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Features
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Interview with turbo charged trance star Simon Patterson
Reported by getinpr
/
Submitted 23-04-07 23:13
Since moving from Belfast to London and getting his first break into the dance music industry, Simon Patterson has enjoyed a steady but strong rise to the top. Over the past few years he has held down a residency at Serious at London’s stylish venue The Cross and built a strong reputation as both a producer and DJ. With Richie Kayvan they make up Dogzilla, one of the most exciting and forward thinking acts in dance, with an ever-evolving sound fusing trance and tech with live guitars and piano — in fact they pretty much kick started the current ‘rock-trance’ trend with ’Without You’.
On the solo front he is now getting his name increasingly respected by both DJs and clubbers alike. The more savvy club-goers will have known his talents for some years now as he has rocked clubs up and down the country as well as taking on Ibiza year in year out — plus of course playing all over the world. His tough, driving, techy and euphoric take on trance and smooth mixing skills get arms in the air and feet stomping without fail. In fact I’ve seen him show up some of the so-called ‘headline’ DJs with his club-perfect tune selection.
It was with the release of ‘F-16’ last year that really caught people’s attention. Powered by a pulsating psy-style bassline and a breakdown that featured a sample of a fighter jet taking off, this tore through the clubs, crossed genres and stamped his mark as a producer of some talent. The double a-side follow up and current single ‘Panic Attack’/’Strip Search’ has further enhanced his credentials with support across the board from pretty much every major trance DJ from Armin van Buuren to Lee Haslam. Both continue his love affair with psy-trance, with ‘Strip Search’ containing a piano breakdown that has left more than a few clubbers dewy eyed.
We caught up with the Irish lad for a chat about his recent successes, his plans for the future, his love for psy trance, his illegal rave days and we also find out he’s a bit of a lightweight…
Congratulations on the release of your second solo single, how have reactions been to ‘Panic Attack’/’Strip Search’?
Thanks! Yeah, it’s been great. The DJs that got the tracks gave really positive reactions. I understand that these aren’t to everyone tastes though. I think maybe for some people they are too much in the psy zone, although ‘Strip Search’ is definitely the more accessible of the two.
They follow on from ‘F-16’ in having a bit of a tinge of psy-trance to them… is this a style you have always liked? Have you ever had dreadlocks or worn tie-dye?
Growing my hair at the moment! Nah, never but I have been to a fair amount of illegal psy raves. I love the sound of psy trance. The production behind it is awesome and I’d rather go to a psy rave than anywhere else. I was a bit of a late starter getting into it but that’s where the main influences came from for ‘F-16’, ‘Panic Attack’ and ‘Strip Search’.
You’re really blazing forward on the solo front this year — tell us what other releases you have planned.
‘Panic Attack’ and ‘Strip Search’ will be the last psy-orientated tracks that I do for a while. The next release is a double A-Side on Spinnin’ — one track is called ‘Bulldozer’ and is much from the tech school in the drums, loads of gated vocals and big riff. When it kicks in it’s ridiculous! The other side is more of a trancey track, again a techy groove but with more melodic elements. After that there is a track called ‘Whatever it Takes’ which has got a beautiful piano part in it. The riff is quite deep in it so it’s one of those filler tracks. Currently I am working on a vocal track which sounds amazing and two other tech trance tracks. Both sounding good, so there’s quite a bit of stuff to come!
You mentioned that you are working on a solo vocal track — how is that progressing?
Yeah I have the music done for it and I am really pleased with it. I had some vocals written but I don’t think they are quite right yet. Currently these are being re-done and then we are good to go. With this I am aiming for complete crossover, but maintaining credibility. Hopefully!
You and Richie Kayvan’s next Dogzilla track, ‘Frozen’, looks set to be huge again, did you have a good feeling about it from the off?
When the music was done I had a really good feeling about it. I do think its one of those ‘love, hate’ kind of tracks, a bit like ‘Without You’. But the dub is just as strong on its own without the vocals so hopefully this will appeal to more people.
Is it true you used no synths in the production of the track?
Apart from the bassline which was layered with a bass guitar, yeah no synths at all. Just instruments.
The Dogzilla sound has moved from the first few that were quite tech-trance to these full blown rock anthems — do you have an idea of where it is going to go next?
We never sit down and think, ‘this is what we are going to make’, it just happens that way. But we are both in agreement that the next track has to be different. We have started it and so far it sounds like the most uplifting track we have done.
You have complained in the past about the quality of other ‘big-name’ DJ’s mixing skills and the fact that too many trance DJs play similar sets. Is this something that still frustrates you?
Haha! No not really. At the end of the day it’s personal preference. I haven’t heard anyone recently that’s been bad. I said that in the context that there are so many talented DJs out there dying to play in a club and when you hear a DJ that’s shite at the basics, turns up and wreck every mix and get paid X amount to do so, it just doesn’t seem right.
What would you say makes you stand out from other trance DJs?
I am not sure. For me the most important thing is that the people there enjoyed it. If that’s the case then I am happy so I just try and play a balance of tracks that I like and hopefully they like.
Which other DJs do you rate?
Halliwell is the best DJ in our scene by a mile. Pure entertainer, it bewilders me how people can knock him. Also Greg Downey is a quality DJ with brilliant tune selection and completely individual, which is important. Chris Barratt from the house scene has impressed me loads, again the tracks he has and plays I have never heard before, he’s got loads of individuality. Recently I really like Richard Durand as a DJ too. There are loads which I am sure I have forgotten!
You’ve been involved behind the scenes in the music industry for some time now, how did you break into that?
I came to London when I was 19 and just knocked on doors really. I got my first break with Italian producer Dino Lenny who had just started up his own label. I worked there for about a year and then went onto assist Dave Lambert at Universals AM:PM dance imprint. I then got a job as A&R assistant at Incentive which was one of MOS labels. Whilst I was there I dropped a record round to Seb Fontaine’s office one day and Simon Clarkson, who now runs Mainstage management, asked me if I would be up for helping Seb listen to his tracks, as he’d just joined Radio 1. I did that for about a year and then Jules approached me to do the same job, which I did for about three years.
When did you start DJing?
Properly about three years ago.
You’ve always come across as being very focused in your career, is there ever a time when you become disheartened with the music industry?
The scene is false and fickle. I just try to keep my head down and work hard.
What is part of the UK do you find still has the most passion for trance?
Scotland is def the best place in the UK for passion also Southern Ireland. These still seem really fresh to play in.
What is the favourite country that you’ve played in?
I couldn’t pinpoint one country. Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Sweden and Germany would be the best places I have played in terms of passion.
Will you be making a return to Ibiza this year?
Yeah I have two dates this year, one in June and one in September.
The sun has finally come out and summer’s on its way — what festivals will you be playing this year?
I am not too sure what festivals I am playing at this year, but I am definitely playing at Planet Love in Belfast and hopefully Dance Valley too. With the Dogzilla live thing, we are playing at Gatecrasher Summer Soundsystem and Wildchild Outside which will be good. I’m looking forward to catching up with Reece. We also have a few dates internationally this summer.
I’m sure you’ll admit you like a drink… have you met a DJ that can out drink you?
Greg Downey is the only person I know that could out drink me. But I tend to drink a lot and then get sick and can’t drink anymore whereas most people I know can drink all day and all night.
What is your beverage of choice?
Vodka, lemonade and lime. Beers, wine, anything really!
What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t producing/DJing?
A golfer.
Many thanks for taking the time to do this interview with us and best of luck for the coming year!
Thanks a lot for having me!
Check out his latest productions, upcoming gigs, videos and all things Simon Patterson at www.myspace.com/simonpatterson
Photos courtesy of getinpr and Simon Patterson. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Other Features By getinpr:
Push Jimmy Vallance's Buttons
Familiarise yourself with Party Proactive Antiworld 070707 headliner Christopher Lawrence
Talking filth with the brightest star of the nu wave of house — Filthy Rich
Shy Brothers - the new heroes of tech-trance
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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Comments:
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From: Louk on 23rd Apr 2007 23:28.36
'You remind me a lot of Simon Patterson, Louk' said DJ Choose. Good interview mate! Awesome producer + DJ.
From: JC-TAKTIKAL on 23rd Apr 2007 23:41.07
yes MD quality interview! boots
From: Mike Harris on 24th Apr 2007 13:43.14
Nice interview mate, very interesting read.
He's a great dj/producer and seems to be a really nice guy, was a pleasure playing on the same line-up as him when i closed the VACCINE room last December!
From: Becka on 24th Apr 2007 22:04.47
Wicked DJ, Producer and just a great guy all round!
From: Dubster on 26th Apr 2007 12:06.28
Bulldozer stands as one of the most original tracks of this year imo, gonna be one that people play for a loooooong time methinks.
From: BenGold on 29th Apr 2007 03:46.36
Top bloke, proper joker! Look forward to seing you soon!
From: Nav** on 3rd May 2007 00:18.35
Pure Cheese
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