work so far mate.
From: dean peterson 3rd Nov 2005 16:04.18 Nice interview matey. Best of luck for the future. Hope to see you out and about soon - will let you buy me a beer!! tee hee
From: TOMMY FOUR SEVENon 3rd Nov 2005 16:08.31 Long may the sleeze continue!
From: sexyminxon 3rd Nov 2005 18:09.31 To one little nutter from another. Well done for all your hard work. See little people do work hard. Wicked interview. Keep and see ya very soon
From: sexyminxon 3rd Nov 2005 18:10.10 Also what a bummer that you wont be playing hard house anymore, but never say never
From: *Ting*on 3rd Nov 2005 21:22.47 Rock and Roll!!!!
From: Danny Gilliganon 3rd Nov 2005 23:24.02 Let the good times roll Mr Parsons!
From: Dani Ton 4th Nov 2005 13:46.42 Go Alex!! You are a very talented person, and derserve all the success that is headed your way! Can't wait for Chocolate to be released!!!
From: Lee Osborneon 4th Nov 2005 22:33.11 top bloke! hope all things go good pal!!!!
From: Tom Cypheron 8th Nov 2005 12:04.40 good skills Alex.. anyone notice an excellently muntered shot of Steelo in there?
From: Holly-Annaon 8th Nov 2005 13:54.59 Nice one Alex, Gutted but happy for you!
Looking forward to hear Chocolate.. Everyones ranting about it!
From: Tom Cypheron 8th Nov 2005 13:59.17 good skills Alex.. anyone notice an excellently muntered shot of Steelo in there?
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Im not gonna say sad to see you go cos in my eyes...you are moving to the darker/better side 
rolllll on proactifff
and see ya very soon 
