Blaster is a name in our community that I’m surprised more people haven’t mentioned, but with his newest release, ‘Drop the Bomb’ out on New York’s Industrial Strength Records, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw this man roaming the states very soon. Right away, the title track is going to catch you off-guard with its groovy, all-over-the-map sound design, odd-numbered (161?!) BPM, and with a trap-like breakdown, and a hard re-entry, this track is far more atypical in this genre. The b-side, ‘You Don’t Like Me’, is much more typical of this artist (and hardcore in general), however again Blaster keeps things interesting by incorporating other styles of electronic music and keeping his sound design original and edgy regardless of the dated, overused vocal sample.
This Interview was conducted by 3MiloE, and DJ Deadly Buda, and took place at Insomniac’s Escape: Psycho Circus 2017.
3MiloE : So, where are you from and what’s the music like where you’re from?
Coone: Like we basically grew up with EDM in Belgium, where I was born. Ah, I’d say EDM in general, not only an hard style, has been big for ages, you know. Before you guys picked it up, let’s say ten years ago, maybe more. When it got big here, everything was rock, hip-hop, you know, everything above the ground was hip-hop, everything underground was a little EDM, and now it blew up, and now we get the mainstream crowd as well, but I grew up with mainstream Hard style parties, whatever. It always has been big, as far as I’m concerned.
3MiloE: That’s cool.
Deadly Buda: Is, ah, the hard style different in Belgium the Holland?
Coone: Ah…yeah, of course. Let’s say, ah, the Netherlands are more picky, so they are a little bit more spoiled, but if they go off …like the crowd loves it, that means you are really doing a good job. Because Like I said they’re spoiled. In Belgium, guys are a little bit behind, or something like that, behind the when so, they like the little bit more commercial stuff, you need to play more bootlegs and remixes of like more famous tracks, but, ah, I love Belgium, it’s, ah, it’s my hometown, my home country, so I love it, I love the crowd. They are really energetic and enthusiastic every time a play for them, so it’s like, I’m in love with my country.
3MiloE: How did you become a DJ?
Coone: …my older brother was a DJ, so I learned being a DJ because of my brother, you know, he played records in his bedroom, and then he started playing national radio stations, that’s how I rolled into it, you know.
Deadly Buda: Oh, wow!
3MiloE: How did you come up with your DJ name?
Coone : Its, ah, its actually my real name, but it is spelled different. My real name is Koen, so Coen, actually, and I just say like, let me write it different, that’s it. It might be offending to some people, cause it’s like, in some part of Australia, over here, its like, ah, like a bad word. But, fuck it! It is never my intention you know. It’s my name! I’m sorry, my mother gave it to me, come at me if you have a problem!
3MiloE: So what animal best personifies your music?
Coone: An animal?
3MiloE: Yeah
Coone: Oh, wow, that’s…ah…. My music? I’d say, ah, dog.
3MiloE: Ok
Coone: Cause a dog can be sweet, and can be like tough as well. My hard style is, is hard, but it has sweet moments as well. And it also fits cause I love hip-hop as well, and that actually fits hip-hop as well. You know the big pit bull, DMX, (growling noise). So, I think a dog it pretty cool. Cause I’m not going to say a lion, cause that’s too tough, that’s more raw style, you know.
Coone at Escape: Psycho Circus 2017
3MiloE: That’s awesome! So, what are you trying to convey with your music?
Coone: What do I what?
3MiloE: What’s the message you are trying to send people?
Coone: I don’t know man, I fell in love with hard style because of that energy and, like I said the roughness that it has. And I, ah, think there is too much pussy music man. I mean, like, music should have balls, like, for example, rock or gangsta hip-hop, I like that cause it has balls. What am I trying to do? Ah, I think there are parts of the world were hard style is not big, for now, and I’m trying to change that. Cause the feeling I had When I first heard hard style…I cannot be the only one that feels that way. So, I’m sure that a lot of people can relate, and could feel that way that I felt when I first hear hard style.
Deadly Buda: What country would you want to play that you haven’t played yet?
Coone: To Africa, like the continent. I’ve been to, ah…everywhere else, actually, but that is the only place. I would love to play, buts it’s like, EDM in general is, like, really small. But, ah, yeah, not to spoil you guys, but, California is doing great. I like the atmosphere and the vibe that you guys have, ah, same goes for South America, let’s say, Chile for example, Chile is doing great. And then Asia is picking up.
Deadly Buda: Have you played in China?
Coone: Yeah. Two months ago.
Deadly Buda: What was that like?
Coone: Ah, the only rave scene that is big is in Tian Zhen, and the rest is picking up, but really slow. The don’t got social media, so, so it’s hard for them to get in touch with the last hypes or whatever. For me, for my China tour, it went great. I did five shows, four of them were sold out. All the clubs are now big, like thousand plus. But, then again, for the first year I did a tour, something’s gotta give. Just like, eh, everyone. Like … what you get more of over there is bottle service clubs. Like high standard clubs. Like, its not about me, it’s not about the DJ, it’s how big your bottle of Grey Goose is. Its different, like I said, the only rave scene now I think is in (Tian Zen?). And the rest it picking up, a little bit more slow.
Decade of Early Hardcore: A Trip to the 90’s (10 March 2018)
When I think about the 90s in Holland and the early days of hardcore I picture never ending underground illegal warehouse parties with no sound limits filled with baldheaded boys, girls with half shaved half ponytail hair, colorful tracksuits, and Nike Air Maxes. Even though in the 90s I was a small child growing up in the New York suburbs, today being an active part of the American underground hardcore scene, I can’t help feeling a sense of nostalgia when I think about what the hardcore parties were like back then. So in pursuit of this; the perfect and obvious place to go would be to a Decade party!
On March 10th I made the epic trek (bike, train, bus, and lots of walking) from my house in Voorburg to the legendary Hemkade in Zaandam. I’ve lost count how many Decade parties I’ve been to at this point. I think it’s safe to say I’ve been at every single one since I moved here in August 2016. By 23:00 the place was already packed and the energy was through the roof. The first set of the night for me was Juliëx. It was my first time seeing her live and it was the perfect start to the party. She dropped this brutal remix of “Lip Gloss” which was AMAZING; talk about nostalgia. For those of you who that were not teenage girls in the early 2000s, go look it up!
Next up my time was split between Frantic Freak and Buzz Fuzz. Both rooms were packed and had me singing (and screaming) along to classic early tracks. I especially enjoyed dancing on one of the stages in the main room to the track by DJ Weirdo & Dr. Phil Omanski- Young Birds! Being part of a hardcore chorus of 1700 wild gabbers is always something special.
One of my favorite aspects of a Decade party is seeing the same people every time; it gives you the sentiment that we are all one big family regardless of where you are from. Although I miss my rave family back in the US (shout out to the Hardcore Hooliganz) I am so grateful to be a part of the Decade Family and to be part of a community of passionate, kind, welcoming individuals.
Another cool thing is that it’s not just the Dutch; people come from all over France, Belgium, Spain, and even Chile for Decade parties! During the party I had the opportunity to ask one of my Spanish friends, Pol, why he flew all the way from Barcelona to the Netherlands for this party. He simply said that it’s because the music is the best. Short and simple, the overall consensus from the party was that if you’re looking for an Early Hardcore party Decade is the move. One major takeaway from this party is that the words Early Hardcore and Decade are essentially synonymous.
During Promo’s set, seeing every person in the room going crazy from start to finish, I thought to myself is this the start of a 90’s revival or did it never die in the first place? In search of this answer and continuing my trip down memory lane, I asked some of the artists what they had to say about the party and the Early Hardcore scene.
First question, what were your thoughts about the party?
Arjuna: Decade was a blast! Especially the 180 Boiler Room. Hardcore to the max! I really love the concept to put the DJ on the same level as the crowd. You really have contact with the audience and with this crowd at Decade I didn’t have to hold back. I can play as hard and fast as I want. For me it was a wonderful night with all those great people from all over Europe. I really love the culture from the early scene.
Ruffneck: NOW, let me say this…DECADE…HOLY MOTHER OF whatever you can think of, fill in here. I don’t even know where to start here to be honest so let me just write down my thoughts as I type this. The doors of the room open….I was thinking…it will take half an hour or so for people to enter the room, see what’s going on and then decide to stay or move on…O….M…..G…I could NOT have been wrong more! It literally took 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 seconds…I look up. BOOOOOM! The room completely filled within a blink of an eye. Never seen this before. This was friggin’ insane!!! Then I dropped the first record, people go nuts and within 10 minutes the entire room was steaming hot. NOW…here comes the most insane part…This vibe STAYED from the first second right up until the last record I spun! I don’t even know what to say but this vibe is rarely found and I am so incredibly grateful for the amount of love showed by the crowd. I mean…I only saw smiling faces, and a room dancing like animals, screaming people and interaction between myself the crowd AND the two contest winners like there was no tomorrow. THIS IS WHAT HARDCORE LOVE TRULY EMBODIES!
In my experience it didn’t even feel like I was the main attraction to be honest. It felt like ONE big family coming together and creating a party with an enthusiasm that can only be achieved by family resonating at the same frequency at the same time. In other words, we were ONE! People could truly see what I was doing and so there was great interaction between me, the DJ contest winners and the crowd as the booth was open and at a certain moment it wasn’t even clear anymore who was where behind the booth, on the sides of the booth etc. We did this TOGETHER and I can’t be more proud than to see what can be achieved when the love for music and the respect shown by my soldiers come together as one.
Oh DECADE, this party will go down in my memories as one of the best experiences in my career. As for me it really doesn’t matter whether I spin in front of 50.000 people or in an area where there is but a hundred. What I search for is the love for hardcore music at its core…and that is EXACTLY what happened last night in my special room. TOGETHER we achieved what I could have only dreamt of and I wish to say to each and all of you who attended the room last night. THANK you sooooooo much from the bottom of my heart. You once again showed my WHY my love for (Early) Hardcore is still burning like a raging fire. Your energy completely refueled my engine and I look forward to the next time we meet.
Predator: I was there pretty late, because I played from 4-5 so I only saw the last bit of the party, but the main room was crowded and the vibes were great. I dropped some of my classic tracks like Predator- Turbulence and Bio-Forge-No 1 S-Capes Us, Paradox-Guillotine, but also some of my uplifting tracks like Vanugenth the 5th– Here We Go Again and Diss Reaction-Jiiieehaaa.
Bass-D: The party was great. The atmosphere was perfect, people really came to party, backstage we (the artists and their friends) had a lot of fun, so yeah, I thought it was a really great party!
Decade is famous for representing Early Hardcore. All throughout Europe, especially Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, France, the U.K. and even in The States where I come from. They know Decade as the organization where they really honor Early Hardcore.
How do you feel that Decade asked you to play at this party? Destroyer: First of all I’m really glad to be recognized as an Early Hardcore artist since I have made releases starting from 1995 and I always worked up to keep my style Early Hardcore/Terror that is the style I like the most. And of course I’m honored to play at Decade for the second time.
Arjuna: It’s always a blast to play at Decade, good atmosphere, the audience is great, and the organization is always good. I really like those guys; they’re down to earth.
Predator: With my style and all my releases I guess it’s the right place for me to drop my tracks. I’ve played there before, and it’s good to be back.
Promo: Well clearly it’s an honor every time you get asked to play somewhere, but Decade is kinda special since it’s held in the location where I basically grew up. The Hemkade (back in the days known as The Fun Factory) was a place where I went almost every week to get my weekly dose on new music. It’s also the place where the guys form Q-dance sort of started their career, so for sure that makes this a true house temple.
Ruffneck: Decade and me go back a long way actually. I know they have heart for Early (Original) Hardcore and so do I obviously. We both help each other out where possible and as we are planning something bigger, this party and its special setting was inevitable. But as always I am very grateful to have been asked by not only Decade but also every organization out there that chooses me to be at their event. No matter how big I may be or appear to be for the outside world, I never forget my roots and think of every invite of something special.
Bass-D: It’s always an honor to be asked at any party, but Decade is very special to me. I’ve known one of the organizers for a long time now and I’ve gotten to know the other people behind it very well during the years. They’ve become great friends of mine so I feel closer to this party than lots of other parties and I always love to play for Decade, so I think it’s great that I’m a part of it almost every edition.
How has the hardcore scene changed since you first got into it?
Destroyer: I started to play around ’96/97 and at the time there were not all of the subgenres you have today, it was just all hardcore. Usually at the parties everything was played in one area, with a line-up ordered from slowest to the fastest. Later when the scene became bigger, in festivals and big events more areas with different styles became a part of the game. But actually I’m ok with this evolution, as long as I can find an Early Hardcore/Terror area at a party! 🙂
Arjuna: That’s a good question, I’ve been in the scene from the start when hardcore wasn’t even born yet, there was only this music we called house. One day a guy came to me at a party, and said: hey you’re also a gabber aren’t you? And I was like, what’s a gabber? You like the harder style of music? And I was like hell yeah! Well then you are a gabber! For me that was the day hardcore was born. And now 25 years later I’m still in to it, I always try to do the best I can, both producing and DJing
Predator: It moved from playing vinyl to mp3 when it comes to DJing, and from hardware to virtual instruments most when it comes to production. The hardcore/gabber crowd is more diverse now; it’s not only shaved heads and Australian training suites anymore.
Promo: I think the scene changed a lot, like all music genres have. Hardcore went through many developments and changed its sounds numerous times but in the end that is maybe why it is still here. Things like music technology and also the Internet had their influences on our music but every time it came back stronger or in a different form.
Bass-D: Yeah it has, it’s gotten a lot more professional and bigger. I’ve seen it grow from when it started in small clubs and big parties in warehouses with too much sound and not enough lights to one of the biggest house scenes around.
Ruffneck: First of let me correct the phrase, I did not “GET INTO IT”, as I CO-CREATED it, alongside a handful of people at that time. Most people know me as Ruffneck, but I started out as 80 AUM, dating way back to 1989. That’s right. Hardcore didn’t even exist at that time. I started with making house music somewhat rougher than it was made by the Chicago boys.
This was picked up again and made a bit rougher and so on and on. Hardcore was a progression of the house genre. People around that time who just like myself were busy with this evolution amongst others were: ME (as 80 Aum at that time), Marc Acardipane from Germany (PCP), Luca Pretolesi from Italy (Digital Boy), Patrick de Meyer & Olivier Abbeloos from Belgium, The Prodigy, Carl Cox etc from the UK, and Ritchie Hawtin & Lenny Dee from the USA. Lenny Dee however is ABSOLUTELY the oldest pioneer from this small selection (and there obviously where WAY more people starting around the same time) who, like myself, are still active IN THIS GENRE, as he WAS one of the guys who produced in the house sound of Chicago era dating way back to 1986. I know this as I was actually buying his music from that time BEFORE I started producing!
So with that fact set straight, lets move onto the question:
I can only speak from my point of view, as that is different for everyone else, so I don’t feel I can speak in absolutes here. It’s all perspective and my experience may be VASTLY different than someone else’s experience. SO MY PERSONAL view on this is this. In the beginning we just f**ked around having no clue or care what we where doing and therefore a LOT of variety was the outcome musically. There was NO social media and ghost producing was unheard of and even shunned. We had to have something special, skill wise. This meant a lot of different approaches to the genre resulting in a huge pallet of sounds and styles that actually blended in fine with each other because there was NO REAL STANDARD of how something should be made OR sound. The music and stage presence an artist showed WAS his only real way of showing the world what he or she was capable of. This meant that only people with a lot of heart and patience for the music truly went out of their way to bring their message to the masses. Nowadays, a lot of people that are on the top actually don’t produce their own music, have very little to nothing to contribute except a maybe a sexy picture (this can be either female AND male!) and/or poses while on stage playing music that caries their name, but is produced by someone else. They are worshipped for something they have never been or will be playing tunes they have no real connection with, (except for the cash and the fame they seek) by anaudience who isn’t even aware or doesn’t care about the mechanics of things. The music itself has production wise been “perfected” up until the point where it’s perfection to me is quite imperfect as the variety has been reduced to concepts that work because it’s been heard a million times and forced down peoples throat like an advertisement for some huge company. Most stuff that deviates from the proven path usually get blasted and seen as bad, until sometime in the future some big artist(s) does this and then everybody follows that one thing again. Now I know a lot of people will think that I do not like the hardcore from now when reading this, but that simply is not what I’m trying to say. It’s simply an observation from my side to create awareness. I wish to see hardcore become open to ALL sorts of styles in one set and party again. To show the beauty of variety that has somewhat lost along the way in order to attract more people to a music style that wasn’t really meant for a huge audience in the first place. (Which inevitably attracts people who are not really interested in the TRUE core of the art that is called Hardcore, but simply embrace what they see as a “thing of the moment” instead of a lifestyle )
With hardcore ever changing and a new generation of gabbers coming into the scene, how do Early Hardcore parties manage to hold on to that 90s feeling?
Destroyer: I think that the main part of the job is done by the crowd dancing. As soon as there is the passion for the music, the feeling will be automatically transferred from generation to generation.
Arjuna: The music will give you that 90’s feeling and also the aussies I think. But to get that real 90’s feeling is gonna be difficult, back in the days there were no limits. Most of the parties were illegal, there was no sound limit, and budgets were small. The best parties for me in that time was when the music was so loud your eardrum was about to pop out, and there was only smoke and stroboscopic light. That was the best 90’s feeling.
Predator: It’s the music, as long as the DJs keep on playing the original versions and not some mashed up new edit it will keep this real cool early vibe. Some promoters just know what DJs to book, and make sure they stay true to that old vibe.
Promo: The major appeal of that 90’s feel is the atmosphere. Somehow every time you play those classics people feel united again which result in outstanding nights. So mainly the music binds people and booking the right DJ’s bringing that music is an important ingredient to hold on to that feeling.
Ruffneck: Well, exactly BECAUSE mostly ONLY people who like the variety in sound deliberately CHOOSE to go to parties that spin the old style. I was actually quite surprised to see AND learn from the people I have spoken at those parties that they actually like the old style better than the new simply because of the sound AND vibe that is to be found. I have seen a LOT of young people at these parties that were literally babies when it was created. They stand united next to the older generation at the parties and love it just as much and are even proud as f**k to wear the old colors. In the beginning I was really surprised by this but now I understand it and see it as something that simply IS. The vibe is basically almost ALWAYS great and that’s why I love to spin Early sets as well very much.
Bass-D: I think that the new early hardcore crowd wants to relive what happened in the 90’s with early hardcore music. The togetherness and that sense of family and brotherhood is really coming forward in the early hardcore scene, I like that a lot. The people really love the tracks + it was the genre that built hardcore and made it really big even before all the other genres came along.
If you could take one track from the early days and show it to introduce someone new to the hardcore scene which track would it be?
Destroyer: Surely one track from the early days that brings me on the hardcore feeling is a track from 1994, Darrien Kelly & Scott Brown: Geleihoofd. But that was just one, there are really a lot out there.
Arjuna: That’s a bit of a trick question, because there are many good songs and also many different styles, but I think Jappo vs Lancinhouse Exlaxl is the best song, multiple bass drums, good sample, good arrangement and a very good climax!
Predator: For an old track I think I would play them Predator – Turbulence and for a more recent track Predator & Angerfist – Legend.
Promo: I would always go for something dark and industrial I think. It probably has to be something by Marc Acardipane / PCP. What he did back in the day is just (still) next level. Bringing so many atmospheres is just incredible.
Ruffneck: That would not do any respect to the many brilliant tunes made by so many of my colleagues OR myself. Early hardcore as a genre IS the eternal tune that should be heard, not just a snippet of 1 second of an overall tune which lasts for 365 days so to speak…
Bass-D: Haha, I always mention my own track: Highlander – Hold Me Now to people who don’t know our scene because somehow everybody loves that track, it’s not too hard and still has a great vibe around it.
The relationship between the DJ and the audience is everything during a set. Having been in the scene for a long time, you obviously have a large repertoire of tracks. How do you find a balance between giving the crowd what they want and introducing them to something new?
Destroyer: Since most of the time I play live with the keyboard I have the possibility to choose to play the old and the new tracks, and that makes me experimenting new things every time.
Arjuna: When I play my set I always keep an eye on the audience; if the crowd is not moving or dancing I play another song. Sometimes it has to be louder or slower it depends of what people want at a party. I always play my set freestyle, not pre-arranged, so I can easily change to another style or tempo.
Predator: It’s always cool to play new stuff, but not just because it’s new, I only play tracks I like, and would never play anything I don’t like. Styles and taste can change. I made some dark tracks, some happy tracks some more experimental tracks so I guess I can go any direction.
Promo: For me that is pretty easy because I like both melodic hardcore and dark industrial tracks. So mixing them up is kind of what my sets have always been about. My productions reflect the same vibe as well, so I can even play just my own songs and still bring something the crowd knows and something I can surprise them with.
Ruffneck: I don’t. I spin what I feel I want to enrich them with. Not the other way around. If they enjoy it, great. If they don’t ..well so be it. As KRS -ONE once said “A DJ is not a jukebox – F**k your request” J
Bass-D: Just by doing it, there’s no specific way to do it. I just play what I know they want to hear and mix it up with stuff I think they would like.
What is the craziest thing you have ever seen at a party?
Destroyer: I believe that the craziest thing I’ve seen at a party was a guy drinking a grey liquid straight from a shoe!!! The cool thing was that this happened at “THE DESTROYER solo” party.
Arjuna: The craziest is also the scariest thing I have seen, and that was the girl that climbed on the stage of Harmony of Hardcore 2016. I really thought we all were gonna see that girl fall to her death. Not cool at all.
Ruffneck: People standing still, filming the entire set and later on posting how great of a time they had….
Promo: I have seen some crazy things but often they are not the most positive things. To mention a positive moment I will never forget are the human pyramids they used to do in a club called Number One in Italy. When you played certain tracks there back in the days the crowd would form a pile of people with the goal to reach the roof of the club. Sometimes they succeeded, sometimes they miserably failed. But that determination to make it time after time was always really impressive.
Bass-D: There are so many hahahaha, from people having sex to artists doing stage dives where everybody steps aside or where they return without their t-shirt or even their shoes, hahaha. I remember one time in Moscow though where Angerfist did a stage dive and the crowd tried to rip his mask off his face. He climbed back on stage holding is mask in front of his face while the mask was ripped in two by the crowd. Crazy shit!!!
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Well there you have it! In conclusion, the lesson from my story is go to a Decade party! A huge thank you to Decade Events especially Tommy, Robin, and all of the artists who contributed to this article.
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.
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.
Dedicated to the harder sound of electronic dance music.
