Reported by Andy Dunford
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Submitted 01-11-05 02:35
Alphazone are Alex Zwarg and Arne Reichelt from Braunschweig in Germany. Over the last 4 years, their productions have taken the roof off the world over with their unique blend of slammin kick drums and uplifting melodies. I caught up with the duo to find out a bit more about them in advance of a rare trip to London, at Knowwhere’s November party.
Hi guys and a very warm welcome from everybody at Knowwhere and indeed welcome to the UK!
Firstly, how would you describe your sound?
We always describe it as hi-nrg trance, because we try to combine the power of hard trance in terms of drums and bass lines with uplifting melodic elements and trancy synth sounds. All our productions are produced for peak time: big breakdowns and huge synth riffs to rock the crowds.
Tell us a little about how you started out. You didn’t become full time producers until 2001 but you released your first record back in 1996 — is this correct?
Yeah, true. We started right after school as “bedroom producers”. Our first tracks were really produced just for fun. In 1996 we released our first single ‘Overload’ on Global Ambition. Till 2001 we just made dark German techno stuff. But in 2001 the Alphazone project was born with our first trance remix ever: DJ Kim — ‘Jetlag’.
You made your biggest breakthrough with the release of the club smash ‘Jetlag’ (still very popular with the Knowwhere residents) in early 2002 which came together with an Alphazone remix. Did things become easier from then onwards? How did things develop for you after that?
For sure. We are now earning our living with music. The Alphazone project and Skywarp, our studio name, became more and more successful over the last 3 years for sure.
When producing or remixing a record, what sort of processes do you both go through before you are completely satisfied?
We are never satisfied! *laughing* In fact we are always very ambitious and try to deliver top notch quality with every production or remix. We always try to achieve highest production standards to make tracks the clubbers are expecting from us.
How are you different from each other when it comes to your work? Is one of you more into the dj-ing and the other the production side for example?
No, not really. We compose and arrange all tracks together. The same goes for djing. But Alex is our mixing engineer, the final mixdown is done by him alone. He is the mastermind behind the knobs.
At Knowwhere you will be performing a DJ set for us but I’ve read somewhere that you also do or were planning to do live sets as well. Is this correct?
Yes, that’s correct. We will kick-off our live project with our album launch spring/summer 2006. We will celebrate the album with a big tour around the world.
When I went to Germany last summer, trance didn’t seem to be very mainstream. The majority of clubs were playing techno, electro and house music. Has it always been this way, after all, Germany is home to the legendary Paul Van Dyk?
No, trance and techno was very big in the mid-90s. But at that time the music was hyped too much and became too commercial and after some years we saw a techno and trance overkill. All clubbers refused to go to trance parties anymore and so the night life and club scene changed completely. Now Germany is dominated by house and electro. We see it also on the booking front. 90% of our bookings at the moment are outside Germany.
Did the underground nature of the trance scene in Germany make it more difficult to be recognized initially?
No, see our answer above. There is no big scene anymore. Trance is just deep underground again and even there not as popular as the other genres of electronic music.
You did a gig back in April with our very own Adam White in Australia and are hugely popular over there. Why do you think this is and how does the trance/club scene differ there compared to the UK or rest of Europe?
In Australia the clubbers and the scene itself is still extremely vital. Many internationals go there regularly to tour around and play. We love the people and their mentality. It’s always something special to play down under.
You’ve used many different aliases, including Alphazone, Saltwater and Nebulus. Why is this?
The reason is quite simple: We want to shape the profile of all our artist aliases. Saltwater for example is trancier, Alphazone delivers the harder edge of trance and hard trance.
You’ve recently set up two sister record labels, Skywarp Platinum and Trance Tribe Recordings to compliment Skywarp Records. What do you look for in a production before it can be released on one of the labels and are the different labels set up to promote different styles of music?
We always look for fresh and inspiring tracks. New melodies, new emotions. And the productions have to be very good as well. We just sign material which meets these expectations. And now to your second question: Yes, the label profile of these two new labels is totally different. Skywarp Platinum features hard and in the future even techy productions, TranceTribe brings out uplifting trance and will even go in the progressive direction. There are loads of big tunes coming up on all our labels. Watch out for all the new material to be released soon.
Hard trance has become really popular in this country and particularly London in the last three or four years, something which your productions have been a big part of. Who do you rate in terms of both dj-ing and production at this moment in time?
It would be hard to mention all people who do a fantastic job to promote trance in these days, there are so many good djs out there and also so many good productions out on the market — it’s too difficult to just name a few...
If you weren’t dj/producers what would your ideal career be? What do you think you would have ended up doing for real?!!
Lifetime students *laughing*
What do you do when you’re not working — how do you relax?
Like everyone else. Going out with good friends or just staying at home relaxing.
What can we look forward to in terms of production and gigs in the near future — will there be more regular gigs in the UK for example?
Yes, definitely. We are working with different new agencies starting 2006 and there are a lot of gigs in the pipeline already.
What should people expect from the Alphazone DJ Team at Knowwhere?
Pure party power. We will try to rock the house.
Finally, what words of advice would you give to any budding djs or producers reading this interview who want to make it to the big time?
Keep on working, keep on learning, keep on trying. Success is often not one big jump, but instead a ladder which you can climb up with smaller steps as well.
Thanks very much guys for your time. I know there are a lot of people very much looking forward to your performance, I for one can’t wait! See you on 4th.
Thanks for the interview as well. If you like to find out more about Alphazone, Skywarp and all our labels please check our new website with a new shop for legal mp3 downloads of all our releases. www.skywarp.de
After the awesome success of our launch party/WeAre4 at HEAVEN, the Knowwhere team are pleased and proud to announce another amazing line-up to give you all a proper ‘Big Bang’ on Friday November the 4th!
You remember November? It’s that month, a little too soon to celebrate Christmas, but when the summer holidays are but a distant memory, when we in good old blighty use the feeble excuse of some failed plot against parliament over three hundred years ago, to set off a few fireworks and party on into the winter! Well you don’t need an excuse any more, because Knowwhere’s coming up with the very best Trance, Hard Dance & Funk in town to keep you buzzing right through until the festive season!
Trance Room Headlining the Trance room on the night, and launching the release of his new album ‘Lower The Tone’ we have the legendary John Askew! Long time resident at one of London’s most long-standing happening parties, ‘Gallery’ and worldwide resident with Ministry of Sound, (which has led to the globe-trotting DJ playing in the past 3 years: North America, Canada, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, Egypt, Eastern Europe, Sweden, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Greece, Scotland, Ireland, Poland &Wales!) John is truly a global force on the DJ circuit.
Alongside John in the Trance room Knowwhere is pleased to announce the appearance of German Trance masters, ALPHAZONE! These prolific DJ/Producers have been rocking the Trance world since the mid-nineties, and are a firm favourite with many Knowwhere regulars, this will be their first appearance for us, so a real treat is in store!
One half of Knowwhere’s Funky duo, Funk-a-tronic is of course the amazing Max-e-Groove, who will be returning to the Trance room for us this month. Always a massive hit with the KW crowd, Max-e is the man who just seems to come up with the awesome tunes nobody else has heard of yet, and get the crowds rocking from minute one!
Resident Anthony Dean finishes off the Trance fare on offer, guaranteeing the bouncy uplifting Knowwhere Trance as only he can.
Hard Dance Room One half of the Hard House Legends ‘Pants & Corset’ Paul King headlines the Hard Dance room this month. Paul’s been a major player in the industry for a long time now, collaborating with everyone from Tony De Vit to Lady Bianca over the years, he’s also appeared under more aliases than you could count, including ‘F1’ ‘Trauma’ and ‘Overload’ as well as the famous ‘Pants & Corset’ pairing with Chris B.
Paul is joined by one of London’s favourite Hard DJs, James Lawson. If you’ve been to one of the big Hard Dance events in London in the last few years, there’s a good chance James has been on line-up at some point. Always a favourite with Hard crowds, he’s also been a prolific producer of tunes coming through on the Nukleuz label, as well as remixes through Tripoli Trax and Honeypot.
Next up in the Hard Dance room, we welcome Charlotte Birch to her first Knowwhere. Charlotte’s style has evolved somewhat since her first days DJing back in 1996. Her previous style of funky house, disco and old classics, was soon replaced by hard pumping dance. This style quickly impressed the major clubs and promoters, leading to gigs at Slinky and a residency at Sundissential. She has also toured the USA, Australia & New Zealand, as well as giving an impressive recent performance at Tidy Summer Camp.
Final DJ in the Hard Dance room this month is the legendary Simon The Fireman! Simon’s been on the London scene as long as most people can remember and has never disappointed, he plays it Hard, but with the bounce that keeps the floor rocking all night. XLR8, Frantic, SunnySideUp, The Fridge, Camden Palace, Hanover Grand, they’ve all been witness to Simon’s skills, now it’s HEAVENS turn!
Funky Room Knowwhere’s Funky resident Lizzie Curious makes a welcome return this month, playing her first set for us at HEAVEN. Lizzie is joined once again by Helen Joyce who played an awesome set for us back at The Fridge earlier in the year.
The Funky room sees a first for us this month, when we welcome along two new faces to Knowwhere, DJ Georgeos and Ciaran McCarthy. Both residents from Brighton’s famous Honey Club, the guys are set to deliver the top quality Funk that has made them both hugely popular DJs on the south coast.
So loads to get your feet moving at Knowwhere this month, whatever your Dance preferences, make sure you come along on the 4th of November and….
From: minimooon 1st Nov 2005 09:35.04 RA!! Wicked readL
Can't wait to see them at KNOWWHERE
From: Jurraneon 1st Nov 2005 09:59.09 Reading Alphazone's discography is like going through an A-Z of peak-time trance classics. Nice interview and can't wait to see these guys at Knowwhere! Bring it on!
From: ~deleted1390on 1st Nov 2005 12:45.31 Wicked Producers. I can always work at least one Alphazone track into any set I play.
From: Lizzie Curiouson 1st Nov 2005 13:00.10 what a great review - I love their work
*currently drooling over studio pic*
can't wait to see them play!!!!!!!
From: Brett Woodon 1st Nov 2005 15:50.07 Superb interview! Keep up the good work lads! Love ya stuff!
From: maceon 1st Nov 2005 17:36.33 so good, cant wait to see them.
From: NumberPlateBoyon 1st Nov 2005 22:06.37 Gutted I can't make it, truly gutted. Book them again someone!
From: justin fryon 2nd Nov 2005 00:26.14 Alphazone are QUALITY!!
From: djviticuson 2nd Nov 2005 10:22.43 these are the times it sucks im in cali.. i would love to see alphazone, they are a1 all the way
From: K.A.R.L.on 2nd Nov 2005 16:30.40 Looking forward to seeing these guys on Friday, for some peak time, big room trance...........
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