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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! |
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Dirty vibes for filthy minds
Reported by spacekitten
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Submitted 01-02-06 17:19
There was a time when if you were a hardened weekend clubber, the only way to carry on with your partying on a Sunday was at an early morning hard house event, or at a risible cheap n cheery generic funky house party. However, for the past year there has been an alternative...
“Dirty vibes for filthy minds” pretty much sums up NORQ!, a promotion which has been attracting considerable attention over the past year for its alternative soundtrack and naughty atmosphere. The usual Sunday fodder of continuous 4/4 kicks, ultra-harsh synths and insipid female vocals has been replaced with a healthy mix of breaks, beats and basslines.
In the lead-up to NORQ!’s first birthday celebration this Sunday 5 February I fired a few quick questions at promoter Sami (aka Voodoobass) to find out more about the filth, the funk and the wickedness…
What is NORQ!?
NORQ! was born of my desire to start a party playing a more eclectic mix of genres alongside breakbeat, which is my main musical love at the moment.
The main philosophy behind NORQ! is to push new acts, as well as bringing in established DJ and production talent, and also provide an outlet for DJs established in other scenes to explore other styles they might be less famous for. Also, it’s about bringing people together, and having an awesome time while doing it.
How did it come about?
I’d been toying with the idea of starting my own promotion for a while. The first promotion I was properly involved in was a techno party, Techstyle, which gave me a leg up, and a feel for what I could accomplish. My sound made a rapid drift away from techno to breaks, and lately I’d been meeting a lot of DJs who I felt I could work with to make a truly great party. When I first heard Lika Marques play, I instantly knew I had met a musical kindred spirit. She plays her breaks tastefully hard and dirty, and her technical skills are second to none. Anyway, I felt I had to share her with the world and get her some well-deserved exposure, so hey presto, I had my first resident DJ.
When my next birthday came round, I thought I’d combine my party with the launch night of NORQ!, picked up co-promoter/DJ Chris Cee along the way, and the rest is history...
Is there a story behind the name, it sounds naughty… ?
Yeah, lots of stories and speculation. I wanted to pick something distinctive and individual, that didn’t give you any preconceptions of what to expect from the party. It looks great written down as well! There is a deeper meaning but I like to keep people guessing if they don’t already know. Ask me over a beer if you see me out and about...
Who has graced the wheels of steel at NORQ! over the past year?
In our first year we have had some phenomenal DJs play for us, including some of my favourite artists, which is gratifying. John B was legendary, Ed Real’s D&B anthems set was really special considering many people consider hard dance and D&B completely incompatible. Elektrobunny from Southend promotion Siren has played some great sets for us too, she’s playing for us again this month.
However, I’m not going to list every DJ we’ve booked in the last year as I might forget someone and upset them. But they’ve all been great.
The venue, Southside Bar, seems almost to have developed legendary status for some people (at the very least it’s many peoples’ favourite watering hole). Have you always held NORQ! there?
I chose the Southside Bar as a home for NORQ! because I love the vibe there. It feels like a local boozer and a club rolled into one, and having the upstairs bar means we can explore more eclectic sounds as well as allowing me to play the odd set of jazzy broken beat, liquid funk or deep house. I’m looking at bringing in more IDM and electronica in the next few months to keep things really interesting.
We’re not using the Southside Bar exclusively though; we’re in the process of organising collaborations with other promotions, and 2006 should see us taking some interesting directions.
NORQ! is held on a Sunday afternoon/evening which people generally think of as chill out/recovery from the night before/get ready for the week ahead time. Is there a particular reason for choosing the day and time?
All my favourite parties were on Sundays. When I was hitting the hard dance clubs every weekend for days at a time, although big Saturday nights were fun, the more intimate Sunday sessions like Provocation and Solid Sundays had by far the best atmosphere. Recently Secret Sundaze has become a London institution. I’ve always found Sunday clubbers friendly and dedicated, actual music fans rather than people who are just out because it’s the done thing on a Saturday night.
Who are the NORQ! residents and what does each bring to the mix?
Our resident DJs (Lika Marques, Wub, Chris Cee, Simon D, new arrival Tommy Tucker and myself) cover many musical bases; not only breaks and electro, but oldskool funky hip-hop to D&B, broken beat, ‘quality’ garage, various flavours of house and more. It’s lucky we’ve got two rooms or we’d never cram it all in otherwise!
Recently your events have been themed, from a camo night to Pimps and Hos and Geek Chic…. Sounds like a great excuse to dress up!
We’re not a full-on costume party as such but we like to get our DJs and regulars involved in the spirit of the party by getting them looking a bit different every month. It makes for better photos as well! The theme for the next party is NORQ!AL KOMBAT! so if you’ve ever wanted to dress as a ninja, or Chun Li from Streetfighter (who hasn’t?), now’s your chance! Don’t feel you have to be dressed up to feel welcome, or anything like that, it’s just a bit of fun and we appreciate the effort!
So…. let’s say I’m a DJ and I’d like to play at NORQ! Interested?
Very much so. I’m always keen to receive demos of all genres from people, apart from hard house, trance or really ‘obvious’ funky house — not that there’s anything wrong with those but my aim is to showcase other styles. The main room is all about twisted, dirty funk with bollocks; gnarly basslines are a must! Upstairs can be totally eclectic as long as it doesn’t get too hard and intense, or cheesy in a bad way.
I’m especially interested in hearing from producers to perform live PAs, DJs who have embraced new technology like Ableton Live, and people playing stuff that is going to sound fresh to people’s ears, like IDM, broken beat, glitch house and so on. If you’re a DJ and feel you have something to bring to the table, then get in touch, now! My details are easy enough to track down.
What have you got up your sleevies for us at the first birthday on 5 Feb?
We have one of the busiest men in breaks, Jay Cunning, joining us. He’s one of the founders of critically acclaimed new label Menu Music, breaks resident at Ram Records’ night at The End, and is always playing gigs in exotic, far-off parts of the world. We also have Elektrobunny back by popular demand, Underground Girl, Tommy Tucker making his debut with us as new resident and more! Also we’ll be opening the upstairs bar earlier, from noon, to make it easier for people coming directly from other events to come and chill with us before we get into the really filthy stuff downstairs later in the afternoon.
The usual drinks promotions will be available to provide low-cost lubrication and get you in a NORQ!y mood.
Finally, give us three reasons why people should come along this Sunday...
Hmmm...
1) “if you don't enjoy yourself there’s something wrong with you, mate”
2) “all the cool kids are doing it!”
and
3) “if you don’t, I’ll cry!”
So there you have it... if you don’t want to see Voodboobass cry get yourself down to Southside Bar this Sunday 5 February for NORQ!'s first birthday.
Photos courtesyof Chris Cee (and anyone who took any of the above photos with his camera.
NORQ! - 1st Birthday!
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On:
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Sunday 5th February 2006
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At:
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Southside Bar [map]
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From:
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13:00 - 22:30
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Cost:
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...kiss a DJ...
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Ticket Info:
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Free Entry!
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More:
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::: NORQ! is one year old!!! :::
Join us celebrating NORQ!'s first birthday!
Special guests this month include:
Jay Cunning (Menu Music, BreaksFM)
One of the busiest men in Breaks, Jay is well-placed to get his mitts on all the scene's freshest material, resulting in sets that are fresh and upfront, yet always accessible.
Elektrobunny b2b Underground Girl (Siren)
The driving forces behind Southend's all-girl breaks night, Siren, return to NORQ! by popular demand. Underground Girl's tear-out breaks combined with Elektrobunny's harder electro flavour are an unmissable, high-octane combination.
Brash Cad
His origins shrouded in mystery like a secret mountain ninja, new blood Brash Cad is working his way up through the ranks and impressing the right people with his smooth sets of funky breaks with a proggy edge. The perfect mood-enhancer for the Bassline Basement, the Cad's beats will get you warmed up and ready for mayhem!
We'd also like to welcome new resident Tommy Tucker who will be rocking upstairs with a skillfully blended mix of the finest broken beats, liquid funk and deeper house out there.
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Flyer:
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Deep House. Tribal House. Breaks.
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DJ's:
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Jay Cunning (Menu Music/BreaksFM)
Underground Girl (Siren)
Elektrobunny (Siren)
Brash Cad
VoodooBass (NORQ!)
Wub (NORQ!)
Chris Cee (NORQ!)
Simon D (NORQ!)
Tommy Tucker (NORQ!)
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Other Features By spacekitten:
As Above, So Below: it all comes together at Atomic Energy’s 6th Birthday
True to Type: an interview with that bangin' duo Type 1 DJs...
More than hardcore: an interview with MC, producer & DJ Sharkey
Welcome to the zoo: interview with the Zoology crew
Logic's 5th Birthday: interview with Nadya Logic
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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