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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! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! |
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Interview with Carl Nicholson
Reported by Sharon B
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Submitted 14-05-04 07:46
When the legendary Tony De Vit passed away 6 years ago Carl Nicholson decided to get heavily involved with keeping TDV’s spirit and message alive. Holding an intrinsic and central role with the TDV memorials that consequently took place, it was thanks to Carl’s dedication and devotion that thousands of clubbers were able to pay their respects to the scene’s most innovative talent. Having been DJ’ing for a number of years himself, and with some amazing productions under his belt, Sharon B managed to catch up with Carl Nicholson to find out more about his career, his involvement with the TDV memorial and his thoughts on the club scene in general.
Sharon B: When did you first get into mixing? Have you always wanted to be a DJ? How did you first start out? Where did you play, what night, venue, date, etc?
Carl Nicholson: I first got into mixing when I was 14, I bought an old set of Technics with rollerpitches which was mounted into a console! I started off my career as an MC for an under 18’s hardcore event called Rhythm! I first started DJ’ing in a town called Erith in Kent, it was the good old days of the Houseparty, couldn’t tell you the date tho, but my first club experience was a party called “Sanctuary” at Grays Inn, Holborn. The date was NYE 1995, and I was so nervous my hands would not stop shaking so I had to keep grabbing hold of the side of the deck to stop it!lol
SB: Has music always been a big influence in your lives? What’s the first record you bought? Either dance or non-dance music?
CN: Music has always been the be all and end all for my existence since I can remember; I used to go to a lot of holiday camps with my mum and Nan, and my Nan always put me in for everything. I once got into the semi-finals of the KP disco dancing championships when I was 7and won a week’s free hols. From there I got into the stuff my mum used to play at home like Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis and Super tramp. But the first record bought was Break-dance (The Movie) soundtrack.
SB: You have played major club venues both in the UK and abroad, yet you do continue to play smaller venues – which do you prefer and are there any venues worldwide that you have yet to play but would love to?
CN: I prefer the smaller crowds as its more personal , my dream is to play main room Turnmill’s as that was my first real clubbing experience, the Gallery in 1995. I had a knack for getting into DJ boxes and ended up knowing Steve Lee fairly well, I used to look out of the hatch in the box and dream “One day I’m gonna do that, I’m gonna make them people scream and shout and go crazy!” Also would love to play Oxseed in Turkey, a massive open-air stadium type club! NICE!
SB: What would you consider to be the highlights of your career so far? What are your most memorable DJ moments?
CN: Definitely the first TDV memorial at Brixton Academy, knowing it was me that organised all these people to come here and worship my hero with me!
SB: Who or what are your biggest musical influences and who do you look to/aspire to on the hard dance scene?
CN: The biggest without a doubt is TdV, but I also bow to Todd Terry, Farley “Jack Master” Funk and Thomas Hardy (Who if you don’t know who he is, was the man who inspired TDV, he was playing Nu-Nrg in 1975 at the Saint Nightclub in New York!). On the Hard Dance scene now, I suppose Nick Sentience, that guy has an amazing ear for sound!
SB: Have you always played hard dance? What is it about this particular genre that draws you to it? If you could play one other musical style what would it be?
CN: No, not always although you could say I’ve been playing it for 10 years as I have always played a mixture of HardHouse and Trance, whereas many always stuck to one, my sets have always been based on the storyline/journey theory, mix them all together. Hard House + Trance + Journey/Storyline Theory = Hard Dance. I can play Funky House, Old Skool and Commercial Cuts also, as that in my opinion is what a DJ is, someone who can be given a bag of anything and after 1 hr will be able to string you together a set of good standard & quality.
SB: What 3 words best describes your style?
CN: Uplifting, Driving, Passionate
SB: How do you prepare for a set? What goes through your mind as you pack your record bag? Do you plan ahead and construct a set or play by ear or a mixture of both?
CN: I normally do a mixture of both, roughly plan a set and leave myself “Alleyways” in which to change the pace and mood!
SB: You are mostly renown for your solo sets. Do you ever play back-to-back? If you could choose any DJ to do a back-to-back set with who would it be and where would you most like play? Would you prepare differently for a back-to-back set than to a solo set?
CN: A back-to-back can only be played by ear unless you have both practiced it beforehand! I played a B2B with Tony P at Wildchild and it went really well, but if I could choose a DJ and a Venue, it would have to be Rob Tissera at Godskitchen!
SB: What three tracks are you currently playing out that get the biggest cheers on the dancefloors? Are there any tunes that you play that you just can’t help yourself from reaching for the skies and grinning from cheek-to-cheek?
CN: The biggest three at the minute are:
Generator – Where R U now / Wid & Ben remix, Carl Nicholson & Matt Williams – Streamline and Tony De Vit – The Dawn/Alex Kidd Rmx!
SB: How important is stage presence? Some DJ’s really give it some welly behind the decks whilst others are more centred and focus. On a personal level, which do you prefer to see on a stage?
CN: Presence is a major factor, TDV had this in Bulk, the second he got on them Decks the whole club knew who was playing. I feel that if the DJ is to focused then he is not concentrating on the people who matter most, the paying public! A DJ should be there dancing on the edge of the knife with the rest of the club.
SB: If you couldn’t DJ, what other creative outlet do you think you would have followed, if any?
CN: I think I would have gone into design or something as I am quite a creative person.
SB: Not only do you DJ but you are also a well respected producer within the hard dance scene. What first got you into production and what was the first tune you ever made?
CN: First tune I ever made was called “Ricochet”, it was released in 2001 on Fevah House 6.
SB: Do you remember hearing your first tune played out? Where was it played out and what was it like hearing your creation on the dance floor? Were you nervous? Excited? etc.
CN: First time I heard one of my tracks being played out was on Radio 1, Dave Pearce played a TP of Times Like These on his Dance Anthems Show. But the best was HHA when Steve Hill played it to 4500 loony bins, I was on the terrace looking down at the crowd, it brought tears to my eyes, 9 years of hard slog and knock backs was finally paying off!
SB: How do you approach a new tune? Do you find a suitable sample first and then create a rift or is it the other way round?
CN: I always find the riff first and then find a sample that fits, although you can do it the other way around if you are a graded keyboard player!
SB: Where do you look for your samples?
CN: Films, Records, anywhere that its recordable really!
SB: Which of the tunes that you have produced are you most proud of and why?
CN: Got to be “Times Like These” as that was mainly my creation but my new one with James is very Close to it!! 
SB: Your tunes are renown for their unique sound, in particular the use of short stabbing melodic rifts, which many consider to be your “signature sound”. What is it about this particular sound that draws you to use it in nearly all your tunes?
CN: Its all about the Delay that you add to the stabs, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and if it works for me then why not the masses!
SB: Do you feel it is important as a producer to have a signature sound, something that will make a listener instantly recognise the tune as being one of your productions?
CN: Of course, it makes you recognisable through the sound, like TDV; you knew the minute the galloping sub came in that it was one of Tony’s tracks!
SB: Which do you prefer – DJ’ing or producing? If you could only do one from now on, which would it be and why? What do you consider yourselves to be better at?
CN: I consider myself to be a DJ/Producer not Producer/DJ, it has taken many years of floor experience to know where to take my production, my production comes from my heart and not a calculator!
SB: What are your opinions of the apparent trend in the scene of returning to its Hard House roots? Will you be incorporating more Hard House sounds into your productions/sets this year?
CN: I have been playing a bit more, but I find a lot of it doesn’t sound like music, more computers having a conversation! 
SB: We have seen quite a change in the clubbing world recently, do you think the scene is regressing? Whose to blame? Lack of innovation from larger events or is the market being flooded due to saturation of smaller nights?
CN: Corporate marketing is the major problem, it seems its more about who you know than what you can do these days! There are some naturally amazing dj’s out there that do not have a hope as they can get in to the “Clique”. Also, when I started DJ’ing you could count the DJ’s that played hard on two peoples hands, now your nan or your dad could easily DJ if they wanted!
SB: What are your opinions of the dance scene at the moment? Do you think that the scene is splintering into smaller fragments or that people are going to smaller, more intimate events as an expression of their tastes away from larger, more commercial nights? Are we witnessing the demise of the Superclub and the return of the rave with smaller parties and warehouse events becoming the more popular option for venues?
CN: It is in my experience, that I am a strong believer in the “Full Circle” theory. I have seen on about 4 occasions now where the Underground DJ’s go to the record shops looking for new material, find it, play it, the mainstream Superstar DJ jumps on the band wagon, declares “We’ve found the new music!”, markets it to death, declares it’s dead and the the Underground gets back down the record shops and so forth and so on.
SB: Which do you prefer to go to as a clubber, an event that holds 200 or an event that holds 6,000? Which do you prefer to go to as a DJ? Does a bigger crowd mean a better night?
CN: Its about quality not quantity! And that’s on both counts.
SB: Who do you admire most in the hard dance world? Who do you always make an effort to go and support when playing out?
CN: I always love to watch Rob Tissera, that guy’s given more than anyone could imagine to our scene.
SB: You have been heavily involved with the Tony De Vit (TDV) memorials ever since his death 5 years ago. How did you get involved with the TDV tributes?
CN: I met Ray (Tonys Dad) at Trades 10th Birthday, we got talking and really hit it off, from there I asked if he would be up for doing the first ever southern TDV memorial, and he agreed. By doing this I sorta broke the North/South divide of Hard dance because Tidy thought well if you can take Tony down there then why not us do parties in London and Frantic thought well if you come down here then we’ll go up your end and they did Leeds, and now we are all one big, happy family!
SB: Many people claim that TDV was the founding father of Hard House and the face of a generation. Years on we have such a massive selection of DJ’s within the scene that there is no one identifiable face to put to the music. Do you think that so much new talent has saturated the DJ scene? Do you think the scene needs a representative to be marketable for the people to identify with the music again and therefore draw in crowds?
CN: TDV was the face of the generation, but he was a pioneer, and that I’m afraid is what our scene lacks, Leaders!!! People who are not afraid to try something different, and stick with it till the bitter end!
SB: There are many smaller up-and-coming DJ’s now producing their own tracks and sounds in order to differentiate themselves from the competition. How important is it to create your own sound and would you encourage this trend amongst newer DJ’s joining the circuit?
CN: Build your following, and use the trial and error method with production, its gonna take many years but if you have the talent and don’t take no for an answer, one day maybe….
SB: What advice would you give to any up-and-coming DJ’s about the hard dance scene/Industry? What is the best bit of advice you have ever received?
CN: No matter what anyone says, never ever give up! (Advice given to me by Graham Gold!)
SB: Who do you think has made the biggest impact over the last 12 months and is there anyone you feel we should keep our eyes on over the next year with regards to the scene?
CN: I think biggest impact has to be Guyver along with Nick Sentience & Matt Williams.
SB: If the hard dance scene collapsed tomorrow what other career do you think you would pursue? Would you still be in the music industry or would you follow another avenue entirely?
CN: Oh, I’d never leave, its in my blood!!! I’d probably just concentrate more on another genre!
SB: What are your opinions on hard dance sites? Do you think they influence the Industry and do you look to them for feedback/promotion etc? How vital are they to you as DJ’s and broadening your fan base/reaching a wider audience?
CN: Most sites are good fun, although some people think that they are there solely for bitching and this I feel gives people the wrong impression of our scene, and ruins it for all!
SB: Any last comments?
CN: Thanks for the interview and sorry its taken a while to get back to ya, *Holds hand out for ruler slapping* ouch, “Do it Again” ouch, “DO IT AGAIN” (faint wacking of ruler disappears into the distance……………………………………..
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Other Features By Sharon B:
What's it all about? Alfie! - Getting Technikal with Alf Bamford
Heat UK presents....SW4!!! - Interview with Damian Gelle
Interview with TWIST promoter Steve Darragh
Interview with Innovate Resident Nick Sentience
Interview with Ferry Corsten
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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