My Year In Hard Dance

Hard Dance Top Trumps

Gigs Played: 30+

Tracks Released: 15

Countries Visited: 5

Biggest Crowd Played To: 5000

Longest Set: 90 minutes live

Compilations Mixed: 1 work in progress

Click below for my top ten!

DiabloTraxx Collective

What's been your biggest achievement of the year?

Without a doubt, our biggest success this year has been the launch of the DiabloTraxx Collective Live PA - in less than 12 months from starting it up, we have headlined events across the UK, played to 5000 hard dance maniacs at the Bulldog bash, played peak time in the main room at the last ever Tasty and securied international appearances in Australia, Ibiza, Finland and beyond!

What moments will you never forget?

Walking up the ramp onto the stage at the Bulldog Bash just before our set and the total sensory overload that came with it was amazing - a huge soundsystem thundering out the previous set, 5000 mad ravers, the heat, the noise, the lights - priceless! Another major highlight for us was playing the last ever Tasty - a totally insane crowd, one of the best live sets we've ever played and just a wicked party vibe!

Who's been your favourite newcomer of the year?

Can we pick 2? Well we are doing anyway! Helen G and Mike Avery have both been fantastic this year, consistently rocking dancefloors across the country.

Who's been the artist of the year for you?

Can we say Rob O.T.T? That's only fair seen as he's been the powerhouse behind so many of our releases this year! Other than Rob, Gaz West has been a firm favourite for us this year with so many awesome an unique releases.

What's been your favourite label of the year?

Well obviously DiabloTraxx but after our own beloved label it has to be Technikal Recordings.

What do you think has been the best track of the year?

Rob O.T.T 'Requiem' - we feature it in every live PA, almost a year on and it still consistently batters the dancefloors every time!

What's been your favourite event of the year?

Tasty 7th birthday at Mass

What's the funniest thing that's happened to you?

Easily has to be a bizarre incident on route to Tasty's 7th birthday. Somehow we ended up being chased through Kilburn by a mental Nigerian in an old Mercedes, Paul and Rob in the front of the car, Ajay in the back desperately trying to restrain various keyboards, stands and other bits of live gear, while this madman tried to ram us off the road! Luckily we made it there in one piece!

What do you have planned for the next year?

We're just in the process of setting up the Aussie side of the label to partner with more artists 'down under', tons more quality releases, to continue hunting out and helping develop the new wave of artists in our scene and to try and get a little more rest than in 2008!

Hard Dance Awards