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Features
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Rob Tissera back on Brixton Academy main stage for HeatUK & The Gallery
Reported by benz
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Submitted 29-12-06 10:59
When HarderFaster last spoke with the buoyant superstar DJ Rob Tissera 15 months ago, Hurricane Katrina had just battered America, a new record low was recorded in the amount of sea ice in the Arctic, and Ken Livingstone had just decided that he would be controversially extending London’s congestion zone out to the West. With tornadoes in Kensal Rise, rapid polar ice cap melting and the congestion zone extension coming into play in February, it wouldn’t appear that things have really changed at all! Luckily Rob is as cheerful as ever in spite of all this depressing news — well wouldn’t you be if you were one of the most popular DJs in hard dance, ran one of the most successful new house music promotions in the country, and got to DJ at some of the world’s best parties week in week out?
Rob’s return to the Brixton Academy stage for HeatUK & The Gallery’s mammoth NYE party has got London’s hard dance fans all hot under the collar following his legendary performances at Hard House Academies in the past. There are few DJs in the scene who can command a room like this — not just with the music they play but with their stage presence and charisma too. He’s the antidote to geeky, introverted laptop DJs who are too cool to make eye contact with their fans or show that they are having a good time — and it’s just a shame that more DJs can’t be like him in this respect. I gave Rob a call after he slept off his extended Boxing Day session...
How have you noticed the hard dance scene changing this year?
I think there’s still some really strong events. The Tidy Weekenders were all really strong. I think all the special events have been really special — I think that’s the best way of looking at it and I think it’s moving more towards being special event-led more than anything else. There’s not so many smaller clubs around which is a bit of a shame, but I’m lucky enough to be playing at the best and most significant things and I’m really enjoying it when I’m doing it.
We all know what’s going on in London in terms of banging clubs — but which clubs around the UK never cease to amaze you?
I think Storm’s always really strong, and I think Sundissential have had some good parties this year. So have Goodgreef, although I think that they’re a little less hard dance-led and more trance based now but still very very strong. And y’know, The Tidy Weekenders have all been really good.
What unfulfilled ambitions have you still got, and will you be fulfilling them in 2007?
Things I’m looking to fulfil in 2007? I’d like to play at Dance Valley again if at all possible, that’s one of my goals. I guess I’m just really lucky to be doing most of the really really good stuff - I’d just like to maintain that, and y’know, push forward by making a couple of really good records and just keep on doing a good job in front of the turntables. Or behind the turntables I should say!
So would you say that you’ve achieved most of the stuff you set out to do as a DJ already?
There’s always a few things I’d like to achieve. It’s always nice to be recognised in the Hard Dance Awards and stuff like that, but...
If the world stopped tomorrow, would you be happy with how everything had gone?
I don’t think I could really complain, do you? I don’t think so... I’ve been fortunate enough to play at all the best places at all the best times and y’know, put in quite a few good performances, so I am very, very happy with what I’ve achieved, but it would always be nice if there was more out there for you. It’s always very important for you to think that the best days could still be ahead.
What’s your setup behind the decks these days? Are you 100% CD? Do you use laptops or Vinyl?
I use some vinyl but probably an awful lot less than I used to before. I would say 90% is CD-based, but that’s because it’s all stuff that has been reworked by myself using Ableton. What I do is I work on tracks at home, burn them to CD, then go out and play them, rather than taking my laptop out with me and looking like I’m just standing on stage checking my emails. I like to do all of that sort of legwork at home so that I can make my set far better than I could do when I was just playing on vinyl.
Do you miss anything about the days when there was nothing but vinyl?
Not at all, no. Let’s put it this way — the other day I played a set and it was virtually all CD and I played one record, and the turntable was feeding back, there was fluff on the needle and the record jumped! So it’s alright people being romantic about how fantastic vinyl is but they ought to realise that there’s some massive restrictions in it and that is that sound-wise, it sounds far worse in a club than it does on CD.
You are playing at HeatUK & The Gallery’s annual NYE bash-up at Brixton Academy on December 31st (when else!). When did you first come into contact with the Heat guys and what were your first impressions of them and their party?
My first experience for playing for Heat was I think when I played for them at Pacha. They [Damian & Anton, the promoters] are extremely driven and they are very much a party-based brand. They enjoy a good time themselves and I think that comes across in the kind of events they put on and in the line-ups they pick. They just have a pure passion for what they do and I think that’s what drives them and makes them the success that they are.
The South West Four events have just been going from strength to strength and it’s just great to be associated with them. I just think they are one of the most forward-thinking brands at the moment. They’ve managed to fuse a few different styles into a night, and I think that’s very important because it allows the night to build well and crescendo at the end rather than people just playing hard house at 155BPM from 9PM in the evening.
There can’t be much that comes close to playing on that main stage really...?
I have to say from my personal point of view there aren’t many things that have come close to it in my career. Obviously playing at Global Gathering and all of the festivals is quite something, but next to that, I have to say standing on the stage at Brixton Academy is about as exciting as it comes. It makes you feel quite emotional and it really makes you raise your game. When all is said and done I consider playing a gig like this to be like playing in the World Cup Final.
Kissdafunk touched down in Ibiza for the first time this year at Kanya. Were you pleased with the results and will things be going bigger and better next year or did you prefer not to have the pressure that goes with having a night at one of the big venues?
I think it’s always important to try to fulfil all of your ambitions and I guess we’d be really happy to move to the next level, and y’know, we would like the pressure of being involved with the bigger clubs at times because you can only call yourself a big establishment if you compete with the big boys. We’re always looking to become bigger and better. I think that it’s always important not to just stand and mark time – you should always try to push yourself as much as you possibly can, and if we do get the opportunity to take it on a level, then we probably will do...although we did have some fantastic times at Kanya and we can’t really call it anything but a success. When you do 14 parties and you reach capacity at almost every one of them, I would say that that’s a fairly successful season. But we’re not ones for resting on our laurels or counting our chickens before they hatch or anything else — we just keep on working as hard as we can to make things bigger and better every year.
Kissdafunk’s venue in Leeds in the legendary Mission, home to occasional tidy parties. What makes this venue so good?
Well it was revamped in September of this year and we’ve added another room to the club which houses around 900 people in 1 arch. It’s a bit like The Arches in Glasgow or The Cross in London, but on a sort of larger scale, and adding this extra arena to the club has meant that you’ve got a 900-capacity arena at one end of it where we have some of the best DJs in the world playing for us on a house tip. It’s just fantastic as previously in this same club it used to be that we had 2 arches where we played the music of 1 DJ, so there was no unity between the two rooms even though they were listening to the same music, so it’s just greatly improved it. It’s had a million pounds spent on it and everyone who goes in there is absolutely loving it, whereas before they found it a bit claustrophobic. So it’s really been the making of the club and it’s been the making of Kissdafunk as well.
There are a hell of lot of pretty girls in attendance at Kissdafunk. Do you ever find it hard to concentrate while your playing?
Well I’ve got a girlfriend so I try my best to concentrate on the music side of things! Ha ha ha...
And finally — who are your tips for the Hard Dance Awards?
I think Alf Bamford [Technikal] should be in with a shout. It’s amazing to find that much quality in one person at such a young age, and he’s really got a bright future ahead of him and I think he deserves to be honoured for it...
Well thanks very much for your time Rob and have a great NYE at Heat!
Cheers mate, see you later!
Photos courtesy of Daf and Rob Tissera. Not to be reproduced without permission.
HeatUK & Gallery NYE - Fifth Anniversary
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On:
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Sunday 31st December 2006
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At:
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Brixton Academy [map]
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From:
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21:30 - 06:00
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Cost:
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Early Bird Tickets: £20 +BF (limited amount)
Saver Tickets: £25 +BF
Standard Tickets: £30 +BF
Advance: £40 +BF
M.O.T.D.
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Website:
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www.heatuk.com
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Ticket Info:
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Online Tickets:
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600100
www.viewtickets.co.uk
www.toomuchbutneverenough.com
Ticket Outlets:
Cyberdog (020 7482 2842)
Trax (020 7734 079)
Joint Tickets for HEATNYE & HEATNYD (£30 + BF) – Club Tickets 08702 462050
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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One of London’s most established and spectacular New Year’s Eve parties brings you the mother of all NYE sessions on SUNDAY 31ST DECEMBER, as HEATUK and THE GALLERY join forces to present HEATNYE: THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY at the CARLING BRIXTON ACADEMY. As London’s premier live music venue, The Academy has a long tradition for showcasing the biggest bands on the planet. Running parallel to that success over the past 5 years has been HEATNYE – the only club promoters in the capital capable of pulling off a sell-out show for 4,500 PEOPLE at one of the world’s most prestigious venues. Split over 4 ARENAS and featuring up to 30 DJS, HEATNYE offers you everything you could ever wish for from a New Year’s Eve party, but without that let down feeling come kick out time. The MIDNIGHT COUNTDOWN (featuring a mind-blowing pyrotechnic display) is worth the entrance fee alone and that’s without mentioning any of this year’s headline guests. Ok, so here goes…
At the top of the stack is ABOVE & BEYOND - undoubtedly the world’s most exciting new trance DJ/Producers of the past 5 years and the UK’s answer to the Dutch big guns like Armin, Ferry and Tiesto. Their genre-defining productions (mostly released on their own ANJUNABEATS label) have become an essential tool for the globe's leading DJs and in the process have set the benchmark for the new generation of dance music producers. This incredible threesome have just smashed their way into the NO.9 spot at this year’s DJ MAG’S TOP 100 POLL and they’re still on the trajectory, so who knows how far they can go… In 2004, they scooped Radio 1’s ‘ESSENTIAL MIX OF THE YEAR’ and since then have enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top, culminating in six nominations at last year's International Dance Music Awards in Miami. Earlier this year Above & Beyond released their debut artist album, ‘TRI-STATE’, to critical acclaim and having made a number of exclusive London appearances at The Gallery here in London town, the boys up the ante with this extra special NYE slot. Joining them will be The Gallery’s superstar resident, the one and only TALL PAUL. After another hectic year of touring and production, the big fella remains at the very top of his game and having missed out on playing at last year’s event (having blown the roof off the Academy in 2004), he can’t wait to be back. Neither can we. Fellow Gallery resident and host of The Gallery Radio Show (MOS Radio) GAVYN MYTCHEL also figures, as do dance music heavyweights ROB TISSERA (Kissdafunk) and the much-loved Dutchman, M.I.K.E – who’ll be dropping an exclusive PUSH CLASSICS SET featuring every single one of his global smash hit tunes including ‘UNIVERSAL NATION’, ‘STRANGE WORLD’ and ‘THE LEGACY’. HEATUK also welcome their own beloved residents to the mix, with IAN BETTS at the controls for the all important Midnight rush and MARC FRENCH firing up the floor later on, plus support comes from rising star AARON BASKERVILLE.
Elsewhere in the Academy, more mischief can be found with the 3 other rooms blasting out the good time NYE beats. First up is the FOYER; hosted by one of the London’s hottest new promoters of 2006 – PARTY PROACTIVE. Housed every quarter at Turnmills, Party Proactive have broken through the ranks, combining an unparalleled atmosphere with hugely credible line-ups across the hard dance, electro, breaks and house scenes. For this NYE collaboration Party Proactive have gone for the jugular with techno pioneer CHRISTIAN SMITH (Smith & Sellway) jetting in to join the hard-edged loving NICK SENTIENCE, PETE WARDMAN and old skool fave TREVOR ROCKCLIFFE. Party Proactive regulars THE *TING*, JACOB MOSS and STEELO also get fully involved. The BALCONY BAR will this year be hosted by house merchants AFFINITY & STEREOLOJIK, with the jackin’, tribal sounds of NEVER ENOUGH & FUNDAMENTAL entertaining the VIP BAR.
HEATNYE is of course brought to you by the people behind London’s most successful summer dance weekender – SOUTH WEST FOUR and GET LOADED IN THE PARK, as part of the METRO WEEKENDER. This August Bank Holiday witnessed a sell-out crowd of 40,000 arriving on CLAPHAM COMMON for the 3rd year in a row, with a further 20,000 people attending the first ever METRO WEEKENDER IN CARDIFF which also sold out in record time. In addition, HEATUK host some of the craziest parties in town – including their recent 5th Birthday bonanza at Koko, whilst THE GALLERY continue to bring London the finest house/trance/techno DJs every Friday night at TURNMILLS. Voted ‘BEST LONDON CLUB’ for the past 2 years, The Gallery remains the only night down south where you’ll catch the likes of Paul Van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold and Armin Van Buuren in action and with their 12th Birthday on the horizon the club remains as youthful and influential as its always been.
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Other Features By benz:
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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: dani d on 29th Dec 2006 14:48.35
Totally legend ,Rob is definetly one of the most versatile Dj what i saw it behind the decks,a really big big inspiration for myself.Nice interview ,Happy New Year Mr.Tissera 
From: Ian Edwards on 2nd Jan 2007 18:12.03
Awsome dj and a top bloke.. A true roll model to all up and coming djs..
From: sexyminx on 3rd Jan 2007 21:46.48
Wicked interview. Keep up the good work Mr Tissera
From: MARK H on 9th Jan 2007 00:23.17
Well done Rob, you da man!!!
From: Pink_Princess on 9th Jan 2007 14:02.14
Rob ended a superb night in spectacular fashion as always!
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