Tag Archives: 3MiloE

Interviews

Interview with Nekrokick

Where are you from? What is the music scene like in that area?

I was born in Dallas, Texas. I moved to Seattle, Washington in early 2000. Between 2002 and 2010, I performed as a hardcore DJ at dozens of Seattle-area raves, and crowds lost their minds to the 2000’s era darkcore and industrial that I was known for. The Seattle electronic music scene is fairly healthy, currently consisting mostly of EDM, house/tech-house, drum and bass, dubstep, and trap. The current hardcore scene in Seattle is fantastic for the UK/upfront/HHC/freeform styles, but there is not a lot along the lines of Dutch hardcore, terror, industrial, Frenchcore, and the like.

How did you come up with your DJ name?

I spent a lot of time under another name, which was very obscure and cryptic. I decided that it was time for a change, and began brainstorming names by drawing logo concepts. I landed on Nekrokick after sketching/drawing while listening to some industrial hardcore, and I pretty much got stuck looking at it over and over. I think it fits my writing style and overall sound. Nekro: a stylized spelling of Necro meaning death; and then kick: the primary characteristic element, the kick drum, of the music I make.

What animal best personifies your music and why?

Clearly, a vampire bat!

Nekrokick

What are you trying to convey with your music?

Mainly, I just want to convey some bass face. I like to deliver deep, heavy kicks, with tough percussive elements, screaming leads, and pounding dance-centric grooves.

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

I get very anxious leading up to the first mix in a set. I have been performing hardcore music on stage since 2002, but I still get butterflies every time. When I see the crowd reacting to the tracks, its a real rush!

What moment do you cherish the most so far in your career as a DJ/artist or musician?

Signing with the Hard Electronic / Industrial Strength Records family was definitely the most exciting moment in my production career.

What was the first song or album that you remember listening too?

Ever? Well, Beastie Boys’ “License To Ill” was the first album I ever owned. My uncle gave it to me on cassette, and I literally wore that shit out! As for hardcore, believe the first tunes I ever heard were Neophyte’s “Braincracking” and DJ Skinhead’s “Extreme Terror (D.O.A. Mix)”

What are your major influences?

I have always been heavily influenced by my appreciation for several metal sub-genres, like black metal, death metal, deathcore, and such. I also appreciate a lot of the founders of hardcore music like Lenny Dee, Neophyte, Paul Elstak, DJ Promo, Manu Le Malin, Mark Newlands, and Nosferatu. Those people have had a strong influence on my musical tastes. I could name drop hardcore artists who have inspired for days, but I’d always feel like I’m leaving someone out. The jungle of the late 90s up to the current heavy drum and bass—from techstep and hardstep to the brutal skullstep/tear-out/pots-n-pans styles—have also held a special place for me. I’ve also followed a lot of the hard techno out of Europe for many years, even occasionally performing techno in Seattle, rather than my typical hardcore sets.

Where do you see yourself a year from now?

Mainly, sitting on top of several more successful releases, working with more and more artists that I admire, and continuing to push the limits in hard music.

Affiliations: Industrial Strength / Hard Electronic (USA Extreme Is Everything / Toxic Sickness (UK) Insane Agency (FR)

http://soundcloud.com/nekrokick

http://facebook.com/nekrokick

http://nekrokick.com

Interviews

Ron D Core Interview

Captured in this film is an interview with Ron D Core, a hero from the underground hardcore scene. Ron is a DJ, and is known for being a pioneer in the early years of electronic music. This interview gives insight into his personal experiences as a DJ and insight into his style of music. You’ll learn how he gained his notoriety, what some of his musical influences are, and some of his accomplishments as an artist and DJ.

 

Articles, Events, Reviews

3MiloE’s Hard Electronic Experience

I arrived on the scene fashionably early, only getting slightly lost on the way to the venue. Parking was amazing, I parked literally across the street from the venue. Upon entry I was patted down for safety. I then proceeded into the venue, quickly overlooking the outside hang out area. When I entered the venue, it was heavy with smoke from the fog machines and to my surprise there was no music playing. There was a bar at the end of a room which had a doorway adjacent to it, which lead to the main hall, which I had yet to enter. I happened to run into another early bird, one of my friends Hanssel, who has been a long time raver and part of the underground electronic community for a long time. We talked for a minute and caught up, we originally became friends, after I had done a video commentary on RonDCore’s performance at a DJ Tron tribute concert hosted by TechnoBelligerent,  Hanssel reached out to me and was able to send me links to all these old school DJ’s whom I had never heard.

Although I arrived slightly early, it was time for the event to start, and yet there was no music… Hanssel and I were commenting on it when all of a sudden the music comes on. I go passed the bar through the doorway and across the room, which was full of only a handful of people at the time, but there spinning was a lord of the underground. The one known as Deadly Buda.

Deadly Buda
Deadly Buda Tearing it up!

I might add Deadly Buda is a friend of mine and and the prime catalyst of TheHardData magazine. Needless to say, Deadly Buda is a big dog when it comes to the underground. I listened for a good minute, but soon after he started his set on the tables, that another headliner came on and took his place. I was concerned, due to Deadly Buda having such a short set, especially also just as an opening set. After he got off the tables I was able to say whats up to him. He told me that his set would come on later and that he was just spinning until the first DJ arrived, I was stoked to hear this because I did not drive two hours to see Deadly Buda play a 20 minute set. His set brought people inside the main hall, despite the earliness of the night. However by the second hour the room was about filled people.

Hardcore Show ya'll ready know
The crowd going crazy

It should be known that hardcore is a type of music that should be understood like this. There are certain levels of energy one puts out during a hardcore event. The first is the spectator. The spectator goes strictly for appreciation of the music, not dancing, not socializing much, but mainly just listening. These are the people that are usually closest to the stage. I found myself there for sometime. The second type of hardcore raver I like to call the Bobble Heads. This is a mild form of head banging, these types of hardcore party goers nod their heads to whatever time signature they please. Since hardcore has so many levels of percussion and sounds, there are many ways of “riding the beat” as one could say. So the Bobble Heads all vary in timing and motion of the way they nod their heads. However, the third class, the most intense class of them all. The type of hardcore fan that dances to the music. I simply call this, “Going Ham”. These body movements can range from stomping in quick succession, flailing arms and legs as if your almost fighting an invisible man and also appearing as if one was playing dance dance revolution at the same time. The amount of endurance and strength it takes to dance to hardcore is admirable. Ive seen people who make dancing to hardcore look amazing and creative. I took a step back to watch some of the hardcore raver’s moves. Some of the hardcore raver’s dancing was very impressive. Of course, other raver’s who tried hardcore dancing looked like they were having seizures. It was not a pretty sight, but still it was radical that they were dancing to the brutal beats and not caring what people thought.

I was going hard, dancing a lot. It got hot fast, i was pleased to find that water was cheap and cold. There was also a place outside where one could take a breather  as well. The night air was perfect for cooling off and socializing.

The talent that played this night was phenomenal, not one DJ disappointed. Shout out to Deadly Buda for slaying his full set that I had been anticipating. The most epic set of the night was when the DJ known as Lenny Dee spun with with Malke. The crowd went wild. Malke was live drumming on pads while Lenny Dee was spinning. I honestly have not seen this done by anyone before. Just as the performance peaked and everyone was losing their minds…. the power went out… the music literally died and all that could be heard was random ramblings and shouting from disgruntled people. Until one loud voice from the crowd shouted, “Is it over?!”. At that point Lenny Dee replied, “WE JUST GETTING STARTED!!!!”.

It seemed after he shouted those words that the power came back on and the party went even harder! After that, I cannot remember much because I was dancing so hard. So after his set I took a breather outside to relax and center myself. It was here where I got to see and converse with some of my friends.

I was happy to capture an epic moment. I managed to ninja snapshot a photo of Deadly Buda talking with Lenny Dee about their sets and music. To myself, it was very important and exciting to catch these two legends conversing about one of the most important aspects of my life; electronic music.

Lenny Dee and Deadly Buddha
Center frame is Lenny Dee, To the right is Deadly Buda

It was nice to be there surrounded by familiar faces at these events. Shout outs “ DJ Seppuku of Dead Culture Crew” and shout outs “TechnoBelligerent” for representing too. Shout outs to all the other people who went to Hard Electronic. See you at the next event!

-3MiloE

Articles, Events, Reviews

My Hostile Takeover Experience by 3MiloE

The thing one has to realize about riddim and dubstep is that the crowd loves to get wild and aggressive, but due to the hard, raw nature of sounds of the genres, who can blame them for being so intense? Its hard to contain one’s self when these styles are blaring through enormous speakers accompanied by trippy visuals, lasers, and masked DJs. It truly makes you want to throw your fists in the air.

I bought my ticket for Hostile Takeover months in advance, so it was definitely time for the anticipation to end and for the experience of what Hostile Takeover really was to begin. I grabbed my EDC 2016 shirt and my bandana and headed from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.  Hostile Takeover took place at the Union Nightclub, a very enjoyable venue. The bathrooms were clean, they served free water, and blasted hard, loud music that made everyone go insane and rage. As crazy as the crowd was, the venue was able to keep things under control—no easy task with this kind of music. I give the the club respect for keeping everyone safe while also letting people let loose and express themselves. Apart from an altercation between two women outside while I waited in line, everything was chill.

When I first entered the venue, I was hit with a  powerful energy… the energy of dubstep and riddim. As the night grew on, the energy got more and more intense until it peaked around 1:00 a.m.

Clowning Dubstep
This was my favorite DJ at the Loft stage, clowning the dubstep.

At one point, all of the DJs put on masks.  Some were in costumes, everyone started going twice as hard. Mosh pits were rough, but no one was punching or throwing elbows at each other. One raver fell while in the mosh pit, but myself and others picked him back up to his feet before he got trampled.

At the Riddim Stage
These guys killed it on stage.

I was drawn to lights all night. I actually found the person who was controlling the visuals for the stage, which included the lasers and background screen. For a few moments I observed him control the visuals as a DJ would a deck. He changed the visuals with the music, keeping them in sync as it played. I watched him use technique and skills that looked like it took years of training to learn. I always had thought light shows were automated,  and was surprised to discover that it actually took a person to control such amazing visuals.

Visuals Controller
This was the man behind the visuals

My favorite set of all night was Subtronics back-to-back with Svdden Death and Uber Dubstep. The skills of the DJs at Hostile Takeover rivaled some of the DJs that performed at Project Z! I went so hard I could barely stand the next day because my muscles were so sore from dancing. I entered the pit and came out a happier person after I did exaggerated body movements, fist pumps, and jumping up and down to get out my frustrations and aggression in a positive way.

Overall, I would say that Hostile Takeover was an incredible event, that will not long be forgotten. Quality riddim and dubstep, along with a good venue, is an experience that will not long be forgotten. I definitely had a great experience, and I plan on going to another Fresh event soon. I was impressed with the promoters because they know how to throw sick events. The music quality was phenomenal, the vibes were chill, and it allowed me to feel and explore the harder side of EDM. Thanks to everyone who went for making it an amazing time!

Articles, Events, Reviews

My Project Z Experience by 3MiloE

Every time I listen to electronic music, the experience seems new to me. Perhaps maybe it is because electronic music is an ever- changing, ever-expanding entity, with each genre and style having its own sound, social groups, and individual cultures. Festivals like Project Z is where all these groups of people who love different kinds of  electronic music unite together and celebrate not just the music, but the way it makes us feel.

Project Z 2017 was my first Project Z experience, and my girl’s first Insomniac event. It seems needless to say to those who attended, but we were both blown away.

Excitement and anticipation filled us with adrenaline as we got in line to enter, the music and bright lights shining over the fences making me nod my head and dance a little. Upon entering, I was hit with a wave of relief and euphoria. We had made it to Project Z! The scenery made me feel like i was in a dream. Colors of blue and green lit up the night and reflected upon a lake. A grassy field lay beside it, and there were many ravers just chilling and relaxing by the tranquil water. Security allowed people to relax and vibe out, while also making it feel very safe and calm when and where it needed to be. My girl and I came casually dressed and slightly unprepared in that sense, but we had comfortable shoes, a CamelBak, and an attitude to have fun.

Our main objective of the night was to find all stages and get a sense of where everything at the event was located, like exits and facilities, information booths, and other important locations. There was plenty of open space between the stages, bathrooms, and vendors, yet were also in close enough proximity of each other to navigate the event easily and comfortably considering the large attendance.

So many sights and interesting characters were there to be seen. Having just watched an entire of Rick and Morty a week prior to attending Project Z, it was fascinating to see how many totems and candies were dedicated to the show—it made us feel like we belonged. We happen to be glove enthusiasts, and so we had to sit down a few times to get some shows from a few different glovers. The interpretive dances of their hands illuminated by LED lights entranced us, making us feel a wide range of emotions.  We spotted a gang of roving go-go dancers dressed as bunnies that looked like they were from Alice in Wonderland moving their way through the crowd and stages—their sole purpose to trip people out. They did an excellent job of doing that. Another area which always caught my attention as I passed through had a projection of ticking clocks that were scattered and moving over everything around it.

Project Z dancers
These characters danced like creatures throughout the night, moving from stage to stage.

Once we discovered all three of the stages and key locations, we were ready to enjoy ourselves. The first stage we experienced was Bassrush. The sounds of riddim and dubstep sent waves of happiness and aggression throughout the crowd. One of the main highlights of the night was JoyRyde, who murdered the stage as if the crowd had taken Liam Nieson’s daughter. The intensity of the music matched with the crowd’s ability to scream and move their bodies to the raw rhythms were enhanced by lasers and intense visuals, all contributing to a feeling of euphoria and loss of self to the moment that gripped and captivated parts of our souls that had not been there before. It was hard to leave that feeling behind, but we HAD to check out the next stage known as…. Basscon.

Basscon turned out to be my favorite stage at Project Z. The music caused a chaotic physical manifestation of the emotions I felt conveyed in my dancing that only need be described with two words, “going hard”. The DJs almost  seemed as if they were controlling the crowd with their mixer. I felt like i was in a trance. The breaks and the drops flawlessly blended together into a musical roller coaster I could ride. Explosive bursts of energy that were followed by entrancing melodies gave pauses in perfect increments to where I could dance and get enough rest in between intense parts of the songs. I danced so hard, I felt like my heart was about to explode. We decided to stop before we both felt like we were going to collapse.

Going Hard! at the Basscon stage!
Screenshot of me dancing at the Basscon stage and a cameo of the candie my girl found.

When we started to get hot and thirsty, we found that Project Z provided a filling station where water was  distributed for FREE! The fact that Project Z provides free water separates Project Z from most other events or venues, as water is usually very expensive.,

We went on to find a place to chill and before experiencing the third and final stage known as Area Z. On the way there, my girl found her first candie ever, a geometric pattern that wraps around your arm.  Before “rescuing” it, we looked around to see if it belonged to anyone, because it looked as if it had taken hours of time to make. We pondered where it might have come from, and how many times it might have been traded from person to person. We questioned what kind of stories it has had, and how much it must have meant to someone. I hope whoever lost it reads this article, because the candie found a great home and is being loved and cherished!

The painter at Area Z
This artist painted to dubstep.

At this point, we needed to rest, and Area Z was a perfect place to do just that. If i could describe the music at Area Z. It was mellow dubstep, a style you could go either go hard to or just relax and listen to. A nearby painter captured the creative energy of the night and sounds into an image on canvas.

At the end of the night, we were handed fliers to upcoming events and underground shows in the nearby area. Although I may not go to all the events that were promoted, it is cool to think that at the end of every event like this one, someone can find an underground party and perhaps discover new music, new friends, and new adventures.

See you next year, Project Z!