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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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The DJ Mag Top 100 Awards @ Fabric reviewed
Reported by ~deleted25634
/
Submitted 08-11-06 21:48
It was evident the moment I walked into Fabric that something big was about to happen. I had arrived, unfortunately, fashionably late since I’m still too new in London to get around on my lonesome; I’d gotten my boyfriend to drop me off in front of the club with my gear, kiddie style. After a few security checks, I was admitted into what is still, almost a decade after its inception, one of the biggest and most influential clubs in the city. No other venue really could host an event of such magnitude, a tribute to the top 100 DJs in the world as determined by public vote, hosted by DJ Magazine.
From a fandom standpoint, I was as excited as all the people in the crowd, hands raised even from across the room as if they could reach out and touch the man in the DJ box. The club was absolutely jam packed from rafters to baseboards with diehard club kids, grooving to their favourites and picking up on new beats. I took a deep breath, armed myself with my digital camera, pen, and mini notebook, and dived right in. The buzz as I entered was that drivers had been dispatched to pick up Paul Van Dyk, and you could feel the tension in the air. These kids had been dancing, socializing, and milling about since 9pm, waiting for the big guns to show. I asked everyone I interviewed the same initial question: “Who did you come to see?” and without hesitation, they all gave me the same two answers:
“Armin Van Buuren!”
“Paul Van Dyk. Do you know if he’s here yet?”
Even the people in the VIP area, most of them given badges because they were working some part of the show, or had contributed to the event in some way, were waiting. Many of these people admitted that they weren’t fans of house or trance at all. They had garnered passes on behalf of this retailer or that company, and had decided not to let them go to waste. They knew there was some reason why these clubbers were so excited, and were going to hang around until they found out. And then the screaming began.
Armin Van Buuren has been spinning the wheels since 1995, when he broke onto the scene direct from his hometown in Holland. He has since shot straight to the top of club billing, and is a favourite with the trance set, although his style couldn’t possibly be classified into just one group. Listening to a Van Buuren track, it’s evident that this is a DJ who brings many styles to the table, not afraid to take some chances and then watch them as they pay off. I had the pleasure of interviewing Armin, and he immediately came across as an open, easy going guy. Although he played a set before the public’s number one choice, Paul Van Dyk, it was in fact Armin who closed out the night with an explosive encore. He very patiently accepted the many pens and pencils thrust at him over the booth walls and signed more autographs than I think I’ve ever seen a DJ sign during his mixes. He wasn’t camera shy either, since everyone who is anyone brings a cell phone to these shows now, and spends most of the night clicking away, hoping to get that one perfect shot. I stood and watched him smile, and drink in the vibes coming from the crowd in waves. And they responded. They danced harder, they cheered louder; some of them just stood in place and swayed with eyes closed. This was why music was invented.
When I asked him about his influences, Van Buuren immediately lit up, and started telling me enthusiastically about his German hero Ben Liebrand, a pioneer in the mixing world, who he grew up listening to in the mid to late eighties. In a fairy tale twist, this is the same man who later accepted a demo tape from Armin, and on the strength of that began teaching him the ins and outs of mixing. He has been on the DJ Magazine Top 100 since 2001, where he debuted at number 27. Still, that was then, and this is now. He admitted to be really digging Snow Patrol at the moment, and seemed impressed with their climb to the tops of the charts, both in America and the UK. Armin also claims that film music, such as the I, Robot soundtrack, are getting a lot of play in his stereo at the moment, and give him inspiration for new tracks. He is currently on tour promoting his upcoming ‘Best Of’ Armin Van Buuren cd called ‘Ten Years’, with a January ’07 release date planned. This next disk will feature remixes of fan favourites, as well as unreleased gems born behind the decks in the DJ booth, so if you’re a hardcore Van Buuren fan, don’t miss out. Even if you’re not too familiar with the material, this may be the disk that turns you on, spanning his entire career of hits while also offering up fresh beats.
Ten years is a long time in the life of a DJ, and nobody knows it better than Armin. Although he claims not to prefer the U.S. over the UK, he does admit that in places like Amsterdam and London, the crowds are always enthusiastic, and much the same in places like California, New York, and Texas. Van Buuren seemed to love the cities where the crowd is diverse, gay and straight intermingled as one hive mind: love of the music. He did have a message for the readers though; “I hope to see you all out here really, really soon!”
Nabbing the second slot out of such esteemed company is no small feat, and Armin was genuinely humbled to be able to present the DJ Magazine award to the man of the evening, Paul Van Dyk. Van Dyk’s set was a gorgeous assault on the ears and senses as usual, his mixes seeming almost effortless and second nature. Once inside the booth, his mind was on his equipment, and what was flowing out of it. He seemed to go into his own world, then now and again would look up and shake a fan’s hand or pose for a cell phone photograph for some lucky club goer. There were hands flailing all around him just trying to get a finger on this man who had brought the party to Fabric, many clubs before it, and on to many clubs after to be sure. Standing and watching the crowd work itself into a frenzy in the wake of Van Dyk’s aural handiwork, it was obvious that there was no mistake: this is who the people had paid to see. It went on so long that people had to drag themselves off the dance floor, swarming to the bar with huge smiles plastered across their sweaty faces. This was a night to remember.
On a side note, I’m very sorry that I missed a set from a group called the Flash Brothers, who are indeed fast, and yes, are brothers. After following them around the venue for a bit, I finally managed to sit with Ilan, (his brothers are Shmuel and Ruven) for a quick chat. The Flash Brothers have been part of the DJ Mag top 100 for the past three years, and were voted ‘Highest Climber’ by public vote for their impressive jump from number 66 to number 23. He proudly told me they are from Israel, and happen to be the first Israeli act ever on the bill, as well as the first group to delve into psychedelic and house music in their home country. The brothers are heavily influenced by Sasha and Paul Oakenfold, and judging by the way they danced through every other DJ who took their turn in the booth over the evening, the Flash Brothers were extremely happy with their luminous present company. It was a privilege to speak with them, so obviously excited to be honoured in such a way by discerning fans. They are still just barely out of the fan stage themselves, and are a breath of fresh air in a world of Superstar DJ Keokis and MTV generation DJ Skribble. It’s easy to let your ego go when thousands idolize you and cram into venues hoping just to catch a glimpse, but this night wasn’t about that, and it showed. The Flash Brothers looked out over the VIP railing, dancing their hearts out to some of their own heroes, and no doubt hoping to repeat Van Buuren’s performance one day and come up from their number 23 spot to present him with his own DJ magazine award. I’d say that day isn’t far off. Maybe next year.
This reporter would like to thank HarderFaster.net and TooMuchButNeverEnough.com for photopasses and interviews.
Find the Flash Brothers on the web at www.flash-brothers.com; Armin Van Buuren at http://stage.arminvanbuuren.com and Paul Van Dyk’s official page at www.paulvandyk.de/
Photos also thanks to wikkidraven. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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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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