Tag Archives: Tim Shopp

Here we go guys! The countdown to Gabberfest 2016 (June 18th-19th, EDC Weekend) has officially commenced! Hardcore delegates from all over the country will converge on the Hard Hat Lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada to witness the grand spectral display of the American hard dance scene and the Hard Data will be bringing you face to face with the artists chosen to represent their home state(s) because you “can’t know your friends from your enemies until the ice breaks”!

Tim Shopp, Middletown, New Jersey, will be playing at Gabberfest 2016, EDC Weekend, June 18th-19th, Las Vegas Nevada! — Tim Shopp, representing New Jersey at Gabberfest 2016!

First up, is 21 year old uptempo hardcore producer TIM SHOPP from Middletown, New Jersey.

How did you decide on your stage name?

When I first began I honestly had no idea what I was going to do for a name; the usual thing was to use some type of cool word or make something up, but I didn’t want that. I always wanted to be known for me, so I then decided (after a couple goofy names) that I was just going to be me (Tim Shopp)!

How did you start producing/DJ’ing?

When I was little for Christmas one year I actually got a cool little toy that you could hook your iPod to and scratch songs you played. Then eventually I turned to computer software, and continued the “upgrading” to where I am now. The learning is still not over, because recently I’ve decided CDJs can only allow so much so I’m actually learning “live performance” so I can do that in the future! As for producing: there was a point where I knew playing other people’s music was fun, but I knew I wanted to play MY own music. So I eventually picked up Ableton, and with some devoted time and effort, here I am!

How did you get interested in the harder styles?

It all started with listening to happy hardcore actually! My first obsession was DJ S3RL and from there I just kept digging deeper and deeper into the music until I found my true love for “Uptempo” hardcore and terror! Of course there is always my other obsession as well known as speedcore/extratone.

What changes have you noticed in your local rave/hard dance scene since you started?

Well as for my home state (New Jersey) we truly don’t have any music scene left from what I see. My second home (New York City) will always have my heart, but recently not much has been going on. We went from constant shows every weekend to hardly ever anything going on. When we do have shows, the crowds are always promising and dedicated so the wait is well worth it. No place like home!

What do you think about the current state of harder styles in America?

My bias opinion: Needs more hardcore! (laughs) As for the scene itself: it is truly amazing to see it evolving more and over the last couple of years! One thing I do have to say is I’ve noticed less support for the locals and more focus mainly on what European act is coming. A good headliner is always promising don’t get me wrong, but I believe that if we want to evolve the scene to what we all want, we need more support for the locals who have the ability to lead the next level of everything! I feel as if we just expect to get our own Defqon, Qlimax, MOH etc., but most won’t even go out on the weekend to see a show unless there’s some huge European name on the lineup. I just want to see more people invested because of the music, not just because there’s a Dutch act in town.

Tim Shopp, Middletown, New Jersey, playing at Gabberfest 2016, EDC Weekend, June 18th-19th, Las Vegas Nevada! — Tim Shopp artist logo.

What are you trying to convey through your music? Are there any themes or ideas that are important to you? Is there anything in particular you find yourself wanting to communicate to the audience?

Chaos. Chaos, chaos and more chaos! Being a metal head and beat down fan, I try to bring those elements into my sets and music. There’s something about chaos and insanity I find very interesting.

Do you have anything special planned for the event (b2b set, all vinyl, live PA, guest performers/dancers etc)? Original productions?

Well me and the Gabberfest crew have been waiting for this day to come! I always said I would do something special my first time, and sure enough Gabberfest will have the first world premiere of “Extreme Team!” that I can guarantee will blow minds. For my solo set of course plenty of new music from me! B2b sets, well anything can happen at Gabberfest…

Is there anything you want to say that we haven’t asked you about yet? Do you have any upcoming projects or tours to promote, or anything special or shout outs you want to say?

2016 has already been a huge for me. So first and foremost I just have to thank everyone who’s been behind me since the start and especially recently! I will be playing all over the USA this summer on my mini tour, and I even have a show in The Netherlands! On top of all that, huge collaborations with some major artists as well. I will let that be a surprise for you all!

Be sure to follow TIM SHOPP on his social media and be up front and center to catch his solo set along with the debut of “Extreme Team!” in six weeks time at GABBERFEST 2016!

www.facebook.com/TimShoppOfficial

www.twitter.com/@Tim_Shopp

www.soundcloud.com/timshopp

Articles, Daybreaker, Events, Reviews

Frontliner SELLS OUT Apocalypto in Las Vegas!

April 22, 2016 Daybreaker

As if we needed any more evidence that hard dance music is taking over in 2016; Frontliner was set to headline Apocalypto this last Saturday at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and the event SOLD OUT! “I couldn’t be happier to see hard dance thriving in Las Vegas!” says Matthew Levin, who gave all of his ambition in making sure of this outcome. What was most exciting was showing up about an hour before the show, absorbed by the empty room, witnessing the amount of prep that it takes up to the very last minute to make sure an event like this goes off without a hitch, then suddenly: show time! And watching that once empty room fill to the brim in a matter of minutes like a pilsner beer glass.

Kung Pow at Apocalypto, Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas, NV. Photo courtesy of Set the Tone Photography. — Kung Pow at Apocalypto, Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas, NV. Photos courtesy of Tone Martinez. Set the Tone Photography.

The night started off with local Vegas vets Joji (who spins a hard dance monthly at the Phoenix Bar to 100+[people]), Jack Spaidz – who is to psytrance what System Malfunction is to hardcore [in Vegas], and Kung Pow – my second favorite act of the night – a multi-genre DJ who can make anything sound incredible, together or separate. Arriving early is very important, because believe it or not, you’re missing out on a lot of pure talent, and since I’ve been witness to this it makes me feel that Vegas DJs are vastly overlooked.

Frontliner took the stage to a thunderous roar and conducted an interactive set filled with popular antics to interact with the crowd. It was a fun, uplifting set, and if you know this artist well, even his euphoric tracks have a certain roughness to them. As he moves from ‘Shivers’, to the Defqon.1 anthem ‘No Guts, No Glory’, Frontliner never dampens the energy he creates. But there is still one question that remains… who were those guys in the masks?

The debut of RVLTN Black at Apocalypto, Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas, NV. Photo courtesy of Set the Tone Photography. — The debut of RVLTN Black at Apocalypto, Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas, NV. Photos courtesy of Tone Martinez. Set the Tone Photography

This night, we also witnessed the debut of a new Las Vegas tag team: RVLTN Black! Two insane, rowdy rough boys who unleashed rawstyle/uptempo hardcore to the crowd in a quickfire blitzkrieg. They even dropped American terrorcore producer Tim Shopp’s track “Terror Squad”, at which point the taller member of the duo grabbed the mic from the MC and yelled “when this track drops, someone fucking bleeds!” Of course, it was inevitable that a mosh pit was to ensue, and with an ear to ear grin, I couldn’t help but take part. What a show!

A huge thank you goes out to Matthew Levin and the entire Ravealation crew for making this event possible and for making the trip from Utah well worth it. Las Vegas has a seriously dedicated crowd to the harder styles so make sure that they stay well fed and nurtured.

Family photo with Mc Sik Wit It. Photo courtesy of Set the Tone Photography. — Family photo with Mc Sik Wit It. Photos courtesy of Tone Martinez. Set the Tone Photography.

Articles, Reviews

Field Report 7: Trauma Live’s Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

February 29, 2016 DJ Deadly Buda

The final stop of Trauma’s Harder Styles Tour touched down in Brooklyn Saturday night. As anticipated, the venue was packed with attendees bouncing off the walls. Right off the bat is was amazing to see Lenny Dee and Rob Gee on their home turf, in the borough that made them worldwide names. Rob Gee played his greatest set on the entire tour, and frankly it might have been the single most uplifting and inspiring set –of all sets—on the tour. Rob Gee has always had something special with audiences, but Saturday night in particular he hit a resonant melody with the audience who were 100% in sync with his hardcore vibe.

Dj Deadly Buda at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn — DJ Deadly Buda at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

But, I’m getting ahead of myself, literally. Yours truly got to open up the night, and thankfully the sound-system was 100% on point, and there was already a crowd ready to rock. I got a chance to bust out some of my favorite tracks from the Next Cyclone label, which are rarely played, and the crowd was well into it. I also got to spin on 4 decks at once, an infrequent pleasure at hardcore shows where oftentimes we are lucky to even be using modern CD-Js!

DJ Stefanie at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

After I did my stuff, Reactor and Pulsators hit the decks and rocked the crowd with some hardstyle, leading up to the night’s headliner, DJ Stefanie. Basically, she tore it up, showing the USA why she is a big favorite in Europe and even showcased one of her latest tracks. I had the pleasure of filming her live feed on Facebook for the first half hour too. Most of her set it could be seen worldwide!

Lenny Dee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Next up was Lenny Dee. As always, it’s a pleasure to see Lenny Dee rocking it in his own backyard. The tough industrial sounds had the ravers rocking to and fro. Hardcore historians know that Lenny Dee might be considered the original hardcore DJ of which we know in the modern era, and to see him in his element, where the sounds were heard that would later inspire the world, was truly moving. He was followed by his frequent partner-in-cacophony, Rob Gee.

Tim Shopp at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Satronica then hit the decks and continued the holiday of hardcore that had taken over Brooklyn’s legendary club Verboten, leading to up-and-coming, Tim Shopp, who did double duty on the main stage and the second room, keeping the crowd busy the entire night. Tim tore the cap off a shaken pop-bottle of speedcore madness that drove the crowd wild, giving a sneak preview of the coming wave of American Hardcore.

Rob Gee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Initially looking back on the tour at this early stage of reflection, I think there were tremendous gains made for the American hardcore EDM/Techno scene. Whereas the crowds were not sell-outs, they were decent and more importantly, everyone had a great, and sometimes life changing time. Dealing with music so much on an everyday basis, we music insiders often lose track of how important finding that new sound is to the concert goer… as we count the beans and talk the numbers. Sure, it’s an aspect that cannot be ignored, but ultimately life is remembered in experiences, and Trauma Live made sure to give people an experience they’ll never forget, and I can’t wait to see what happens to this scene next.

DJ Stefanie and Lenny Dee at Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016: Brooklyn

Articles, Interviews

Tim Shopp: Interview from Trauma: Harder Styles Tour 2016

January 27, 2016 Brandon Caballero

Tim, it’s been a long time coming, but looks like the people are finally gonna get a taste of your violence! You’re playing at the Brooklyn, NY stop of Trauma’s Harder Styles Tour on February 27, 2016. Tell me what this show means to you:

A long time indeed! I must say it feels so good to be able to announce such an awesome show. The moment I saw the announcement I truly couldn’t believe my eyes, and I can’t wait to be apart of it! This tour is going to be a HUGE step for American Hardcore and I can’t thank Trauma enough for hosting me in New York City, where my whole career started!

Tim Shopp is coming Feb. 27 to Brooklyn, NY on the Trauma Harder Styles Tour 2016. Get your tickets here and get a free subscription to The HARD DATA.

What can the people expect from a Tim Shopp set?

The best way I can explain it is “No boundaries”. I know some artists have these little bubbles of speed or styles they enjoy staying in (nothing wrong with that), but I like to do things a little differently. My two main production styles are Uptempo Hardcore and Terror, but I also dabble in Speedcore and Extratone (1000+ bpm). So I may start my set at 200+ bpm and by the end we’re around 2,000 bpm if I’m feeling it.

Tell me about the #BookTimShopp campaign:

Hahaha, oh goodness where, do I begin?! That was all the DHD (Denver Hard Dance) guys. As American artists, we are constantly supporting one another and always putting in good words for each other with promoters and such, and this is living proof. Truly it started as a joke, but then more and more people began to get behind it as a serious thing. Now every QSA post or hardcore post I see always has someone posting “#BookTimShopp” to try and get me into their city for a show. It’s pretty awesome now to see so much support from all over!

Tell me about where some of your inspiration comes from, and how it has influenced your work:

Everything has its own little inspirational “push” on me, from listening to live sets and getting an idea, or even getting out of the house and walking down near the beaches and just relaxing. My main source I will say though is my Death Metal roots. I have always had a taste for rough and insane music, so now I like to try and push that from within my own music to truly give people music that will make them go insane!

Tim Shopp’s Logo

Any DJ’s you’re particularly looking forward to working alongside for Trauma?

Oh the whole tour! It’s going to be amazing to stand next to all these legends, but the most near and dear to my heart are without a doubt SRB, Dr. Peacock, and Lenny Dee! SRB and Dr. Peacock have had a constant inspirational push for me, and Lenny is a true legend amongst the NYC Hardcore scene as well; it’ll be my pleasure to even be in the same room with the man who basically started it all for the NYC Hardcore scene.

Anything coming up personally or professionally for you that you would like to share with everyone?

Oh there is so much… but I can only say so much right now, haha! Main thing is my first release coming soon on Fucking Bastards! My track Terror Squad is going to hit hardtunes.com and that in itself is a dream come true! Fucking Bastards is, in my opinion, the top dog for my type of music, and it also has signed a lot of my friends so it’s a huge honor to be releasing with them! I can also promise it won’t be my only time.

Lastly, (I can’t say a lot yet about this) but I would just like to let all my West Coast fans know I’m coming for a visit in 2016… stay tuned!

Thanks for your time Tim, we look forward to catching you at the Brooklyn, NY stop of the Trauma Harder Styles Tour!

You can stay up to date with all of Tim’s latest projects here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimShoppOfficial
Twitter: @Tim_Shopp

Bookings: Tim.Shopp@gmail.com
Interviews: Tim.Shopp@gmail.com

SoundCloud: