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Features
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| 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! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! |
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Superclub resident Alex the Kidd returns to the HF limelight
Reported by e99
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Submitted 21-08-06 18:24
Now a fully-fledged, top-draw, A-list, premier league hard dance superstar and headliner in his own right, Alex Kidd was just a very talented pretender to the throne not so long ago. His boundless enthusiasm and super skills were never going to go unnoticed, and his meteoric rise has finally translated into a top-of-the-pile status. First he conquered Goodgreef and the North of England, then Frantic and the South of England, then the rest of the UK, and over the past year has played all over the world with shocking frequency, and has now got most of the way to claiming Ibiza as his own. Winner!
Now with 4 residencies under his belt, Alex has become one of the most popular djs in the country. His production career is continuing to blow up, with his massive bootleg of Technotronic’s ‘Pump Up The Jam’ with the Organ Donors, ‘Boot Up The Jam’, becoming one of the biggest tracks of 2006. Usually to be found rocking the big arenas up and down the country, this Friday will see him bring his big bold sound to the intimate surroundings of Hidden’s main room for the launch party of Forever. This new classics night revolves around The Superclub Residents this month, with Alex representing his original home team — Goodgreef. I tracked down The Kidd just before he jetted off to Ibiza for another Tidy vs Extreme party, to give his first interview for HF since June 2005. And what a fookin’ great interview it is! This guy sure has some tales to tell . . .
So Alex, we last spoke to you in June of 2005, around which time Frantic had just started championing you as one of their key players, amongst other things. Was last year the time your career took off in a really big way?
Hello Mr Benz and HarderFaster . . . I didn’t realise it was so long since we last did an interview. A lot has happened in the past year so I guess things really have been going at a fast pace since Frantic gave me all the massive support at the start of last summer. I’d like to think that the past 8 years of working in the industry has all contributed to a lot of my recent success, but there is no denying the role that Will Patterson [Frantic] alone has played in making the whole Alex Kidd vibe really boost to the next level. Tidy in Ibiza last year was a huge success for me because I really connected with the workers and the punters on such a level that by the time the closing parties had finished I had given UK clubbers a real taste of what I’m all about.
Since the Frantic thing came about last year I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some of the best times of my life and long may it continue. But in more of a career sense, I have seen and learnt a lot of stuff that now gives me the drive to take things even further over the next year. So massive respect to Will and Chloe at Frantic, Russell at Tidy in the UK and Lee at Tidy v Euphoria over on the white isle. And also Barry from Goodgreef of course, who puts up with my shit on a daily basis! Working alongside these people has given me the opportunities that I used to dream about and when I see the clubbers at the gigs every weekend I feel so lucky and flattered by the fans and loyalists who closely watch and follow my exploits which gives me the ultimate satisfaction. Because that’s why I do what I do . . . to see the smiles and feel the love, emotional shit mate!
Do you think that UK crowds have become more keen on the European sounds that djs like yourself are banging out? It seems we went through a period where the UK sound really dominated, but now there seems to be a wider range around clubland.
Yes without a shadow of a doubt, there is a handful of key players on the UK scene that are flying the European sounds of hard trance and hardstyle and I’m honored to be amongst the pioneers of that sound in this country right now. Now that I am playing at the cream of the UK’s hotspots and the pinnacle of the clubs in the harder scene, I think there is a sense of duty to keep things evolving and fresh and push all the boundaries whilst still retaining a massive amount of respect for what’s happening on the dance floor. What works in the studio might not be the vibe in the club so it’s important for me to always keep a steady balance of being innovative without being stuck up my arse and losing sight of why I am here in the first place.
The Organ Donors are a perfect example, once known for being big in the hard house game, if you check their record box nowadays I’ll put money on it that there isn’t any of the traditional UK sounding tunes in there. But these guys are true pioneers, one week they’ll be making hardstyle and schranz bootlegs, the next they’ll be producing the number 1 record of the Hard Dance Awards which was released on the biggest hard dance label, tidy. So they know how to adapt and lead the way at times where other artists are scratching there heads and looking for new direction.
Alongside the Donors, I have massive respect for Mark EG, who has always stuck to his guns and played some real underground hardstyle since the very first time I’ve ever seen him play live. Kutski is another one of the key leaders in pushing the European influence to a UK market and with his radio show being as popular as it is, this all helps us put our stamp on the scene and make our mark. Hard House Academy will now showcase peaktime sets from people like me and the Donors because the whole performance and sheer carnage that wrecks the arena’s simply can’t be ignored anymore. And as well as the punters lapping it up I know a few of the other A-List djs are happy to play the more crossover hardstyle tracks and get a piece of the action. Lashes has put ‘Boot Up The Jam’ as number 2 in her chart recently, whilst Savage has been on my case for a CD of all our new harder style productions (which I was only too glad to send out to her, along with the Prada sunglasses of hers I stole at Dance Valley!!) and Ed Real always has a place in his heart for some of the Dutch tunage from the likes of Zany and co, so we are now seeing interesting times where the traditional UK hard house jocks are embracing this style under the hard dance banner and airing the music at the world’s biggest and best parties and raves.
You were recently covered for Underground TV. What is that all about then eh? And what were you doing on it?
Yes I’ve been on the TV a few times now, the first time was a for a programme about date rape drugs in the clubs and they showed footage of me playing at Goodgreef. But I didn’t know what the programme was about at first, I was just told to tune in by my management, So there I am sat down with my mum all excited and then all this shit comes on the TV about young girls being taken advantage of . . . that didn’t go down too well!
So Rapture was a lot more appealing I think. Underground TV is a series on Rapture, showing what’s happening in the clubs from some of the more underground artists in all types of dance scenes, not just hard dance but drum and bass and hardcore too. I was caught on camera mid-performance, crawling up a speaker and then running round the front of the stage and knocking a poor poi-poi dancer of his podium. They also featured an interview with me from the moment I had come off the decks, so I was still quite fired up and my ears were deafened and still ringing. So when I saw the original footage to proof, I’m screaming down the mic like I am on the terrace of Old Trafford. But Jon Doe who is running the project has done a great job of editing it all and getting the sound levels perfect so it came out quite impressive. I’ll be hosting the footage on my site, www.djalexkidd.com, over the next month so if you missed it. Be sure to check it out.
Something that a few people would like explaining — what is “schranz” and why do you like it?
Ha ha, Alex laughs to himself quite uncontrollably! Well schranz is one of those well kept secrets that is just dying to be let out of the bag. I first began to pick up on the schranz type techno sounds from producers like Robert Natus and Andreas Kremer. And then last year the ‘Schranz Slippy’ bootleg came out and me and the Donors were all over it. A year later I see Whitby and Farley playing the same record in their sets, so it’s good to know we were on to a good thing from the off. When I played Gaz West some of the schranz tunes I’d been picking up on, he was having mini orgasms in the studio and got to work straight away with a schranz intro for out b2b set at Q-DANCE’S InQontrol at the start of this year. He loved the style so much that when the agreement was made for him to remix ‘Boot Up the Jam’ for release on his new label, he used the same elements and the backbone of the intro to make a massively successful schranz style crossover mix which appeals to all the jocks that weren’t really digging the original hardstyle take on the tune.
So you could say we’ve been rinsing it lately with me and the Donors working on another cover version in the schranz style of Madonna’s ‘Muzik’ that people would have heard in my recent sets. Gaz has also done a schranzy style cover of Missy Elliot’s ‘Get Your Freak On’ which has elements of hard house in it, so Andy Whitby told me he’s been feelin’ it and playing that one out which is good to hear.
Schranz is a fast, dirty and distorted techno pounding groove with lashings of filters and some real bass heavy action. I think by itself it’s too full on for the hard house crowds to relate to, but when mixed up in a set in the right way it has an impact like no other style I play. The crowd roars say it all and there’s some great tunes in this style from Alex Calver’s studio so they’re worth hunting down. I just got sent a remix EP of DJ Rush’s all time classic, ‘Get on Up’, with remixes from Natus and Wittekend, and the tempo they produce at is faster than the speed I play my tunes in most clubs! These guys don’t fuck about, hard and heavy is where it’s at and I’m definitely feeling it, in moderation of course!
Do you feel it has the power that a lot of techno seems to be missing?
I think it’s a perfect way to bridge together different style in the harder scene, fusing techno and trance has always been a road I wanted to drive down, but it’s only now I feel like the right sounds are there for me to do it in a way that will work in my sets. It keeps the energy levels up, none of this clever techy bollocks, straight to the point and you either love it or hate it. I know which side of the fence I’m sat on although it’s just a pleasure to get involved with a new sound. I’ve been mixing German basslines for 5 years so something fresh is always well received.
You play a fairly wide range of harder styles of dance, but are there any that you avoid playing generally?
Well that’s a really good question I s’pose. The fact is if it works for me then I’ll find somewhere to fit it in. A lot of my fans might not know this, but when I play pre-parties and pool parties for tidy in Ibiza I will play a lot of bouncy hard house stuff and just general feel good anthemic hard dance. And I don’t just play it in order to not scare the tourists away with my evil hardstyle. I play it because I’m aware of the vibe and I enjoy playing the right music in the right settings. And I think that’s what being a dj is all about: sensing the vibe and being versatile when needs be.
I never really thought I was digging the psy trance vibe, but after Queensday in Amsterdam me and Ed Real and the Donors went back to my apartment over there for a bit of a knees-up and Ed pulled out his psy trance wallet. I wasn’t really feeling it and didn’t hesitate in letting him know that lol . . . but then a week later I was on Trackitdown.net buying psy trance downloads from his set. So never say never is the moral of the story.
I love all styles and more recently I’m getting into the techy electro stuff that I get to listen to in the studio and office on a day to day basis from Joe (Fake DJ) who works with me. Now I’m starting to love it but I don’t think I’d ever play it . . . so I suppose the key to it all for me (because I love so many different styles) , is separating what styles I want to play and push in my sets and what styles I would just rather sit back and enjoy listening to. Having said that I try to avoid jumpstyle which is coming from Holland mostly, I think its cheap naff hardstyle but who knows, I could be proven wrong.
How has Ibiza been for you this year? How many times have you been over, and how has hard dance been fairing on this house-dominated island?
Ibiza is the best, it’s the stuff that dreams are made of. It gets more and more random each time but the friends I have and the excellent parties at Tidy v Euphoria make each trip more and more memorable. I’m doing this interview mega fast because I’ve just realised the time and I have to get to the airport to catch a flight to Ibiza tonight (for ****s sake Benz you could have picked better timing mate!). It’s actually my birthday when I play there this Tuesday. What better way to spend it than behind the decks at Es Paradis? This will be my 4th time over this summer then I’m back again in September for the closing parties and I’m loving every minute of it. Big love and shouts to Lee, Chris, Beorn and the rest of the Tidy PRs that have made it such a massive success two years running.
What other sites or sounds have you taken in while you have been there? Or has it more or less been whistlestop trips?
Well I get to the island, and I never actually go to any other nights than tidy, even if I’m there for a week. So tomorrow my friends are kidnapping me to take me to DC10 which I’m quite excited about. But I’m happy as a pig in shit just sat on the beach.
You are playing at Forever: The Superclub Residents at Hidden on Friday 25th August, representing your home team Goodgreef. What qualities do you feel a good resident DJ needs?
Hmm, well I have 4 residencies right now, Goodgreef, Tranzaction, Big, and Digital Fusion . . . so I’d say a f*ckin reliable driver is something I need! On more of a serious note I think it’s all about being flexible because if you’re a resident then it’s not about stealing the show, you have to leave that to the headliners and just compliment their sets, either as a warm up or a follow on. Either way, I’m gonna f*ckin’ smash Forever to bits. I can’t wait to get back in Hidden, it’s one of my favourite London clubs!
Forever is a new classics night. What kind of tracks go in the Kidd Classics Sack? I wouldn’t know what to expect from you . . .
He he, I remember seeing your face when I dropped the Snowman for the 1st time in London, priceless. The beauty of classics is the element of surprise so I’m gonna have to go “no comment” on this one I’m afraid (boring booooo!).
Your production has been going from strength to strength too . . . what releases have you got coming up?
‘Boot Up the Jam’ with the Donors is released on my birthday, August 23rd, next week on Dark by Design Records and it’s the 1st release to launch the label so I’m buzzing about that. ‘Money Shot’ has been a big tune for me and although we have no solid release plans for it yet I expect it to be out some time this year. I’ve also done a new hardstyle beast with DbD entitled ‘Something Bad’. It still needs a bit of touching up but it’s been ripping the roof off everywhere I play it. We also did a cheeky rip off of ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit’ — I tested it last night at Big in Cambridge in preparation for tidy Ibiza on Tuesday and needless to say it gave me a semi and I’m very excited. Check www.djalexkidd.com for all my audio releases and videos of me playing them live in the clubs! (shameless plug opportunity!)
I see you are also playing at an event called The Lost Playground at Alexandra Palace on September 23rd, which combines hard dance djs like yourself, Chris Liberator and Dark By Design with massive rock/metal giants like Ozric Tentacles and Therapy?. What’s this all about then? Sounds a bit odd!
Tell me about it, but odd is good, change is fresh and I’m always up for trying something new . . . haha, maybe me and Gaz will do a tribute Ozzy Ozbourne cover version especially for the night!
Why do you think the two separate scenes will merge well together?
Because dancing and having good times is essentially what it’s all about but to be honest I’m pretty in the dark about the whole affair, I saw the line up, laughed my head off and said yeh why not. It’s gotta be better than putting me on before a line-dancing oriental dj playing country and western music which is what I had to experience in Taiwan a few years back (I kidd you not!) but the promo looks strong and the reaction so far has been amazing and what better venue than Ally Pally? Bring it on!
What sticks out in your mind as the most bizarre or weird gig you have ever played?
An under 16s rave in Brisbane on my last Australia tour was pretty far out — 12 year olds throwing shapes to demonic hardstyle was certainly something to think about on my long flight home.
www.djalexkidd.com
Photos courtesy of www.djalexkidd.com. Not to be reproduced without permission.
FOREVER Presents SUPERCLUB RESIDENTS
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On:
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Friday 25th August 2006
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At:
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Hidden [map]
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From:
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10.00 - 06.00
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Cost:
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10.00 more on the Door
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Ticket Info:
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VERY Limited £5.00+BF Early Bird Tickets on sale NOW!
We expect all Early Bird Tickets to sell out within 7 days!
Standard Tickets £10.00+BF
More on the Door
Call Ticketweb on 08700 600 100
or book online at www.ticketweb.co.uk
or alternatively www.thetickettout.com
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FOREVER – SUPERCLUB RESEDENTS!
Friday 25th August 2006
2200 - 0600
Hidden, Tinworth Street, Vauxhall, London
Events... DJs... tunes... memorable moments at 5am whilst in the chillout area... it's a commonly known fact that they just don't make 'em like they used to. This is where Forever steps in, with an electric new clubbing experience bringing back the best of nights gone by, and reminding us just exactly what it was about the good old days that was just so damn great!
Alongside a host of new talent in the London DJ scene will be a selection of the nation's favourite dancefloor rockers, including Frantic's legendary PHIL REYNOLDS and Goodgreef's rising star ALEX KIDD this is gonna be big.
If that still doesn't whet your appetite then watch out for room 2; SHUFFLE & Funk Deluxe will be teaming up to relive some of the greatest moments in house history; from the soulful to the funky to the downright dirty. To complete the lineup, room 3 will offer something a little special; with Contact & Energize delivering a selection of the scene's young & fresh future generation DJs & brands will be coming together to deliver a variety of styles, simultaneously offering a glimpse into the future whilst reliving the past!
Classics nights may frequently come under guns from the critics, but quite frankly we all know that the music & atmosphere they deliver are second to none, and Forever will be no exception. Three rooms, Loads of DJs, diverse styles, music everyone loves & an up-for-it funloving crowd... plenty more memorable moments are just waiting to be made at this night!
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Other Features By e99:
Fergilcious: PunchFunk & Excentrik take over The Key
Baklash take over the IceBox at HeatUK Aftermath '07
Goodgreef take on Frantic at NYE-NEC
Trevor Rockcliffe — Proactive — HeatUK & The Gallery NYE — 'nuff said?
HeatUK Evolution: Natural Selection — a look at dance music’s gone-but-not-forgottens
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: HorHey on 22nd Aug 2006 20:09.32
WIcked REad.
Alex Kidd is sure ripping up the dance floors!!!!
From: Crimson - Crazy Fool on 22nd Aug 2006 23:56.28
Good read! I just love his GOODGREEF 3 cd! Go Kidd!! 
From: Stevi D on 23rd Aug 2006 12:20.33
rocking dj!!!
From: ED_case on 24th Aug 2006 04:33.19
One of the few British djs who "dares to be different". Love his stuff!!
From: Will Frantic on 24th Aug 2006 16:33.45
Great stuff Alex!
However pls leave the Psy in the corner and step away quickly! Lol!
From: shezmetz on 24th Aug 2006 18:52.02
class dj...loved his set @ es paradise!! fave dj at mo
From: pinkydawny on 26th Aug 2006 20:52.57
met Alex at BIG ibiza reunion last sat when he played b2b with dark by design. he's electric! and i have to say he doesn't mind mingling with us nutty ravers either. money shot is my fave choon atm and he plays it so well. defo best DJ since tony de vit!
From: Karl HH on 27th Aug 2006 21:00.21
Nice interview very interesting. Schranz rocks!
From: DMX on 29th Aug 2006 06:15.55
Most of the way to claiming Ibiza as his own? 
From: Carine on 29th Aug 2006 17:32.06
This guy blew me away at Dance Valley!!!
From: Just Badger! on 29th Aug 2006 21:34.18
Seen him at forever what a beauty set that was!!!!!
Lovin his productions too!!
From: moggyy on 30th Aug 2006 11:06.18
about time we started getting some of that punishing pounding harstyle action
From: James Condon on 30th Aug 2006 14:39.44
Nice one Alex
From: GAZZ on 6th Sep 2006 19:11.23
U THE MAN ALEX, KEEP IT UP GEEZ!!!!!!
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