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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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Lucy Fur and Paul Batten go back to back for Warning!
Reported by Jazzy
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Submitted 15-04-07 17:22
Lucy Fur and Paul Batten need no introduction in the Hard House scene. They have both made quite a name for themselves in 2006 and continue to do so with their individual sounds. I decided to catch up with the awesome duo ahead of their world exclusive back to back set at Warning! at the Mass in London on the 28th of April 2007.
Hard House rarely gets any better than this - a tirade of throbbing baselines and exciting riffs that have converted even trance fairies to their way of thinking! So with a big hello to the both of them and my thanks for taking some time out to answer my questions lets get this interview on the road.
I know 2006 saw you both very busy with your individual residencies; Lucy at CyberKitten and Paul at Twist; how did the year on a whole go for you both and what were your highlights and most enjoyable gigs?
Paul: Last year was a pretty amazing year for me. Playing in Ibiza for Wildchild was wicked. Then came my debut at Twist. It will always be one of my favourite sets, it was awesome! It was really busy and the atmosphere was electric! It’s a great feeling when you get a great response to something you are creating. I got booked for Twist a few more times after that then got offered residency, I was gobsmacked. To play alongside Tom Basquil, Steve Maynard, Oz, DNG and the legend himself Karim is awesome. They all are all top lads and have a great passion for the music. The first Warning event was one to remember too, a packed out venue and a very energetic noisy crowd. Warming up for Justin Bourne at the Twistathon was a great moment for me he is without doubt one of my favourite DJs. Plus I can’t get my head round winning the harder faster best up and coming DJ of 2006, it was a lot to achieve in 6 months.
Lucy: Last year was a real mixed bag. I had a lot going on outside my music world but still had a good year considering I took a bit of a back seat. Cyberkitten had the most amazing 2006. The events that were put on were second to none including moving to our new home, Fever in Northampton. The home events saw guests such as Amber D and Ed Real headline which we haven't done before, and Lisa Lashes herself even hosted a tour night with us in August! Unfortunately I missed this one as I was touring Brazil at the time which was interesting. Of course there were the legendary Cyberkitten tours which saw us at major events including Storm, Frantic, Digital Fusion and more. These were really enjoyable and I believe helped us clinch the Best Small Club Award at the Hard Dance Awards 2006. The best highlight of the year without a doubt! Favourite gigs last year (aside from CK) have to be main room Storm and HHA back in Feb (bring these back Will). I love all my gigs for different reasons but these were everything I love about Hard House!
Are you looking forward to playing at the immense Mass club in Brixton and when was the last time you were there?
P: Can’t wait to play at Mass it’s a great venue and there’s always a good crowd. Last time I was there was the last Warning.
L: Very much looking forward to it. I know how many of my friends will be there which makes the night that much more enjoyable. I love the set up in that venue with the raised DJ booth. After I’ve played I can also let me hair down at the official Twist afterparty. You know, I think the last time I was at The Mass was for the last Warning! Event as well.
The 2 of you have had a back to back on the cards for ages now and finally it's happening, what do you have in store for the 2 hour exclusive and what three tracks are you guaranteed to be belting out?
P: :Well its definitely going to be a thumping energetic set, we love to get involved in our sets. I know we'll have a good laugh behind the decks and our styles should really work off each other. I’ll definitely be playing some stuff by Frank Farrell and Dave Owens as they have churned out some absolute corkers. I’ll also play my new track with Brow Stay On The Scene as well.
L: I do think carefully these days about who to accept a back to back set with. It’s never anything personal, but as a DJ you do have to think about what would work musically and who the clubbers would like to see playing together. When I was asked I jumped at it. I respect Paul immensely as a DJ with his diversity and talent behind the decks and as a personal friend; I know this will be a real giggle which will reflect in our set. I expected nothing less than the most energetic of hard house with our own styles thrown in. By the time we come on everyone should be well warmed up for us to well and truly wear them out! I’m feeling the Tom Parr remix of Amp Attack What U Do, my new track (watch out for details coming soon) and some classic Glazby!
You both have other distinctive music interests apart from hard house and filth, what are they and what got you into them?
P: Yeah, I love my filth but I love funky techno just as much. I'm a big fan of Fergie, I used to love the hard house he used to play but then he moved on to funky techno and I love it even more now. I love the tougher funky tribal stuff that has a groove to it and goes somewhere; you just can’t help but dance to it.
L: I really, really enjoy Drum and Bass. I don't actually go to any of the events anymore as I’m not keen on the scene itself but the music is spot on. It can vary so much from the grooviest that makes you want to rock to the dirtiest of baselines! This genre definitely inspires my productions. I also really like electro and did dabble in this for a while but I do not have the time to push two sounds and at the end of the day nothing touches Hard House for me! You can catch me occasionally playing electro for Cyberkitten, but this is exclusive to them.
To survive in this ever competitive and growing world of electronic music you have to deliver something special, something unique. What do you think separates you from the rest?
P: I think you have to have a passion for music without a doubt, that’s the key. You’ve got to have fun when your doing it as well, I like to see DJs enjoying themselves when they play by interacting with the crowd. When I’m really enjoying a set at Twist the chopper comes out (I'm not being rude when I say that by the way). I definitely think diversity is a good thing to have as well, it’s nice to have knowledge of other music genres plus it makes things more interesting rather than playing the same material or style all the time.
L: I’m not the type of DJ that blows their own trumpet so you may have to ask the clubbers that question. But I can sincerely say that I am very passionate about what I do and I think this reflects in my performances. I must be doing something right as I have been DJing for around 6 years now and so many people come and go which is a shame. I don’t think it’s because people aren’t good enough, it is just so much hard work in a competitive industry.
Do you put a lot of planning and preparation into your sets or it more of a turn up and play kind of thing?
P: I used to but now I like to be spontaneous. If a crowd like what they're hearing then stick at it. I like a bit of progression to my sets to take the crowd on a bit of a journey.
L: My sets are very ‘go with the flow’. I'm extremely lucky as my bookings are usually for my renowned harder edge sound so I know exactly what they are expecting of me, but I do prepare my sets for warm up and earlier slot times. Also I do make sure I have a run through of any new tunes I have got, to gage where I should drop them in a set and if the quality is up to scratch. I don’t get a lot of time to mix indoors these days but when I do, I’m there for a good few hours.
The past year has seen you both move into production, what exciting new developments can we expect from you both in the coming months?
P: I've made a few tunes of late Let It Roll, Ultrafunkilla with Tom Basquil and two with Brow Notice Me and a new track called Stay On The Scene. I think if you’re a DJ you've definitely got to produce as well, it’s a good feeling when you see a crowd enjoying something you’ve made. There’s a few more interesting ideas in the pipeline. I’m going up to Blackburn soon to meet up with Matt Pickup and Andy Rise to create a few bits, that should be very interesting to see what we come up with.
L: I have quite a few things in the pipeline over the next 6 months which I’m keen to get on with involving my favourite producer Riggsy, the legendary Paul Maddox and also new guy Tom Parr. All will be revealed soon!
Given the choice of any artist in the world, who would you most like to collaborate with and why?
P:, On the techno side of things, Mauro Picotto, because his sound is very interesting and unique. Probably Defective Audio on the filthier side of things. Doms been churning out corkers for years now and he really knows what he's up to.
L: That’s a hard one. On an electro front it would be Miles Dyson. His stuff is excellent. And I suppose it could only be Paul Glazby as he is so inspirational in everyway. He's my favourite DJ and I loved his productions on the smaller HH labels before he even started VC, then I didn't get to see him actually DJ until a few years after that. So yes definitely Mr Glazby!
Which producer is really producing the goods for you right now?
P: Definitely Frank Farrell and Dave Owens on the filth side. There’s too many to mention with the funky techno, there are loads of good quality productions out there, but if I had to choose anyone it would probably be Axel Karakasis, his sound is tough, funky and takes you on a bit of ride.
L: It’s got to be northern based producer Tom Parr. He is one to watch for sure. He gave me around 8-10 tracks the other week and every single one is a stormer! I’m really fussy with my tunes but I loved them all. You will hear them in my up coming sets and on my new demo I’m planning to do soon. A lot of his material is forthcoming on record and digital labels so look out for him.
If you could change one thing about the clubbing scene in the UK - what would it be and why?
P: I would definitely like to see more filth events in London. It only seems like Twist and Insekt are flying the flag at the moment. But with SNAT underway and Insekt putting on more events I think this could be a very interesting year for the scene. Keep a close eye on Warning as well as there are some very interesting line-ups ahead.
L: One thing? At the moment I would love to see more large events in London. There are lots of good club nights on at the moment, but you don’t get the old school big events. I’m sure this will improve over the summer months though as I know there are lots on.
Who do you think should be brought out of retirement to make a triumphant return?
P: Not quite sure whose retired who I’d like to see return. But if there was two I’d mention and are truly missed would have to be Tony De Vit and RR.Fierce, two top producers who tracks still get rinsed today yet still sound fresh. R.I.P.
L: Well the only person who we didn’t see a lot of recently, who I missed terribly, and has made a huge come back is Andy Farley. I’m over the moon he’s back with a vengeance as the scene wasn’t the same without him. He’s one of the nicest blokes I’ve ever met and is amazing behind the decks. Andy is a true inspiration to us all and is one of the reasons I wanted to DJ. Thanks pal!
How much of your own sets comprise of CD material these days and do you see the future of DJing lying within the confines of 4" plastic disc rather than a 12" vinyl one?
P: I probably play around 70% CD material, just because it’s cheaper and you stay fresh with new material. You’ve still got to practise on vinyl because if you turn up to an event and they don’t have CDJs you’re stuffed. Plus all the classics are on vinyl. I think vinyl will always be around and it’s more of a skill to mix with.
L: You know what, I think I did my full CD set the other night and it didn’t feel weird at all. I do get sent a lot of material on CD and I pay to download from sites like trackitdown to support the scene. It’s the best way to have the most upfront material, which is crucial to keep ahead. Some clubs around the country don’t even have turntables any more, only CDJs. It will go that way 100%, I’m not saying it should, but you have to move with the times. So, all those DJ's who want to progress need to learn how to CD mix as I know lots of people who are quite well known and cant use them.
If you could have any superpower for the day what would you chose and why?
P: Like the sound of this one. It’s been an ambition of mine to be able to Morris Dance on the seat of a moving unicycle, does that count as a super power? Only kidding! I’d definitely like to be able to fly, I’m well scared of heights but who cares?! It would make them trips to the boozer so much quicker, I just don’t think I could trust myself when I’d come out though.
L: It’s all about flying surely. I would probably shit myself above 100 feet but there you go. It would be nice to give it a go though eh? Then again maybe not as parachuting and bungee jumping is definitely not for me so lets go with invisibility- as I could cause lots of mischief!
What parties and promotions would you love to play in future?
P: Definitely Insekt and some of the bigger promotions up north. I think an outdoor festival like Creamfields would be an amazing buzz in front of thousands of people. But I think Amnesia would be my dream it’s an amazing venue!!
L: Again I’ve been really lucky and played for most promotions and parties that I am interested in. I would love to do the Tidy Weekender though as have been to so many and love them! There’s also the main room at Insekt too as I am a huge fan of this promotion and always support them when I can. If I could squeeze in Global Gathering that would be excellent too, as I have always enjoyed these as a clubber!
Many thanks to you both for taking the time out to chat and answer my questions!!!
I have no doubt you will absolutely rock our party 
ROLL ON WARNING!!!!!!!!!
Photo’s courtesy of Paul Batten, Lucy Fur and Darren Nowak
WARNING! Returns
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On:
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Saturday 28th April 2007
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At:
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Mass [map]
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From:
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22:00- 06:00
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Cost:
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£5 b4 11, £7 after
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Ticket Info:
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You can only purchase tickets on the door for this event.
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More:
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WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!!
WE’RE BACK!!
After trying to find a suitable date to fit in we have secured 28th April for the already hugely popular WARNING and is returning with a showcase of the finest DJ’s and an eclectic music selection which has to be seen to be believed!! It’s set to be a BANGER!!
It's been 5 months since the last, WARNING is gearing up for another top night and due to extreme demand we are thrilled to announce that we are returning to the infamous MASS in Brixton. The main room offers a sound system guaranteed to completely immerse you in the diverse sounds unique to WARNING!!
We at WARNING aim to cover the entire spectrum of dance music on one night. Consisting of Drum ‘n’ Bass, Hard Trance, Classic NRG, Hard House and Techno, there is something for everyone! And you never know, you just might learn something!!
THE DJ’s
We are delighted to declare that Drum and Bass is finally landing at WARNING courtesy of Future Drumz resident DJ DEMO!! Debuting at WARNING this young up-and-coming DJ is already making a huge impact on the DNB scene.
WARNING can proudly welcome a one off- set by Twist’s finest long serving resident Steve Maynard. Regulars at Twist will already know how good this guy is and the anticipation of his arrival is already immense. “Put your hands up for Mr Maynard!”
Special guest on the night is the ‘kerwality’ top DJ, Marc French. Already making big waves at WARNING and a resident at the awesome HEAT, Marc will be dropping pure classic NRG throughout his hour in the hot seat. Guaranteed to unleash some absolute stompers, this is a set NOT to be missed!!
A WARNING virgin, Brow is best known for his unquestionable passion for music. A close friend of the legendary Karim, Brow will be playing Hard House and Techno, definitely worth seeing!!
Ex Twist resident of 3 years and owner of Ignition, Danny Gilligan who has unfortunately been away from the scene for a while as he’s been in New Zealand playing alongside Karim. His return is anticipated beyond belief and his Hard House/ Hard Trance set is ready to explode all over the MASS!!
Alone, these two have been tearing up dance-floors up and down the country for years now, and due to extreme demand we are FINALLY able to confirm a special one-off, back-2-back spectacular, Paul Batten B2B Lucy Fur!! These 2 are certainly going to cause some damage!
Presenting new talent at WARNING is our number one priority, and talent is definitely going to be shown through this set. A true performer and WARNING regular, John Edwards is touching down once more to tear the MASS apart!!
Now with the DJ’s sorted and the venue organised, the only thing left is you, the clubbers. This truly is a night not to be missed!! Great music and an unbelievable crowd are iconic of WARNING, and this night is set to be BIGGER and BETTER than anything we’ve attempted before. All you need to do now is put on your raving shoes and make your way down to the MASS on the 28th. At £5 for tickets £7 after, there is no excuse!
And remember after WARNING, Twist is our official after party
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Other Features By Jazzy:
Listen up! It's Batten and Brow
Warning! This Is Brow
Brow gives us a Warning ahead of his new residency
Grady G gets ready to explode at Blast!
Tim Shaw does SNAT
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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![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1-xmas.gif)
at Paul's answer to the superpower question
to you both. Another fantastic interview, nice one Jasmine 
What a party this is gonna be, the last 2 Warnings blew the roof off 
for the mentions Lucy - luv ya babe xx
Absolutly brilliant set from you guys!! Thanks for putting so much into it!!