Steve, better known as Dr. Peacock has grown very fast in popularity with his very own style in the Frenchcore scene. His worldly, melodic tracks combined with frightening hard kicks have made him one of the most popular Frenchcore artists of recent time. For those who haven’t seen him before, his performances on stage are very powerful and absolutely wild! It’s about time that America sees the arrival of something so rare, so unique that I wouldn’t be surprised if Frenchcore invades the U.S. again. Vive la Frenchcore! Dr. Peacock can be seen on February, 19th in Mesa, Arizona. February, 20th in Denver, Colorado. February, 26th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and February 27th in Brooklyn, new York!
Were you a DJ first, or a producer?
I used to be a DJ since my 12th birthday. I learned to play vinyls back in those days from DJ Viruz (he lived near me and I always bought my records in his shop). The producing came later in 2010 when a friend took me to a production class. The funny thing is, the teacher is now one of my best friends and I organize classes with him now.
How did you get into the scene?
In Holland, about the time I was 8 years old, you either listened to Top40 music or to Hardcore/Happy Hardcore (at least at my school). My cousin always gave me Thunderdome CD’s since I was about that age. So really, I’ve been raised with Hardcore! Whenever there was a school party I would always take my Thunderdome CD’s with me, just to give it to the crappy DJ and tell him to play some real music (laughs)!
What was the first record you ever purchased?
That’s a long time ago, but I guess it was ‘Jones & Stephenson – The First Rebirth’.
Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?
3 Steps Ahead at the beginning of being a DJ. The Speed Freak when I started producing. Both are legends! 3 Steps Ahead because of his catchy melodies and fast tracks. The Speed Freak because I (still) think he is a genius in sampling and making one track that sounds like there are three tracks in one but it all fits like one perfect story.
Would you describe your first DJ gig?
My first professional DJ gig was for BKJN. After they saw me on a Thunderdome Radio show, playing there dressed like a crocodile (because the radio host told me that I had to, to join the competition) they let me play at a big BKJN party in Culemborg, NL. I had just made only 3 tracks myself and chose the best tracks from the Frenchcore scene at that moment and did my very best to make this the best set I’ve ever done. The Frenchcore scene didn’t really exist in those days, but that changed quickly after that night. There were only 100 people in my area when I played, but they were all going mental!
What important changes have you witnessed from the time you got into the scene, until now?
Well at the beginning of my career there wasn’t much Frenchcore around in both Holland and Germany. After about a year of playing at big parties, it started to get the attention of a lot of ravers inside both countries and after 3 years I played in almost all of Europe. Also, there have been some changes in the Frenchcore sound. Nowadays you have the original Frenchcore and the new generation. It’s different because the pioneers of Frenchcore music (like Radium, Micropoint, Progamers and so on) have a more deep, more ongoing kind of style. The new generation guys (like The Sickest Squad, The Braindrillerz, Brutal Jesters, Zyklon etc.) have got a more aggressive kind of punch in their tracks and are more melody based as well. On the leading festivals (Defqon, Dominator, Decibel) you now see that they’ve created room for Frenchcore. And almost each festival programs Frenchcore in its own area! That’s pretty awesome and it was one of my main goals.
Did you ever think you would be touring the United States? What do you think the Trauma Tour will be like?
I’ve never even thought I would play outside of Holland, but the United States… WOW! That’s really something I can take off my bucket list! I heard some stories about the states from Geoff Da Chef (which is a Terror/Speedcore/Industrial DJ from Australia). He told me the folks over there will destroy the dance-floor like nowhere else! So I’m very excited to be able to see this with my own eyes. And I’m very very proud to be the first Frenchcore DJ from Holland to play in the States! AWESOME!
What made you want to start producing Frenchcore?
When I was 12 years old I started out by playing Terror, some mainstream Hardcore, and some Industrial kind of sounds. I didn’t really know what I wanted to play just yet. Then, in 2005 I came to a record store in Eindhoven (NL) and found a crate that said: “Herrie” (that means ‘noise’). I laughed and took some records from that crate and started listening to them. I was shocked! After 10 seconds I had goosebumps everywhere! It was a record of ‘The Sickest Squad’. The track was called Rottenbeat. Then a Radium record which convinced me that THIS is my style!
What is your favorite track that you have produced?
At the moment my favorite track is “Trip to Turkey”, which I’ve made with Sefa and MC Lenny. It’s a funny story because in my favorite kebab store 10 minutes from my home, they are playing it every day!
What advice would you give to up and coming Hardcore producers?
Keep it simple and make music from your heart! There are too many producers making tracks to impress other producers. I’m not one of them. I make the music I like to play and my experience with that is that the crowd feels the energy more when you created something straight from the heart. Okay, it has to have quality kicks and it must be to a certain level at the least, but don’t try to be like anyone else. Try to be YOU.
What are your top 3 favorite tracks of all time? Why?
Top 3 (all types of music):
1. Shpongle – Dorset Perception
2. Paolo Conte – Max
3. Hans Zimmer – Time
Top 3 Hardcore tracks:
1. The Speed Freak – Devastator / The Sickest Squad – Hard Abuse (they share the number 1 spot!)
2. Jones & Stephenson – The First Rebirth
3. 3 Steps Ahead – Money in my Pocket
Are there any exciting projects or gigs coming up you want our readers to know about?
Yes! I’m making my first real solo album! Which will include 16 trips. That means 16 tracks with influences from 16 different countries. It will be out before June (I hope!)
What artists would you like to collaborate with that you haven’t
already?
The Sickest Squad, The Speed Freak, Radium, Partyraiser and lots of others!
If there’s anything we haven’t asked, what else would you like to say to the readers of The Hard Data?
KEEP IT FRENCHCORE!! And make sure you come to one of the gigs in the States!! Together we will make it the best parties ever!