My Year In Hard Dance
Andy Rise & Matt Pickup
What tune has defined this year in hard dance for you?
That is such a hard question to answer because last year brought some absolute classic tracks that will be in most dj's boxes for a long time. The quality of the production has been amazing, proving not only the big boys can produce the dance floor magic. 2007 has seen a lot of up and coming producers like Tom Parr, Riggsy & Jon Bw make some outstanding tracks that have turned dance floors across the uk and abroad inside out. We really do think that it is exciting times in the hard dance world; the music is of the same quality if not better than the early 90's so we are really looking forward to what is too come in 2008.
What has been your biggest achievement of the year?
It's been a really good year this year for both of us with the launch of our two download labels Hard up Digital & Hard up Funk. I know Andy would say Frantic 10th Birthday @ KoKo, London was a big achievement playing such a special milestone event (I know that coz he rang me straight after his set in Ibiza). For me this year a big achievement was making my debut in Ibiza was amazing to fly out and play to a pack crowd. It's been a very busy year last year for me and Andy playing 88 sets which is an achievement in itself with both of us being under no Management. Let's hope 2008 will be just as kind.
What moments in the last year will you always remember?
Been so many brilliant memory's and moments from 2007 & so many road trips and service stations visited along the way. But a set that will always stick out in both our minds from this year would have to be Sundissential 11th birthday. The room we played in was empty when we first went on but after 3 or 4 mixes it was rammed & the atmosphere was Amazing. Something that we will both remember forever was New Years Eve 07/08. We were playing at frantic at 1-2 and we arrived in London at 10pm not realising, because we are northern about the Thames firework NYE traffic. We basically got stuck in gridlock with 1 million people ascending on London near Vauxhall bridge for 3 1/2 hours because all the roads were shut off. Ended missing half our set! Luckily we got to play the last half hour too though so it made it a bit better.
What exciting things do you have planned for next year?
2008 has started off really exciting and has gone off with a bang, so far we took Frantic to pieces and matt smashed main room at GoodGreef/ Sundissential NYD. We have also got a new residency 5 times a year at a new night overseas in northern Ireland and it is looking like there will be a few more overseas sets before the year is out. There is also a lot of studio time pencilled in for this year too along with we have got some great releases due on vinyl & on both our digital labels. So keep your eyes peeled for Pickup & Rise's hard dance extravaganzas because if 2008 is as good as 2007 it's going to be a good year.
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