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Lenny Dee – Hard Electronic Interview Series

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Techno and Hardcore pioneer Lenny Dee started Industrial Strength Records in 1991 and put New York and American Hardcore on the map, Now on the heels of the labels 25th anniversary, ISR is touring the world with a crew of hardcore artists from all over. The tour hits the US this week with stops at Union in LA Friday, November 18 and The Paper Box in Brooklyn Saturday, November 19. We got a chance to talk to a few of the artists on the lineup, including label founder Lenny Dee about the event and the history of Industrial Strength.

THD: What inspired you to start Industrial Strength records?

I was already producing a lot of music and it became a natural progression. I wanted to inspire more artists to create Hard Electronic Music and I felt this music needed a place to grow and be heard. On my travels DJing, I also went on the hunt to seek out the most hardest electronic music I could muster up. Looking back – I did.

THD: What initially attracted you to hardcore and the harder styles of dance music? What is your favorite part of hardcore music and/or the hardcore scene?

It came from within me really. There was no hard electronic music before (maybe some gothic Ebm tracks, – if you could even find them). I made sets picking odd tracks, b-sides anything and everything and played them all back to back in my sets. I’d been doing sets all around the globe since the 80s man, so all the music i produced and mixed to this point lead me down a path as i grew as a DJ and a producer and then A&R.

What I was feeling the people were feeling. It was like magic. I grew as the feeling grew. This shit was new..

I wanted to explore electronic music to the max and have made and had hits in most major styles. Creativity lead to genres of music being realized. We made the music, and then it was called something, Techno for example….we did not go in the studio to make a ‘certain style’ — it just was. I wound up and the end of the road and stayed when I hit hardcore, but I still always look at the future.

THD: What was the hardcore and harder styles scene in America like before you started ISR? How has it changed in the last 25 years?

There was nothing here in the start of the 90’s. Frankie Bones was doing some parties at that time and we had also created club nights prior to ISR. We were pushing electronic music sounds to NYC which at that time no one cared about it.

The music was not Hard Electronic though. It become the essence of what was to come for me later on, but as I think back, it was hard for the time. Bones and I really broke down doors for NYC and this Country as a whole. No one here really realizes how much Europe actually looked to us as the leaders in electronic music. We have a earned a large place in electronic music history (they might even recognize that one day ) But here we are 25 years – still kicking ass !

THD: What is your favorite subculture or sub-genre of hardcore/hardstyle that has emerged since you started playing and producing hardcore?  

I love all styles of music in fact & listen to a vast range of things. What I play is my choice. I love to be excited by the music and play it like no other. I so like crossbreed. I think its hard edge drum n bass flavor with tight Hard electronic elements really is great new addition to Hard electronic music. It furthers the expansion of both styles while forging ahead with new music ideas pushing the growth of something new, which is a good thing no matter how you look at it.

Some styles of music are more like a description not a really a style (like ‘Techno’ is a style) and are set up with simple arrangements so an amateur can play it well. I like a challenge when I play. But I try not to diss any styles, it’s whatever people dig.

THD: What is your favorite memory from your years with ISR?

I had Laurent Garnier over to my place in Brooklyn. Laurent and I go way back, so we tried to make a track in the short time we had to work. Believe it or not we made a track on my Ruff Beats label ! It was fun and unexpected, we made a simple track, but the experience was over the top to have Laurent over in in Bensonhurst Brooklyn the home of Saturday Night Fever.  We rented a house off 86th St.  next to Lenny’s Pizza – that where Travolta ate the two slices of pizza doubled up in the start of the film.

THD: What are you most excited about for the Hard Electronic 25th anniversary shows? 

I am super chuffed to celebrate that we have been here this long !  Not many can say this in the USA, especially being we created a style of music. I think we are one of (if not the) longest running Electronic labels in the USA now.

I am excited to do this party in NYC and LA. Trauma Live have been great to deal with on the West Coast and we could not have done it without them & Rave Till Dawn. And of course our crew in Brooklyn – Distort the 909 & Kontaminated Recordings – have rocked this (w/ support from Audio Havok from the east coast too). And needless to say, I couldn’t do any of it without my partner Jules who makes it all happen, incl running the ISR and our Labels etc etc.

We’ve also made ISR25 parties in Vienna (Mechanizm), Tokyo (SuperBad Midi Breaks), Glasgow (Sector Events), Fukishima (DarkRave), showcase at ‘Radikal Styles Festival in Colombia, and have a leg in Paris with Audiogenic this Dec. These collabs are exciting and the responses have been off the chain.

‘Hard Electronic’ is a night we will do more of showcasing new & established artists, from all styles of hard electronic music. One party with all different sounds to excite the brain and body in one room. We are already talking line ups for the next one (and tour coming soon too). Get ready boys n girls – the Brooklyn Monster has woken up !

Lenny will be djing both American dates alongside heavy hitters like Unexist, Art Of Fighters, The Sickest Squad, Tymon, Rob Gee and many more. In his spare time he also has been mixing an album for up and coming artist Pop Criminal.

 ISR just released ISR 100 on vinyl as well as collaborations with Akira, Mr Madness, Jason Little, Nuke, DJ Terror and many more for the 25 Years of Industrial Strength compilation coming out this December. 

Producers keep an eye out for a new studio pack to help new and seasoned producers make original hard kick drums, featuring over 300+ bass drums and 30+ ISR artist kits.

Articles, Events, Interviews

Barnyard Boogie’s 15 Years of Fun!

As told to JAB! Recently I had the opportunity to speak with one of the coolest promotors ever, Devo of ToyMaker Music, about their upcoming 15th Anniversary of Barnyard Boogie.

Devo, congratulations on your 15th Anniversary. Why do you think Barnyard Boogie is one of the longest running shows here in the US?

Thank you. Barnyard Boogie is a traditional old skool event. We offer all varieties of Electronic Music, so there is a good feel and fun atmosphere much like at a reunion. I love that dark, illegal, underground, warehouse grunge feel of early raves and I recreate that flavor into Barnyard Boogie every year.

Devo of ToyMaker Music
Devo of ToyMaker Music

How did the idea for Barnyard Boogie come about?

Back in the day I attended Backwoods Boogie, an amazing event at a state park put on by Shawn McCarty with the blessing of Billie Most. I totally looked up to Billie and his production company, Organic Grooves, and modeled Barnyard Boogie after his events. The very first one was in a large farm garage and being on a farm, “barnyard”

just seemed the logical name to use. As a show of good faith to Billie, our first slogan was, “Back from the Backwoods.”

What changes have you made at Barnyard Boogie over the years?

The biggest change has been in the equipment. Many newer dj’s now bring their own equipment, such as controllers, with them, whereas old skoolers tend to still use turntables. Barnyard Boogie is an old skool event, so many of the djs performing on turntables. Another change is that the event has

gotten bigger and bigger. We started out with one stage and eight djs in a garage and I think about fifty people came. This year we have 8 stages with over 50,000 watts of sound on each stage, over 100 djs and a whole fairground to party on, there’s even a semi-trailer

to groove in! We’re expecting over 1000 people from all over the US, from Maine to California and all points in between. Everyone ready to dance, party and have a good time from 4pm to 8am and on.

That’s over 16 hours of Electronic Music!!!

Yep. (Smile) I feel a true rave is one where you can see the sunrise come up. In fact, one of our first Barnyard Boogies was held in an actual wooden barnhouse. As the sun rose in the morning you could see the golden rays of light slowly peak through the cracks between the wooden boards, lighting up the djs as they continued to play. It was pretty amazing.

As ToyMaker Music you’ve been promoting since 1996, what is it that motivates you to keep going?

For me it has always been my love for the music and the people. When I was younger I listened to hip hop and was really impressed by the people I saw doing tricks on the turntables. Later when I was older in high school, I’d sneak out of the house and go to parties at the local university. It was there that I saw those same turntables with djs spinning Electronic Music and I was hooked. Nowdays when someone comes up to me and says, “Hey, I was at your show and had an awesome time”, then I know I’m doing a great thing and I’m psyched to start planning for the next show. I’d like to say a big thank you to all those involved, that special someone, who inspires me to “just be me”, Bleep, my head coordinators, and the over 40 volunteers we have this year. We couldn’t do it without you!

ToyMaker Music Productions
ToyMaker Music Productions

I have often wondered why you hold Barnyard Boogie in November, seems a cold time of year to be on a farm in Illinois.

(Laughs) Since Barnyard Boogie started it has taken place on a farm, where we use neighboring fields for parking. Because of this, we have to wait until the crops are taken out in the Fall. At first, this was purely a logistical decision, now it has become a tradition. Barnyard Boogie fills the calendar gap between Halloween and Christmas raves. November is a traditional time of giving thanks and having the event out in the fields, in a sense, is our way as ravers of saying thanks to mother-nature in a very up close and personal and way. Plus I get to wear my cowboy hat. (Laughs) This year we will also be donating to cancer research along with hosting our annual food drive for the local food pantry.

As far as keeping warm, our 15th Anniversary slogan is “We’re gonna get your bodies MOOving!” To help us accomplish this we have invited djs like Hyperactive, Forest Green, Jen Mas, Miss K FunkTM and Alfonz Delamota. The stages are also all indoors, we’ve got some great vendors, amazing acts and of course the ToyMaker mascot teddy bears.

That sounds really awesome, DevoTM. Thanks for talking with us and we wish you all the best for ToyMaker Music’s 15th Anniversary of Barnyard Boogie coming up on November 12th in Amoy, IL.

Details and tickets can be found at

www.toymakermusic.org

www.facebook.com/events/782339618572621/?ti=as.

Articles, Events, Reviews

Minnesota Hard Dance says This is Halloween

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Last night, Minnesota Hard Dance lit up the Twin Cities with ripping, cutting edge electronic music stuffed into an old school format. Ostensibly, the excuse was Halloween, though  half these partyers looked liked they dressed in costume almost every weekend anyway. A wide assortment of rave flavors could be sampled last night, hardcore (by yours truly), drum and bass, Psytrance, sub-ground, techno, happy hardcore, hardstyle… I’m missing a few here, but trust me, between the two rooms you had ear candy waiting for you at anytime.

Though taking place on a Saturday, “This is Halloween” was the name of the party, just to help attendees plan their circadian rhythms accordingly. This was important because magnetic musical artists would be making marks on memories until 5:00 am. As I had a flight the next day, all logical sense of responsibility told me that I should leave shortly after I played. I made the critical, we can’t really call it an “error” because I was the better for it, but I stepped into the middle of DJ Darkmatter’s (not to be confused with L.A.’s Darkmatter Soundsystem) psy-trance set and it was off-the-hook! I cancelled my ride to the hotel and proceeded to bug out to the early morning, sleep-be-damned!

It occurred to me that for the underground to thrive, a wide mixtures of styles is not only more interesting, but necessary. It was a well-attended event, but with all the parties going on the Halloween weekend, its in everyone’s interest in the rave scene to merge the styles because in the current commercial climate only the really big more commercial parties can specialize on a consistent basis. The great thing about this party is that the crowd seemed to appreciate all the styles, too. There was rarely any drop off at either of the sound stages.

So if you were at “This is Halloween” last night, I congratulate you! I bet there was no place in the Twin Cities last night that was as supportive of good music, on shredding sound systems, and with an embrace of the creativity we need to thrive. Big ups to Minnesota Hard Dance for another great party!

Photo by Rad Timmah

Articles, Events, Reviews

Darkmatter 15 Year Anniversary

Editors Note* This article got lost in all the shuffle over the last few months! Darkmatter is having a show tonight, Oct. 8 2016. Make sure to check it out. As you will read below, its always a good time!

By Christina Ruiz

Darkmatters 15 year anniversary party was a mixup of musical styles, delivered in a way that only a Darkmatter party can. If you are not familiar with Darkmatter, we pity you. A staple in the Los Angeles underground, their parties are the kind of parties that you can take a person who has no understanding or knowledge of electronic music and know that they will have a meaningful experience saturated with extreme beats and seasoned OG’s. Despite being part of a sorely missed and dying breed of party, they have stayed true to the underground flavor and feel, remaining a long lasting beacon in a sea of EDM that has overtaken the scene. Attending a Darkmatter is something that just remains in your memory long after the ringing in the ears dissipates and the underground smell of sweat and cigarettes in your shirt gets washed off.
True to their long history of delivering solid events, their 15year anniversary edition delivered a night in true form for them with a lineup including Darkmatter alumni and some newer faces and sounds. The night started with Skrill, sadly I missed this set but arrived to catch the tail end of Standox. Composed of veterans Wet Mango and WMX, they delivered a solid set that had the early crowd bobbing their heads in unified agreement-they delivered some heavy hitting beats with an energy that was palpable. Next was Diskore, who never ceases to amaze with the precision that he delivers every single set with.  Succeeding on deck was Bambule, who brought a change of pace with an ambient noise set that permeated your ear drums and transported you to dark and beautiful place, not for the faint of heart.   Deadly Buda closed out the party with a rare set that included classics from the early 90’s giving the crowd a dose of nostalgia and the party a change of pace. I found myself bouncing around like a teenager again as he dropped cut after cut of pure rave goodness.
All in all, the night was a representation of what an amazing job Darkmatter has done and will continue to do for this-joining new and old and simply delivering a solid event were all are welcome. Attending their events over the years has provided some amazing experiences, and I found myself saying once again…..like so many times before…..well done Darkmatter…..well done.

Darkmatter October 8, 2016
Darkmatter’s latest show looks to be great too! Check it out tonight!
Articles, Events, Reviews

Acidcorefest.Moscowedition – Report by Teknoaidi

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qpkkw8clc4qLiving in Finland, on the north-east edge of the EU, I have the chance to travel to my eastern neighbour Russia easily and I have been doing so since 2010 playing gigs there in various places. Acidcorefest.Moscowedition was held between 23rd and 24th of September and it was my second gig in Moscow. Acidcorefest has its roots in Russia’s culture capital St. Petersburg and the concept was now visiting in the country’s business capital.

Contrary to what the name suggests, these fests have very little to do with the acidcore subgenre itself. The fests are more like a celebration of the diverse underground hardcore techno styles and breakcore and speedcore representing both local talents as well as interesting international artists. The mainstream hardcore scene hasn’t been completely excluded from the equation either, but what became clear to me from the very beginning was that this party was not going to limit itself in terms of speed and intensity.

Acid Blood dancefloor
Acid Blood dancefloor

The party venue was Aglomerat Club, a building that used to be a cinema in the Soviet times and had been recently refurbished into a techno club. The interior was like an abandoned warehouse, so the event definitely had the feel of a proper underground rave. I initially thought that the event would be split between 2 nights, but it was actually a 15 hour party from 9PM till 1PM! 46 artists and dj’s were on the lineup for 2 dancefloors: Acid Blood, which was the main stage, and Acid Jam, the “chillout”.

Since my first visits in the country I have noticed that Russians like their core music fast and this night was no exception as people went totally mad from the chaotic distorted breaks and bassdrums starting to run around the dancefloor. Mashup style hardcore and breakcore seemed to be especially popular, but many dj’s also played more darker tones of crossbreed, dnb as well as more minimal, but very effective oldschool sounding hardcore. So I said that the Acid Jam dancefloor was the chillout, and it kind of was when jungle and hardtek dj’s were playing, but many times I would enter there and intense as fuck breakcore and hardcore comparable to the main stage was blasted there as well.

KlitoriX playing at Acid Blood stage

Definite crowd favorites of the evening were the hardcore/breakcore artists Klitorix from Spain and M1dlet from Lithuania, whom I especially remember of his speedcore releases in the past. Local favorites were especially the Action Agenda duo and the metal, core and dnb fusing Sa†an, who has received wider international fame in recent years for his music and shows. A more bizarre local speciality and exception of the night was XS Project, a duo producing pumping house and hard bass – styles popular among squatting Slavs in tracksuits. For me personally, the most interesting set of the night was by Quinta Essentia who delivered straightforward, relentless and at times quite hypnotic hardcore beats. After her Extremest, a touring artist from Scotland, played some mashupcore madness of varying tempos. There were still survivors left when it was my turn to play my shamancore music as Teknoaidi before 8 in the morning. The shamancore shaking rituals went down very well and the crowd demanded me to play some extra.

It was a pleasure meeting many old and new people, fellow international artists from Europe and I was also surprised to meet Jüps from as far away as Seattle who was travelling and visiting parties in Europe and Russia. It was unfortunate that the party could have had more visitors.. Gotta give the organizers lots of respect for taking the risk to put this party together! In a time where the powers that be are creating apparent divisions between people, music is a great way to step out of the geopolitical games and bond us together.