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Celebrating the Summer Solstice with Pendragon resident Juno
Reported by Tara
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Submitted 07-06-10 07:01
Pioneering party Pendragon helped pave the way for the dance scene as we know it today. Starting out 19 years ago, they’ve rocked venues from Brixton Academy to Tyssen Street Studios, creating epic parties that inspired so many of today’s DJs, producers and promoters. With Pendragon back for a Summer Solstice Celebration at Brixton’s JAMM on Saturday 19 June, we caught up with one of the original residents Juno, who’ll be playing alongside Mark Sinclair, Beamish, Oberon, Kevin Energy, Nik Sequenci and Jarrah in the main room.
Hi Juno, thanks for taking some time to answer a few questions ahead of your set at the Pendragon Summer Solstice Celebration, which also doubles as Pendragon’s 19th birthday celebration. How did you first get involved with the Pendragon party crew?
It seems like such a long time ago now! It was at a Tribe of Isis party called Synesthesia in The Roots Centre back here in Oxford way back in 1996/1997. Mark and Kate came along as Mark had a set there that night, they heard me play and asked me there and then if I would come and play for them at Pendragon. I had been DJing for 5+ years by then and was already established with residences at Transmission in Oxford and Energized in Brighton; I had also just started playing for Escape from Samsara at the Fridge in Brixton.
Unfortunately dance music is still very male dominated and it must have been more so when you first started out back in the day — you’re the only chick on the list of Pickle ressies, for example . What inspired you to first start spinning tunes? Are you self-taught or did you get lessons?
I’m self-taught. I started collecting vinyl when I was about 13/14, but didn’t get to actually have a mix until I was around 17/18. When I first moved to Oxford a friend that was also living in the same shared house had some decks set up, so some nights when everyone was out I’d have a mess about. One night one of my friends who is also a DJ came home early and caught me and said out right that I should play some parties. Another friend of mine called Shane had a sound system and gave me my first gigs back around 1991/1992. Yeah I got a few male DJs give me some crap when I first started but I ignored them, in fact it made me more determined to base my DJing on the music rather than using my ‘female assets’.
As well as DJing you also produce your own music. Was this hard to get into? How are things going on the production front at the moment?
For years I was unable to produce due to having to collect a studio together before even being able to make a sound and I just couldn’t afford to do it, especially as I was buying new records weekly for a very long time. Then when everything started to turn digital and onto PCs, my new world of producing opened up. Not particularly the producers favourite but Reason taught me a lot and now I’m quite confidant of moving onto CuBase etc. I still now I don’t know all the ins and outs but I pick up tips and always have my ears open for inspiration. My boyfriend is heavily into producing also, so hopefully we can come up with some awesome sounds soon! I think we will be more breaks with an oldskool sound though, but I’m sure some trance will be involved somewhere. I’ve still not released anything seriously yet but hopefully in the future things will develop and we might get something going.
I really like the psy breaks feel to your tracks like ‘Age of Capricorn’ and ‘Liquid Magic’, yet the music you DJ is generally more hard trance. How would you describe the music you play? And produce?
I think the difference in genre comes from the fact that I didn’t really get into producing so much until I had a break from DJing in 2002. After that point I stepped away from the hard trance as the scene dissipated into a bit of a mess. A lot of producers were not making much good trance around that time, they were mainly focused on the hard house sound and it just didn’t move me. That’s when my music interest moved elsewhere. I have to thank Oberon here for introducing me to the sounds of Hybrid! From then on my breaks passion grew and evolved. That will be why my own produced music has a breakbeat feel, but with a trancy twist.
What DJs and producers have influenced and inspired you the most over the years? And now?
From over the years the producers I’d have to say Oliver Lieb, Nostrum, Aquaplex, Kai Trance, Scott Project, and many other German producers. The UK was a little behind on some of the more classic sounding trance, but some did stand out like Binary Finary, Friends Lovers and Family, Matt Darey and sounds coming out on Telica Records and Eve. DJs would have to be a lot of the underground trance scene, as I’ve heard so many it would take half a page to mention them all!
Since you began DJing technology has completely changed how music is made, played, promoted and sold. How have these changes had an impact on you personally? Do you still play vinyl or have you made the move the CD?
At the moment I’m still on vinyl but will very soon be making the jump to CDJs. A lot of the breaks I’ve been collecting over the past few years are on my PC, as vinyl has just become so expensive and less available nowadays for the sound I want. The jump to CDs is inevitable to keep DJing, as in a lot of venues I’ve visited recently decks are becoming rare and a lot of setups are just CD now. My hard trance collection I’ll keep on vinyl format unless I’m told there are only CDJs available, then I will transfer them to digital format. Breaks will mainly be on CD eventually but I do have enough on vinyl to get by at the moment. In time I’m sure I will get everything into digital but that’s a massive mission — it will eventually get done though.
You’ve been resident at pioneering parties Escape from Samsara, Pickle and of course Pendragon, interviewed for TV by Radio 1 veteran John Peel and played at loads of events and festivals from Spain to South Africa. What would you say are the highlights of your music career? And what goals do you have for the future?
A lot of my goals I have to say I think I have already achieved! Playing in South Africa was defiantly a highlight and also meeting the legend John Peel. Playing in the Brixton Academy several times was always a special moment. I feel I have been very fortunate in my DJing career. Not to say that I’ve ended there at all! I do feel much more inspired and energetic to be involved in the music scene again after along break recovering from an illness. It’s just my music taste has changed a fair bit from back in the day, but then music has changed a lot too. I can only use my experience and energy to move forward.
The Pendragon parties at Tyssen Street Studios are the stuff of legend and the inspiration behind so many DJs, producers and promoters that I’ve interviewed. What are your top memories from these times? Do you have a favourite Pendragon party?
Wow there has been so many! I’d have to say my favorite parties were the ones somewhere up a mountain in Wales. Carry on Regardless / Pendragon mini festivals that happened twice a year for a weekend event. If you went to any of these parties I’m sure you will agree they were some of the best ever. Excellent times that shall never be forgotten! Tyssen Street was a very special venue, one that we won’t ever see again unfortunately, but the memories are with us forever! Playing at Nottinghill Carnival was also a favorite time that was just awesome seeing thousands of people raving it up in the middle of a massive street, there’s nothing quite like that feeling anywhere!
The Tyssen Street Studios were eventually closed down, with Pendragon being forced to move its parties into clubs like the Fridge. What impact did you see this having on the parties? Do you prefer warehouse parties or clubs?
I do prefer the warehouse party vibe as that is where you can create your own feel to a venue with décor etc. Clubs tend to be set up already and you’re not able to put your own stamp on the place. I think this is where the difference is felt the most. Clubs tend to not change much from night to night, whereas warehouses you can create your own worlds within them.
You’ve designed the gorgeous flyer for Pendragon’s summer solstice party. Are you a trained graphic designer or is it a hobby? Almost everyone I’ve give the flyer to has complemented you on the front!
Graphic design was my ‘daytime job’ trade a few years back. Again though I’ve had a break from it for a while and I’m now starting to get involved again. My boyfriend is a designer also, so he’s inspired me to get back into the swing of things. I used to design a lot of flyers and websites back in the day for Pendragon, Sonic! and Sonic Boom in Oxford, but as clubs died out for a while so did the work. I also made quite a few of the décor backdrops that were used regularly at Pendragon parties, so maybe we might see them out for an airing on the night, that’s hoping they’ve not gone moldy by now!
You’re headlining the main room at the Pendragon reunion party on Saturday 19 June alongside Beamish, Oberon, Kevin Energy, Nik Sequenci, Jarrah and of course Mark Sinclair. With the music policy being ‘uplifting nu-energy psychedelic techno trance’, do you have any idea yet what you might play? Do you reckon you’ll stick to classics or is there some new stuff that you can’t wait to play out for the first time?
I think I will be pulling out the classics as I’ve not been looking into trance as much recently. A lot of the gigs I have played this year I’ve been playing breaks. I’m not quite sure that would go down so well at a trance party. I’ve got a massive back catalogue of hard trance that pulling out some golden oldies won’t be too hard at all.
Why should people reading this who’ve never been to a Pendragon party make the effort to come to the Summer Solstice Celebration at Jamm on Saturday 19 June?
Well that obvious... if you missed the chance to experience a Pendragon in the past, then this is the perfect opportunity to see and feel the magic of a Pendragon party in full swing, and on such a special time of the year too. Basically you’ve not lived until you’ve been to a Pendragon! Prepare to be amazed!
Many thanks Juno! Looking forward to seeing you play on the 19th!
Photos courtesy of Juno. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Pendragon Summer Solstice Celebration
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On:
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Saturday 19th June 2010
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At:
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Jamm [map]
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From:
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22:00 - 6:00
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Cost:
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£7 advance /£10 on the door
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Website:
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www.brixtonjamm.org
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Ticket Info:
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www.brixtonjamm.org
www.accessallareas.org
Or call Mark (079 8457 7101) or Kate (077 8982 7808) to be added to £7 guest list.
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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After a six year break the Pendragon crew are back to invoke the tribal Celtic spirit for a Summer Solstice Reunion party at Brixton’s Jamm. The 19th year since Pendragon’s inception, it is apt that this event is on the Saturday June 19th, the closest Saturday night to one of the most spiritually significant dates of the Celtic calendar. Dance into the summer solstice and enter the collective dream state where past, present and future merge.
Words like ‘pioneering’ and ‘legendary’ are too often splashed about in the dance music scene today, but in this particular case you’ll find many people who’d agree they are applicable, especially today’s trance and techno DJs, producers and promoters influenced by Pendragon’s music and events. Helping mould a new growing trance movement, Pendragon’s musical, visual and mystical mayhem has been given as the reason why so many talented musicians are now making music, with various promoters trying to imitate their style but never completely capturing the Pendragon magic. The party itself has celebrated many special occasions for its thousands of loyal followers, including some incredible weddings, and they were the first promotion in the UK to fly over many top acts, including Scott Project, Jamm X and Deleon aka Dumonde, Tom Wax and Brazil’s number one dance percussionist, Rodrigo Paciomic.
Pendragon was formed in 1991 by Mark Sinclair and Kate Pendragon, a unique partnership of creative talent and energy who were both inspired by Celtic mythology and a vision of spiritually uplifting trance parties for all to enjoy. They had been to events like Fraser Clark’s new age rave/mini-festival Megatripolis and seen the wonderful combination of music, counterculture, performances and visuals, which they then took to another level with their own Pendragon parties.
One of the first and longest running techno-trance parties in the UK, Pendragon had nine successful events at the awesome Brixton Academy — including the infamous 10th birthday party — as well a plethora of events at Tyssen Street Studios, before moving to the Fridge after Tyssen Street sadly closed down. With the original Pendragon sound system in the main room and part of Paul Proscan’s lighting rig in the second, Brixton’s Jamm is the perfect choice for their new home. Currently host to a number of underground Brixton nights featuring the likes of Alabama 3, Hot Chip, Basement Jaxx, Bloc Party, Alan McGee and the Liberators, its cutting edge music policy is completely in line with Pendragon’s groundbreaking spirit.
For this special reunion party, both Mark Sinclair and Kate Pendragon headline a room each. The main room features uplifting nu-energy psychedelic techno trance with rare sets from original residents Mark, Oberon and Beamish as well as Juno, Kevin Energy, Nick Sequenci and Jarrah. Room 2 hosts an eclectic mix of filthy dirty deep down house, electro pop and more from Kate b2b Iona, Derrick Patterson, Chloe Sinclair, Gram Sugar Lump SS and Larry Lush Live.
It should go without saying that the music will be complemented by the usual spectacular Pendragon lights, visuals and décor, with Mark and Kate promising that there’s not going to be a brick of Jamm left showing, plus they’re also bringing in a massive laser for the occasion. Jamm also has a seated smoking area and chilled friendly security, who are there to ensure you enjoy your night as much as you should.
Advance tickets are just £7 advance from www.brixtonjamm.org or www.accessallareas.org and if for some reason you can’t get online to secure yours, give Mark a call on 079 8457 7101 or Kate on 077 8982 7808 to be added to a £7 guest list.
Looking forward to seeing you all for something very special on Saturday 19 June!
Peace, love and unity,
Pendragon
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Trance. Acid Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Psy Trance. Nu NRG. Hi NRG. Old Skool. House. Bouncy House. Deep House. Funky House. Prog House. Tribal House. Vocal House. Electro House. Acid House. Soulful House. Tech House. Acid Techno. Funky Techno. Techno. Pop. Club Classics. Electro. Funk. Soul.
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DJ's:
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Room 1: Uplifting nu-energy psychedelic techno trance
Mark Sinclair
Oberon
Beamish
Juno
Kevin Energy
Nick Sequenci
Jarrah
Room 2: Filthy dirty deep down house, electro pop & eclectic beats
Kate Pendragon b2b Iona
Derrick Patterson
Chloe Sinclair
Gram Sugar Lump SS
Larry Lush Live
Transformers
Trance Orbital
Madam Blagatsky
Kate Pendragon
Paio’s Flowers
Proscan
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Other Features By Tara:
Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast!
Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project
A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden
Telling Cosmic Tales with DJ Strophoria
Tom Psylicious aka EarthAlien takes 50 Spins Around the Sun: Raising Awareness Through the Power of Music
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: El Hombre on 7th Jun 2010 10:08.11
Tyssen St and particularly the Pendragon parties held there a decade ago were without doubt the pinnacle of partying in London. Sadly an experience that will never be seen again.
From: Euphoria on 11th Jun 2010 23:51.42
Our Pickle DJ!
JUNO, you always rocked! X
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