Insekt preview: frank talkin with hard house’s rising star Frank Farrell
Reported by Club_Insekt
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Submitted 14-02-07 20:42
Insekt always strive to provide at their events, the best new hard music, performed by the artists actually involved in making it. March’s event is no except when they introduce Frank Farrell into the fold. Frank has been instrumental in producing some of the freshest and most popular tracks in 2006 in the hard house/NRG scene. Working out of his new modest studio in Banbury and with other well known artists around the country, Frank has been churning out releases left, right and centre for the biggest labels in the genre. With tracks being supported by the likes of Justin Bourne, Paul Glazby and Karim, it’s easy to see why Frank is becoming one of the hottest properties in the production world and is set to take 2007 by the scruff of the neck and show it who’s boss. And here follows, his introduction…
Hi Frank. 2006 has been a good year for you with releases on the heavy hitting labels of the scene like Vicious Circle and Toolbox. Your work has also featured heavily the FlashPoint schedule. Do you plan to pick up where you left off and push further for 2007?
Yeah, that’s the plan, I’m really happy with how 2006 went and I am pleased that I managed to get a few releases under my belt. I’ve been fortunate enough to not work for the last two months, so I have just hammered the studio as much as I can, which has been nice.
More recently we have seen your name on flyers up and down the country, at the Vicious Circle afterparty and of course the up coming Insekt. Are DJ gigs something you look for or are they more a by-product of producing tunes? Do you have any more gigs in the coming months??
Umm, I’ve never looked for a gig to be honest, maybe I’m just too polite, I hate the thought of hassling promoters and such like. So I suppose the gigs I have had recently have been as a result of my productions, which is quite a good feeling because it shows I’m being noticed I guess.
You have been lucky enough to work with some of the people who you look up to most in the scene… Dom Sweeten, Captain Tinrib & Paul Maddox. What was that like and is there anyone else left you would like to collaborate with?
I loved working with all three, I learnt so much from each of them, various tips and things that have helped me to form my own style. It’s all about taking little notes and mental pictures, then getting home and cracking on!
Collaboration wise, I’m currently sorting out a date with DNG, which I’m looking forward too, a few ideas in the pot already. Karim has also put in a request, which’ll be quite surreal! So have got to get that sorted at some point. Other than that, Mik Cree is right up there on the hit list… So if you’re reading this Mik *wink wink* hahaha!
Do you prefer bouncing ideas off other people or working alone?
I think I much prefer working with other people, which probably shows as most of my stuff is collaboration based. I find it a lot easier and it’s good to have a second opinion on some things, whether I listen or not is a different story though!
Are there any other artists that inspire you in producing? Or any other genre?
The usual suspects as far as hard house goes really, such as Dom, Maddox, Karim, Mik Cree and Tinrib. Aside from that, Dave Owens has been a big inspiration to me, both with ideas and technically, I have a lot to thank him for.
Other than that, I started going out to psy trance and acid techno, which had quite an influence on me. Still don’t mind a bit of a free party, just gotta be the right weather!
‘Get Lost’ with The Captain went on to become one of the anthems of last year. Once you and the Skippwhore had finished writing, it did you dream that it would be the track that really made people sit up and notice you?
I was over the moon with the track, so much so I listened to it solid on repeat all the way from his in Bournemouth back home, took a good two hours as well! Was well chuffed to pass the Captain at a roundabout on the way home and hear it playing in his van too, did make me smile! I had a good feeling the track was going to do well when I had four offers to sign it within a matter of days, but it would’ve been rude not to let Vicious take it!
Talking of anthems from last year, you also went on to produce ‘Hot Tamale’ and ‘600 Minutes’ with long time pal and studio buddy Dave Owens. How did you and Dave first meet and what is in store for the Munkjack boys in the next 12 months?
Haha, well it’s a bit of a Vicious fairy tale. We first met years ago on the old Vicious message board. Both of us had only just started tinkering with Fruityloops at the time and I was sending out some hoover samples. I was emailing the link about, but Dave’s inbox was full so I had to add him to MSN. After speaking daily for a few months and sending gash clips back and forth, I hopped on the Virgin Express to Manchester to meet this shady internet character haha. Just weird how the first proper track we did together ended up on the label that we met through. Sounds like a plot for a crap film haha!
As for plans for this year, I’m heading back over the border shortly to do a couple of newbies and I’m going to pester Dave into us sorting a live show out if it kills me, it’s all I want to do now really, I need another box to tick. That probably won’t be til the end of 2007 though if we do manage to pull it off.
For those that do not know, where did the name Munkjack come from?
Ummm, I feel like more of a tool every time I tell this story! I used to work out in the sticks and one Monday morning I was driving to work and thought I saw this really small dead dear on the road (which later transpired to be a carrier bag). I got into work and just mentioned it to someone, who had just seen a real one and told me the name for it (muntjac).
The following weekend, I was up at Dave’s and we were on the way to York to see Sarah’s (Dave’s wife) nan (hi Sarah’s nan!), when I was just saying about this whole carrier bag thing for some reason. Then I couldn’t remember what this girl had said this small dear was called and it was annoying me, so I texted her to find out, but she got the spelling wrong and replied ‘Munkjack’. So, errm yeah haha
After re-locating for the second time in a year, you have put together a swanky new studio. How are you finding the new workspace?
Second time?! I wish! Haha. I have had four studios in the last 12 months, which has been quite an effort for my ears. I like my new little workspace, however I’m having a few issues with sound as the room is so small. It’s proving quite a challenge to find a suitable arrangement for the studio, but I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.
With more and more producers opening up their studio doors to offer their engineering services, is this something you think you will get into?
I’d like to eventually, but at the moment I just want to concentrate on making my sound the best that I can. Until I’m comfortable and happy with what I’m doing, especially with the new room, I don’t feel it’s fair or appropriate to advertise studio time to the public. It is something I’d definitely like to do in the future though.
The current trend for artists seems to be setting up their own label, digital and/or vinyl. Is this something you have considered?
I did have a plan to start a digital label not so long ago and had a couple of releases lined up, but then as things progressed, the tracks managed to get signed to the likes of Flashpoint and as a personal goal, I’d much rather have my tracks on there.
If anything, I’m keen to start a vinyl label in the future, but that’s after I buy a Virus, a new car and visit New Zealand haha!
You have been a regular clubber at Insekt since its creation, only missing one event in two years and once playing at Fire for the Munkjack showcase; how will it feel to be making you main room debut at the Fridge for a party that you have seen grow from day one?
I’m thrilled to be honest, Fire was the best place I’ve played for sound quality-wise and I was totally overwhelmed by that DJ booth. The next step up from that has to be the Fridge and thinking about it, the Fridge was one of the places I went to the first time I ever went out in a big city. I didn’t think for a moment then that I’d be up on that stage within a couple of years. Again, it’s nice to be noticed for dedication to the cause and I’m really looking forward to it.
What are your current big tracks of 2007 and what can we expect to hear from you on the 3rd March?
Big tracks for 2007, that’s quite a toughy with it only just being February un’all. However, it’s looking to me that Flashpoint are going to blow minds this year with their forthcoming catalogue and various plans.
As for what you can expect to hear on 3rd March, I guess you’ll have to come to find out…
Photos courtesy of Frank Farrell. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Insekt
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On:
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Saturday 3rd March 2007
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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/£12/£15 Advance tickets or MOTD
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Website:
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www.Insekt.co.uk
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Ticket Info:
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Ticket only event:
Tickets avaliable from Ticketweb
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Thanks to all of you that came down to The Fridge on Saturday & helped make one of the best party’s people have been to in years!
We would be cruel not to give you another dose!!
On Saturday 3rd March Insekt will return to The Fridge.
Taking centre stage we welcome Dom Sweeten & Superfast Oz as OD404 who combine LIVE to play a mash up of classics that has shaped the scene as we know it.
If one pioneer wasn't enough then we welcome Weirdo (think Tinrib classic tracks such as Curva Peligrosa & the evil Photic Zone), hot on the heels of his monster comeback track "Beyond" due out on Vicious Circle.
More you say?
Well Insekt’s new resident for 2007 Karim returns to show everyone how to lay
it down like only he knows how.
Insekt is all about the music & the people making the music you are dancing to.
So we thought we would introduce to you two rising stars that do a lot more than mix other peoples records.
They are our stand out producers of 2006.
Frank Farrell - (Get Lost, 600 minutes, Hot Tamale, Madison Groove, Brainblock 1664, Ixus, Churchill and the recent Munkjack remix of Dusty Keyboard)
&
Jon BW – (Scream 4 Daddy - Tidy Tools EP 3, Ben Stevens and Jon BW - Turn It Up, Build It Up - Contact Recordings, Jon BW & Simon Paul - Studio Terrors)
They make their big room Fridge Debuts to show us what up their promising sleeves for 2007.
Join us as we look to take you Beyond with the Past, Present and Future of this scene...
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Nu NRG. Hard House. Acid Techno. Funky Techno. Techno.
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DJ's:
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Main Room:
OD404 – Live (Spinball/Kaktai)
Weirdo – Live (Tinrib/VC)
Karim (New Insekt resident 2007)
Marc Johnson ( Flashpoint)
James Nardi (Killer Hurts)
Frank Farrell (VC/Munkack)
Jon BW (Tidy/Contact)
Room2 in association with Twisted Techno:
Digital Kid (Exclusive techno set)
Mark Hughes (Big/Twisted Techno)
Nu-Matik
Madzmusic
Kai_1
Dribz b2b Jon the Vegetarian
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Other Features By Club_Insekt:
The Justin Bourne supremacy: the Insekt @ Antiworld 07.07.07 interview
Get ready for the combative quiet man of INSEKT, Chris Comben
Ilogik causes a STORM as he looks forward to INSEKT
Causing a storm at Insekt with Garbo
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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