Energy Syndicate - My Year In Hard Dance

What's been your biggest achievement of the year?

2009 has been such a fast paced year for me & within the 2 years ive been working on the Energy Syndicate project, all of my biggest achievements have been crammed into the space of the last 12 months. Of all of them though i have to say that getting signed to AWsum as one of their new artist's for 2010 has to be the top of the pile. Andy Whitby has been very supportive of my music over the last few months which makes me feel honoured considering i have only been producing/engineering for just over 12 months.

What moments will you never forget?

There's been so many... Erm... Well, as mentioned above, getting signed to AWsum. Becoming a resident DJ for Blessed mid 2009, signing to Killer Trax as resident Dj for their events aswell as being in house producer for their digital label, signing to Encore Music Management as in house producer/engineer for Encore Hard. Winning the Ground Zero Project/Bounce 2 This Dj competition in January from which i played main room, peak time sets at 2 of their previous events to a 1000 strong crowd. Winning Phil Yorks Hard Beat Manifesto Dj competition, beating hundereds of competitors which got me a main room slot at their massive event in Leeds. Playing Frantic HDS in March, that was mindblowing. And last but by no means least, getting booked to play the main room at Frantics New Years Eve event, i'm soooo excited for that one.

Who's been your favourite newcomer of the year?

I have made alot of friends in the Hard Dance scene who are in the same boat as myself being a newcomer so this aint gonna be easy as i think theres so many highly talented new artists out there its scary. Putting it down to sheer raw talent, technical ability & the way he lifts the dancefloor everytime he plays, it has to be Dawson. Ive seen him play at loads of different events this year, at all different times of the night & no matter what, he knows just how to deliver everytime. For someone who has been mixing for such a short space of time as him, im amazed at how good he has become. His sets are always full of trickery, he hammers the FX but not to the point of being annoying, his mixing is always so tight & everything just seems to fit perfect. Recently ive heard some of his solo projects from his studio too & i have to say, he's taking to the engineering just as quick & i see really big things happening for him in 2010.

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

I dont think i could name just one, there are so many top Dj's out there who have really floated my boat this year, each in their own unique ways. Kutski i'd say for entertainment value, im always blown away by his sets being into turntablism myself. His Dj sets are always so diverse musically, from Hardstyle to Hardcore to Old Skool, he's great to watch. Andy Whitby for his style of music, he's top of his game in my opinion for groundbreaking DJ sets as they always contain so much energy, always full of top remixes, cheeky bootlegs & the new material he playes is always so far out in front of anything else out there. On the production front it has to be Technikal. Ive been supporting Alf's tracks for years now & for me they cant be topped, the production values of his tracks are so clean, fresh & always full of new tricks & ideas.

What's been your favourite label of the year?

AWsum ! I love bounce & have followed its success from day one & it has totally inspired the music i write today.

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

No competition here ! Xinetd D - Propaganda (Mda & Spherical remix) When i first heard this it sent shivers through me like nothing ive ever heard. Its such a simple track with a massive impact with its pounding kick drum, meaty bassline & that lead just lifts hands the second it kicks in. I'll be playing this for months to come, it has classic written all over it.

What's been your favourite event of the year?

I dont get the chance to attend many events as a clubber anymore due to my own gigs & the god damn day job but of the few i managed to go to, the best was AWsumsexual at Air in Birmingham. I was an Air virgin until i went there & that just blew me away. Top line up & a wicked venue, i got to see so many artists that i had previously never seen before who totally rocked it. Best event i played at has to be Bounce 2 This in April, they took it back to the Sanctuary for a one off & i was lucky enough to be playing peak time in the main room to around 1000 clubbers. I'd even go as far to say that was my favourite gig of my career so far.

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

Funny yet embarassing... I was playing a set at B.O.U.N.C.E in Norwich, half way through my set the promoter entered the booth & initiated a conversation with me which ok, was'nt anything out of the ordinary but i'd had a couple of drinks prior to me playing. I'd just finished mixing out of a track & semi deep in conversation i turned to the CDJ to eject the disc.... oops... wrong one ! The club went silent for a few seconds & out came the cheer's from the clubbers. Carried on as usual & really anjoyed the set but i felt like a right boob at the time with my "school boy error".

What do you have planned for the next year?

First & foremost, to improve on my production skills & help push the new AWsum Bounce label as hard as i can. With the label branching off into 7 different avenues of Hard Dance i'll also be contributing towards the remix packages from various tracks of each sub genre putting my own unique touches to them. I will also be releasing alot of my own stuff & remixing for Killer Trax which im very excited about, they have some big plans for 2010 with regards to the label. On the Dj front im going to be continuing my residencies for Blessed & Killer Trax, these brands are constantly growing & i really enjoy playing for them on a regular basis & i feel privileged to be a part of the team. I have managed to secure some Dj sets at a few festivals in the summer which will be a first for me & im really looking forward to playing them. AWsum are going to be hosting many events in 2010, both solo & joint events aswel as tours which will hopefully give me the oppertunity to push my own sound even further & help promote the brand on a whole. Other than that im hoping to also play for some of the newer brands in Hard Dance & i would like to bag a few gigs outside of the country.

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