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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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Anthony Dean dishes it out just in time for Terminal
Reported by Gergi108
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Submitted 09-06-06 01:38
Taking the time out of his mental schedule in preparation for the Knowwhere room at Terminal this Saturday night, this is a much anticipated and exclusive interview with rising trance superstar Anthony Dean. Read on as we reminisce about his childhood angst and teenage betrayal, his Star Trek addiction and his path into djing and production.
From his days at the Gallery to hosting parties at Ayia Napa, to the ethos and philosophy behind Knowwhere, he covers all the bases. Triumphing through early rejection by his peer group to become the all-round legend he is today, I am proud to have had the opportunity to interview Anthony Dean.
When and did you start a) mixing and b) producing? What influences have inspired you over the years?
a) Mixing
I started when I was 17, in 1992. I was going through a very materialistic phase and I bought myself a brand new Honda Civic Sport-Coupe. I basically was in a relationship and my best mate went off with my girlfriend and it made me re-evaluate what I was doing with my life — and obviously came back to the fact that I was too money orientated.
After two months of depression, my mother suggested I try doing something more constructive — so one month later, I took my brand new car back to the garage and bought a banger instead. With the proceeds I bought my first set of decks, Technics 1210s, and a second-hand Mark mixer. They came in a coffin case aptly, as at the time I felt like jumping into a coffin! I went to my friend and said your friendship is more important to me than my girlfriend, but they all just moved on and left me behind . . .
1994 was the year of happy housey vibes, when house music with piano riffs were becoming more synthy — and classic tracks like ‘Hideaway’ and ‘Sweet Harmony’ hit the streets. The pace of those hands in the air pre-trance tracks impressed me. So what I did was for the next 3–4 years I spent over £100 a week on records. I still had no friends, so to compensate I became a chronic discoholic. I spent weekdays working and mixing at least 3 hours a day and at weekends I’d mix for 12 hours a day. I’d only stop to watch Star Trek!
My dad bought an over 30s club in Bournemouth — and as it was a small friendly community, he and the top queen in Bournemouth ran it as a gay club called Oz. Soon it was taking £3000 a day on the door and open from Mon–Sat. In those days things were different. My Dad’s mate ran another gay night on Sundays at the Triangle club.
b) Production
In the beginning I never produced on my own, but I made a track with Mark Mulligan called ‘Vapor Trail’ that never got signed. That was the only tune we made together over 6–7 years ago, until Adam White built his new studio and we started producing tracks together.
I used to be an aerobics instructor. I found that being a dj, I was able to interact with people in the same way: that type of feeling of wanting to react with the crowd, playing music.
I never did it for other people, it was therapeutic as none of my mates were into djing at all in those early 90s, but it was my escape and oasis from the world.
Which djs and parties inspired you the most?
Adam White of course and John Langford. He was the resident dj at my local club in Bournemouth called the Manor. It held about 1000 people over 2 rooms and was the best club I’d ever seen. I never went to Slinky as I went to pull girls there when I was 15 and didn’t wanna go back there. John Langford still works with Steve Hill under the name K2. Tony de Vit came to play at the Manor once and his vibe was amazing . . . “the light that burns brightest burns half as long.”
Maybe I was easily impressed, but I was so into the music — the tunes were just right, like Robert Miles’ ‘Children’, one of my all-time favourites. One of the best remixes ever is the Courtyard mix of ‘Children’ by Tilt — the courtyard was a place in part of a room at Cream and he wrote it for that part of the club.
I went consistently to Ibiza for 10 years. We had a Knowwhere party in Ayia Napa at Club Abyss one year and had on average 1000 people attend. The main thing about Knowwhere is we all like to party, so when it becomes too business-like we get bored and move on to the next project.
Adam White & Anthony Dean aka Adam & the Ant @ Knowwhere
What other inspirational clubbing events have influenced you back in the day and more recently, of late? Did you learn a lot by djing at the Gallery?
I learnt it’s better for djs to interact with the crowd when the booth is amongst the clubbers themselves. So when djing at the Gallery I learnt what not to do when starting Knowwhere, but it was all about the party vibe — if we all felt like we had to work too hard, we’d move onto something else.
Cream was a little bit impersonal for me; it was so vast and the brand was so big and a lot of clubbing tourists were in force, so the atmosphere was a bit flat. It was not up there with one of the top ones for me. Renaissance at the Manor however was: Graeme Park, and the unbelievable Jon Pleased Wimmin — all I can remember is just the essence of what he used to play, rather than specific track names. Also Mark Luvved Up and Dave Seaman were my dj idols.
Moving onto the trance awards, what are your views on such things? Who would you pick to be the winners of the forthcoming awards this year?
It’s good to have an award ceremony dedicated to the genre. It generates morale and charm and introduces the brand to a wider audience: the two who I’d pick are Adam White (who’s a god in the studio; a god at production) and Ian Betts, who never fails to get me stomping. Ian was the first resident of Knowwhere when we started at the 414. We made a tune with Ian Betts called ‘Inspiration’ that was meant to come out on Heat recordings about 3 years ago — I don’t know why it didn’t.
In 2004 you had issues with the business practises of club promoters: how come your association with Knowwhere has born fruit? Are they the only kosher ones out there, or did you learn to work around their shenanigans?
We learnt to work around them. The promoters were only about one thing: the money. At Knowwhere money only came into it when we wanted to know if we could make the party better for the people. Vince from Terminal is a proper old school promoter — he’s just in it for his willy!
Are you a clubbing socialist?
What do you mean? Well yes I’d rather put the money back in, than put it in my pocket.
What’s your opinion on the current fashion for top artists to be crammed into nights and being given just fifty minutes to play live?
As long as the 50 minute sets don’t take away from the clubbing experience it’s ok; in hard house the tunes are very similar so it’s cool, whereas in trance, the build-up is very important. An hour and a half set is the minimum a trance dj should play out for the people, but if somebody wants to give me a ridiculous amount of money to play for half an hour I won’t say no . . . but if it’s my party I wouldn’t have it. This is where my influence at my room at Terminal comes in, where all the Knowwhere djs will do 1 and a 1/2 hour sets and all the rest will play for an hour.
What is your attitude on promoting new talent?
We were one of the first people to bring Matt Darey and Adam White to play at Euphoria. Also we were the first to give Jurrane a break — they are now playing everywhere because they are good, but Knowwhere was the first to take the risk of giving them the chance to play. Sly One and Pathfinder and Nordstar, we took them under our wing too.
The point is we are able to take the risk of bringing new sounds to new people and then it’s up to them to create their career, which they are doing successfully.
Have you ever played at the Renaissance Rooms before?
I played there when it was the Mayfair club for Twisted and that was 5–6 years ago. I have partied there for Timeless and it was awesome. The security were great and I couldn’t have got a drink any easier.
Was there a dark room open that night?
If there was I didn’t see it — there could have been, but no comment!!
You’ve recently started your own funky night on the first Saturday of the month. How did this begin and where do you hope to take it? Rumour has it you have a few dj aliases too . . .
Yes it’s a night in High Wycombe I dj at with my mate Semi, where we play out as Little and Large. We play those funky classics once a month.
Here’s how that all started. For the last 3–4 years I have been playing trance till the morning time, but coming home and playing all my old funky records with Semi and playing funky all day long. I recently moved to High Wycombe and found the only funky bar there and started a night called Feel the Funk monthly, which is fab!
There’s another dj alias I have where I play live with Adam White, we call ourselves Adam and the Ant — we both did a cheeky bootleg of ‘Stand and Deliver’ over Marco V’s ‘Loops and Things’. There are only 2 copies in existence and we always play it as our opening number when we perform together.
What advice would you give the hundreds of home-made producers and djs on HF with loads of talent and Knowwhere to express it?
You need to keep going and not get disheartened. The industry can be very fickle and opinionated, but as long as you’re loving what you are doing, there are bound to be people out there who will appreciate it.
I attended a Knowwhere at the Fridge with Kiss FM djs; was it originally made up of the remains of Peach at Camden Palace?
Peach had ended and Graham Gold was really good to us when he played with us in Ayia Napa at one of our parties. He was so good to us that we had him play at Knowwhere too.
Knowwhere does attract people from across the board — beautiful women, gay people — it took for some of them to come to a straight club like Knowwhere for the first time to never look back and quit gay clubs completely! Knowwhere holds no gender boundaries or hang-ups, it’s just a party and we include anybody who wants to come down.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing your live set with Stace on two separate occasions, once at HuJe vs Menthol at Mass and once at the last Knowwhere at Heaven. How did your live set together come about? Where will you and Stace be performing together next?
Regarding my live set, that’s something jazzier and different. When Stace sings over one tune, it’s a live PA. My live set is where I am playing tunes that people know and get artists to sing or play their instruments over the top of it. They come over for a jammin session at my house; they jam live over the tunes that I’m playing — I’ve worked with a saxophonist, and a violinist, but Stace is the only integral part of Anthony Dean Live that will always be there as long as she continues to sing like an angel. Even though the musicians are available, I am a great believer in all artists being paid what they deserve, so it don’t happen as much as it should.
Dave Joy (Joyride Records) recently said that “vocals have no place in hard trance.” Given the amazing vocal tracks you and Stace perform live, can I guess that you disagree with that?! Is it hard to write good vocals to go with trance?
Yes, it is hard, but Stace has an ear for it: she writes the vocals and she knows what she is doing. As soon as you lose the vocals, you lose the female and gay interest and you need girls in clubland so that men come to the clubs.
I remember Megatripolis at Heaven back in the day on Thursday nights, a hippy/psy affair that inspired me no end. Did you ever attend?
Yes, but my memory is not what it used to be!
This Saturday night you’re hosting a Knowwhere room at new promotion Terminal. What can your fans expect from your room at the Renaissance Rooms? How did you choose the lineup for the Knowwhere room at Terminal?
Adam White has loads of unreleased material which he will showcase on Saturday — I can’t wait! Adam Sheridan is playing a set with 3CDJs and a lap-top. And when I spoke to JFK on the phone he promised to play all his happiest tunes. The calibre of djs and promotions at Terminal are amazing, so I do not expect any less than pure quality throughout.
Anthony gave me the honour of this in-depth interview and I look forward to more joyous nights with him on the decks. He impressed me with his diplomacy, good vibes and honest community spirit. Across the course of his career from a teenage discoholic to a club dj, to a trance ambassador and promoter, to a funky promoter and dj, to one half of Adam and the Ant, he is both inspiring to see live and to talk to. I can’t wait til Saturday . . . when I’ll be jumping with you all to his euphoric beats!
Photos courtesy of Anthony Dean, Daf, James Rae and Vixta from the HarderFaster archive and www.djanthonydean.co.uk Not to be reproduced without permission.
Digital Fusion Presents:
TERMINAL
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On:
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Saturday 10th June 2006
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At:
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Renaissance Rooms [map]
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From:
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21:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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Limited Early Bird Tickets on sale now @ ONLY £12.50+BF,
Saver Tickets £16+BF,
Standard Tickets £20+BF,
More on the door.
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Ticket Info:
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Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 - www.ticketweb.co.uk
Clubtickets: 0870 246 1840 - www.clubtickets.co.uk (Group Discount of 1 FREE for Every 5 you buy!)
Vince Coach/Tickets in the Midlands : 07835 626 226
Charlie Real World Promotions: 07939 207836
Never Enough Maria: 07813 684 399
Ticket Tout : 0121 3509095
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Prepare for the biggest launch of the year when on 10th June 2006, Five of the UK's best promotions land together at Terminal.
Digital Fusion present a night of music that is quite simply out of this World, featuring four arenas of first class Hard dance, Trance, Hardcore and House.
Terminal will be taking off from the Renaissance Rooms at the heart of London's club capital, Vauxhall in what must surely be London's best kept secret venue.
On board over the course of the 4 rooms will be the dance scene's jet set djs including Lab 4 , K90, Adam Sheridan, Adam White, JFK, Paul Glazby, Hixxy, Dougal, Phil Reynolds, JP & Juksey and MANY more.
The Midlands biggest promotion - Storm, bring their legendary party to the Capital and join forces for the first time with London's No1 afterhours, Twist for a one off Storm Vs Twist Extravaganza. This is also the first time Twist has held a night time party on this scale so it will be a double whammy for many to sample both the Midlands finest and discover what Twist and storm really is all about.
Trance wizards,Knowwhere bring their special magic to Terminal 2 and promise a night of undoubtedly the finest trance you will find anywhere on this planet.
Over in Terminal 3 the Hardcore will be provided by Square 1 from Oxford where they will be gracing us with some of the biggest hardcore headliners the nation has to offer.
Funk Deluxe will host the VIP departure lounge with a special exclusive house set by Phil Reynolds who will set the pace for a sexy, funked up journey into quality house.
The Renaissance Rooms will also boast
Funktion one sound throughout to ensure maximum sound quality
Top of the range laser
Countless inflatables
Pyrotechnic shows
Professional dancers
Décor to die for
Large fans for those overheated moments
Outdoor chill-out space that will offer a welcome place to retire to and re-charge the batteries.
There will also be countless UV, Gas and massage stalls scattered throughout for merchandise
Free Cd’s to early arrivals; Free Alex Kidd and Adam Sheridan Cd’s to the first 100 people through the door.
So with 4 arenas of fun, music and debauchery can you afford not to be there?
Get your tickets, get your bags packed and get ready to take off as Terminal will be landing in Vauxhall sooner than you think.
And if your up for more dont forget that TWIST is the official Terminal afterparty - 2 mins walk at FIRE vauxhall.
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Other Features By Gergi108:
Mixing wizard & Fuel petrolhead Alan K tells it like it is @ Fire
Eduardo Herrera — the Brazilian invasion continues
Dave Joy finally hits London
Fiction 6th Birthday @ The Cross, Friday 4 March
DTPM Christmas Party @ Fabric & interview with Mark Westhenry
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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Comments:
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From: Menthol Taz on 9th Jun 2006 02:10.55
Great interview.
One of clubbing's truely special people. I have had the honour to work with him twice & he showcased his live set at my club. Thanks for the memories, the music & being you.
love atcha x
From: Alan-Banks on 9th Jun 2006 09:14.49
One of the greatest guys in the scene. Always with a grin on his face.
He really is the face of Knowwhere and trance in London.
Great interview!!
From: Maria on 9th Jun 2006 10:13.43
  
From: minimoo on 9th Jun 2006 11:29.12
One half of my favorite guys in the world
Ant is one of the most special people within the industry, a true pleasure to do work with and an outstading friend, other promotors would learn so much and get so far if they had an inch of what Ant has to offer
You rock little man, i am homoured to know such an amasing guy and you rock my booty, nothing you don't already know
Never change how you are Ant, you're 1 in a million
ANTHONY DEAN IS DA MAN INNIT
From: Adam White on 9th Jun 2006 11:32.31
A real credit to the music industry and the best friend anyone could ever have.
He has a strange dance though that I seem to find myself doing most of the time !!!
Well done mate - nobody deserves it more
From: minimoo on 9th Jun 2006 14:54.02
 
Gotta love the Anthony Dean dance Been part of our nights for sometime now
We love you though
From: Danny Gilligan on 9th Jun 2006 15:00.54
Top man! great DJ!
From: Becka on 9th Jun 2006 18:18.57
Top guy, one of the 'genuine' Dj's/promoters out there. Always has a gleeming smile on his face and always has the time for his clubbers. Good luck with all your new projects!
From: Matt on 9th Jun 2006 22:32.50
Small in stature, giant in presence.
A true professional who plays for the crowd. Looking forward to it
From: Garden Gnomes on 10th Jun 2006 08:36.04
It just wouldn't be Knowwhere without Anthony, you're an awesome Dj, and bloody nice bloke! The number of times I've been hanging out for your set at Knowwhere, you make me dance my arse off everytime......even when I think I can't muster any energy at all. You deserve every success.....
From: Kris Noble on 10th Jun 2006 09:03.46
amazing DJ and amazing bloke! and gotta love the question - Are they (KnowWhere) the only kosher ones out there, or did you learn to work around their shenanigans?
From: STACE on 10th Jun 2006 09:26.03
 You didn't tell me about this!!!! Ant this rocks, and i'm absolutely blown away by the lovely comments you gave me...  Love you to bits, you're my partner in crime (and music!) but more importantly one of my best friends in the world. Can't wait till our next gig . 
From: K.A.R.L. on 11th Jun 2006 11:26.06
Great interview and Anthony is a top bloke. But who gave Jurrane his 1st Break ? 
From: crazyclubber66 on 12th Jun 2006 06:34.53
awesome interview ant wiked dj and an awesome team also adam white is just an amazing dj , had no hesitation on chooseing knowwhere to host the trance rooms as no one does it better and there room was fookin quality all night such a happy vibe they create ....... wiked thanks to pablo ,stevie, anthony dean an the awesome adam white
From: Steve.C on 12th Jun 2006 18:16.21
Not much more to add that hasn't been said a million times before, excellent dj - always keeps me on the dancefloor and a top, top bloke. Keep smiling and keep up the good work Ant.
From: Karl Alexander on 14th Jun 2006 11:18.32
one of the nicest guys in clubland and someone who always inspires me when I watch him play  nice one Anthony !!
From: strings on 15th Jun 2006 21:12.46
After reading the first few lines I thought I was going to kill myself. Hope Anthony is over his first love and has managed to make some freinds.
Good luck Saturday Mister!!
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