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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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Talking to Frank - Mr Farrell gets the HF treatment ahead of Requiem @ the 414
Reported by K8-e
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Submitted 11-03-08 15:38
Frank Farrell will be known to many as one half of the mighty Munkjack but he’s also a prolific producer in his own right, creating some of the monsters that have been destroying hard house dancefloors for the last few years. I started to list my personal favourites of his tunes, but then decided it probably wouldn’t fit in an intro; with releases on Flashpoint, Vicious Circle, Nil By Mouth, Nosebleed, Pure Nrg and his own Igloo Wax to name a few, Frank’s been busy boy since he burst onto the scene in 2005!
As well as production Frank has wowed clubbers at various high profile gigs from Insekt to Storm and he’s even had one of his tunes played on Radio 1 (Disabled Disco by Judge Jules). Tripoli & Flashpoint’s new night “Requiem” at the 414 brings Frank back to the capital with a bang on 29th March, so it was time for me to get questioning!
When I interview people I always like to start at the beginning. I’ve read you started DJing at 13 but where did your passion for music begin and how did you actually get into mixing and what prompted the move to production?
I think it dates back to when I was 12. I was around a friend's house and his older brother played hardcore tapes non stop. I just found the kick and bass addictive. Wasn't really interested in the cheesy tripe that came with it (that came later haha), but borrowed some tapes off him and raped my parents ears from there on in.
You started off in Fruity Loops – are you still a fan, what is your studio kitted out with these days and what’s your favourite VST/plugin at the moment?
I wouldn't have a clue where to begin if I looked at it now to be honest. I know there's that long running argument that sequencers are all the same blah blah, but they definitely have a different sound and Fruity to me is really rather dull in my eyes, so no longer a fan!
As for my current little setup, I'm using SX3 and Ableton 7. I recently invested in a Powercore aswell which has been a top notch move. It's nice to have classy effects, along with the Virus plugin, haha.
You’ve worked with a wide variety of artists from Dave Owens (in your Munkjack guise), through to the Captain (Tinrib), Riggsy, Dom Sweeten, Karim and more. What’s in the plan for 2008 collaboration wise and what’s been your favourite collab and why?
I've been working with Justin quite a bit recently, just sorting a couple of cheeky numbers to play in his last few sets, along with an original track called Mr Lunaflange which is heading for an Igloo release sometime soon. Superfast Oz has also been up a couple of times and we're both really happy with the final products, so there'll be a few more of those coming this year. Aside from that, there's a track with Karl Davis called Beatcore which I'm really quite chuffed with.
As for favourite collaboration, tune wise, I think Get Lost (with Captain Tinrib), that's one I'll probably pick out the box to show my grandchildren. They've all been a good laugh to make though, which is always a big helping hand.
In Hot Tamale you sampled Karim’s – Promise (with Dave Owens) and put out a really successful tune, then a well know Northern DJ went on to add some vocals over the top which really divided opinion on message boards - although I’ve seen both rip up a dancefloor and the mighty Justin Bourne gave his support to the mashup. What’s your favourite bootleg / mash-up and did you find it odd for that to happen to one of your tunes so early in your production career?
It's so hard to pick a favourite when I love Karim's tunes, haha. Nah, umm, there's so many! Pocock's just bootied Puma, which sounded really good when I heard it. There's loads, so it's just as hard as stating a favourite tune.
I guess it's not something I expected to happen, don't know why. There are three different bootlegs of Hot Tamale that I know of, one of 600 Minutes and just recently think I spotted one of Motion Picture, but I've not heard it. It's a weird feeling, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
It would appear the hoover is back – what do you think?
Not in my house, since I was a boy, we were ordered to pluck dirt from the floor with tweezers.
Funky, chunky and groovy hard house has seen a massive resurgence in the last few years, can we expect anything from you in this vein or are you keeping it harder?
Not as such. The ones I've done with Oz have been a steady 145bpm, which is about as slow as it gets! I think that people have become obsessed with these funky, chunky, groovy shenanigans. I don't want this to come across as I don't like it or appreciate it because I do, but it there doesn't appear to be much of a middle man. I think there needs to be more focus on making more main room big tunes. It's definitely going that way, so onwards and upwards!
Are you producing in any other genres, if so what styles and where can we hear any samples?
Yeah, I've been working on quite a lot of house stuff with my mate Nev Scott, all is going well on that front. We've just done a remix of Peyton – A Higher Place for Nik's Toolbox House label (out now!). In addition, we're in the process of starting our own digital label too, named Cueca Cuts, which will be launched anytime now. I'll put some samples on my MySpace page, www.myspace.com/metronomestudios
Last year you started a new vinyl label called Igloo Wax. Where did the name for the label come from – is it THAT cold in Oxford? And what’s your ethos for the label and plans for 2008?
Richard Toomz suggested the name Igloo, so I have him to thank for that and Wax is just the format I suppose! I just want to use the label as an outlet for my material, saves messing about and risking the leak of tracks. I kept some stuff back as I wanted some unheard tunes for the live PA on new year. The bits I have lined up shall be announced shortly!
As you mentioned on New Years Eve you did your first live show. What equipment are you using and have you got any more live shows in the pipeline?
I'm just using Ableton 7, a Novation Remote SL25 and an Evolution UC33 as a mixer. Quite a compact setup really. There's a couple lined up, the next being at E:volve on 29th March.
Do you see a time when you would purely play live sets over DJing or do you think they both have their place for you?
I think that I prefer the live sets, as there's so much you can do and it's more fun, however, it is incredibly more stressful. DJing is good, a bucket load easier anyway, that's for sure! So I think both are here to stay.
Your promo mix for Insekt was much talked about – do you have any new mixes in the pipeline, I heard a rumour you may be doing a new one for Requiem? I know it would make a lot of people very happy if so!!
Yippette, I just want to finish a new track as I've got an idea floating in my head then that'll be the final piece of the puzzle and I'll get mixing!
Which producers are making you take notice at the moment?
I've been impressed with Kauz, he's really dedicated to the errr... cause. He's got good ideas and his tracks are getting better and better, so we'll hopefully see more of him in 2008.
You are playing at Flashpoint and Tripoli Traxx present Requiem at the 414 on 29th March, what are your top 3 Flashpoint and Tripoli Traxx tunes?
OD404 remix of Mean Little Bastard, Justin Bourne's mix of Great Responsibility and Marc Johnsons Something Ugly if that counts yet?!
I think I will allow it! Have you ever played at the 414 before and what do you have in store for the Brixton massive?
Never even been to the place, so not quite sure what to expect. I've just got some new bits that I've mentioned above and possibly the odd unexpected disco hit.
Away from production and DJing what do like to do with your spare time?
Most of it is music as I work full time, but other than that, either sat in with my moccasins, or chavving it up redlining my car haha!
Thanks Frank! See you on the 29th for some hard house action.
Photos copyright Marc Johnson/Insekt not to be reproduced without permission.
Tripoli Trax & Flashpoint pres. Requiem
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On:
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Saturday 29th March 2008
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At:
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CLUB 414 [map]
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From:
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22:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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£5 before 11, £10 after.
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More:
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Two of the biggest Hard House record labels of all time combine to provide the UK’s clubbing faithful with a Requiem of aggressive beats and pumping basslines. In one corner we have the genre-defining and recently reborn Tripoli Trax, and in the other we have the undisputed champion of heavyweight UK Hard House beats, FlashPoint Records.
The club chosen to host this titanic battle is the long-serving and legendary Club 414 in Brixton, London. Having been recently revamped, the venue provides a small but intense party location, perfect for the atmosphere of past, present and future Hard House anthems and high quality Hard Beats. With fantastic décor and lighting, crystal clear sound system and the renowned 414 vibe, we feel there is no better place in London for us.
The launch night will see the Requiem sound fully represented by FlashPoint Records and Tripoli Trax label boss Marc Johnson, his partner at Tripoli Trax Chris Comben, and newly appointed FlashPoint Digital manager Dave Curtis. The upfront tunage in the record boxes of these three combined is second to none, and will guarantee a night of fresh and fierce music that’ll knock your socks off!
Added to that, we have two of the most respected new producers in the scene making rare trips to the capital. Firstly we have Leeds’ rising star Adam M - label manager of Oktane Records - who has been turning heads with tracks like ‘Sweat Box’ forthcoming on FlashPoint, amongst others. Secondly Igloo Wax boss Frank Farrell, who is no stranger to FlashPoint himself having released the anthems ‘Etherwave’, ‘Dokalis’, and ‘Madison Groove’, will be making the trip down from Metronome Studios with a box full of upfront goodies!
We have the music, the djs, the venue, and the vibe. All we need is you!
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Other Features By K8-e:
The One and Only Eddie Halliwell
PunchFunk & Geushky Presents "Let's Make Rave" with Ian Void & Chris Vaux
Cream @ Amnesia - Ibiza 2010 - Reviewed
Pure Gold: Interview with Will Gold
Turning the Corner - Interview with IAMX
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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