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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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The Nu Wave takeover continues: Tom Parr in the spotlight for Chemistry
Reported by Ben Gomori
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Submitted 18-06-07 22:24
As the size, climate and nature of the hard house scene continues to evolve, the next generation of producers and DJs are coming through thick and fast. While many of the old guard just seem to be going through the motions to pay the bills, the new blood seem passionate, innovative and talented - with acclaimed producer Tom Parr a prime example. Don't Wikipedia him, as you'll get lead to a yarn about a man of the same name who allegedly lived to 152 years old. Instead, read our interview with him to find out how this funk-fuelled hotshot got stuck into production and the great wide world of tough beats!
Tom's tough-but-groovy style has seen him notch up a very promising release for DJGRH Recordings and on Noir Digital. More recently it’s also seen him bag a set for Frantic presents Chemistry at Hidden on June 22nd, back-to-back with Mark Howard. Miss him at your peril!
So, how did your fascination with hard dance all begin then?
Well it all started years back when I was 14. I got into music by listening to old trance and cheesy hard house, Tidy kinda stuff and then progressed onto listening to old Fergie CDs back when he was playing hard house. I was never really too interested in the mixing side of things and was always wondering how the hell the tracks were made. Luckily at the time a friend of mine was into producing stuff so I asked if he could show me what he new and the production started from there.
What was the first track you produced then? Was it any cop?
Nah it took me a very long time before I could produce anything that was close to being good. My problem was that I kept swapping programs to produce on which meant I wasted a lot of time learning the program again and so on. I also started off producing cheesy type tracks and other genres so that took up some time but was all good practice for the future.
So what programmes / set up did you eventually settle on?
I started off on a really crappy old program called Modplug which was a basic sequencer which had very little in it apart from a sampler. I then moved quickly on to a sequencer called Reason. This was a good program to work on because it had soft synths built into it and was very quick and easy to use but still wasn’t the program for me. So I got my hands on Fruity Loops and fell in love with it straight away. It’s quick and simple to use and also supports VSTs. I then spent my time getting to know the program and started to produce some tracks that I was finally starting to feel happy with. I’ve thought about using programs like Cubase or Logic but it seems a bit pointless now after spending a lot of time learning how to use FL.
Which producers have influenced you most over the years?
People like Dom Sweeten, Paul Maddox, Paul Janes, Paul King and more recently guys like Frank Farrell and Dave Owens who are really making some good solid hard house tracks. As for the funkier side of hard house, the young Scott Fo Shaw is making some good tracks.
So how did you start getting yourself noticed in the scene? Your ascent definitely seemed to be slow but sure if you get me.
I found out about the web site bangingtunes.com which was cool for me because it had a feedback section to put your tracks on. I started to upload some of my efforts for feedback. At first I didn’t really get much response and the response I did get wasn’t a great deal of help. So I decided to get some feedback from other more established producers. I got hold of Digital Kid’s MSN address and started sending him all my efforts to see if he could help me out. Paul helped me out a lot at the time and gave me a few good tips on my production. Wasn’t long before he started playing my tracks out and the feedback seemed to be good.
I then basically got hold of as many label & DJs email and MSN addresses as possible and started sending my stuff out to those I thought would be interested. Marc Johnson has helped me out a great deal so far this year with getting me noticed and stuff like that. He’s signed a few of my tracks to his label Flashpoint Records and has always been really supportive. I can't thank him enough really. A lot of the CyberKitten residents have also been really supportive by playing my tracks and helping me get more exposure.
What's the best piece of advice you'd give to someone who was where you were 2 years ago?
Well to be honest I'd say be ready for a lot of bitching.. If you like it enough, stick at it and put some real effort into it. Just ignore all the bullshit that comes with it and just try and have a good time. Don’t give up!
Are you a big clubber?
No I’m not a big clubber at all to be fair. Don’t get me wrong I like going out but there’s not much good music up here in the North, well in fact there’s none. I started going to Goodgreef which was good a few years back but now they just play gash hard dance and, oh god dare I say it, hardstyle. Then I got to know K8-e, a DJ from a night called Cyberkitten and she invited me to go there to check it out and I have to say it was unreal. I had the time of my life and the music and standard of mixing was top notch. By far one of the best hard house nights I've ever been to.
What releases have you got coming up then?
Well I've got two tracks coming out on Nosebleed Records. Punisher, which is a solo effort and Peer Pressure with Matt Pickup. A second track with Matt called Funky Music is due out on Oktane Records soon as well. Cancel & You Die is due out on Insekt Sonar. Fuel The Fire, Fuck Monster and Politics & Music are due out on Flashpoint Digital also, with mine and Mark Howard's remix of Dave Owens & Frank Farrell Power / Fury. Marc Johnson is also going to be remixing Politics & Music which will be out on vinyl in the near future. Three of the tracks are also featured on the Flashpoint Industrial Strength 2 CD which should also be out in a few weeks. I also have a tune out on Steve Gillen's Delete The Weak label, Fightin' Talk, which is a collaboration between myself, Steve and Nasty Neil and should be out in a couple of weeks. On Your Mind is also out on Noir Digital.
They are all the harder end of hard house. On a funkier tip I have an EP coming out on Scott Fo-Shaw’s Presence Funk which will include Twisted Funk (which featured on the Tidy Weekender Warm Up CD), Stamford Stones and What's Up.
I’m also starting a label Slaughter House Records later this year with a mate of mine Andy Wilson. It will be a vinyl label releasing tuff & groovy tracks and hard filth type tracks. It’s so hard to get tunes signed to vinyl these days most labels aren’t prepared to take the risk and sign anything different hence why Andy and I decided to start the label. The first release should be out in a few months so keep an eye out for that.
Blimey, busy busy! What are your views on the hard dance scene as a whole at the moment?
Well as a whole it’s pretty good I think. With nights like Insekt, CyberKitten and Frantic about there’s lots to go to. I think it’s sad that vinyl sales are at an all time low which makes it even harder to get stuff signed but in a way it’s a good thing because this in theory should ensure higher quality tracks get vinyl releases. There’s lots of good music being played and there’s more than enough wicked DJs out there.
What would you like to see change in the scene?
I'd like to see the big labels giving the new up and coming producers a chance as it’s hard to get a look in with them sometimes. Not all the labels are like that though, Flashpoint, took the time to listen to my stuff and have signed tracks. I’d also like to see more hard house nights up north without a doubt and I would like to see more female DJs doing the rounds as well.
Really? I always thought that the North had more hard dance than the South?
Nah, not anymore. I mean there are a few places in Leeds and Manchester but not many I’d consider travelling for.
Fair play. Now moving onto your set at Frantic presents Chemistry on June 22nd at Hidden. How are you feeling about it?
I'm really looking forward to it to be fair. I’ve made a few new tracks to showcase there along with all the other tracks mentioned before. I'll mainly be playing all my productions but I'll still be chucking in other artists tracks. I've heard lots of good things about Frantic in the past few months and can’t wait to smash it. Just been to Hidden this weekend as it goes and it’s a cool venue, so yeah I’m really looking forward to it!
Have you been to Frantic much before then?
No I've never been yet but I've heard lots about it, all good things of course.
Who's the funniest person in hard dance?
That’s a tough one err! Probably I would have to say Andy Rise, he’s pretty funny. We could start with his fashion sense ha-ha! He’s just a nice guy who never fails to crack me up.
And finally, what was the last track the really blew your socks off?
Its not a proper banging style track but Curve Pusher – Flux out on Turtle Dog records is really doing it for me at the moment.
MySpace: www.myspace.com/tomparr
Photo courtesy of Stuart Wooster. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Frantic presents Chemistry
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On:
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Friday 22nd June 2007
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At:
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Hidden [map]
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From:
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10PM-6AM
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Cost:
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FREE b4 midnight, £8/10 after
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Website:
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www.franticuk.net
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Ticket Info:
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It's FREE! Email full names to willfrantic@yahoo.co.uk for free entry before midnight. £8 after, or £10 with no guestlist.
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More:
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Frantic is all over Summer 2007 like a very pleasant rash! On June 30th we’ll be joining forces with Slinky for the gargantuan Hard House arena at Sanctuary Festival ’07 in Winchester, and on August 11th...something else very very special will be happening! But in the meantime we want to get you all properly warmed up for the madness that lies ahead...and what better way than with our third and final instalment of the Chemistry comeback trilogy?
Headlining this awesome free event are two of the scene’s hottest DJ/producers, with a very special back-to-back set to celebrate the launch of their new compilation ‘Elevate: The Next Level’ – Mr. Kevin Energy and Mr. Phil York! These two never fail to take the roof off on their own, and combined they are a serious force to be reckoned with. Prepare yourself for huge build-ups, rush-inducing riffs, and seriously pumping basslines.
Cally Gage returns to hidden for another standard-raising set, with new favourites Steve O’ Brady and James Condon continuing their steady rise through the ranks. Matt Pickup and Andy Rise are back again by popular demand, with Elvis providing some hard groovy beats as well. There’s a whole host of new talent in Room2, including the massively acclaimed producer Tom Parr, and saucy House and Electro in Room3 courtesy of those lovely people at Hi-Jack.
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Flyer:
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Other Features By Ben Gomori:
HF exclusive SouthWestFour preview: Sasha vs Digweed
Scott Attrill aka Vinylgroover: The Bass Junkie
The Bluffer's Guide to Detroit Techno
Riot! memories as hard dance returns to The End
The King is back! Andy Farley finally returns
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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