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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! |
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Blue Preview: Interview with dance music icon Andy Farley
Reported by Macavity
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Submitted 19-11-04 10:43
Andy Farley is a dance music icon. Over the past five years he’s risen to the pinnacle of the scene with his breathtaking skills and ability to pioneer new sounds. On Saturday 27th November he fulfils a 16 year career ambition when he fronts his own night, Blue at this all time favourite venue Turnmills.
The night hopes to offer a new dimension on the hard dance scene by combining tribal sounds with hard dance and techno, demonstrating how the music is evolving.
I asked Andy to explain a little bit more about Blue as well as seizing the chance to ask for a few mixing tips for the deck meister himself.
You haven’t played in London for the last five months. Where have you been?!
Lots of wonderful of places such as Japan, Chile, Greece, Ibiza, Holland and Canada and I’ve just come back for the US. I’ve met some great people over the year and been to some fantastic places. Playing abroad also gives me the opportunity to play something a bit different, for example in Chile I played house and techno.
I took a break in January and went to Thailand, then on down to Australia & New Zealand. I was back for a weekend then flew off to San Francisco and Calgary. The rest of the year in between travelling I’ve done some fantastic UK gigs, including the two big Global Gathering & Creamfields festivals, and the wicked Tidy Trax weekenders and Magna events, Hard South in Brighton & Slinky in Bournemouth. Internationally I’ve been to Greece, Holland, Ibiza twice, Denver, Los Angeles & Chile in the last three months alone, and three trips across the Irish sea to Ireland which are always great, love it over there. On top of that I’ve stepped up my production this year, and have launched Blue Cubed Recordings which I’ll talk about below. I’m so looking forward to playing in London again. I’m very excited.
You’ve just stepped of the plane from a couple of gigs in America. What was that like? I hear the clubs were absolutely packed with 1000s unable to get in.
It was a great weekend. I played at 1015 in San Francisco on the Friday night and that was rammed. Got to hear Lee Coombs play and he was excellent. Then I played my set which went great before heading back to the hotel to get some sleep before flying to Los Angeles. I was playing at After Hour Power’s 5th birthday at Avalon. The club is huge and is an old theatre. They had made a huge intro for the night, with a huge build up followed by the guitarist from the Scorpions playing one of their classics. All this time we were hidden behind a huge curtain on the stage, before this finally dropped, and I have to say the view was amazing. They had 2500 in the club, with 1000 locked out on the door. The atmosphere was wicked and it was a brilliant night!
Andy at The Fridge
Do you have to travel alone or do you have people to travel with? It must be boring on your own?
I normally travel alone, although this time a journalist from iDJ Magazine came with me. It can be boring on your own, unless you make the most of your time and see some of the places you go to. I usually ask the promoter if they can take me to see places of interest etc, otherwise you feel like all you’ve seen is airport-hotel- club-hotel –airport.
What are the different crowds like around the world. What are the differences?
The dancing might be different and the faces, but there’s still that buzzing excitement from the crowds wherever you are. Chile for example though, being so far away do not get many international djs, so the buzz was tremendous in there.
Tell us about Blue. What’s the idea behind it?
This was a great opportunity offered to me, and I wanted to try something a bit different. Techno and house play a big part in my music and always have, so I went for a line up that reflected that side. I wanted people to be able to hear something new and different, with a quality line up, hence Malcolm Duffy, Trevor Rockliffe, Brenda, Russell, Jon Carter, Kenny Hawkes, Pagano. All these guys credentials speak for themselves, and we the music will get progressively harder during the night. The night will be 3 times a year, though of course can only fit in one this year which is on 27th November. The next one after that is in March, and already the dj line-up is shaping up to be a stomper!
Are you looking forward to playing with Jon Carter, Trevor Rockcliffe and Brenda Russell?
I’m really excited about Blue it seems to have come round really quickly now!! It’s going to be great playing alongside the likes of Jon, Trevor & Brenda, as these are people that I’ve looked up to and followed over the years.
Tell us about your new label Blue Cubed? Does this represent a change in style for you or is it just a way to show your various musical styles and influences?
All my original productions were for specific labels and therefore were slightly tailored to suit their needs. Blue Cubed gives me the opportunity to experiment and work with different people with a more open mind. Over the past few years my sound has evolved and the label reflects this. It’s not really a change of style but more an expansion of it.
The meister at work
You are respected by your peers and clubbers alike for your incredible technical skill, but you always make it look effortless and easy. How do you manage it? Is it down hard work and experience or are you naturally talented?
Just concentration! I focus 110% when I’m mixing, and some people might think I look miserable, but sometimes I can be mixing two tunes together for 3 or 4 minutes and you have to concentrate fully on what you’re doing. I’ve been mixing for 16 years now, so that’s quite a lot of practice to get it right! I’m also always looking to try new things when I mix just to add that something new and extra.
I am learning to DJ, but I don’t think I have a natural talent. Do you have a couple of tips?
Basically it’s best to find 2 tunes that you think go well together and practice mixing them in and out. It’s best not to be too ambitious and do really long mixes to start with, just get used to hearing the beats together and learning how to ride the pitch control to change the speed, and train your ears to hear when things drift out of time. Then after you start to gain your confidence you then become more adventurous. Also teach yourself about 4/4 time and the levels when you’re mixing. It’s a lot to learn to begin with but have patience with yourself, and if it’s not going well one day, walk away from it and come back to it.
Finally what are your thoughts on the music scene at the moment and what are your hopes for Blue?
The good thing about hard dance music over the past couple of years is that it producers and djs have been using different ideas within their music, therefore expanding what is on offer and giving a great spectrum of music to be played out. Anything from good tough house records through the techno field into hard house and hard trance can all be heard in all sorts of different venues.
This is what I’ve tried to create with Blue - a musical journey based on Quality Music played by Quality Artists at one of the world’s most amazing venues.
See you at Turnmills for Blue on the 27th November, make mine a JD and coke!
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Other Features By Macavity:
Ben Coda Gets Ready for Glade Festival
The Tidy Boys are Back To Clean Up London
David Minns Tells Us Why South London is The Place To Be!
Russia's No 1 DJ, Bobina Springs into London
Ali Wilson - From Harderfaster to Carl Cox's Favourite Producer
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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I wish all the best for you and Blue. Thank you very much for your comment on my interview at HF. I love you too Master!!!
wicked interview