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Features Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022!

Interview with Tara Reynolds Reported by tom / Submitted 28-01-03 11:35 2002 was a huge year for Tara Reynolds... signed to Tidy's management agency, mixed one CD of the huge selling Insomnia series, co-produced the anthemic 'Ignite' on Impact records and amongst other huge gigs played a widely acclaimed closing set at Timeless. We asked a few questions to see what the First Lady of London Hard Dance had to say about her year and plans for 2003: HarderFaster: Firstly Tara, what was it that made you decide to get into the whole DJing thing? Was there anything in particular that made you take to the decks? Tara Reynolds: I suppose the catalyst was when a friend of mine, Lee, bought decks and started mixing and it made me think "if she can do it, maybe I can too..." Up until that point it hadn't occurred to me that I might be able to do it! HF: Since then we've seen you go from playing the second room at Frantic's at Camden to headlining at Timeless... from the outside it's seemed like a smooth progression, but from your perspective how easy has it been getting to your position? TR: It hasn't been easy – I don't think anything to do with DJing is easy! – but I guess its been a natural progression: from playing early in the second room, to later sets in the second room, to main room. It's taken me almost two years to get main room sets so I don't think I've had it any easier than anyone else. HF: You must have been delighted with your recent signing to Tidy... was it a big surprise when they approached you? How did it all come about? TR: Scott Cooper, from Vicious Circle, worked for Tidy Management for a while and it was his idea to sign me. At first I don't think it sunk in, and I didn't really get any bookings through them for the first few months. Tidy London in August was when it all started to happen for me. After that I was asked to mix Insomnia 3 and the agency started to push me a lot more, which meant getting gigs outside of London. HF: While you're signed to Tidy you're also a regular feature at Frantic events in London... presumably there is a conflict of interest there especially with the upcoming Tidy events in London. How do you plan to deal with clashes in bookings and so on? TR: I guess there's going to be nights when Tidy clashes with Frantic events, however there is no animosity between Tidy and Frantic so clashes will be worked out in the normal way, i.e. to liaise with both promoters to ensure I am booked at times that allow me to get from one to the other, and at a time that works for both promoters. HF: Any plans to give up the day job just yet? What will be the criterion for when/if you do? TR: I would LOVE to give up my day job but its not an option at the moment. I will give it up when I have reached a position where I am earning a certain amount of money each weekend – there's no point living in London and being broke! Although giving up work altogether is a long way away, I am hoping to work part-time in the near future. HF: Your collaboration with Steve Blake, 'Ignite' finally reached the record store shelves recently on the Impact label... has that had a significant effect on raising your profile? TR: It's hard to say. So much has happened in the last six months that its probably a combination of things that have raised my profile. The release of Ignite is just one of those things. I'm sure it has helped though – production is probably the best way to raise your profile. HF: Still on 'Ignite' - do you ever play Daniel Ro's mix on the flip or exclusively your own mix? TR: I have played Daniel's remix a couple of times. Would you believe that I don't actually own a copy of Ignite! I have had several but keep giving them away to other DJs! I will have to go and buy another one...! HF: Was it you that chose Daniel to do the mix or was it the labels (ie Phil and Steve's) decision? TR: It was Phil and Steve's decision, although they ran it by me first. HF: Can you tell us about some of your upcoming releases and anything else you have in the production pipeline for 2003. TR: My next release will be The Explanation with Ali Wilson on Freezing Point. We are due to do a b-side in early March. I have recently done a track with Paul Maddox for release on Tidy, however again we need to do a b-side, plus we want to change a couple of small bits of the tune we have already done. My next two new projects will be with James Lawson and Todd Tobias, plus I have set myself the arduous goal of learning how to use our studio at home. I want to be able to produce a tune on my own by the end of the year. HF: Who's production are you most liking at the moment? TR: Paul Maddox, James Lawson/Edison Factor, Olly P and Ashley Sinclair, perennial favourite BK, Ali Wilson and S.H.O.K.K. HF: What is it about a tune that will make sure it finds a place in your record bag? TR: First and foremost it has to have lots of energy. Whether I play hard house, hard trance, techno, or whatever, the tunes that I play have to have loads of energy. It also has to be well-produced and it has to be a record that I would love to dance to myself. HF: At the last Hard House Academy there were 24 DJs of which only one - you - was female. Why is it that female DJs are such a rare breed? TR: That is a very interesting question... one to which I don't know the answer! I have often discussed this with people and nobody seems to know why. I suspect it’s a number of factors, one of which could be that females have to work that much harder to prove themselves – I have often hard comments like "she's only successful because she has big tits/is pretty/etc" so there's the stigma that female DJs aren't any good, they only get sets because of their aesthetic appeal. In turn, because there is a lack of female DJs it means there is a lack of role-models for aspiring female DJs to look up to. It's such a tough industry and people are so critical, maybe a lot of females don't think they would be able to handle the criticism they may cop. Perhaps now though with there being more female DJs at the top, like Lisa Lashes, Anne Savage, Lisa PinUp, etc we may see more female DJs coming through over the next few years. HF: In your opinion is it easier for a female or a male DJ to make it as a successful DJ in the hard dance scene? TR: In my own experience, I've found it an advantage being female as it makes me stand out. As for making it as a successful DJ, a DJ has to have something special and something that makes him/her stand out, so males can make it as easy as females as long as they're different to everyone else. I have to admit though that I would hate to be a male DJ in London trying to break through at the moment because it is so cut-throat and with 99% of new DJs being male its that much harder to stand out. Females possibly have a slight advantage, but then again they can be subjected to the sexual discrimination which I referred to in the last question. HF: What do you think is the most important quality for an up and coming DJ to succeed in this industry and why? TR: They have to have something different and not just be like every other DJ – they have to stand out from the crowd. Also, they have to be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices and be very committed to succeeding as a DJ. Networking is important – the gigs aren't just going to roll in to your lap. It's not easy and it takes ages to get somewhere and they have to be prepared for knockbacks and criticism. HF: What's been the biggest challenge so far for you in your career as a DJ? TR: I think its been trying to prove myself as a DJ in my own right, rather than just being "Tara Reynolds, Phil's wife". It's taken a long time but I think finally people recognise me as a DJ in my own right. Being with Tidy has helped as it separates me from Phil even more and also it means people can't say "Tara's only successful because of Phil" because Tidy are hardly going to sign me just because I'm married to Phil Reynolds! Just recently a number of people have commented to me that they think I've finally stepped out of Phil's shadow, which is really great to hear. HF: And what's been the biggest highlight of your career to date? TR: There's been a few that spring to mind... being asked to mix Insomnia 3 was a huge highlight; playing last set at Timeless in the main room at Camden Palace; playing at 96 Degrees and 3-30 in Durban; playing at Checkpoint Charlie in New Zealand (an amazing party in a forest – it was unbelievable!); being part of Tidy Management is a really exciting too. HF: Your tough playing style is distinctive from Phil's trancier style... was that a conscious decision to differentiate yourself from him or is it the harder tracks that you've always enjoyed more? TR: Both. I've always loved really hard music, but it was a conscious decision when I started DJing to have a different style to him. If I played what Phil played I would never get any respect as everyone would think I was just copying Phil's "winning formula". I love Phil's music but its not the music I want to play. HF: What's the reaction been like to your sets up North... have you been as well received there as down here in London? TR: It's been really good so far. The Northern crowds seem to like my music. Maybe its because I mix it up – I don't just play one style – so they get a fix of whatever type of music they're into. HF: One of your first and current residencies is U4RIA at the Cook - do you plan to continue that in the future? TR: Yep definitely. I will continue to play at U4RIA as long as I enjoy it. Some of my most enjoyable sets ever have been at U4RIA so I don’t have any plans to give it up yet. I am more involved than just playing – I book the DJs for U4RIA and I really enjoy that as it allows me to give newer DJs the opportunity to play out. HF: Do you think there are any genuine difference between the scene now and when you first started playing? TR: In London, there are definitely less parties than there were when I first started playing. Back then there were new parties popping up all the time. Fundamentally though, I don't think there are too many major differences. HF: What can we expect from Tara Reynolds in 2003? TR: Hopefully lots of my own tunes and collaborations. Also, if all continues to go well, you can expect to see me playing more and more, inside and outside of London and at higher profile events. HF: You've been booked for 'Digital Love', which is Frantic's collaboration with Cream and Nukleuz - how did you feel when you were booked for that? TR: I was floored, and then when I read the press release and saw the line-up and grasped the enormity of it all, I was absolutely amazed that I'd been chosen, and very honoured too. HF: Finally Tara, what are your favourite 3 dance tracks produced in 2002 ? TR: Vinyl Addiction – Mark Richardson and Phil Reynolds Ascension – BK and Dave Randall Tension – Paul Maddox HF: Thanks for your time Tara. Tara Reynolds plays at Hemisphere on Saturday 1st February at the Shepherd's Bush Empire - for full details click here. For more details on Digital Love click here. Relevant Links www.franticuk.com www.cream.co.uk With thanks to T-Bag and ClubBunny for the use of their photos Share this :: : : : Follow HarderFaster :: Other Features By tom: Interview with Guffy Interview with Energy Dai Interview with Anne Savage Interview with James Lawson Interview with the Knowwhere crew The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable. Comments: From: BigWetLettuce on 28th Jan 2003 21:41.12 Great interview of a great DJ. Tara, you're definitely out of Phil's shadow! Can't wait to hear the track with Paul Maddox From: ElusiveDJs on 29th Jan 2003 17:46.24 Very cool interview guys... thanks for that Tom. Nice to see some detail in her answers, and it certainly seems like she knows what she's doing. The one about the lack of female DJ's was interesting, will see if anymore start popping up and overtaking the guys!! From: Jason on 30th Jan 2003 22:23.33 Total respect to you Tara... There are very few Dj's out there that you can trust-but your well on the top of the list. Keep up the good work....! From: sallyp on 31st Jan 2003 05:33.17 Hey Mrs R Tears welled when I red this – not only do you look hot but your hotting up town like a fire starter. How far far away I am but your still my bitch. xoxox From: Simon Rutherford on 31st Jan 2003 11:04.13 Great work Tara. You've really flourished over the past 12mths and it's been fantastic to watch. I look forward to being there to watch it continue. Well done mate! xx From: bunny on 31st Jan 2003 11:13.15 Great interview Tom, good to get some of Tara's personal opinions on what's happening in the scene at the moment. Absolutely lovely lady too, very friendly + her talent speaks for itself + shows in how far she's progressed this year. Well done Tara! From: Lucy Fur on 3rd Feb 2003 13:24.56 You are an inspiration to us all x From: Tara Reynolds on 5th Feb 2003 22:05.29 Thank you thank you thank you for these wonderful comments everyone. Totally made my day and, like Sally, bought tears to my eyes!

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