Regain is the key player in the latest wave of raw up-and-comers. Pushing the boundaries with his rock/metal influences he’s created a harder design for the raw and continues to show how important his role is that even artists like Warface want to collaborate! Continuously picking up the pace (Rawstyle was being produced at 155 BPM but now 158 is becoming standard), both of these artists combine their talents to create ‘Wakin’ Up’, out now on End of Line Recordings. It’s no wonder raw is taking over when you hear that aggression being pumped through sound systems of 70,000 + watts. You’ll know what I mean when you hear this one.
Tag Archives: raw hardstyle
DJ Deadly Buda: Interview from Trauma: Harder Styles Tour 2016
What inspired your stage name?
Back in the late 1980’s-early 90’s, people knew me as “Buda” when I wrote graffiti. So when I started DJing I wanted to have a tough, kung-fu sounding DJ name like, “Grandmaster Flash” so I put “Deadly” in front of Buda.
Were you a DJ first, or a producer?
Well, I tried to make music on a 4-track recorder, with a guitar and drum machine, and had a punk rock band, but… I guess I would really have to say DJ because I started scratching up my parents records after I saw people breakdancing, and that was really my first step into music.
How did you get into the scene?
Really I had to help make the scene in America. That was 1991 and things were just starting over in UK and Europe a few years earlier, and we wanted to make raves and techno big over here. In my case, Pittsburgh, PA. So we got our friends together and threw a party. People responded and that led to other things like writing for magazines, fanzines, owning record shops, DJing, producing, etc.
What was the first record you ever purchased?
I think Kiss Alive 2 or Dynasty.
Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?
The early PCP and Dance Ecstacy 2001 sound. All the stuff that Lenny Dee had a hand in, The Under One Sky/Groove crew, Caspar Pound, Woody McBride, Zekt, Underground Resistance, Plus 8.
Would you describe your first DJ gig?
I was 15 and playing in a bar in Shaler, PA with my friend Sean Payne. It was before rave or techno. His Dad was a DJ and we were just introducing scratching/mixing to the crowd for the first time. I totally messed up! But Sean started breakdancing and the crowd forgave me.
What was your favorite party you’ve ever played? Why?
Probably Catastrophic’s New Years 1993/94, in Washington DC. Not a lot of people talk about Catastrophic these days, but their raves in D.C. were the most insane, gigantic, illegal events. The Baez brothers were sons of a diplomat and could get away with all kinds of stuff. So it was the first time I ever played out of Pittsburgh, and it was a massive 5000+ crowd in a warehouse. I laid it on super hardcore going into midnight and me and the crowd went nuts. I wasn’t nervous at all, strangely, I just laid down the law that night! Also the sets I played at Even Furthur, the same night as the legendary Daft Punk show and the year previous.
What was the funniest moment during any of your performances?
Well it wasn’t’ my set, it was my buddy Controlled Weirdness’s set at Morph 1. This guy who DJed a few of the parties in Pittsburgh back then took too much of something and decided he would just walk up to the decks and start playing in the middle of CW’s set! Like he ducked down to get his next record and then this nutter just jumped on the decks! There were some other stories, but I gotta wait for the statute of limitations to expire before I say!
What important changes have you witnessed from the time you got into the scene, until now?
Well, it’s more corporate. That is good and bad. It helps bring more money into the scene, but can homogenize things. The trick really is for everyone to organize their own corporations to compete, and that should make things better and better, I think. We’ll see.
Did you ever think you would be touring the United States? What do you think the Trauma Tour will be like?
I’m only playing two dates, but I am writing a journal of the whole tour, to document it. I’m not sure what it will be like, I just know it hasn’t been done yet, and so I want to preserve the memory.
What made you want to start producing Hardcore music?
I just wanted to express myself through that creative endeavor. After you DJ a while, you naturally want things to sound “your way.”
What is your favorite track that you have produced?
It’s a toss up between Style is Terrifik, Esto es Los Angeles, and My Theory
What advice would you give to up and coming Hardcore producers?
I’m not sure if I can give the best advice here, because my path has been a long and circuitous one. If you are looking for advice on how to get from point A to point B fast, I’m not your guy. If you want stories about planting seeds in the underground, maybe that I can give advice.
Have any of the other artists on the Trauma tour ever inspired your work? If so, how?
Lenny Dee was doing 25+ years ago what we are doing now. I often find I’m playing stuff or interested in stuff that Lenny was on the case of months or years previous. I should say that many of the new artists from Italy are very inspiring to me now, too. I think it’s a golden time for hardcore, right here, right now.
What are your top 3 favorite tracks of all time? Why?
Party People – Marc et Claude
We have Arrived – Mescalinum United (Aphex Twin Remix)
Vortex-Final Exposure
What was your favorite track of 2015 (that wasn’t your own)?
Mad Dog’s Good Ol’ Times
Are there any exciting projects or gigs coming up you want our readers to know about?
Well, The Hard Data magazine and website is all about the harder dance styles, so I’m pushing that hard. We need a communication node! I might be coming out with some comics soon, too.
What artists would you like to collaborate with that you haven’t already?
The Traxtorm/Next Cyclone crew, and after all this time I’d like to work on some stuff with Lenny Dee finally if he ever stops flying around the world long enough for me to catch up with him!
If there’s anything we haven’t asked, what else would you like to say to the readers of The Hard Data?
Share The HARD DATA with your friends, and write and take pictures for the magazine and website. When I look back at all the years, I notice that the one thing that really makes a scene pop is when it has a ‘zine or two that people can bug out with. Don’t take it for granted, make it better by contributing!
Check out Deadly Buda’s special mix for the Trauma Tour:
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Digital Punk Interview from the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016
Digital Punk is the prophet of Raw Hardstyle that the U.S. has been waiting for. Though he has been in the game for quite a long time, it was with his ‘Unleashed’ series of podcasts and events that skyrocketed his name to the top of the list of “must know Rawstyle artists”. This man is a “Firestorm” of aggression and his dedication to his music and his fans are what makes his appearance on this tour vital to the progression of hard bass music in our scene. Digital Punk will be appearing in Mesa, Arizona on February 19th, Denver, Colorado on February 20th, and will playing at Basscon’s Wasteland on March 5th in Los Angeles, California!
What inspired your stage name?
There was a local DJ contest that I won! The only thing I didn’t have yet was a DJ name. I was a big fan of the track ‘Punk’ from Ferry Corsten. So ‘Digital Punk’ was born.
Were you a DJ first, or a producer?
Both to be honest.
How did you get into the scene?
A friend of mine was already a DJ. I already liked Hardstyle because every weekend I was going out to different clubs that played harder house music. So, naturally, I bought my first computer to produce music and bought my first DJ set. The first track I produced got me a contract at Seismic records back in 2005!
What was the first record you ever purchased?
Geal – Losin’ my Feeling (The Beholder & Ballistic Remix)
Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?
The Beholder & Max Enforcer!
Describe your first DJ gig ever?
It was terrible (laughs). I practiced a lot at home, but I had no experience whatsoever; so I didn’t know what to do with the delay in the monitors for instance. My second gig went a lot better!
What was your favorite party you’ve ever played? Why?
Hard to tell actually… I have so many amazing memories. I guess my #1 is ‘Supremacy 2015’. I made the anthem for the party and got to fly over the crowd in a DJ booth when I was playing!
What was the funniest moment during any of your performances?
So many funny moments! But one of them was stage diving for the first time! MC Da Syndrome put me on the spot. I was jumping on a set of speakers in front of the crowd when he yelled ‘Catch Digital Punk! He is going to stage dive right now!’. I had no choice and jumped right in! Luckily they catched me, haha!
What important changes have you witnessed from the time you got into the scene, until now?
Music evolves constantly; It’s a natural process. Over time, music became more professional. Besides that, it has become very big worldwide.
Did you ever think you would be touring the United States? What do you think the Trauma Tour will be like?
I can’t wait to play in America. It will be my first time and I’m excited to meet my fans here. There are more shows planned so I can’t wait to Unleash the States!
What made you want to start producing Hardstyle music?
I was born to make music. When I was 4 I played guitar. When I was 10 I played drums. By the time I was 17 I produced all kinds of music. Hardstyle was becoming my biggest interest, because I wanted to make hits like The Beholder & Max Enforcer did! When I heard a new track from those guys I was like “Wow, I want to make music like this!”
What is your favorite track that you have produced?
Hmmm, I have a lot of favorite tracks. I guess ‘Firestorm’ is one of my favorites.
What advice would you give to up and coming Hardcore/Hardstyle producers?
Let yourself be inspired by other producers, but don’t be a copycat; do your own thing!
Super Marco May: Interview from Trauma: Harder Styles Tour 2016
Super Marco May! All the way from La Spezia, Italy, SMM comes straight out of the golden years of Hard Dance music. 1993 is where his journey began, and shortly thereafter he began playing at all the major festivals in Europe such as Qlubtempo, X-Qlusive, Multigroove and so much more! Now it’s his time to return to the US to show us Nu-style kids where the true spirit of Hardstyle really comes from. Super Marco May hits North America on the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016 from February 12, 2016 in Edmonton, Canada, then February 13 in San Francisco, and February 14, 2016 in Los Angeles.
What inspired your stage name?
Marco is my name; May is the month in which my first son was born. ‘Super’ came later; some fans of mine made Superman t-shirts with my name written on them, because I often used to wear a Superman t-shirt. From that day I’m Super Marco May.
Were you a DJ first, or a producer?
I started as a DJ in 1993 but after a short time I approached the Zolex Studio of my dear friend Adrian 12 to try to create something on my own. From there, my passion was started.
How did you get into the scene?
Initially celebrating with friends. Then more and more people came to these parties, so I was asked to play as a DJ in a club.
What was the first record you ever purchased?
I will never forget the thrill of buying my first vinyl record: It was Felix’ “Do Not You Want Me” in 1992.
Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?
I have to thank my friends Alex and Checco who brought me closer to becoming a DJ. They had turntables at home and they made me literally fall in love with this world. Musically, however, I can say that my biggest inspiration was Roland Brant with which a few years later I made my first track: “Typhoon”.
Would you describe your first DJ gig?
October 17th, 1993 at Taverna Juri in Aulla, Tuscany, Italy. I was thrilled and I still have to thank Alessandro Tognetti, who was the resident DJ, for giving me the opportunity to perform.
What was your favorite party you’ve ever played? Why?
My favorite party was undoubtedly Qlub Time #10 in 2002 organized by Q-Dance. My first experience abroad; my first experience in the Netherlands.
What was the funniest moment during any of your performances?
The funniest moment I experienced was at 101% Super Marco May. The party was organized by Dorian Gray and being carried in triumph by the boys on the dance floor was just awesome.
Did you ever think you would be touring the United States? What do you think the Trauma Tour will be like?
This Trauma tour not only represents my first tour in the USA, but also my first time in the US in general, so I hope it will be like my first time in the Netherlands. Just the first of many more to come!
What made you want to start producing Hardcore/Hardstyle/Rawstyle music?
I started producing Hardstyle because, in my opinion, it was something that people would have enjoyed more than Hard Trance or Techno; that’s what was big at the time. I liked the result of combining kick and reverse bass and I have to say that it pleased many.
What is your favorite track that you have produced?
I have two favorite ones: ‘Partyflock’ I produced to thank all the Dutch guys who supported me when I first went to Holland, and ‘Fuera de Cabeza’ because it fully reflects me!
What advice would you give to up and coming Hardcore producers?
I always suggest to do what one likes: don’t follow trends; develop your own taste.
Have any of the other artists on the Trauma tour ever inspired your work? If so, how?
There are many artists I know and respect. It’s not easy to choose! I think that all together we inspire the dance floor for absolute fun.
What are your top 3 favorite tracks of all time? Why?
- Roland Brant – Mastermind
- The Stunned Guys & DJ Paul – Thrillseeka
- Mohikana – I Will Find You
What was your favorite track of 2015 (that wasn’t your own)?
Hard Attack – Countdown
Are there any exciting projects or gigs coming up you want our readers to know about?
I’m working on a new project with my label Blackout Records. We are going to combine RAW music with something different. Why not!
What artists would you like to collaborate with that you haven’t already?
With reference to my new project I’d like to collaborate with Snoop Dogg.
If there’s anything we haven’t asked, what else would you like to say to the readers of The Hard Data?
I’ll be waiting for you all!
Tonegenerator: Interview from Trauma: Harder Styles Tour 2016
Antonio Medina is one of the finer up-and-coming US Hardstyle producers on this tour. Represented by Denver Hard Dance, this man will finally be able to unleash his talent upon the world in such a fashion that our foreign counterparts will remember that Tonegenerator is one name to certainly pay attention to in the rise of the US Hard Dance scene. He drops his knowledge at the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016 in Denver, Colorado on February 20, 2016.
What inspired your stage name?
It’s funny cause I had gotten the idea from the show 1,000 Ways to Die where some guy used a “tonegenerator” from the army to make “drug music” and ended up reaching frequencies that gave him brain hemorrhaging.
Were you a DJ first, or a producer?
I became a producer first. I got into production in 2011 and became serious about it in 2012.
How did you get into the scene?
I got into the scene when I first connected with DHD (Denver Hard Dance) and sent them my music. They liked what I had to offer!
What was the first record you ever purchased?
The first record I bought I think was Headhunterz – The Power of The Mind
Who was the biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?
My biggest inspiration was and still is Headhunterz. I was amazed at the sound design and how atmospheric the music was.
Would you describe your very first DJ gig?
My first gig was incredible; nervous at first, not a huge crowd, but it felt great to play the music I love.
What was your favorite party you ever played? Why?
My favorite so far is Hard Asylum, from April 2015. The atmosphere and the crowd were amazing; they really love Raw Hardstyle down there.
What was the funniest moment during any of your performances?
Funniest moment was when I did a tag team set with Audity & Deoxy; the stage split down the middle!
What important changes have you witnessed from the time you got into the scene, until now?
The amount of local people getting into Hard Dance. It has grown so much over the years that there’s more and more people coming to the shows; it’s great seeing it go from a small amount to the venue being practically full.
What are you looking forward to most on this tour? – What stop are you looking forward to most?
Getting to share the stage with the biggest names in Hardcore and Hardstyle such as Digital Punk, Partyraiser, Meccano Twins, just to name a few. And I would love to see every stop but for now looking forward to Denver, Colorado.
What made you want to start producing Raw Hardcore/Hardstyle/Rawstyle music?
Discovering Raw Hardstyle was the best thing ever. The amount of energy and aggressiveness the kicks and leads had amazed me. It made me want to try and do the same and I still continue loving it and producing it.
What is your favorite track that you have produced?
It would have to be ‘Dead Skies’. I put a lot of time and thought into the structure and sound design. I’m very proud of its outcome..
What advice would you give to up-and-coming Hardcore/Hardstyle producers?
Be confident in your work and don’t be afraid.
Have any of the artists on the Trauma tour ever inspired your work? If so, how?
I would say Digital Punk. His work is amazing and the creativity in his tracks is what makes me want to try diverse stuff in mine.
What are your top 3 tracks of all time? Why?
- The Machine & The Geminizers – Godcore – Its energy and driving force is pure gold.
- Atmozfears – Release – It’s a euphoric track but the emotion in its entirety makes you feel alive!
- Headhunterz – The Power Of the Mind – This will always be my favorite. Because of this track, I am where I want to be in my music career; I never would’ve thought of being in this moment if it weren’t for that track.
What was your favorite track of 2015 (that wasn’t your own)?
Of Verona – Zero Gravity (B-Front Bootleg). Everything in this track is perfect to me. From the reverb to the melody, to the kicks, the synths, the vibe and emotion. This track really stood out for me; huge sound!
Are there any exciting projects or gigs coming up that you want our readers to know about?
Yes! I have a few tracks lined up that just need some touch ups so they can be released some time soon. Also, a kick edit I made of Code Black – Predator will be given away! There are a few more gigs in the months to come but the info will be released in time; I don’t want to mention anything just yet.
What artists would you like to collaborate with that you haven’t already?
I had a few in mind: Mrotek, Arctus, The Wicked, Vigor, Qlarity, and Imperium. I would love to work with these guys in the near future.
If there’s anything we haven’t asked, what else would you like to say to the readers of The Hard Data?
Stay tuned for my releases to come and I hope I get to see all of you at Trauma!