This is a Hixxy interview in a recent US magazine!
1. At what age did you get started in the hardcore scene, and what made continue in this direction?
Not sure to be honest how old I was but I remember it was around 1993 and dj Ramos had helped me get into a studio to finish a track called peoples party which he then released on R.S.R recordings. After that getting released it all happened really quickly and I went from a local dj to more of a national dj playing along side djs like Carl Cox , Slipmatt and groove rider. I also have always followed the harder side of music from as far back as 1988 when all dance music was classed as HOUSE, I then followed into ACID HOUSE when it split around 89-90, then into rave around 91 and finally into HARDCORE around 92 which then slowly progressed into JUNGLE/ DRUM + BASS or (happy) HARDCORE. I?m where I am at today cause I always followed what music I loved and will always continue in that direction.
2. How is the hardcore scene looking today in England compared to how it was when it first started?
It has changed a lot over the years and it has still survived the highs, the lows , the praise , the put downs and the slatings . I do think its definitely on the up because there are new djs and producers breaking through again , which is always healthy for any scene because it shows there is still an interest in that style of music from a new generation , this can only improve the quality of music made and because of this the events I am playing at are getting more and more often and busier and busier this can only be down to the ravers aren?t hearing the same old djs play the same old sets time and time again .
3. What direction do you plan to take you labels in the future?
Not too sure what direction they will go in but I am going to keep making music that I love because since I have started to do this and not make tunes to fit in with what is supposed to be the flavour of the moment my record sales have increased. I didn?t really like any of the tunes I made from 98-2000 because I was just making then to what I thought people wanted and not what I liked and if you listen to them you can tell my heart wasn?t really in it.
4. What was the idea behind Raver Baby?
Raver baby came about around 2000 because I knew that hardcore wasn?t dying even though some magazines started to boast that it was!!!! I was bored of playing the same set time and time again and thought well I rather than sit back and moan and whinge about it I would get of my tired arse and help do something about it so I came up with Raver baby and also thought that it was about time I got behind and supported some of the new talent, just like Ramos and Slipmatt had done for me. So raver baby was born!!!!!
5. What artist are you working with for Raver Baby and why?
Well from da old skool people like UFO, Force and Styles, Breeze, M.C.Storm, M.C.Whizz kid, dJ Menis are all doing and have done tracks for the label which is awesome but why they are I don?t know you?ll have to ask them why they are so mad to work with me!!!
But from the nu-skool Djs Uplift Cris.E.Manic and Voltage, who I think will be massive within a year, they have already played at events such as United Dance and Elevation and all 100% love Hardcore and look at other styles of music with open eyes and don?t slag other forms of music off which I think is a very important quality to have if you want to be a successful producer and DJ.
6. Why do you think Raver Baby has been so successful?
Not too sure really but I?d like to think its because I am really enjoying my work at the moment and love working with all the people around me and I have had excellent support from them all as well And its most definitely showing in all the music. I?ve only had 3 releases on raver baby so far and the sales have been great I am well happy, but the best is still yet to come with massive releases from UFO deep inside remix - Styles and Breeze - future set - m.c. Storm - accept it and living in a dream Menis - dance with me and Hardcore will neva die + new tracks from Uplift, Cris.E.Manic and Voltage along side UFO and yet to come Scott brown with a Heart of gold remix.
8. Any last comments you would like to add?
Just a quick thank you to all the people who are still supporting the scene and a big f**k OFF to the TWATS who even though they have publicly announced that they have left hardcore and moved on to other projects which is fair play, they still seem to think its cool to try and stick the knife in our backs and our scene and still go onto hardcore web sites and talk shit and in magazine interviews try to look all the cool DJ by slagging hardcore off when in the real land of living it was hardcore that put the twats on the map. Question: If they hate it so much why do they still go on and on about it???? INTERESTING. If I hated anything as much as some of them have said I wouldn?t waste my time bring up something I hated time and time again!!! When I and if I ever go into any of projects or style of music I will never forget my roots because if you do you?ll soon fall down!!!!!!!!
Peace love and hardcore HIXXY
