My Year In Hard Dance

Hard Dance Top Trumps

Gigs Played: 47

Tracks Released: 30+

Countries Visited: 8

Biggest Crowd Played To: 4,500

Longest Set: 3 Hours (Durban, South Africa)

Compilations Mixed: 2 (Masif Hard Dance Anthems 2, Tidy vs Masif)

Click below for my top ten!

Technikal

What's been your biggest achievement of the year?

Finishing my first ever artist album 'Klubbed Together', which is due for release in 2009 on Masif (international release) and Tidy Trax (UK release). It's been the hardest and most rewarding project I've ever worked on in my life but I am so happy to have finally nailed it!

What moments will you never forget?

Playing the closing set with Phil Reynolds at Hard House Academy was a pretty standout gig for me this year, and something I won't be forgetting in a hurry. Dropping 'Hard House Slut' for the first time at Tony De Vit's London memorial was also a special moment.

Who's been your favourite newcomer of the year?

I've got two newcomers who have been rinsing it recently, firstly I have to say Iridium. He's been a busy bee and smashing out consistently strong hard trancers, and is starting to really carve his own sound for himself. Also needing a mention is Sambo - who has just joined forces with us at Technikal Recordings as a new resident producer. His first single 'Mezmerize' (which he produced totally by himself) was a best seller on Trackitdown for weeks and weeks. His production deserves these kind of accolades fully!

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

I've been really impressed with the work of Matt Lee, MDA & Spherical, and also Rodi Style. I've been smashing tunes from Matt and MDA & Spherical for a while now, and rightly so, but Rodi has been fusing a lot of different sounds together at the moment, and is coming up with something really fresh which I'm finding creeping into my sets more and more.

What's been your favourite label of the year?

I've really enjoyed the diversity of Tidy Trax recently, and of course Masif are a staple stamp of quality.

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

System F - Cry (Matt Lee Remix)

Absolutely scintillating remix of one of the most well loved trance classics of all time. It would have been very easy to screw this up. Of course, Matt being the hard dance Beethoven of the 21st century, this was never going to happen!

What's been your favourite event of the year?

I thought Global Gathering was fantastic this year. I got there to play the first set, and didn't leave til way after the last set ... it was fun from start to finish and I thought they really nailed the organization this time!

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

This is a recent one! I just got back from Canada, and had finished playing my gig. I'd been asleep in my hotel room for a few hours, and was suddenly awoken by three guys who I'd never met before, dancing around in my hotel room singing 'Let's get Technikal' to the tune of Olivia Newton John - Physical. After rubbing my eyes and coming to, I realised it was the Organ Donors and their tour organizer... all three of whom I'd never met before! They'd told reception they were my managers and had to get my key card as I was about to miss my flight. After being ordered to get up, harden the hell up and get out of bed, room service was knocking with 4 pints of Stella. I couldn't get rid of them until check out! Funny times.

What do you have planned for the next year?

I'll be touring 'Klubbed Together' for the first half of the year, and then once I'm done with that I'm going to start working on another album ... this time something altogether different! I don't know what yet, but I have plenty time to come up with something. See you in 2009!

Hard Dance Awards