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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 | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! |
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Fergilcious: PunchFunk & Excentrik take over The Key
Reported by e99
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Submitted 29-01-07 02:02
A product of hard house superclubs like Trade, Sundissential and Frantic, Robert Ferguson went from king of bounce to Radio1 superstar in an amazingly short space of time, following his inception into the dance music community under the watchful eye of Tony De Vit. Now more known for his techno and electro shenanigans, Fergie has entered 2007 with a new record label, a new London residency, and a schedule free from the weekly fixture of his Radio1 show — which he finished in the second half of last year. He’s a bit of musical chameleon, having taken several musical directions over the years, ensuring that his sound never gets stale. He’s currently plumbing for meaty electro — think German producers like Sven Vath and Oliver Huntemann — essentially gritty grooves for dark rooms.
He’s now joined forces with burgeoning Portsmouth promotion PunchFunk, and is launching his exclusive residency in the capital at their debut London event at The Key in King’s Cross on February 9th. His thumping ‘Ken The Men EP’ was the first release on their excellent PunchFunk label (which has been getting rave reviews across the board), and with the promotion branching out into Ibiza and other bigger ventures this year, it looks set to be a very wise move by the man. There’s also the matter of his very own label and club night, Excentrik Muzik, so basically 2007 is looking rosy for Fergie. Just don’t mention The Black Eyed Peas...
We last spoke to you exactly a year ago. Looking back, do you feel that things have been progressing well over the last 12 months?
Ello, yes it’s all good. Things have been great for me over the last year, with new Excentric nights popping up in London, Birmingham, and Scotland, and this summer will see Excentric move to Kanya in Ibiza for 13 weeks. So it has all been go, go, go!
Tell us about your new label Excentric — what’s that all about eh?
The Excentric Muzik label is something I have always wanted to do — to put my own productions on — but I never really found the time before and if I’m honest I never found anyone who I clicked with in the studio, but I now have both of these! I’ve got time to get into the studio since leaving Radio1 and I have teamed up with Mr. Dave Robertson who is the other half of Fergie in the studio. Once we get into the studio the buzz is absolutely brilliant — we just bounce ideas back and forth and have a really good time, messing about with different sounds and crazy beats. Brilliant, I love it!
You left your five-year stint at Radio1 in the second half of 2006. Have you found that your move has freed up a lot of time for you to work on other projects?
You know I had a top time over the years on Radio1. I travelled to some of the best places in the world with Radio1 — Brazil, Ibiza, Germany, Larne ha ha. I worked with some of the best producers, DJs and broadcasters in the business, which was awesome. When I left it was the chance for me to take a good look at what I wanted to do and which way I wanted to go, which has been great as the last ten years for me have been a whirlwind. I have started to go to college to do electronic music production, at the SAE in Glasgow. It has been different for me to be back in a classroom, as when I was at school I was never in one much in the first place. It’s all good.
Would you ever like to return to radio work?
I learnt some good stuff at Radio1 over the years so I think it would be a waste if I never went back to doing radio, but I feel that now is not the right time. DJing and production is taking up all my time. I’m so keen to embrace all the new technology that is on offer at the minute, which is just incredible. My brain feels like a sponge soaking it all up!
You are beginning your exclusive London residency at PunchFunk’s launch party in the capital on February 9th at The Key. Your ‘Ken The Men EP’ was the first release on their record label. How did that all come about?
To be kicking of an exclusive residency with my own Excentric Party at the Key in London is an unbelievable start to 2007, but to be doing it in collaboration with PunchFunk is just the icing on the cake! PunchFunk will host two rooms and I will host the main room. It’s going to be quite a party — I can’t wait!
I had met the Punchfunk guys a few times and had played for them quite regularly and was totally into their vibe. They were doing something that they believed in and they were and continue to be passionate about what they do, so it was an obvious choice for me to put some tracks out on their label. I’m in Portsmouth quite often so I always make sure I see the guys for a quick chat, as they always seem to have some thing new to talk about and new ideas. PunchFunk rocks.
The ‘Ken the Men’ track came about as that’s what I call my big bro, that’s his DJ name, so I just thought I would stick it on the label as that — a bit of fun really!
Why did you choose to play exclusively for PunchFunk in London rather than leaving yourself open to play anywhere?
Ha ha as I said, I have taking my Excentric night to join forces with the Pompy Massive...Excentric and Punchfunk!
You will be joined by Gregor Tresher and Japanese Popstars as the special guest on the night. What can you tell us about these guys — for those who may not be familiar with them?
Gregor is from Germany; he has produced some quality tracks over the years and has also remixed the first release on Excentric Muzik label. It’s a track by the Salt City Orchestra, ‘The Book’, so it was an obvious choice to get him on board for the opening at The Key for the event.
The Japanese Popstars: yes, well, when you see the guys for the first time you are shocked when they come on the stage and start to perform as they’re not from Japan, neither are they Japanese, but they are three cheeky chaps from Derry in Northern Ireland. I supported some of their stuff when I was with Radio1 as they were from back home and I was really into their sound, which is very electronic mashed-up nonsense — in the best way of course!
Also on the bill will be Mr Henry Von who is someone I have been pushing for a while. Henry is a versatile DJ and supports me on loads of my shows playing at the start of the night building it up or ripping the roof of at the end. He’s defo someone you will be hearing a lot of down the line.
How has your practise on Ableton Live been going? Are you now using the software in your sets?
Ableton — it’s all good yeah. I’ve been trying to get my head round it! I’ve been using it mainly to do edits etc. I’ve also been using Reason and for my DJing Serato which is awesome — it’s like the next level of Vinyl Scratch but you can use CDs also, so there is quite a lot to remember for the Ferg but as I said, it’s all good.
Soulwax and Switch remixing Robbie Williams, Sebastien Leger remixing Justin Timberlake, it seems that the major labels are realising the potential of getting respected dance music producers on the remix tip again. Who would you like to get your hands on and give the proverbial Fergie treatment?
I suppose I would love to have a mess around with the Leftfield album ‘Leftism’. I don’t think anyone could do it any kind of justice at all, but it’s such a great album I would love to see what I could do to it.
Not that you probably get much time for it, but when did you last have a thoroughly good dance?
I live in Glasgow now so I get the chance to go to some of the best nights from Slam at the Arches or Optimo in the Sub Club, but it’s not a case of me dancing, but just getting right amongst it and having a bit of down time and listing to some serious music.
Do you keep an eye on any other dance music scenes besides the ones you are directly involved in?
I love and have always loved different types of music from house, to techno to rock and a bit of Johnny Cash so yeah I think you have to keep a healthy look out to see what’s going on.
What does the phrase “ride the walrus” mean to you?
Is it some thing to do with a dance event? Or it could be some thing to do with shagging a fat bird, not sure…
And finally a bit of a long shot — would you ever step back in time and play a hard house classics set?
Would I play hard house set... hmm...? Well I made my name from playing this music and although I feel it has sorta lost its groove, I always have tried to be true to my roots and as hard house is a part of my roots and was a part of my growing up I would have to say, yes, I would play a hard house set given the right situation.
I think the classics I have in my mind not many people who are now in that scene would know and would probably think they’re too slow. Some time I’m sure I will do it but right now, it’s not the time.
Photos courtesy of Fergie. Not to be reproduced without permission.
PunchFunk & Fergie, Jon Gurd and more!!!
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On:
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Friday 9th February 2007
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At:
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The Key [map]
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From:
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2100 - 0600
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Cost:
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£13 in advance more otd
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Ticket Info:
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www.ticketshack.co.uk
Chris 07919404324
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More:
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Its what London been waiting for!!
amazing underground music in the full on party atmosphere of PunchFunk...the line up does the talking...SEE YA THERE!!
Room 1 (electronic underground music)
PunchFunk in association with Excentrik Muzik
FERGIE (exclusive London Residency)
GREGOR TRESHER (Cocoon/Germany)
THE JAPANESE POPSTARS (Irelands no1 electro act)
Rob Mooney (JoJo Dancer Launch Tour for PunchFunk Records)
HENRY VON
Room 2
PunchFunk Presents....(funky-jackin techno)
Lee Jarvis (special guest from Moochin)
Danny G (PunchFunk)
DJ Aura b2b Danny P
residents Chris Vaux & Simon Blann
Room 3
Illicit Audio (Total House)
JON GURD (The Rendition) SPECIAL GUEST!!
Justin Steel
Lofty
Mike Mackeeg
John Casa
Tax...
Tickets £12 in advance (+bf)
Advance Paying Guestlist £14
£15 On The Door
Coaches from Portsmouth £24 inc entry
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Tech Trance. House. Deep House. Tribal House. Funky Techno. Techno.
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DJ's:
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Fergie
Jon Gurd
Gregor Tresher
Japanese Popstars
Chris Vaux
Simon Blann
Rob Mooney
Lofty
Mike Mackeeg
John Casa
Justin Steel
Lee Jarvis
Aura and Danny P
Danny G
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Other Features By e99:
Baklash take over the IceBox at HeatUK Aftermath '07
Goodgreef take on Frantic at NYE-NEC
Trevor Rockcliffe — Proactive — HeatUK & The Gallery NYE — 'nuff said?
HeatUK Evolution: Natural Selection — a look at dance music’s gone-but-not-forgottens
Tasty’s 5th Birthday and the battle of the brands
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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