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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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The History of Proactive Records!
Reported by Less is Bat
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Submitted 14-05-05 15:15
The last Party Proactive event which took place on March 11th took its audience by storm. There was plenty of hype surrounding the event and many were anxious to see if they could live up to it. Having collected up the comments on the night I think it’s fair to say ‘Party Proactive pulled it off’!
I’ve only known the Proactive posse for about 4 months now but what struck me most about them, and what was reflected most about their last Party Proactive on the 11th March, is their absolute dedication to creating a fun night for its audience. Party Proactive isn’t just an event for them; it is a time when they put their personal beliefs and goals on the line. The Proactive team have an attitude which reflects what the clubbers really want – having a good time! Regardless of personal and financial costs or the sacrificing of relaxation time they were determined to make the night a success.
Our Ethos? That’s easy – it’s all about working hard, doing what we enjoy most – having fun, listening to music and meeting wicked people! (Paul Jack)
Some people may be unaware that after months of planning, the venue cancelled the booking just 15 or so hours before kick off. Proactive could have simply walked away and cancelled the party, but instead they put their thinking caps on and found another venue. On my way to the event, I passed Paul Jack (Captain of the Proactive ship) and I asked him if he needed any help in guiding the crowd to the new venue as there had been no time to let people know; he replied “Nope, go and enjoy yourself.”
I for one knew very little of the history of Proactive Records and Party Proactive until I met with Paul to discuss it. I knew right from the word go that I wanted to turn their history into a feature! It reads like some idealistic and innocent ambition which somehow came into being and has been welcomed with open arms by a very loyal crowd of clubbers.
Proactive Records and Party Proactive formed just under a year ago and both have gone from strength to strength. Paul Jack, whilst working as Label Manager for Arktik Records and Sketcha Traxx, was introduced to a lady called Joanna McEwen. This partnership has stretched from friendship, to business partnership and ultimately relationship and the two are now parents with the very recent birth of their baby girl (Congratulations to you both!).
Jacob Moss
Joanna introduced Paul to a friend of hers, *Ting*. Although Paul and *Ting* had met a few times before, the two had never had any significant conversations. This time however, Paul and *Ting* began discussing the industry and *Ting* revealed that she was on the hunt for a team to launch a record label with. Paul felt ready for a change and had already decided he wanted to move from Arktik Records. It seemed destiny had struck and they began to put the wheels in motion for the creation of Proactive Records. Paul and *Ting* both decided they wanted Joanna to be onboard for the project as, whilst she has stayed away from the scene (due to her pregnancy) in the last few months, her creativity, flare and passion for music has been a firm force in shaping Proactive.
Proactive now consists of 3 business partners; Paul, Joanna and The *Ting*. Apart from the ‘big three’ you will find Alex Parsons, Jacob Moss and Danny Gilligan – who are all part of both the label and the events as resident DJs and producers.
Daf is another member of the Proactive Team. He has been a massive help and support from the start, building the Proactive Records website (www.proactive-records.co.uk) and working as official Proactive photographer. Pete Wardman and Steelo have also just joined the merry Proactive Posse as resident DJs for Party Proactive.
Artists Proactive Records have already featured include; Alex Calver, Ingo, The Mexican, James Xavier and SBL.
Forthcoming artists include: DMF, Tommy Four Seven, Pete Wardman, Ali Wilson, Matt Thomas and Donna Birt to name just a few.
Clubland is an amazing place – I love everything about it- the people, the music, the many many different events. Each different promotion brings their own slant on things – it’s wicked to watch and see how things grow and change and its mega exciting to be part of it! (Paul Jack)
Pete Wardman
The label was the first-born Proactive strand. The events were initially started as a way to showcase the music being produced through the label and to promote the ethos and name of Proactive. The first Party Proactive events were held every Saturday night at the legendary Purple Turtle in Camden hosted by The *Ting*. The atmosphere created by everyone at the events proved to be something special and so the events became a strand and force of their own.
The first Party Proactive beyond the Purple Turtle heyday was held at the Deep Blue Rooms on Friday 27th August 2004, “Though this was only due to an unscheduled venue change due to flooding at our venue of choice – Happy Jacks in London Bridge” (Paul Jack). The event was somewhat of a thank you to all those who had come to support Proactive at the Purple Turtle – entrance was free and all the DJs on the night played for free. The atmosphere was once again something unreal – We decorated the whole venue with real Palm trees that were hired especially just for the night. It was the success of this event that made us fully decide on hosting regular events. (Joanna)
* Ting *
Friday 11th March 2005 saw Party Proactive’s 2nd event away from the Turtle and this too was made difficult by a sudden venue change – by sudden, I mean at 10pm the night before kick off! The event was moved from the now-closed Club Supreme to Studio 33. I personally remember arriving at the firmly locked Supreme and thinking my mind was playing tricks on me! Was it the right day? Surely this is the right entrance? Then out of nowhere strode a suited and booted birthday Daf (one of the Official Photographers for Harderfaster) who cheerily informed us “not to panic guys, there has just been a small change of plan… well venue.”
I was unbelievably impressed with their resourcefulness and resilience. The decorations had all been planned and organised to fit Club Supreme and yet there they were in Studio 33. The theme had been decadence and colour and they chose to decorate the venue with fresh flowers and plants all bought from Covent Garden Flower market - You should have seen the expressions of the staff at Studio 33 when we turned up with a car full of flowers and greenery!- Paul Jack. Just fewer than 400 people attended the event; the atmosphere was electric, the music provided by all the DJs was superb and the venue itself proved to be a big hit (with excellent sound systems in both rooms).
We have always put 100% effort into the events and when our time at the Purple Turtle ended it gave us the opportunity to try something new. (Paul Jack)
Everyone involved in Proactive have become good friends. They want what we all want; to be able to make a living out of what we enjoy doing more then anything else! The difference between them and some of us, is that whilst we dream this desire, they threw caution to the wind and are now living their dreams. Whilst Proactive is a business run in a professional manner it has the feeling of ‘a bunch of mates’ working together trying to do their very best to live out their musical ambitions.
Alex Parsons & Paul Jack
Forthcoming: Currently in creation is the first Proactive CD compilation plus look forward to the announcement of Proactive Parties outside of London this summer!
The next release on Proactive Records is Proactive 005 – A: Out of Control (The *Ting* and DMF), B: Industrial Machine (The *Ting* and Tommy Four Seven) – which is coming out on the 30th May 2005!
We have decided to hold our events every 3 months for now and we will be sticking with Studio 33 for the moment as it’s a superb venue with wicked lights, crystal clear sound system and all the staff involved have been very friendly and supportive. (Paul Jack)
The next Party Proactive event is to be held on Friday 1st July at Studio 33, there will be two rooms at this event with the best in hard house, hard trance, tribal house and breaks!
Hard Beats:
Ed Real (Riot) b2b The *Ting* (Proactive)
Pete Wardman (Proactive/Trade)
Danny Gilligan (Proactive/Twist)
Matt Smallwood (Vicious Circle)
K.A.R.L and Conrad (One)
Tribal House and Twisted Breaks:
Steelo (Breaks FM) b2b Alex Parsons (Proactive)
Queen Maxine (Trade/Kitty Lips)
Jacob Moss (Proactive)
Guy Hornsby (Wildchild)
Dan Warb
I’d like to thank Proactive for letting me come on board and take a wee look around the ship! As I see that all seems to be in order I shall leave you to set sail once more and wish you a very merry voyage and best of luck for the future.
Pirate Jess The Cat X
All pictures by Daf and Jess the Cat.
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Other Features By Less is Bat:
Celebrating the launch of Party Proactive at its new Turnmills home — an interview with D.A.V.E. the Drummer
The HeatUK and HarderFaster Xmas Payback Party — reviewed!
The freaks come out! Riot Spooktacular reviewed
Party Proactive is coming: interview with Soto of Botchit and Scarper
Squelcher VS Guilt — The Beach Party review
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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) any feedback very very welcome. x
BOWAIIII!!! Those who love music get Proactive!
I get mentioned in a feature!!!
