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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! |
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Nothing Defective About This Audio - Dom Sweeten Hits Insekt
Reported by mostwantedkat
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Submitted 20-08-07 20:03
As one half of OD404 and a production legend in his own right, there isn’t much Dom Sweeten doesn’t know about the hard dance scene. Since his early day in rave culture, he’s been an integral cog in the hard house and NRG party wheel. His Kaktai, Spinball and Battle Jaxx imprints continue to throw out fierce tracks by a legion of super-talented, established and up and coming producers including Dom himself. His tunes have also graced the labels of Tripoli Trax, Vicious Circle, Untidy Trax, Nukleuz and more, while his DJ sets are made up of the stuff your mother warned you about!
With that in mind, it’s with immense pleasure that Pure Sessions Presents: Insekt welcomes Mr Sweeten to the hallowed halls of Heaven on September 7th. This one really is going to be an absolute belter and should see the London super club filled to the brim with the hard dance elite and enthusiastic. Headlining is none other than Paul Glazby, with Dom going head to head with Justin Bourne! Twist superstar Karim will be unleashing his unbridled energy and Marc Johnson, Nik Denton and James Nardi are also on hand. If there was one night that promised to blow the roof off, then this is it.
We caught up with Dom at home in his studio in preparation for the party.
Hi Dom, how’s it hanging today?
I’m good, now the floods have receded and life is back to normal again. Andy Farley and I were bailing out next doors garden when he recently came down to do a collaboration. We named it Bail Out by the way.
Just how many different production names have you got?
I have a few, admittedly, only due to certain labels requesting that I don’t use my existing aliases though. They all wanted an exclusive one for themselves. This is why I now have Defective Audio and Base Graffiti that both release the same style of material. I used to keep the harder side for Defective Audio and the funkier side for Base Graffiti but now I don’t care and bang it out with whichever one I feel like. I have other names for my breaks and electro and also one for more techno based stuff as well.
You’ve been around since pretty much the beginning of UK rave – what are your feelings on the dance music scene at the moment?
I still love it to bits. I am a sucker for loud basslines and chunky beats. The buzz I got from the free party scene in the early 90’s still drives me to continue what I do. I think the scene now has a very healthy and exiting mix of both talented producers / DJs and styles of music although I dislike the way the genres are split up religiously into separate rooms. I think DJs should be braver to play away from the norm and mix different styles into their sets.
What was it that got you hooked on dance music in the first place?
If I said “E” would you be surprised?
Ha ha! What was the first party you ever went to (or can remember going to!)?
In Yer face – 808 State / N-Joi at the Brixton Academy, 1991. Dreamscape – A New Warehouse Concept in Milton Keynes, 1990. I also went to some of the early Fantasia and Perception events. The most memorable for me though was a free travellers’ rave at Forest Hill just outside Oxford. It lasted for three days and was amazing.
How do parties these days compare with the ones back in the day?
It will never be like it was back then but that’s not to say it’s not as good now. A party is what you make it. The main difference I feel is that you felt like you were part of something massive, the whole ‘rave culture’ thing. It was much to do with being young as well I’m sure, now I’m older I’m less enthusiastic about glow sticks and white gloves, hehe.
Do you prefer the music that’s coming out now or the tracks you used to listen to / make back then?
I will always have a soft spot for the early rave tracks as they provide so many memories. Certain riffs or vocals trigger scenes from various raves and warehouses that I went to.
Joey Beltram’s Mentasm, Prodigy’s Where Evil Lurks, Moby’s Go etc. I remember the first time I heard Energy Flash, fucking hell what a party! The current tracks are amazing due to the progression in production but many fall short of the pure energy generated by some of the earlier ones. There are, however, some wicked new talented artists out there at the moment.
You’ve seen the hard scene develop from house that was hard to, well, frankly just plain hard. Were you a fan of the bounce? Do you like the direction that hard dance has taken over the years or would you have liked to see something different happen to it?
Bounce? Shite! Hard house has been chewed up and re-named so many times I can’t keep up. I love tracks with a bit of style and something quirky that you don’t expect. I get bored of tunes if they do what you think are going to do. Tracks should be designed to be layered together, tracks over tracks, DJs are as much a part of how things sound as the producers. I am not a fan of end to end mixing, I prefer stuff to be chopped about.
Overall, who do you think has had the most prolific influence on the modern hard dance scene (apart from yourself) and why?
Probably the big labels like Tidy and Nukleuz as they have the money to dictate the scene more than anyone else. If a certain style is rammed down peoples ears enough then it will either become too commercial, disliked, too diluted or just simply the best thing in the entire universe. Hard dance is too big a bracket to name particular people, there are too many.
Who do you think is the most under-rated person in hard dance and why?
The punter. No punter = no party!
You’ve had a long-term relationship with Superfast Oz. Does your better half ever get jealous?
I’ve had a what? I prefer custard creams over bourbons, buddy. As far as getting jealous, there is no contest. As I said “custard creams”.
What was it about Oz that attracted you to him?
This is going too far now you wanker! Maybe it was his tight trousers and fragrant dreadlocks, I dunno.
You both used to live in Brighton and play at the Warehouse Club. What were those days like?
Those days were cool, the Warehouse was a wicked club and we enjoyed a good residency there for a long time. It was the same sound system that many of the beach parties were done with. Hand built and masssssivve!
Sandwiched between the Brighton activities, you did a year’s stint in Ayia Napa. Has that left scars or did you enjoy what must surely have been a pure cheese-fest?
That was so cool, I used to play in the main square, in a bar called Minos Bar every night. It was fun seeing people keel over when I slipped tracks in like Pure by GTO, haha. Most of the tunes were very cheesy but hey, we all like a bit of cheese, we just don’t all admit it.
You’ve recently been producing breaks under the Freeflow 45 moniker. What prompted your move towards that part of the dance spectrum?
It’s been a long time coming, just not got it together before now. I love breaks and always have, many of my influences are from early breaks tracks, FSOL boys, Smart Systems, Indo Tribe, Altern 8, D-Zone records etc.
Annie Nightingale has been a firm supporter of your new stuff. What did it feel like to get her backing?
It is always an extra buzz to get stuff played on the radio, I remember the first time I heard one of my tracks on Judge Jules show. I was jumping round the room.
Who’s been influencing you as far as breaks are concerned? What labels do you look up to?
Plumps, Autobots, FAT records, Supercharged, General Midi, Lot49, again too many to list but all the usual plus more.
Has it been easy breaking into the scene?
Haha, good play on words, all it takes is some good solid tracks and some effort to get them to the right people.
As a producer, how easy or hard is it to get your sound out there? How do you go about getting your new tracks noticed?
Again, just by sending them to the right people. Spinball has no mail out and relies on the releases to do the talking. The hard house scene is so small (sales wise) now that is less important to spend time on promos, mail outs etc. The electro and breaks scene is bigger sales wise so a little more effort is needed.
How important is it for you to get the right backing for your tunes from various superstar DJs / radio presenters?
It helps when stuff is being charted of course and only serves to promote the name and label more. I maybe need to spend more time in areas such as CD compilations or things like that.
Have you got to where you wanted to in your career or do you still feel like you have a lot left to prove?
I would like to move into music for games and adverts but this is a very hard area to get into. My next step is to start doing live breaks and to play some festivals.
If you weren’t a DJ, what would you be instead?
A spaceman.
Finally, you’re playing at Insekt on September 7th at Heaven in London. How do you rate the venue? Are you going to tear it up?
The venue is wicked. I haven’t played there for a while so I’m looking forward to it.
It should be a good night.
Wicked, thanks Dom, see you at Insekt!
Not if I see you first.
All photos and logos courtesy of Dom Sweeten and Insekt, not to be reproduced wihtout prior permission
Insekt
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On:
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Friday 7th September 2007
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At:
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Heaven [map]
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From:
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22.00 - 06.00
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Cost:
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£10/£12/£15 MOTD
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Website:
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www.Insekt.co.uk
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Ticket Info:
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This is a ticket only event!
£10 Very Limited Early Bird Tickets
£12 Limited Saver Tickets
£15 Standard Tickets
More On The Door
Ticketweb – www.Ticketweb.co.uk
Direct Link: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=226157
Tel: 08700 600 100
Vince (Midlands) Insentives & Travel :07835 626226
www.Funk-Deluxe.co.uk
London Ticket Agents:
Ryan Anderson
email: ry_1a@yahoo.co.uk
tel: 07747 867943
Soaphie M
email: soaps_sca_nc@yahoo.co.uk
tel: 07974 331 613
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Insekt 3rd Bday @ Heaven
Yes, it's almost that time already!
After storming events @ The Fridge we are proud to have landed London's original Superclub venue....Heaven for our blockbuster 3rd Birthday party.
Keeping true to our beliefs of only giving you the very best dj's & producers.
For the Birthday party we welcome back Insekt original residents Justin Bourne & Paul Glazby.
We welcome the busiest man in the industry Dom Sweeten aka Defective Audio
Making their Insekt debut's we have Superfish legend DFQ & one of the hottest young producers at the moment Tom Parr!
2007 resident Karim will be doing what he does best.
Join us to celebrate our 3rd Birthday in new surroundings where we will take you beyond, while the music does the talking......
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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: dave curtis on 21st Aug 2007 10:37.42
"I prefer custard creams over bourbons, buddy. As far as getting jealous, there is no contest. As I said “custard creams"
hahaha. classic
From: John Nutter on 21st Aug 2007 11:32.17
Brilliant! The man everyone cites as the number one producer.
Some good jokes in there too!!
:o)
From: James Nardi on 21st Aug 2007 12:06.05
Top bloke, looking forward to the night big time now!!
From: jud on 21st Aug 2007 13:05.27
best hard house producer about,,,,,has been for the last few years...lookin forward 2 insekt big time..........BRING IT
From: K8-e on 21st Aug 2007 14:41.23
Serious legend. 
From: karl davis on 21st Aug 2007 19:00.24
LEGEND and top bloke
From: Redrum on 4th Sep 2007 15:38.07
Most definitly one of the best and most talented Producers around. His live sets are breathtaking. The last time at Storm stands out for and its great to see him return to Insekt.
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