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Articles, Events, Interviews

Interview with DJ Nightstalker!

This interview was conducted by 3MiloE, in DJ Nightstalker’s trailer, at Insomniac Events’, Escape: Psycho Circus.

3MiloE:           Well, my name is Milo.

DJ Nightstalker:          Nice to meet you, Milo.

3MiloE:           I’m representing the Hard Data Magazine today.

DJ Nightstalker:                   Nice.

3MiloE:           And I just wanted to ask you some questions.

DJ Nightstalker :         Sure.

3MiloE:           So where are you from?

Nightstalker :              I grew up in Colorado, but came out to L.A. years and year ago, so it’s got to be like 20 years by now, yeah.

Milo:               20 years?

DJ Nightstalker :         Yeah, yeah.

3MiloE:           What was the music scene like?

DJ Nightstalker :         It was just starting at that time. It was sort of warehouse raves, backyard party. It was kind of emerging out of the party vibe, like backyard party, ditch party, underground, like you break into a warehouse, into legit parties, and stuff like that, too. So it was pretty cool.

3MiloE:           Awesome. So how did you come up with your D.J. name?

DJ Nightstalker :         D.J. name? I think I was probably like thinking of … It was the ’90s, German base, and general, and the hardcore was dark, and I was skinnier (laughs) at that time. So I probably looked a little more like Richard Ramirez . But it had a good vibe like L.A. style, where we were kind of creeping around at night, kind of like breaking in and playing music and renegade parties and stuff like that. Did a lot of desert renegade parties and other cool stuff.

3MiloE:           That’s awesome.

DJ Nightstalker :         Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was kind of weird, acid, mushroom kind of vibe, you know what I mean?

3MiloE:           Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I have the L.A. Underground scene, so I there’s a lot of that. Okay. What animal best personifies your music?

DJ Nightstalker :         Personifies the music? It would probably be well, some kind of mythic creature probably, like a phoenix or something. I don’t know. Like the claw, I get known for the claw, so something that kind of rises out of the ashes, and then just like bites you, kind of after you’ve been in the trance. So that or maybe some kind of snake or something, who knows?

3MiloE:           That’d be cool.

DJ Nightstalker :         Yeah, yeah.

3MiloE:           Awesome, awesome. What are you trying to convey with your music?

DJ Nightstalker :         Really, for me it’s the whole idea of taking people on a journey is a cliché and stuff, but for me it really is … it comes from a spiritual place, so this is where we build community, through music. It’s also a space where we come together, and I kind of want to push the boundaries a little bit, so people almost feel like they’re in a dream and then they break out of that dream. You know what I mean? Instead of just like kind of hitting them hard the whole time, it’s like kind of building them to that sort of breaking point. That’s what I’m doing, yeah.

3MiloE:           Can you describe the feeling you get when you’re on stage?

DJ Nightstalker :         Before you’re on, you’re always like … it’s anxious or, What’s going to happen? Do I have everything? I can’t quite see past maybe the first few tunes or something like that, but then when you’re in it, it’s like you’re just sort of lost almost, like sort of merge with the crowd. And then you get spit out the other side, and you’re like, “Oh, shit. I don’t even really kind of remember what just happened.” It’s kind of weird. I wish I could be more present, but it’s like I’m just so caught up in the music and stuff that yeah, it just kind of flies by like a blur, but it’s almost like an out-of-body experience or something.

3MiloE:           Yeah. Trippy.

DJ Nightstalker :         Yeah, yeah.

3MiloE:           Okay. What moment do you cherish most of all in your career so far?

DJ Nightstalker :         So far? There’s been a lot. I have really sort of pivotal moments more recently, doing a lot of EDCs and the big festivals and stuff, but I would say it being way back to when I was still spinning vinyl, when there was still a vinyl scene, and I got asked to support Goldie in Japan. So I went to Japan, and did like three dates in Japan, two dates with him. But yeah, it was just like all music, and taking me to these crazy places, see different people, different cultures, and like, “It’s 4 a.m., and these people are still here just for me,” kind of thing. It was pretty trippy. It was part of a moment that I still cherish.

3MiloE:           Awesome. What are your major influences?

DJ Nightstalker :         Influences would be … early, classic-era drum and base, like folk-tech, maybe any sort of even like left-field, Electronica, hardcore. I was really heavy into hardcore coming up. But also, I used to go to after-hours, when I didn’t even know genres and it’d be like house music and I was just like, “I don’t know what the hell this is,” but I’m just like lost in the beats all night until the sun comes up kind of thing. But I grew up, my dad had a huge record collection that I’ve inherited now. So we used to listen to Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. He’d put on albums and we’d just sit there and listen to music. I’d say that’s really where it began, just this of love of … He collected everything from funk to Kenny Rogers to soul and all that stuff. So, I’d say that’s kind of where the roots began.

3MiloE:           Where do you see yourself a year from now?

DJ Nightstalker :         A year from now? This is probably a good transition year where I’m finally taking the production seriously so hopefully that’s going to elevate the game. I’m in a really good spot in terms of coming up as a name, or coming back up, because I was an old-school DJ, and sort of faded away for a while and then coming back, kind of resurgence.

But yeah, like Ableton, I’m getting into Ableton and stuff. What people don’t realize is …I’m also like, my other life is, I’m a professor. So I teach.

3MiloE:           Oh, wow. I’m in my master’s program in psychology. Yeah.

DJ Nightstalker :         Nice. So I got a PhD and I teach at University. Sometimes my students find out what my other life is, but that’s really my career, and so I sort of feel like I’m behind in that way, I can’t devote 100% of my time towards making music, because in my free time I have I’m writing, writing articles that that sort of thing.

3MiloE:           May I ask you what you teach?

DJ Nightstalker :         So, Chicano studies and then it’s like rhetoric, and critical thinking kind of thing, and also writing.

3MiloE:           That’s great.

DJ Nightstalker :         Yeah, yeah.

3MiloE:           That’s great, man. Well, thank you for your time.

DJ Nightstalker :         Yeah, for sure. Yeah.

3MiloE:           It’s been a pleasure. We really appreciate this, so thank you.

DJ Nightstalker:          Nice, nice, nice. Yeah. Thank you. Keep doing the good work, man.

3MiloE:           Yeah, man. You too.

 

 

Articles, Events, Interviews

Interview with Pulsatorz!!!

Hello readers, this is 3MiloE! This interview took place at Escape: Psycho Circuis 2017, with producer/DJ Pulsatorz!!! The interview took place within Pulsatorz’ trailor. Those involved were; Pulsatorz, 3MiloE, CiM  (Pulsatorz close friend, and hype man), and Mike the camera man.

Pulsatorz

3MiloE:                        So where are you from and what’s the music scene like here?

Pulsatorz:                     I’m from New York City. The music scene is not what it used to be, but it still happens ever here and there.

3MiloE:                        That’s cool. How did you come up with your DJ name?

Pulsatorz:                     Long story short, Pulsators was a four man group when it first started and we were trying to come up with a name and we were just googling stuff and trying to figure something out and one of my friend’s girlfriends said something with pulse because, you know, your heart, it drives you. It’s how you live. So let’s do something with pulse and then we were working pulse, pulse, pulse, and then Pulsators ended up coming out.

3MiloE:                        That’s cool.

Pulsatorz:                     Yeah, and then … came up with a good concept. You know, a good concept with a logo, marketing. It all came together and we stuck with it.

3MiloE:                        That’s beautiful.

Pulsatorz:                     Yeah. And then, unfortunately we had to bring it down to one person because no one wants to book a four man group. But we still all work together very closely and do our thing, you know?

3MiloE:                        That’s great. That’s great.

Okay, so what animal best personifies your music and why?

Pulsatorz:                     Monkey. It’s just everywhere. Like, swinging from trees, throwing shit. You know? I don’t really have a direction anymore, I just kind of do whatever happens. You know, you’re sitting there and then you’re just working on stuff in the studio and you gotta break out of your comfort zone so you just kinda go all over the place, you know. That’s what I’m trying to … I’m trying to keep that like kind of a controlled chaos in a sense, you know?

3MiloE:                        Awesome.

What are you trying to convey with your music?

Pulsatorz:                     I just want to have good music. Just stuff that, when you play it, people dance. When you hear it, it makes sense. It stays in your head, you’re humming it. You know, people are humming it when they’re driving down the freeway and shit. Like that’s my goal, just make people happy, make them want to dance, make them want to party, make them want to have fun, you know? At the end of the day, it’s entertainment, I just want to entertain.

3MiloE:                        Awesome. Can you describe the feeling you get when you’re on stage?

Pulsatorz:                     It’s intense. It’s like you’re controlling everybody through sound. I mean, that’s what you’re doing. So you could make people go nuts, you could mellow them out. So it’s like a … what’s the word … like a conductor almost, you know? I guess that’s why, you know … music conductor. There you go. Yeah, it’s just a good feeling. You’re making people have a good time. They pay all this money for the experience and you’re part of the experience, you know? That’s definitely … at the end of the day that’s what I like.

3MiloE:                        That’s great. What moment do you cherish the most in your career as a DJ so far?

Pulsatorz:                     the first time I got on a large stage out west and when I looked up there was maybe 400 or 500 people there and then every time I put my head down in the mix and put it up, another 100 or 200 people came in until the whole tent was packed. I was at Nocturnal Wonderland 2016? Yeah, 2016. And that was definitely … that’s one thing that always stands out. I had the extended set, every time I looked up people were just pouring in, pouring in and everyone was jumping and going nuts. I’ll never forget that, that was a good set. Then the only other thing I can think of is when my track chords dropped and it was on top 40 for three months in a row consecutively. Yeah, so I definitely didn’t expect that. So that’s another one. But it’s definitely the two.

3MiloE:                        What are your major influences?

Pulsatorz:                     In music? It’s just whatever sounds cool, you know. Sometimes I’ll watch like a Netflix show or just a sample from a commercial and I’m like, “Oh that’s cool, let me work with it.” And then I’ll work with it. Sometimes it goes somewhere, sometimes it doesn’t. Or like I’ll hear something, not a car, but you know how when trucks pass by because the wheels are so big they have like this crazy hum? In the city there’s so many potholes but when the trucks hit all you hear is dub sounds so it kinda … I got really fucking stoned one day and I thought it was someone bumping dubstep. But no, it was just a truck passing by. So now, I think of that every time we’re driving and I see a truck and I hear it. But it’s just random things, like whatever’s on the radio, whatever’s, you know, in anything. If something sounds cool, I want to play with it.

3MiloE:                        That’s cool. I really dig that whole getting influences from, you know, non-musical inspirations.

Pulsatorz:                     Organic sounds. Always better. Because they’re organic so it gives you a different texture in your music, you know. Definitely always liked that. Like, if I can’t get a live instrument, I like getting sample instruments because they’re organic and then just messing with them and playing with them. You know? So those are always cool. But, you know, just any time of sound that just is cool. Like a little fill or something.

3MiloE:                        Cool. Where do you see yourself a year from now?

Pulsatorz:                     See myself a year from now, that’s a good question. Hopefully doing a lot more shows out west. Getting more music out. Just in general, just more grind. I just wanna grind it out, keep grinding and just keep moving and getting it going, you know? I don’t really care if it takes me anywhere, I’m just having fun doing it.

3MiloE:                        That’s great.

Mike:                           Okay, where do you think the American hardstyle is going?

Pulsatorz:                     It’s going where it’s going. There’s really no … there’s no direction. We’re not the same as a European crowd. We’re not European, we’re American. We like different music, we have a different culture so just naturally, because of that, we’re gonna have a different style. It’s not the typical European style, it’s not the typical whatever style. Like Italians have their own sound, Dutch have their own sound. Whoever is making this stuff has their own sound. But being an American producer, you have to have your own sound. You have to stand out. Because, what good is it for an American producer to sound like a European producer? We’re not in Europe. So, that’s my thing.

CiM:                             You market to America. You’re shows are here. So make your music for the people that are here. You gotta go where your money’s gonna come from, you know?

3MiloE:                        You having an overall blast though, today?

Pulsatorz:                     Yeah, definitely, I mean there’s a lot more of the night to go but it’s gonna get fun, it’s gonna get crazy, that’s for sure.

Mike:                           What does the next year look like for Pulsatorz? Any new music coming out?

Pulsatorz:                     I have a couple I’m working on. Just finishing up the labels, waiting for them to seem right because I’m not trying to always put out on the same label, you know? I want to reach a different demographic, you know? I wanna stick to something in the hardstyle realm. I don’t wanna specifically just do hardstyle because it’s been proven time and time again, if you just do hardstyle and hardstyle only, an American crowd … I’m talking about majority, I’m not talking about the … the core fans, they get tired of it. So you gotta throw shit at ’em to mix it up. You gotta do a little bit of this, a little bit of that, whatever’s popular. You just put a little bit in there, spin it into your own, spin it into a hardstyle-type thing. So that’s my whole thought on the whole American thing. That’s when I don’t like when people are like, “Oh, this doesn’t sound like this specific artist.” We’re not those artists, we’re in a completely different element, we’re completely different. Whole other side of the world.

Bart:                             I love the page, by the way. I love the page, I’m always on it. (reffering to TheHardData)

Pulsatorz with 3MiloE

3MiloE:                        Really? You read? Have you read my 3MiloE articles?

CiM:                             I haven’t … pretty far back. We’ve been busy preparing for the shows. Anything hardstyle-related, we always are … trying to keep on top of things, you know? Especially on Facebook or Twitter and stuff like that. So, a lot of his viewpoints are the same viewpoints I have. Same things. You know, a the New York City hardstyle guy too. We’ve been working together since 2008.

3MiloE:                        That’s amazing, that’s awesome.

CiM:                             Yeah, so when he (referring to Pulsatorz) comes down … so, I always tell him, you’re playing out there, I said I’m coming.

3MiloE:                        That’s great man.

CiM:                             It’s a support system. If there’s no support system … which he didn’t mention … if there’s no support system, there is no system. Everyone else has a support system. When you’re here you can’t have your back turned to someone else. If someone asks you for help, you help them out, lend a hand. It may make you go further or it may not go nowhere but you’re still helping out. A little philosophy.

3MiloE:                        Yeah, that’s great.

CiM:                             Well, like I said, he is the face of Pulsatorz. I mean, like I said, I’m part of the team, because we are a team.

Pulsatorz:                     Yeah, all of us are in the same studio.

CiM:                             We’re a team. Like I said, since day one, me and him have been working together.

3MiloE:                        That’s great.

Mike:                           How does New York hardstyle differ from LA hardstyle?

CiM:                             We’re lucky to get a show like this with just 200 people, in a basement. You got this over here, that Basscon stage is probably gonna hold at least 3000 people easy, easy. And with these shows out here it’s almost like when people refer to Defqon and say, “Oh the Europeans are so jealous.” Guys we got non-stop shows in Cali. It’s closer to Cali. Europe is … and not to say … it’s about seven or eight hours depending on where you’re going. But go to Cali, support the American guys, they had Wasteland a couple months ago. It was a great turn out. But that’s a step in the right direction. A lot of local people, a lot of people from different parts of the country all come together and all work together. That’s where it goes.

Pulsatorz:                     Nothing really. Like as far as American artists mingling, nothing really–really significant happened from that. Some kid just sent me a track, I played it today. “Hybrid Theory” or something like that. We’re working on it right now.

CiM:                             I’m telling you, a lot of people don’t do things like he does. Like he said, monkey throwing shit, you know? And that’s why things work. Everybody literally has their own way of working. And the way he works, he enjoys. He ain’t going to do something if he doesn’t like doing it.

Pulsatorz:                     Yeah that’s true.

CiM:                             Because people might get mad at you.

3MiloE:                        So I guess, you’re doing what you love, man?

Pulsatorz:                     I’m having fun. I definitely, definitely enjoy it. It’s more than a hobby but it’s not a job, you know what I’m saying?

3MiloE:                        Yeah.

Pulsatorz:                     So I enjoy … I really do enjoy doing it but I’m not sitting here banking on this thing to be my fucking breadwinner. But I’m having fun doing it. I’m gonna keep doing what I do. If something happens, something happens. If not, well, whatever, you know? I just want to have fun, dude. That’s what it is at the end of the day.

 

 

Articles, Deadly Buda, Reviews

The Mover: I Told You So.

There are four favorite words of every DJ: I told you so. As in, “I told you so! I had that record last year and I told you to get it, but you wouldn’t listen to me, and nooooowwwwww… now you tell me how great it is like I never heard it before. Dude, I gave you that tape and I bet it’s still in your glove box!” So, it is with great self-congratulatory satisfaction that I can be one of the first people to tell you about the new Mover album, “Undetected Act From the Gloom Chamber.” Any old-school fan of The Mover and Planet Core Productions will have to admit his latest album is the most Mover-ish of any Mover release in his almost 30 years of techno-producing history.

That’s what makes this even better, because I can tell you “I told you so!” going back multiple decades. For you techno-hipsters that think you know some kinda stuff about morose knob-twiddling, guess what? I’ve been playing Mover records since freaking Nineteen Ninety-Two! Count ‘em jack. That’s 26 years ago… punks. Get your lame-o laptop digital filter facsimiles outta my freaking face.

Ok, so now that I got that out of my system, let me tell you what I like about The Mover’s new album. Right off the bat, Dark Comedown will stick in your head for the rest of your life. There is a little Mover trick in this one that he rarely pulls out but it is very effective when he does: It’s like a reverse engine-cycling sound that doesn’t seem to quite quantize 100% (though it probably does) running in the background of the track. It creates a riveting tension that is going to stick to dancefloors for years to come. Maybe until… the end? No wait, that already happened in 2017. The track’s got a cool video too that draws from some of the classic Planet Core Productions mythology.

“Stars Collapse” will sound pretty fresh to young bucks, but I know it’s an ode to an early period that pre-dates techno, kind of. Somewhere around 1987 there were all these techno-sounding records that weren’t really called techno yet. It was sort of an odd period for music though a great one.  “Stealth” comes next. This is another track with a dope backwards synth-wave seemingly driving the track forward. It also showcases some of the things we like best about Mover techno: snappy snares and hi-hats that outclass anything that was ever on Chicago’s Traxx Record label. I could listen to this sound all day, and I have. “Shadow Deception” is another track that hearkens back to a time many forget but is still incredibly relevant. I will sum it up quickly and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, look it up. It’s like a cross between LFO and 808 State.

One of the great things about Mover techno is that he makes his own version of sounds that are kind of hip-hoppy, or sampley, and weaves them into an overall dramatic tapestry. So, you never leave the world The Mover’s created by a sample from the outside world. “Calculations” is a great example of this motif. “Lost” is a noticeable improvement on previous Mover attempts to maintain what can best be described as an upbeat melancholy vibe. Previous releases always had a track like Lost but didn’t quite maintain the feeling all the way through.

The Mover Logo
The Mover Logo

“Doom Computer” has a great name and has laser effect sounds. Those two things are a winner in my book. Besides Dark Comedown, Doom Computer is my favorite on the album. Last track up is “Fire Cloud” which is a perfect rendition of the “I’m in a spacesuit on the moon looking at an alien artifact right before a space octopus attacks me” feeling that we’ve come to know and love from older Mover releases.

The Mover, aka Marc Acardipane, always took techno one step further using his various pseudonyms (he has hundreds of releases under different names). Why do some of you not know him? It is because real creativity is a threat to the system. But, a good person can’t help but be creative. While the usual commercial junk clogs the arteries of society, eventually a real artist with passion and something valuable to give will surface. The Mover is a real artist and his work will not be denied. You can feel it, rather than count it. So now all of you reading, I’ve given you the head’s up, get ready to tell all your friends, “I told you so.”

You can check out The Mover’s “Undetected Act From the Gloom Chamber” here: https://themover.bandcamp.com/album/undetected-act-from-the-gloom-chamber

Bonus! Watch out for the exclusive Mover interview in the next print edition of The Hard Data!

Articles

BKJN vs. Partyraiser Review (20 January 2018)

By Amy Farina

BKJN vs. Partyraiser was my first rave of 2018 and now the bar is set so high for the remainder of the year and it’s not even festival season yet! But let’s start at the beginning, for those of you who don’t know, BKJN stands for Beter Kom Je Niet which is Dutch for “better you don’t come” (lol). BKJN, as one of the leaders in the scene, organizes some of the biggest highest production hardcore/uptempo raves in the Netherlands. Their parties are always massive with stacked diverse lineups and this one was no exception.

I arrived at the venue with my fellow American friend and contributor to this article, Isaiah around eleven, just enough time to explore before the opening show. This was my first time at the Silverdome in Zoetermeer and the place is massive. Thankfully for the first time ever I didn’t have to take three forms of transportation to get there, so ten points for that.

 

We started off the night with some good ole’ Nosferatu at the main stage. Looking out into the crowd it was barely midnight but the place was packed, sold out, wall to wall of sweaty gabbers. Next up was split time between the opening show (which was the perfect start to Partyraiser’s seven hours of madness) and Repix. Despite the fact the opening show was happening at the mainstage, Repix had the room extremely full and bumping, a well-deserved birthday present (Happy Birthday Repix!). Then we hopped over to see Para Italia, I was repping his “Allemaal de Moeder” shirt that he graciously gave me at Hardcore at Sea (yes I know what it means and I’ve seen the video!).

Following Para Italia it was time to take a dance break and conduct some interviews back stage and well let’s just say things got out of hand but what do you expect when it’s 2:00am during an epic party and you have the Sickest Squad, Andy the Core, Angernoizer, Rooler, me (MC Unicorn), and DJ Levenkhan (Isaiah) in a small space.

——

 

Here are some of the conversations we had:

 

Amy: With the Dutch hardcore market being so saturated, with multiple parties to choose from every weekend, what sets this party (and BKJN parties in general) apart from all the other parties that occur every weekend?

 

Para Italia: I think this is the hardest indoor party and very good for BKJN and of course the main man Paryraiser. I am very proud that I am a part of this extraordinary party and a proud member of BKJN. I had a very good time and I think it showed people how hard Frenchcore can be.

 

Aggressive: This party is awesome, I opened the main stage and within fifteen minutes it was crowded with people going crazy. Great atmosphere. I am honored to be a part of the BKJN family and Partyraiser crew.

 

Andy The Core: This party is absolutely awesome and every year it gets better and better and it’s something different because you have this main stage like this that’s usually a main stage for mainstream but it’s now full of underground artists and I love it.

 

Amy: If you were stuck on a desert island and could only bring one record/album with you, what would you bring?

 

Da Mouth of Madness: Can I not bring a USB stick? (Amy: No…) Well I definitely would do like the Hardcore 100 CD from ID&T back in the early 90’s the gold one with the two snakes on it because it has 100 of the best tracks ever but also would bring some Bob Marley too.

 

Amy: If you could collaborate with one artist dead or alive who would it be?

 

Da Mouth of Madness: I definitely need to say Three Steps Ahead because he was gone, he passed away before we could do this S#*T, but I definitely wanted to do something with him, because of the friendship we had back in the days. We were both breaking through in 1996 with the whole Thunderdome thing, we did a lot of tours together but actually we never came so far, and afterwards of course we all know the story, he passed away. It would definitely be great to have the opportunity to collaborate with him.

 

Repix: I have one big dream and that’s Angerfist, he’s been there since the beginning and all of his productions sound amazing. It’s really a good reference point for me to listen to and that’s one of my biggest dreams.

 

Isaiah: What advice do you have for up and coming producers/DJs?

 

Rob GEE: Definitely get your ass in the studio and perfect your craft and don’t listen to haters. And also don’t get an ego at the same time, keep yourself grounded, and reach for the stars you know.

 

Sickest Squad: Struggle a lot first and study. The way we came up in the scene was by being told repeatedly our stuff was not good, and it helped us out. If we were told it was good we would simply stop. Getting told it was bad made us invest our time fully in the studio to perfect the craft.

 

Repix: So f***ing much to do. Hours in it hours in it. Keep on learning, keep on learning. Everything you learn keep it close to you. If you don’t know something, figure it out. Compare to the greatest; compare it to Angerfist or Nosferatu. Listen to what they do with the sounds and if you get it it’s just a matter of time. Just practice and go for it. …Collabs with the big guys helped a lot. If you have trouble with something they explain it to you. … It’s like the beginning of an adventure just try to figure it all out.

 

Isaiah: What’s up next for you?

 

Rob GEE: Rob GEE You Got What I Need: 25 Years of Harder Styles. We are doing multiple cities around the world. This week we just booked Moscow, Sydney, Milan, and BKJN will be doing the one in Holland, I’m looking for a good New York promoter so I can play in my own home little area. LA already reached out to me so it would be sad if New York didn’t. What I would like to do is represent a little of everything I do. Meaning, I would like to tag team with an early guy then go into hardstyle then rawstyle then of course into some mainstream, uptempo, frenchcore, maybe a little bit of terror … So basically, I would like to have a little bit of the old, a little bit of the new. Just give a big hardcore enchilada of all the harder styles. A hardcore cornucopia.

 

Isaiah: What do you think of the current state of hardcore, uptempo, mainstream?

 

Rob GEE: To me it’s all hardcore … I work with this one, I work with that one, it’s not because I’m trying to whore myself out; it’s because I have an open mind. If I’m going to do something at 150 with Adaro and with Partyraiser at 200; for me its just music. I’ve done some metal and melded it with some hardcore with members of Slipknot and System Of A Down. Again for me it’s just music. I’m not about building walls; I’m about breaking them down. There are no boundaries in music.

 

Crypton: (On Frenchcore) At this state I think Frenchcore is evolving in a way and becoming more diverse. One is focused more on the harder side and the other is the more melodic/euphoric side of Frenchcore but with both different fanbases it will make the scene much bigger than what it is already.

 

Amy: Where do you see the American scene going?

 

Sickest Squad: America has the potential to be a huge scene for hardcore. I think it’s just a matter of time, I see that slowly some European DJs are getting their chance to play there. We played in Brooklyn and it was “BANGING.” Even if the scene isn’t massive yet, I think next year hardcore will grow. The important thing is to not just bring the commercial stuff, listen to the music and don’t follow the trendy sound, it’s not about DJ Mag, create your own personal taste about the music and not be heavily influenced by mainstream S#*T. This is the most dedicated crowd. People who listen to minimal techno or house they only listen to the music. People who listen to hardcore they live and breathe hardcore, wake up listening to hardcore, they dress hardcore, they are very dedicated and devoted. And that’s truly a beauty and the best thing in the scene.

 

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Now back to the music, after wrapping up the interviews we ran over to see Sjammienators vs Cryogenic who played a brutal set. This was one of the highlights of the night for me, the beats were so fast and bass so loud people literally could not keep up so the only logical thing to do was to have everyone stand on top of the barricade (sorry Bassnectar fans we do it better and sorry to the barricade). Then, Sefa as always brought a ruthless Frenchcore set way beyond his years.

As the night came to a close, we next went to Partyraiser vs. System Overload vs. Rob GEE, there were so many amazing moments in this set, where to begin. First, getting to see one of my close friends and fellow Americans play never gets old. Second, Rob GEE dropped his new track “IAMME” which was so amazing, the lyrics are incredibly inspiring, and are a good reminder that no matter what life throws our way we always get back up. Rob has an incredible story one of bravery, recovery, and perseverance and his ability to put that energy into his music to inspire his fans is something so beautiful. And third, System Overload dropped Tim Shopp’s track ON THE MAIN STAGE! Nothing makes me happier than watching my friend’s dreams coming true and being right there front and center for all of it.

 

Squished like a sardine on the barricade raising my fists in the air next to my closest ten thousand friends was one of those coming home moments for me, those moments where you realize why this is so important to you, so special, so sacred. It’s the ability to be able to completely let loose, to find the truest form of yourself that ordinarily is not socially acceptable according to society’s standards and to do it next to your friends (or strangers who are not yet friends).

Everyday life is tough, so much stress, so many responsibilities we all need to find a way to escape, a way to set everything aside for even just a moment. For some people that’s through exercise, others through video games, but for us it’s raving, it’s this music that keeps us going. BKJN parties are always the perfect cocktail of great music, amazing vibes, incredible production, and an insane sound system (need to get new ear plugs remind me later). I highly recommend to my American friends when you’re thinking of coming over for the usual big Q Dance parties this year add a few BKJN ones on your list, you will not regret it. Thank you again to BKJN, Partyraiser, Rob GEE, and everyone who contributed to this article. Until next time!

 

 

Interviews

E-Force Enters 2018 With A Bang

When you hear the words “Raw Hardstyle”, E-Force is a name that certainly comes to mind. This legendary Dutch Hardstyle producer has taken his career past many milestones, including a solo album, bookings on some of the biggest festivals in Europe, and en extensive personalized merchandise line. E-Force is one of the true pioneers of Raw Hardstyle, even landing the prestigious award of having the top Hardstyle track in the Q-dance Hardstyle Top 100 in 2014. We spoke with him about his plans for 2018 and beyond!

 THD: Thanks for speaking to us! Many of our readers are already familiar with E-Force.

E-Force: Hey guys, thanks for taking time to do this interview with me!

THD: Can you tell us how you have evolved over the years, and what the difference is between the old E-Force, and the new?

E-Force: That’s a good first question, haha! I think there has been a big growth in music quality the last years. I’m always trying to keep the “E-Force roots” in my music, but always trying to evolve that. I also moved my studio to the Scantraxx office, into Wildstylez’ old studio. It has amazing acoustics. Before that, I just had a studio in one of the rooms in my house – my productions definitely improved in the new one . My management and the people working at Scantraxx are of course also there, so the whole vibe in the studio and the office is good inspiration for me.

THD: What do you think is needed for Hard Music to take off in America? How would you like to contribute?

E-Force: I expected that it would be bigger now than it actually is. In 2012 everyone expected that I think. Unfortunately it didn’t work out the way everyone hoped for, but I hope I can contribute in it. I think it’s important that all artists apply for a VISA, although it’s really difficult to get one. I hope all artists who have the option to go there also go for it, so we can build the scene bigger together!

THD: Where do you think it will go from here?
 You touched on some different elements of Hard Music, such as Schranz and Hardcore in the new style you have created. Can you tell us more about this?


E-Force: Like I said, I’m always trying to evolve my sound with my roots sounds combines. Especially on my album I had the chance to do everything I like, a bit more euphoric, but also things like Schranz and Hardcore indeed. When you’re just doing single releases it’s a bit difficult to do this, but on an album you can go for “the edge”.

THD: Can you tell us a bit about your new line of merchandise? How does it stand out?

E-Force: My merchandise was a part of the album campaign, and it turned out amazing. It’s really nice to have a new branding style, and to translate that in an album artwork, but also in merchandise. As you all know we’ve launched the new icon logo about one year ago, and this icon was the main focus on the merchandise. All merchandise was sold out very fast, and on events I see people walking around with a lot and that’s really cool to see!

THD: Could you please tell us about the 2017 edit of “Seven”?

E-Force: This is just an edit I made for fun. I still love to play Seven every time, because the response on the track always stays very good. I made this edit to play at Rebirth festival for the first time, where I was doing a special live set. The response on the edit was crazy. I prefer to play this new 2017 edit now instead of the original mix.

THD: We heard you had quite the private party at Cloud 9 Studios. Could you tell us about this event, and what Cloud 9 Studios is?

E-Force: You heard that correctly ☺ Cloud 9 Music is my music publisher, and they have a very cool studio inside their office. You really don’t expect that when you see the office from outside haha. It’s a very small club for like 150 people, and Cloud 9 offered me the opportunity to use this club for a small, invite only, party. It was such a cool night, because all my dedicated fans were there and it’s nice to be in a small area, so you also have the chance to speak with the fans one on one.

THD: What is the plan for 2018? Any big stuff inbound? Thanks for talking to us – we really appreciate it!

E-Force: Expect a lot of new stuff coming your way! Working my ass off in the studio now, and really trying to my music to a new level again, and experimenting / searching for new cool elements. Thanks for your time, and see you in 2018 during my first USA gigs!

Check out Hardstyle.com’s E-Force Store here!