Ian Mulford, or Ian M to the worlds clubbing community, is highly regarded as the Godfather of Hard House. Having held residencies at 2 of London's most influential parties, Trade and more recently Twist, with over 20 years experience on the circuit its easy to see why he's regarded as one of the leading figures in the scene. Responsible for some of this genres leading anthems such as 'Annihilation', 'The Awakening', 'Crazy Pills' & 'Dreamer', Mr M has a place firmly reserved in the hall of fame.
June's Insekt sees Justin Bourne & Paul Glazby showcasing at the Short Circuit Tour night with Special Guest Ian, being hand picked by Justin himself. Now seeing as we have not heard from our special guest for a while, we offered the clubbers on various message boards the chance to ask Ian the questions they want to know the answers to. Here's what they came up with....
Hi Ian.
Who & what inspired you to take up DJ’ing and who did you look up to at that time? A combination of friends inspired me to start dj’ing but I looked up to an American DJ called Greg James (he designed the famous GLI sound systems) who really opened my eyes to the technical side of mixing. I found out later, he was the same guy who taught Tony de Vit how to mix etc.
Do you still have the same passion for the scene after all these years and what keeps you going? I would not drive hundreds of miles around the country every week if I did not have the same passion for the scene and believe it or not, I still get excited going to gigs etc.
What is your best memory from your whole career & do you have a favourite set? Obviously, I have loads of fantastic memories I could relate to regarding my career & the same when it comes to fav sets. A couple of sets that come to mind would be one at ‘Mago’ in Nagoya, Japan (with it’s amazing sound system!) and the other would be the 3-30 Club in Durban (the first time I played there with their amazing crowd & sound system). Moreover, of course, all the Ireland gigs I have done over the years. (Where are you Mark?)
What is your favourite club & country you have played in? I suppose one of my fav clubs would be Turnmills but currently it has to be Fire and my fav country would have to be either Japan or Australia but then again, you cannot really beat the UK for the clubs & crowds.
Which DJ’s, dead or alive, would make up your perfect line-up? Obviously Tony de Vit together with Malcolm Duffy, Steve Thomas, Andy Farley, Trevor Rockcliffe, Adam Beyer, Carl Cox.
In the same context, who would you most like to play a B2B with & most like to collaborate with in the studio? Not a big fan of B2B sets to be quite honest, so to play B2B with, would be difficult question to answer. In the studio, I suppose it’ll be interesting to work with Alex Calver (when he’s finished with everyone else) or Lady Bianca (a name to watch) or Pete Ward to name a few, the list is endless?
Do you have any current tracks due for release? Have done a remix of The Groover by Karim due out on the newly formed Volcano Records. Then I’ve been working with Paul Janes on a new track currently called “Filthy Bitch” which is completely different from my normal ‘in yer face’ track, it’s a 140bpm tuff funky techno affair with a guest vocal stab from a certain female DJ (you know who you are?)
Is it a conscious decision to release tracks just a few times a year or do you just not find the time for more? It seems when they do come around, they’re worth the wait. What is the point flooding the market? Tracks can get lost within the deluge of releases at the end of the day. I like to make tracks that people will remember for a long time.
What has been your favourite track you have produced & which gets the best response from the crowd? My favourite track would have to be either Annihilation or The Dreamer. However, best crowd response honours goes to Crazy Pills, they go mental to it.
Are the rumours true about The Awakening being released? Have been thinking about it just recently. Don’t know when it will happen? I would have to remix it before I release it though. Watch this Space?
What CD are you currently listening to & what other styles of music are you into? In the car, I am listening to “FABRIC 22” by Adam Beyer & various Missy Elliott cd’s now. I am into most other styles as well, drum & bass, hip-hop even Led Zeppelin & The Police/Sting.
What are your top five dance tunes of all time? 1)Nu-tro-gen – Rollin’ Reptiles
2)Jam & Spoon - Find Me (Frunschicht)
3)Rabbit City 5 - Various Tracks
4)Erection – Suck My Dang A Lang
5)Discuss – Love Will Save The Day
How many records do you own & how do you keep tabs on them all? Rough estimate is 15,000+ records and a fair few cd’s nowadays. I do not monitor em. A couple of friends attempted it once but gave up after a night!
Describe a typical week for Ian M. Early part of the week might see me recovering from the weekend’s gigs. Then the rest of the week, I am organising future bookings (with help from my mate Peter) and general record industry stuff together with messing about in my studio, getting ideas together etc. However, I always end up doing my tracks at Paul Janes’s hideaway ‘Deafstar’ studio, because he has a lot more descent gear in there.
Do you enjoy the respect you receive from the underground scene or would you swap it all to become a superstar, a la Tiesto/Judge Jules? I did not realise about getting respect from the underground scene, but it is nice to know. Of course, I would love to get the big bucks that Tiesto/Jules earn (anybody would), but I suppose I would have to sell my soul to get to that level. I could be wrong though. He! He!
Can we have an insight into the circumstances surrounding you leaving Trade? That is a very, very long story, which I will get into later. But part of the nutshell, it was change of management, messed around with my set times, they owed me a lot of money and they slagged off Hard House at the same time they released the Trade-Hard House CD. Oh! That really helped with cd sales. NOT!
Where do you see the scene in 12mths time? Bugger knows. It all depends on the punters coming out each weekend.
Who’s your tip for the top in 2005… producing and DJ’ing? Beside myself (he! he!) You should look out for Lady Bianca from London and Ben Stevens from the Vicious Circle stables. Especially if he starts making the funky hard house, tracks like Underground Funk and his new stuff due for release.
Do you have any plans to tour Australia & further abroad in the foreseeable future? No plans at the moment but you never know! That could change overnight.
What do you think still makes you one of the few DJ’s people will travel to see? I would say a big thanks to the people who do travel the distance and I hope their night was enjoyable.
How do you think the scene has changed since you started DJ'ing? Of course, it has. When I started, it was 78’s and now it is CDs! He! He!
Having played numerous times at Fire for your residency at Twist, are you looking forward to co-headlining there for Insekt in June? Of course, I am looking forward to it. I may play something different that night, you never know. In addition, it is a Justin Bourne “Short Circuit Tour” Night and Paul Glazby are also playing. Insekt will not know what has hit it!
Photos courtesy of Midnight Expressions, Queen Sharona, Dori & Laura Board
Crystal-clear soundsystem, visuals by Alex Klement. Chill out area, colour laser.
Flyer:
-
Region:
London
Music:
Nu NRG. House. Hard House. Funky Techno.
DJ's:
Main Room:
Justin Bourne (Insekt/Short Circuit)
Paul Glazby (Insekt/Vicious Circle/Neonate/NineNineNine)
Ian M (Trade/Twist)
Marc Johnson (Insekt/Tripoli Trax /FlashPoint)
James Nardi (Insekt/Byte/Aftermath/KillerHurts)
From: wezon 8th Jun 2005 23:44.09 The Godfather..........The Legend!
Pure class......week in week out!
Ya no ah luv yer.....get bent! XX
From: James Nardion 9th Jun 2005 00:09.43 Legend indeed.
Bring on next Saturday!!
From: ~deleted5181on 9th Jun 2005 10:21.44 Very good interview Looking forward to your set at Insekt
From: Steve Gillenon 9th Jun 2005 15:48.49 A true star! my all time farvorite DJ. Repect to you Sir!
From: TEK-DJ Managementon 9th Jun 2005 16:27.23 Nice one Ian! Fantastic read.
From: Type 1on 9th Jun 2005 16:28.33 top DJ!! one of my favs! really nice bloke to boot!! good to see the photo of him playing at infectious!! lovin it!
From: Matt Smallwoodon 9th Jun 2005 19:33.56 Absolute Legend! Have followed Ian from about 1995 and he always delivers the goods! Nice work!
From: Steve Maynardon 9th Jun 2005 20:54.39 Never ever been disappointed with an Ian M set, he has been a real inspiration!
From: Jennie Bon 10th Jun 2005 14:05.54 Wicked interview! Looking forward to seeing what he is gonna play at INSEKT as he mentions something a little different! roll on saturday!
From: Jennie Bon 10th Jun 2005 14:07.21 Oh yeah and whats with the sunnies while he is playing
From: sunvisordudeon 10th Jun 2005 15:12.39 ian is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! his music is so evil i almost shit my pants. his 7hr set at twist changed my life - i haven't stopped talking about it ever since.
From: VinDieselon 10th Jun 2005 15:25.58 The man is a legend....his sets rock at Twist
From: Lady Biancaon 10th Jun 2005 16:26.31 'ere gal FABULOUS interview! Farley says, do you want him to star in it, write de teme toon sing da teme toon I have one thing to say.... who said that?? Luv ya xxx
From: Anastasia_kon 10th Jun 2005 17:50.39 Excellent interview honey!!!
Ian M B2B Peter Ward now that i would like to see....
I totally agree about Bianca amazing dj her sound is a breath of fresh air....
From: wezon 10th Jun 2005 22:06.57 Yes duk..........you're totally correct!!!!
Bianca's sound is amazin, and she's a true lover of the scene
..........just like Ian xxxxxxxx
From: karl davison 13th Jun 2005 11:34.05 great stuff Ian is a legend, love his stuff n sets
From: George-Eon 14th Jun 2005 16:29.05 Ian M...the original god of HELL_FIRE!
From: El Capitano Peteon 14th Jun 2005 17:26.45 Can't wait 'till Sat. Ian will rock!
From: Allen TGon 14th Jun 2005 18:59.29 Be good to see Ian again, had a crazy time with him in tokyo when he djed the first ever Torture Garden in Japan.!
From: twiston 14th Jun 2005 21:46.05 There is only one person I know who truly deserves that much over used title of Legend....
From: Farleyon 15th Jun 2005 21:31.27 great interview toomz mate. Ian M is the most inspirational dj i've ever heard. A living legend!!!! nice to hear the irish crowd get a mention & yeah "where are you Mark"???????
From: Marc Johnsonon 15th Jun 2005 21:47.59 cant wait to see ian tear it up at ours, glazby,ian and justin, good lord
From: El Capitano Peteon 17th Jun 2005 20:46.24 Well done Mr Toomz, thanks.
From: Sharp Tongueon 18th Jun 2005 07:56.07 "Led Zeppelin"..... I think I better have a few words. ha ha ha ha.
From: PETER WARDon 20th Jun 2005 14:29.26 Mr M, a major inspiration at Trade, now and always will be. It is an honour to play alongside you (and everything like that!!!)
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