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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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Back to back with inSpiral Lounge resident Aliji and Liquid Ross
Reported by Tara
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Submitted 28-07-10 13:18
Take a group of dedicated festival and event organisers who care deeply about the environment, give them a few years to cut their teeth creating festival chill-outs like IDSpiral and events like The Synergy Project, then ask them to settle down a bit and put their creative energies into one place. The result? Camden’s incredible inSpiral Lounge, where you can have some of the best vegan food in London while sipping an organic cidar next to the water, then dance to some of the most cutting edge sounds around. With Event Manager Aliji and admin, PR and marketing dogsbody Liquid Ross taking some time out from their busy summer touring schedules and getting behind the decks at inSpiral this Saturday night for a rare eight-hour back to back of eclectic electronica, HarderFaster met up with the guys for a couple of organic beers and a scrumptious vegan meal...
Aliji
For those reading this who don’t know you, where are you from and how did you first get into dance music?
Aliji: I discovered psychedelic trance in mid-’90s Goa. The parties and international trance scene were a huge inspiration.
Ross: Newbury, and then Rochester in Kent and now living in South London. I got into dance music listening to the likes of PWEI, KLF, The Orb, Primal Scream in the early 90s and discovered psy trance at the warehouse parties in Kent and in Goa.
You both play a range of music and styles. How would you describe your respective sounds and how have they changed and evolved over the years?
Aliji: Tech house/progressive techno — downtempo electronica eclectica. I started as an ID Spiral resident chill-out DJ back in 2003 and over a few years broadened my horizons searching for the magic sounds that lead me on to much more. As I went off trance, I wanted to find dance music that does it for a psychedelic audience but which is slower, sexy, groovy and discovered many things within a BPM range of 122–128. Tech house is a generic genre description, although when I DJ I like to keep my musical flavours open.
Ross: Psy trance mainly 138–145, but also over the years I’ve played so much diverse electronica, breaks techno chill-out, electro, progressive house indie rock… I love playing psy trance but struggle to find music I enjoy. But love psychedelic music in general.
Liquid Ross
Who or what would you say has influenced you musically growing up? And now?
Aliji: Gong, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, Blue Note Jazz, Galliano to mention a few...
With much disposable music around these days, I like to find the tunes that are still likely to sound fresh and exciting in a few years.
Ross:Ozric Tentacles and Eat Static, Pop Will Eat Itself, Black Sabbath, Primal Scream, The Orb, Hallucinogen, Young American Primitive... this sort of music between the ages of 16–18 and being introduced to psychedelics and rave culture Now — wow, so much through friends and connections and environment.
Were either of you ravers or clubbers in your formative years? These days, what do you like to do to unwind?
Aliji: I fully confess to many years of ‘having it’ in multiple party environments around the planet. I still love it but I’m much more selective on what I do. Factors such as the environment, music and intention of core organisers play a big part in how events shape up and will help me decide whether to embrace it or not. At festivals such as Boom, Glastonbury and Sunrise Celebration there is so much other stuff going on other than music, that it’s easy to find inspiration and wholesome leisure away from the dance floor and still be on the vibe.
I enjoy a seaside walk where I live in Brighton, inSpiral health choices/recreation and going down to the bowling club with Ross on a Wednesday afternoon.
Ross: I never was really a clubber; I liked warehouse parties and raves. But the music in clubs in Newbury and Rochester were shite. I used to bring my own records to parties and ask if I could play, even though I had no idea how to use the mixer or records decks but I did it anyway. UK festival experiences have always been my favourite musical experience. Glastonbury sits 10 levels above the next one , although Universo Paralello (Brazil) was amazing, as was Sunrise Festival and Glade. Now I enjoy running and eating good healthy food and very chilled times with my very close friends. I love inSpiral Lounge in Camden, also grazing around East Dulwich, London.
Aliji
Aliji you run stages at Glastonbury and Boom Festivals and Ross, you’re involved with Glade, Sunrise and Waveform in the UK and you both have toured extensively. I know what goes on tour is supposed to stay on tour, but could you please share one of the funniest tales from life on the road with your fans?
Ross: I have photos that are priceless! Hehe. I once asked my very good friend why they had turned the soundsytem off (80K turbosound Zambia Eclipse Party 2001, first night, very good psychedelic experience) Bobbing up and down Patrick screamed into my ear (above the apparent music) “What??” More recently I did get banned from the stage I was running at Sunrise Celebration. Hmmm…
Being festival veterans, what are the three most important things you don’t leave home without?
Aliji: Music, Wellies, sense of humour.
Ross: Cheap Indian blanket, glitter and flapjacks.
Liquid Ross
You’re both constantly exposed to some of the best upfront music around. What DJs and producers have got you all fired up recently?
Aliji: On the tech house front, Martin Buttrich, Robert Babicz, D-Nox and Beckers do it for me. A label that I totally love and respect for downtempo/electroacoustic is Just Music (www.justmusic.com) and I am delighted to say that we are starting a new night with them at inSpiral from September, Just Music Cafe Night. Digitonal, Echaskech, Jon Hopkins and Honeyroot are some of my favourite artists on their roster.
Ross: the vibes from Logica, Monk3ylogic, Earthling and Chameleon’s new project, The First Stone, Atomic Drop, Yasko, Subsource, Tripswitch, Atmos as ever!
You’re both heavily involved in the inSpiral Lounge, how did you first start working there and what are your roles?
Aliji: I am event manager and responsible for the running of events, artist bookings and promotion.
Ross: I’ve been working with Dom since the days of climbing through windows of warehouses to put on raves, and now do admin, PR and marketing for the Lounge and general assist in managing the back end of things. And promote superfoods!
Aliji
InSpiral puts on some of the most eclectic line-ups in London, how do you find such a range of music and acts?
Aliji: I have a good feeling how to shape things creatively. inSpiral just seems to attract all the right promoters/artists who want to be involved, which gives me the pleasure of working with the most inspiring and creative people who come on board and bring their own particular flavour. I’ve got a lot of music contacts and make new ones all the time, as well as doing a bit of research into what would work.
Ross: The people the place the intentions and the vibe of inSpiral attract the best things that life has including music and artists. Ali is the man for music and connections ... I believe he could do a epic 18month DJ set given the opportunity.
For those who’ve never experienced the amazing food and refreshments of inSpiral, what do you recommend and what’s your favourite tipple?
Aliji: I am a big fan of Blueberry Bliss smoothie. It’s never let me down. I like all the food.
Ross: The dynamic raw food menu and mixed salads, especially the kofta and papaya salad.
Liquid Ross
This Saturday 31 July you’re doing an epic six-hour back to back at inSpiral, which is described on your website as: “an exclusive eclectic electronic fantastic trip through music with no definable boundaries.” Can you give readers a hint as to what this might involve? Do you have any idea what you might play and are you going to try and coordinate things in advance, or will you prefer to wing it on the night?
Aliji: We will groove it up for the girls and boys of inSpiral and recommend casual footwear.
Ross: Silliness, holding hands and organic larger. The truth will set us free.
Given that you’re both usually working behind the scenes at inSpiral, this is going to be a special occasion indeed! Why should readers come to Camden this Saturday and check it out?
Aliji: Why not?
Ross: Trust us on this one! It’s going to be very special. Contact us for guest list now!
Aliji
You’re both experts in putting together kick arse line-ups and staging awesome events. If you had an unlimited budget and could put on an event anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would you book to play?
Aliji: It would be somewhere where by the sea, amazing sound with smiling locals joining in the fun and of course the best music anywhere... Liquid Ross would be headlining.
Ross: Aliji back to back with Liquid Elf at the Roundhouse. Supported by The Lunchbrigade performing LIVE. I’d like to put on Iron Maiden. I don’t know why but reckon it would be quite different from your usual London party. But more parties in India.
The dance and festivals scenes have been facing a few challenges recently — both in the UK and internationally — with club attendances down and festivals like Glade and Mafia Island not going ahead. Do you think this is just a small dip caused by the recession and its associated 30% unemployment in under-25s, or something else? What future do you both see for the dance scene?
Aliji: I don’t think we need to worry about it. Glade being cancelled was a one-off and hopefully will be back next summer. We’ve just got to adapt to changing times in the way events are planned and marketed. I am sure it is possible as no other festival does it with the sheer professionalism and magnitude of production that Glade consistently delivers.
Ross: Struggling times but the entertainment industry will survive and those that are determined will keep at it. I have Synergy V3 (working title/tbc) on the horizon. Glade is looking better and brighter for 2011. Halycon will return with a great new venue in November. And apparently Astral Phoenix and Antiworld are joining forces for later this year!
Liquid Ross
Finally, what else do you both have on the cards for the rest of 2010? And beyond?
Aliji: I’m going to Portugal for a couple of weeks. Boom is the big one then roll into Autumn back in the UK as inSpiral events pick up when the nights get longer. It does not stop. I love it.
Ross: I’m looking forward to Ozora, Boom, Aurora and UV Hybrid Afterparty in August… and then Eden, Waveform and Alchemy festivals in September. We’ve some new releases on Liquid which include Mood Deluxe album, Alpha Omega compilation and EPs from Monk3ylogic, Bird of Prey, Earthling and Chameleon and more.
Thanks for your time Aliji and Ross and looking forward to more inSpiral magic on Saturday!
For more information check out www.inspiralled.net
Photos courtesy of Aliji and Liquid Ross. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Other Features By Tara: Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden Telling Cosmic Tales with DJ Strophoria Tom Psylicious aka EarthAlien takes 50 Spins Around the Sun: Raising Awareness Through the Power of Music
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: Andy Force on 29th Jul 2010 11:43.36 Awesome DJ's @ awesome venue.
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