Reported by Allan McGrath
/
Submitted 17-08-05 01:11
The first meeting between rave legends Raindance and hard dance maniacs Tasty, Bliss on Friday 26 August is a night that will go down in the capital’s clubbing history books for many reasons. There’s an ultra-rare PA from the old skool legends Liquid, a world first back to back assault between CLSM (Jon Doe) and the scratchmaster Kutski not to mention the Tasty debut of the hotly tipped Cally Gage. For fans of pumping cutting-edge hard dance, it’s this last inclusion that will really get the rave juices flowing. And not just because the Peterborough based DJ still causes as much excitement for her elegantly demure looks as she does her fearless hard dance missions.
Far from being a token female DJ, Cally has stamped her sound on the scene by beating off the competition with hard-honed talent, dedicated passion and the some of the most energised beats around. As she completes the 18 month rollercoaster from hopeful bedroom DJ to popular hard dance producer, we caught up with Cally to see what’s been hotting up her summer and how she hopes to ignite the Tasty arena into a mass of piercing screams and pumping arms…
First of all, how did you first become caught up in the nocturnal insanity of the hard dance scene? What was the first really overwhelming club experience you had and what elements made it so special??
Well my friends are to blame for getting me into this one! A few of my friends were going to Sundissential North at Evolution up in Leeds on New Year’s Day 2003 but I didn’t have a ticket. Then, at last minute one of my mates dropped out so I went instead. It was my first experience of a proper hard house club and I absolutely loved it, I was hooked ever since.
The people made it special really as I wasn’t really into the music as that time, everyone was so friendly — I made so many new friends that night, lol!
During your early clubbing escapades, which DJs did you find most inspirational in terms of shaping your tastes and making you move?
After going to Sundissential North that first time, I think I loved Rob Tissera the most! After going out a few times I realised that my passion was with the harder end of hard house, so I would follow Glazby around all over the place. Although, since then, my music taste has changed quite a bit and I love all types of hard dance now and try to bring it all into each of my sets.
What was it that first inspired you put the work in and learn the ways of the turntables?
Quite a few of my friends could already DJ and I used to watch them for hours, totally in awe of the whole thing. Before I had my own decks I used to buy tunes and take them around with me, hoping that I would get to have a go and practise on my friends! Then a friend who I used to work with was selling all his equipment so I quickly snapped them up off him and haven’t really looked back since. Once I got my own decks I stopped going out as often just so I could practise, and would literally lock myself away in my room practising all the time — but it’s all paid off now!
Every DJ talks of their first big break, the one gig that opened the right doors and marked out their name. It’s fair to say yours was winning the Tidy Weekender DJ competition 18 months ago… did you suffer from a chronic attack of the nerves before the set? And given the anarchic chemical debauchery of each Weekender, was it hard to restrain your urges and keep a level head?
The Tidy Weekender Competition definitely started it all for me and I still have to pinch myself about how it all happened really — even this far down the line! When I got there I was so nervous I couldn’t actually speak to anyone and looked so awkward standing there waiting for my turn. The Tidy Weekender Competition was officially my first ever gig as well so I really didn’t know what to expect or why I was there, lol! Once I got up there and got my first mix nailed, then I just enjoyed the rest of the hour — it was great and a feeling that I’ll never forget.
Chemical debauchery of each Weekender?!! I don’t know what you’re talking about, lol! No, seriously I definately made sure that I kept a level head for the competition but made up for that with quite a few vodkas afterwards.
Since then, you’ve risen sharply to become one of the most popular hard house DJs on the circuit, playing the main room at Camden Palace for Frantic’s New Year’s Day bash and just about every hard-headed promotion in the capital. How would you describe this eighteen month rollercoaster in one sentence?
The past 18 months have been so amazing I really don’t think I could describe it with words. I have done so much and am playing at the sort of venues that DJs progress towards after years of experience, so I am extremely grateful and excited to be where I am now. Everything that I have done so far has been amazing and I am just looking forward to what the future holds now. What with working all week and then being busy each weekend, I’m not sure if I have time to sit back and take it all in — which is probably a good thing, because otherwise I would be a nervous wreck all the time!
Since you hit the hard house big time, what’s been your oddest experience of DJ worship from your fans? Have you had to deal with smelly underpants flying in the DJ box or does it stop at a sweaty raver hugs and a munted ramblings?
I really haven’t dealt with anything odd and still find it quite strange that people know who I am, it just isn’t something that I’ve got used to yet. I mean, I’ve got fans — how great is that?!! Some of the things that people say to me are so nice and it just makes me smile so much, it really is good to get such great feedback from people and see them making the effort to come and see me play time and time again — I really, really appreciate it.
Hard house filth… Lisa Lashes made her name on it, Nukleuz darling Caroline Banx is no stranger to some dirty 4 am sonics and it’s no secret that you belt plenty of pounding hard house filth out when you want to. Why do you think such elegant looking ladies are all attracted to such twisted sweat-box music?
I’m not really sure to be honest, I mean we all look so innocent, ha ha! When I first started DJing, all I did play was filth but it’s not really the case so much anymore. As a majority of the female DJs do play really hard I tried to make myself stand out more by playing all aspects of hard dance, I feel a DJ really needs to be more versatile nowadays. Obviously I don’t play full on, hands in the air trance, and all of the tunes I play do have a hard bass-lines but I do like to take everyone on a journey throughout my sets and build it all up from the beginning. You can’t beat a bit of filth every now and again though, can you?!
As for your own music, I hear you’ve been in the studio with rising star Ben Bennett and the Nu Energy Collective’s studio wizard K Complex… What has it been like working with K Complex and can you tell us a little bit about the tracks you’ve made?
Going in the studio was great, I loved it. Working with Ben was good and I really think we got the tune sounding exactly as we wanted with K Complex’s talents. We were booked in with Pete for two days and managed to get two tracks done, which was a bonus. The first track is called ‘Broken’ and is more of a hard trance number — it really builds up well with a nice long trancey breakdown and some lovely vocals on there too, can you guess who did them?!! The second number has more of a hard house sound to it and has been named ‘Life’, this one is wicked with a great big rolling bass-line, the breakdown starts out quite dirty but then builds up and just goes off. I’m really looking forward to playing them both out and seeing what sort of reaction they get, so make sure you’re there!
Are there any other productions plans ahead and, given the chance, who would you most like to work with and why?
At the moment I have made no more plans to get back into production, after having a taster though I’m sure it won’t be long till I’m back in the studio. There are so many producers that I have admired over the time that I’ve been DJing that I would love to make a tune with, so watch this space — you never know.
On Friday 26th August you’re making your Tasty debut at Bliss; their colossal August bank holiday colossal meet-up with Raindance at Heaven. Is Tasty an event you’ve ever visited as a clubber and, if so, what were your experiences on the Tasty dance floor?
I am really looking forward to playing at Tasty on the bank holiday and am dead chuffed to have been booked as well. Unfortunately I haven’t been to either Tasty or Raindance before, but after hearing so many good things I really can’t wait.
What can we expect from your set in the Tasty room at Bliss? Will you just be dropping the filth or can we expect some hard trance euphoria? Do you have any surprises in store?
You can expect the usual kind of stuff from me to be honest, hard house with a Cally Gage twist of happiness!! I always like to see a happy crowd and make people smile, so there will definitely have some hands in the air moments at some point mixed up with some dirty bass-lines to keep everyone going. I shall definitely be playing my tunes too, so I’ll look forward to seeing you all on the floor.
Still holding their position as the original underground rave experience, Raindance will be sending old time ravers tumbling back down memory lane with their retrospective arena of ruff-neck breakbeats, uplifting pianos and old skool energy… are you a fan of the old skool hardcore sound?
I used to lurve hardcore! When I first started clubbing, back in 1995 (argh), all I used to listen to was happy hardcore — the house room was the smallest room back then! I used to go out every weekend to Fantasy Island in Skegness and The Sanctuary in Milton Keynes, it was great. I probably haven’t listened to hardcore since about 1998 though so it will be great to listen to all the old stuff again, take me back to the good ol’ old days!
Will you be hanging round at Bliss before or after your set? If so, who are you going to make a point of catching?
I will definitely make an effort to be there for quite a lot of the evening, the line up looks great and Heaven is such a good venue. I’ll definitely make my way into the Old Skool Arena at some point and also the Hardcore Arena, although I’m not sure how much of it I can take now — I’m just not hardcore anymore, lol!
And when you’re pelting up the motorway to get to your next gigs, what make up your idea of a night of pure bliss? Would it be quiet glass of rose and a good film or do you still like nothing more than a messy night on the dance floor?
I still absolutely love going out clubbing and I don’t think that will ever change, that’s my passion — it’s just unfortunate that I don’t get chance to do it as often anymore, although I wouldn’t swap what I’m doing right now for anything in the world. Obviously I do spend quite a lot of my time in different clubs up and down the country, so it is good to chill out, spend time with my boyfriend, have a nice bottle of rosé and watch a good film. I do like to shop a lot as well, but I am a girl!!
Finally, which five tunes have been doing the most damage on your nocturnal summer adventures?
Oh God, this is a hard one……..
1. ‘Life’ — K-Complex meets Cally Gage and Ben Bennett
2. ‘Come On’ (Euphony Remix) — Breather
3. ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ — BK Vs. Vinylgroover & The Red Hed
4. ‘Party People’ (Original Mix) — Maddox & Rumble
5. ‘Mad & Confused’ (Guyver Remix) — Technikal & Marc French
Raindance, purveyors of the UKs ultimate rave atmosphere and Tasty, purveyors of the UKs ultimate hard dance atmosphere join together to bring you a night of heavenly BLISS.
Dance music is about fun, unity and breaking down barriers. That is exactly what we are doing on bank holiday Friday August 26th.
Raindance and Tasty represent two totally different ends of the dance music spectrum but both follow the same ethos of running their parties with dedication and passion to keep the original fun loving spirit of all night partying alive.
In joining together Raindance and Tasty will unite 2000+ “Ravers” and “Clubbers” from all walks of life to truly give you a night of musical BLISS.
The setting we have chosen for this party is perfect…. Heaven the venue that single handedly gave birth to the “ hedonistic” culture of hypnotic dance music in the late 80’s with seminal parties such as “Spectrum”, “Land of Oz”, “Earth” and “Rage”. The importance these events alongside “Heaven” had towards breaking down barriers between class and race, whilst pushing open minded music policies, is the reason why “Dance music culture” is an inspiration world wide, and it was only right for us to bring you such a ground breaking party in a venue with so much important “history” which has affected all of us in our search for musical and hedonistic “BLISS”…….
Raindance and Tasty party people now is the time to invite you all to share our passion and love in an epic journey of heavenly “BLISS”!!!...
IT'S RAINDANCE & TASTY ..... YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PRODUCTION AT THIS PARTY!!!!!
Flyer:
-
Region:
London
Music:
Trance. Euro Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Nu NRG. Hardcore. HardStyle. House. Bouncy House. Funky House. Hard House. Tribal House. Vocal House. Breaks.
DJ's:
OLD SKOOL ARENA
THE FULL SPECTRUM
LIQUID - 100% LIVE P.A,
THIS WILL BE A FULL ON LIVE SHOW NOT A PRE RECORDED SET FEATURING THE MASSIVE TRACKS "SWEET HARMONY",
“LIQUID IS LIQUID", “YEAR 3000” & MORE
DJ SY
RAT PACK
NICKY BLACK MARKET
Billy Daniel Bunter ELLIS DEE
SQUIRREL
DEMOLITION CREW
ISOTONIC CREW
MC'S EVENSON ALLEN, STRICT, ICE
HARD DANCE ARENA
EXTREME HARD HOUSE & ELEVATING HARD TRANCE
From: glitter_babeon 17th Aug 2005 15:49.55 you're a rockin' dj and always have a smile for everyone
From: bennetton 17th Aug 2005 16:05.04 you are a legend! its a pleasure working with you!
From: WEBBOon 17th Aug 2005 17:24.51 wicked interview cally , keep it up will def leave the hardcore for a stomp to your set that night
From: Raf Eon 17th Aug 2005 18:46.32 Top lady and a wicked DJ, keep up the good work Cally !!
From: tidypacmanon 17th Aug 2005 19:45.03 nice interview huni
look forward to seeing you again soon
From: Jailsonon 18th Aug 2005 10:59.44 Great artist!!! I am definitely one of your fans!!! see you soon...xxx
From: Gordon Darleyon 18th Aug 2005 11:54.30 Wicked interview. And good to see that the young blood on the scene with their feet firmly on the ground. Keep it up
From: Steve Gillenon 19th Aug 2005 12:27.04 Well done Cally. Wicked interview babe. Your a true star xx
From: Gem Stoneon 20th Aug 2005 21:12.18 ur a top chick babe! hope to see u soon! xxx
From: Batchon 23rd Aug 2005 01:25.01 Great interview... love the pictures babe... always enjoy your sets!
From: Lucy Furon 25th Aug 2005 19:01.08 what a star and such a cutie
From: bouncin_andyon 1st Sep 2005 13:40.05 go cally,u absolute babe
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by
their respective companies. All other content is (c) 2001-2025 HarderFaster.
![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1.gif)
