It’s about time Delta 9 “graces” the pages of The Hard Data again! You would think that he or his alter-ego “Dave-Delta” would get play here all the time, being that he’s an old school vet still pumping out dope tunes. Well, this error has been corrected and now you get to read the words of wild from the Windy City’s #1 devil of hardcore! Without further delay…
So, ok, we already know you’re from Chicago.
Yes. The windy City creates the Chicago hardcore sound.
What’s the story behind your DJ Name?
Delta 9 equals tetrahydrocannabinol.
Who or what is responsible for you being the artist you are today?
It basically came from the upside-down behaviors of human society. It’s either find an outlet or become a serial killer.
What are you trying to convey with your music?
I’m trying to convey rebellion that becomes more difficult as the industry turns more towards the direction of big business.
What moment do you cherish the most so far in your career as a DJ, artist or musician?
All of them. Every event from small to large, every DJ set I play and everyone I speak with throughout the night.
Ok, but what specifically are you planning to give to the audience at Hard Electronic?
A look into of my soul.
What is something you really want to tell the public that we might not have asked about?
Just when you thought Hurricane Harvey was calming down, a torrential downpour of HARD ELECTRONIC is on its way to the USA’s major metropolitan areas, and the East and West Coasts now brace for impact. If you like your beats tough, distorted and relentless, then September 8, 2017 you need to be in Brooklyn, NY and September 9, 2017 you better fly, drive or swim to Los Angeles, CA because shows with this much sonic boom don’t happen very often in the USA. Here are the respective Facebook Event pages:
Noize Suppressor hits the coasts Sept. 8 & 9, 2017
Headlining both nights is Italy’s number 1 party animal, Noize Suppressor. You might remember him from his knockout performances at Trauma Live, Fresh’s Hardstyle Arena, or EDCLV. Well, he’s back to burn and score a few points for Dogfight Hardcore, so get some comfy sneakers because you’re going to be jumping and pumping. The other headliner is a new face to America, Malke, bringing his brand of Brazilian hard electronic audio skills to raise the East and West Coast’s respective water level of sonic appreciation to tidal wave levels. Another Industrial Strength score for forward-thinking audio dissemination and keeping them, as always, ahead of the future’s curve.
But that’s only the tip of the icebergs heading at breakneck speed to slam into the coasts. The New York show features Delta 9 aka Dave Delta, Lenny Dee, Satronica, Delirium, John Bas, MC Mastachief , Ontal (from Serbia) and Gxnnxr. The Los Angeles chaos will be co-hosted by Rave ‘til Dawn and will put the old and new guard of hardcore techno into a full-on crash collision of the generations as Lenny Dee, Satronica, Demigod, Fiend, Inyoung, Deadly Buda, Sonik and J’Sin are going to party like it’s 1999 and remind everyone why Los Angeles is the decades-long, number one spot for hardcore techno in the USA.
As the week goes on, we will be profiling many of the artists playing at both events at The Hard Data. But to start off, we are going to focus briefly on the main drivers of both parties, Industrial Strength Records and Kontaminated Recordings, and their head honchos, Lenny Dee, Satronica, and DJ Delirium.
Lenny Dee:
Lenny Dee appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8 and 9, 2017
Producer / DJ / Label Owner Lenny Dee is one of NYC’s earliest techno and house pioneers. He attacked Europe with the then new sound of Techno and in 1991 launched Industrial Strength Records – the first electronic ‘Hardcore’ label in the world that’s included music from Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier, Manu Le Malin, Angerfist, Corrosion of Conformity, Daft Punk, Neophyte, Unexist, DOA, The Sickest Squad, Nasenbluten, The Mover, Mescalinum United, Rob Gee, Deadly Buda, Delta 9, Satronica, Delirium, Demigod, Ron D Core, Inyoung and many more.
Lenny has also written and produced hundreds of tracks on labels such as 4th floor, Warner Bros, Strictly Rhythm, R&S, Music Man, Atlantic Records, Arista, XL Recordings, Gigilo, Rotterdam Records, ID &T and Stay Up Forever.
Lenny was the 1st Hardcore DJ to appear on the ‘DJ Mag – Top 100’ and was previously named Number 1 ‘Hard DJ’ by Mixmag, was twice awarded the accolade of Best Worldwide Techno DJ by the Scottish Dance Music Awards & Frontpage Magazine.
Satronica appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8 and 9, 2017
Along with DJ Delirium, Satronica, aka Satroniq, is forging a new sound for the hard electronic masses via Kontaminated Recordings. He began producing music, playing live and DJ’ing in the mid 90’s as part of the Things to Come Crew in NYC. Soon he found his own style of aggressive and distorted industrial hardcore techno woven with rage-laden vocal elements. This sound found a home, of course, at Industiral Strength Records, most famously with his smash hit “F*ck the System.”
He has performed at some of the largest events in Canada, The United States, South America, and Europe spinning and performing a brutal mix of dark and deranged selections. These events include parties such as Dominator, Q-Base, Masters of Hardcore, Coloursfest, WestFest, Kinetik Festival, PRSPCT XL, and E-Mission.
His tracks have also appeared on many major hardcore and techno compilations from some of the best known and loved labels in the world such as Industrial Strength, Thunderdome, ACArdipane, Neophyte Records, Rotterdam Records, ID&T, Masters of Hardcore and Traxtorm.
His latest collaborations with Noize Suppressor, Unexist, Art of Fighters, and Crypsis show his commitment to the core and constant pursuit of innovation.
Kontaminated co-conspirator is none other than old school vet DJ Delirium. Ever since the early 90’s, DJ Delirium has been a forefront leader in the Hardcore Techno scene. He has appeared countless times at some of the worlds largest events like Thunderdome, Mysteryland, Defqon.1, Dominator, In Qontrol, Raving Nightmare, Ground Zero, EDC – Vegas, Earthquake and many more. Delirium has also had tracks featured on some of the worlds most legendary hardcore compilations CD’s including Thunderdome, Always Hardcore, Masters Of Hardcore and Resident E.
To date, DJ Delirium has released over 300 slammin’ tracks with some of the most recognized companies in Hardcore Techno including ID&T, Industrial Strength, Traxtorm, Masters of Hardcore, MegaRave, and many more. DJ Delirium’s got studio skills and has proven that with his top quality productions. Anyone who’s ever seen DJ Delirium perform knows about his smooth mixing and tight scratching.
Ok folks so this is your first warning shot about the big events coming in just days. Save your pennies, get some good night sleep and make sure you have enough quarters for your laundry come Sunday because you are going to sweat!
I met Lenny Dee about 24 years ago on a flight from Pittsburgh to Milwaukee. We were going to play at Drop Bass Network’s “Genesis” party. I told Lenny it was the first time I’d ever been flown to play at a rave, and I remember him telling me, “And you know the best thing about it? After that, it never stops.” Decades later, I’ve chalked that up as yet another example of Lenny’s ability to glimpse into the future. I’m still flying to play raves in Milwaukee, and we’re all celebrating a quarter century of Industrial Strength Record’s commitment to hard electronic dance music.
The funny thing about it though, is that to me, it still feels like a beginning. When Lenny started Industrial Strength back in 1991, it was ahead of its time, and even today, with the release of this 64 track monster compilation, ISR is still introducing the world to new talent at a frenetic clip. “No Tears For The Dead” pretty much sums up the last 25 years because there hasn’t been time to even pause for much reflection as maximal effort has always been needed to push forward and simply survive.
So, other labels would generally repackage their “hits” after 25 years, but the closest we get to that here is the latest and greatest darlings of the hardcore techno world re-mixing classic tunes. For example, The Sickest Squad remixed “Extreme Terror” and Outside Agency got to remix “Fucking Hostile.”
I’m reminded of a conversation I butted into at the 1994 Winter Music Conference. I overheard a few people remarking about Lenny and his label, marveling about how he could release such hard music. I told them that Lenny was ahead of his time and that one day they would understand what he did… that almost everyone else at the conference was recycling the same stuff and Lenny was a visionary. And you know, my feeling about that hasn’t changed two and a half decades later, and this compilation just pushes the vision and sound even further into the future.
The compilation is available from the following online retailers:
For those of us bound to the sound of the hard electronic, there is still no time for tears. There is still so much work to be done for the future. There might be a few great, shiny compilations of repackaged hits cobbled together by the big festivals this year, but I doubt if any of them will match the intensity and cohesive vision of Industrial Strength Record’s No Tears for the Dead.
The compilation is available from the following online retailers:
Back from the dead, it seems! Anthony Alonso, drum and bass connoisseur from Las Vegas, Nevada, has been out of commission for the last three years taking care of business (literally) only to come back to his beloved scene with the same amount of force and ruthlessness he had when he first departed! HellNegative is back on the decks and is ALREADY playing all over the west coast (read up on his comeback show in San Bernardino, CA HERE!) and is making his first appearance this year at America’s hardest: GABBERFEST, June 18th-19th (EDC Weekend)!
Founder of Dead Kaos, and co-founder of Bassline Syndicate Records, representing Nevada, this is HellNegative!
How did you decide on your stage name?
My religion is the empty space between sounds. The way those spaces are placed creates music. When I produce, I imagine what my heaven would be like through sound. Thus leading to the development of the name HellNegative. It makes sense when you take the phrase literally.
How did you start producing/DJ’ing?
My older brother was listening to electronic music at a young age, so this introduced me to it at an even younger age! I fell in love with his hard house and DNB mixtapes. I decided at the ripe old age of 13 to get my hands on an Electribe ER1 and an EA1. It was all downhill from there.
How did you get interested in the harder styles?
I had always enjoyed rocking out to Delta 9 and DJ Tron, but it wasn’t until my first visit to Dr. Freecloud’s in Los Angeles that the addiction began. Living in Ohio at the time, there was no access to a decent record shop. Of course I dug out some Underground Construction and Nervous Rekkids, but it was the speedcore that I loved the most. I picked up pretty much every Industrial Strength and Drop Bass record they had in the store.
You said that when you returned from your hiatus that you returned to a “scene that was in shambles”. Can you elaborate on this?
Well when I left, things were small, but the only real drama was between sounds of the underground and area170 (which sadly closed its doors). Multi genre parties were still a thing. Although every crew had their differences, we all worked together as a family. When I came back, the DNB scene had grown greatly. I was excited for that, but it seemed to drown out everything else. There’s this separation between the DNB scene and the 4×4 scene. I never see any of the 4×4 promoters at the DNB events and vice versa.
So, what changes have you noticed in your local rave/hard dance scene since you started? How do you feel upon your return?
Hard dance and hardcore have not gotten enough love in Vegas. The unfortunate reality of permit issues and the club scene have made it hard for the smaller promoters to put together successful events. Things have been slowly changing this year, though. 2016 is going to see a huge underground revival. Even as I write this sitting in the dirt at Further Future two strangers have commented positively on the breakcore blasting from my phone.
HellNegative making his first appearance after a three year absence at March Madhouse, San Bernardino, CA.
What do you think about the current state of harder styles in America?
With Drum N Bass becoming so mainstream as of late, the harder sounds are starting to become the real sound of the underground.
What are you trying to convey through your music? Are there any themes or ideas that are important to you?
I think setting boundaries and rules limits yourself. My production has one main focus. That is to create something I can rock out to in my living room, bedroom, car, and venue. There is way more meaning to enjoying music with others because it’s something you truly enjoy.
Do you have anything special planned for the event?
I’ve been spending a lot of time producing a set for Gabberfest. Every tune will either be produced or remixed by myself. All styles of core will be represented, but the focus will be on speedcore, breakcore, and industrial hardcore.
What can we expect from HellNegative in the future?
Between DNB and Hardcore, I’ve been super busy in the studio and less focused on bookings. To the Vegas family, keep your eyes out. We will be working to grow the hard dance and hardcore scenes. Remember to always enjoy the music you listen to not because it’s popular, trending, fashion, or you’re afraid to say you like something else. Listen to it because you love it. Never be afraid to express your love!
You can catch HellNegative at The Bradley in Vegas on May 28th for Propaganda! Be sure to follow him everywhere else you go and look out for the DNB heat at GABBERFEST!
