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Features
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| 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! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! |
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Jay Frog scoots into the UK: Part 2
Reported by michelle of the resistance
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Submitted 18-06-08 11:14
Continuing our exposé of the ex-Scooter man, Jay Frog, this week our correspondent delves deeper into his psyche, his music, his drive and of course more on his Scooter days.
Do you miss working with tits? What I mean is, having seen some videos on Youtube, the Scooter vids are pretty X-rated for the UK. You seemed to live most men’s fantasies and get paid for it. I could imagine several red blooded DJs I know having signed up just for that experience alone!
Well I’m still no gynaecologist but I can say that after reading the karma sutra backwards, forwards and sideways, I can work with a lot more than tits! Sorry that’s probably offended my female audience.
Well guess I could slap you for the comment and anyway don’t you just look at the pictures? But I am sure the guys will slap you on the back for living up to DJ stereotype and some girls may consider whether they should hang round the DJ box to see if they can check out your skills after the gig.
Hehe, all good points and no need for the slap, my manager probably will do it when she reads this, she will certainly put me in the sin bin for a week for being sexist! In the UK I believe most were censored and yes it was a boys own dream to be paid to be surrounded by gorgeous women.
I hear rumours of a charity DJ calendar, where they are expecting you guys to bear all?
I will pass on the piece of cake and up my gym sessions then in case I get asked, do you think I would be allowed to keep a strategically placed bit of vinyl?
A 12 inch?
I am too modest to answer that!
Getting back to a more serious note .Do you get people still saying play this track by Scooter. If so is that frustrating? The fact they don’t see you have moved on and changed direction?
Hmm. In the beginning was a bit frustrating, maybe more because I could not understand that some didn’t think it might hurt me. But now I have no problems with it. I had been a part for 4/5 years, building up their success so I take this as a compliment now.
Apart from that you moved very successfully into the house electro scene initially when electro started. DJs who did that were seen as bandwagon jumpers, electro was seen as a passing phase. As Jay Frog you are comfortably managing to straddle both genres, are you glad you rejected criticism and stuck to your guns playing both?
Yes I am. As you can see with godfather Deadmau5, trance and electro works fine together, so - if there is an event with both sounds on one floor - you can easily start from electro and move on to trance.
Your recent mixes have introduced a fusion of tech and trance. Do you feel your electro style is maturing?
Yes, I think so. Dance music is always developing and a good DJ should work with that. Sounds get better and there’s much more innovation and variety in the arrangements now which is reflected in my sets. For example electro and progressive house music uses more and more trance elements now and this is something I really like.
What do you see as the main difference between the German (indeed European scene) and the UK?
In my opinion the UK scene is moving faster, is more experimental and has a huge focus by radio DJs, even though I have read Radio 1 has cut back on dance, TV and print media. In Germany we only have a few radio stations playing club music and that’s really bad
So I would love it to be more like the UK. Spain is similar to the UK, playing a lot of dance music on the radio, that’s why the club scene works fine over there too. With trance, Germany was the cradle of trance and rejected its own sound leaving Holland to carry the torch we turned our back on some of the best producers in the world, for instance Cosmic Gate. They were so huge in Germany, now - after producing more credible sounds - they are nearly ignored over here. I can’t understand that.
You remixed Crossroads for Steve Morley an aptly name track as it came at Crossroads in your career, now the track is set for a new release with further mixes in Australia and New Zealand. London has a huge Australian and New Zealand trance based following (plus the South Africans), so as you’ll be going Down Under in the summer, are you going to use this as a warm up to build up good support there?
It’s nice to hear that I’ll be able to play to a great mixed audience, I always try to do my best so this will be a good set and maybe there are some clubbers I’ll meet again Down Under, this would really be something - getting their support and a huge compliment - of course if they remember me. Experiences from my gigs in Namibia, and South Africa makes me think this will be a great crowd.
Matt Cadman of AATW was quoted on the BBC as saying “As soon as you get inside the M25, it's like commercial dance music doesn't exist - and 95% of the national media is controlled from within the M25”. Do you think that’s negative and prevents people enjoying all types of music? That image has become more important than having a good time?
Well it’s nearly the same in Germany - like in Berlin. Can I say this? You get audiences that think they are too cool to shit (there goes any more Berlin bookings, hehe). It’s a pity if an audience feel it’s necessary to dance to the media’s tune rather than what they like.
I’ve come up against this in the past but I live for now and for the future, the past is over. I know in my eyes what I think is good music, which is what I am playing and producing right now and bad music. But everyone must make their own decision on what they want to hear, if you don’t like it change channel, there is room for all tastes, but to prevent people having a chance to listen to commercial club music is wrong in my opinion.
In light of the last question, Massive are no fools image wise, how do you feel that they are 100% behind you career wise?
It’s a really good feeling to know they trust me, it’s great to get the chance to play in the UK now and for that and many other small things I have to thank especially J @ Massive.[/b]
You are getting a chance to showcase both of your playing styles in June, are you looking forward to that?
Of course! I’m out to play two completely fresh and pumping sets of my favourite tunes, which hopefully will hit the right spot with the crowd. It’s not often you get to showcase yourself at one event, in a new location with two styles.
We’ve heard a preview of a track called Control, when can we look forward to the release of that, plus more JBF productions?
The original concept for the track was great, Steve Morley cut together a great remix, currently I’m reworking it with new vocals and a fresh set of lyrics, maybe darker, pushing the trance deeper, it should be finished summer. I’m currently moving to a new studio, this will be one of my first projects in the new setup and I’m looking forward to releasing it on Massive Trax
You recently produced a blistering electro track with Gordon (Disco Boys) under the project name Master & Servant - a cover of Depeche Mode’s classic 80's ode to the delights of bondage and S&M naughtiness Master & Servant. Despite it not having an official release in the UK it’s taken off. How does it feel that your tracks are becoming underground sleepers on the circuit here and do you intend to do another Master & Servant track?
We are working on the follow up, this project is for fun and we had a lot of fun last tour. Haha!
We bet you did!
We’re working on it step by step. But there will be a new Master & Servant single for sure and it’s good to know that UK DJs like my tracks, that’s great![/b]
Here at HarderFaster we are all up for a bit of naughtiness, so are you the master or servant?
Haha, no. We decided to be the Masters, the audience is the Servant. Those who aren’t dancing will be punished, har har har!
Massive is a breast cancer and Beats for Burma fundraiser. As a label they are non-profit. In an industry that can be notorious for looking after its own, how do you feel being involved with a non-profit company that involves itself in charity work?
What I believe is everyone needs something to eat and to live. Nobody can play or work for free all the time. What is great is Massive are running a business but handing over their profits for charity. I think that with my DJing, it’s a great opportunity to use my talent to help people in different ways, pledging the money, spreading fun during the set and maybe bringing people together. Every one gets something good from it .So I support the Massive event and what they are trying to do with all my heart.
Jay, pleasure talking to you!
Thank you for the great interview, I’m really looking forward to 20th of June and I hope you’ll all have your hands in the air during my sets. All the best to you.
Photos courtesy of Massive. Not to be reproduced without permission
Massive
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On:
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Friday 20th June 2008
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At:
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Hidden [map]
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From:
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22.00-6.00
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Cost:
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£10 EB £12 advance £15 on door
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More:
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MASSIVE TRAX BRINGS YOU A TOP INTERNATIONAL LINE UP FOR TWO GREAT CAUSES :
Supported by some of the best trance Djs in Europe Massive Presents a Breast Cancer fundraiser Plus in response to the cyclone disaster Beats for Burma
LIVE IT: BREATHE IT: TASTE IT: FEEL IT: HEAR IT : PURE TRANCE:
Tickets available all usual outlets: EB and VIP packages available at events@massive musicgroup.com
We ask you while you are waiting for our great event to please support any of the international aid agencies that are waiting clearance to enter Burma
Unicef.org
Oxfam.org.uk
Oxam.de
Redcross.org
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Flyer:
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Hard House. Tech House. Electro.
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DJ's:
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Lange
JON O BIR
Mike Koglin
Ali Wilson
DE LEON ( fka DUMONDE)
JBF
JAY FROG (kontor)
Ed Real
Steve Morley B2B with Jessica B
STEVE ALLEN AND Dj Ben Alonzi
Miles Gorfy (Harder Faster)
JAY STONE ( Ministry of Sound/Pacha)
Dj Erc (Resident Trance Generation)
Ajay and Rob O.T.T ( Diablo Traxx)
RUTH COOPER
MATT OAKEY
REORDER (Danceradio.gr)
GARETH WAX (Percussion)
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Other Features By michelle of the resistance:
Jay Frog scoots into the UK: Part 1
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.
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Comments:
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From: K8-e on 29th Jun 2008 22:47.50
Fantastic interview - great 2 parter. 
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