My Year In Hard Dance

Hard Dance Top Trumps

Gigs Played: 55

Tracks Released: I have no idea I'm afraid - muchos!

Countries Visited: 7

Biggest Crowd Played To: 3400

Longest Set: 3 hrs

Compilations Mixed: 3 - Tidy Weekender 14 Live / Firebox Vol 1 / VCR pres 'The Hardbox Strikes Back' Vol 1

Click below for my top ten!

Ben Stevens

What's been your biggest achievement of the year?

I've had a great 2008 both music and gig wise, my biggest achievement has to be getting Fireball Recordings up and running. We are on our 7th release now and have up to number 15 planned for next year. We have also just released our first compilation album alongside Toolbox so keep an eye out for 'Firebox Volume 1'!

Being asked to mix one of the discs for the Tidy Weekender 14 Live CD's was an honour as well.

What moments will you never forget?

I have been lucky enough to go over to Australia and New Zealand again this year and I always have a fantastic time there, even though I almost missed my flight back to Adelaide as I was asleep in Auckland airport! Not to self,its best not to only stay in Auckland for 12 hrs before getting back on a plane!

Who's been your favourite newcomer of the year?

Even though he's not so much of a newcomer anymore Rodi Style has impressed me the most this year, his productions are top notch now and he can produce a range of styles which I always like to see. To top it off he is a world class DJ as well so he's got the whole package.

Who's been the artist of the year for you?

This is always a difficult question to ask me really as there are loads of producers I really look up to. For me it has to be Paul Maddox though, he produces some awesome tracks, and without Paul my productions would not be where they are today.

What's been your favourite label of the year?

It's got to be Fireball Recordings, plug plug ;)

What do you think has been the best track of the year?

For me it has to be a cover of Cappella's 'U Got 2 Know' that I did with Rodi for Tidy's 'Inspirations for A Harder Generation' album project. I had wanted to do the cover for ages so it was great to have an outlet to get it released on.

What's been your favourite event of the year?

The Tidy weekender in March of this year, they are always amazing events with so much effort put into them. I get excited like when I first started going clubbing when I know these events are coming up.

What's the funniest thing that's happened to you?

Almost every time I go to a club something funny seems to happen, I don't know if I've just got bad luck or if people have got it in for me. However the funniest thing happened at Parlez-Vous? in Bradford, I may have had a couple too many drinks and managed to put a record on top of the one that was playing. At the time I was a little embarrassed but now it is a funny story to tell!

What do you have planned for the next year?

Pretty much more of the same really, I've got lots of plans for Fireball over the next year and I am back working for Vicious Circle as the label manager now so its all systems go for the two labels. We have just launched the 'Hardbox Strikes Back' CD series on Vicious Circle and these are a double disc album with the first CD having 8 brand new unmixed tracks on it and the second with a DJ mix from the scene's leading DJ's.

Look out for them in all the shops from Monday 15th December.

For samples of my tracks and an up to date gigs list please join my fan page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/pages/Ben-Stevens/24423230687?ref=s

www.fireball-recordings.com
www.vicious-circle.net

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