Mark EG - My Year In Hard Dance

What's been your biggest achievement of the year?

I think my biggest achievement was winning the hard dance award for the fifth time at the Hardcore Heaven Awards this year. I don't prostitute myself on the net begging people to vote for me like so many other DJ's so it came as quite a surprise. It kind of annoys me that with most awards or polls, you can actually tell people the size of your dick by sending out a load of 'Vote For Me Me Me' emails or spamming Facebook and people actually believe it. It's an X Factor mentality that has nothing to do with music. So winning this award was a proud moment indeed.

What moments will you never forget?

There's no single moment that stands out in my mind cause there have just been so many but ripping off some girls trousers and consequently spending all night in a tutu springs to mind. Actually nearly getting thrown off stage by security mid set @ Creamfields was pretty memorable.

Who's been your favourite newcomer of the year?

In hard dance, this year (2009) it's probably been Therarecords run by DJ Thera. They don't release vinyl but every other week there's something out from them on the underground circuit and it all ranges from really tech-influenced trance to full on hardstyle. I suppose it's the range of music that has impressed me so much. As for techno, well it is undoutably A Paul's year, with more releases on his own labels than you can shake a stick at.

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

That is a ridiculous question. Every single month I have a new favourite producer. The very fact that technology is changing so rapidly means that new talent is coming up all the time. Of course there's all the old names that all know and love but for me the key is to find the new ones - and there's soooo many out there if you look!

What's been your favourite label of the year?

For hardstyle, probably Scantraxx. For hardstyle/hard trance probably Therarecords. For electro International DJ Gigolo. For techno Naked Lunch. For acid techno, Stay Up Forever. For dubstep and grime, Planet Mu. OMG I could go on and on and on.

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

Another ridiculous question lol. Every week I have another favourite track! This week it was Chris Liberator's 'What Ya Gonna Do?'. Last week it was Nomad's 'Oceans' and the week before that it was the new Monolake 'Silence' album. Today it was the sound of my new Bosch SDS Drill that I'm using to redo the bathroom.

What's been your favourite event of the year?

Creamfields and a set in the middle of nowhere in a Russian forest for techno kings Hardline 77 really stand out. But honestly, I don't think I've disliked one single event this year.

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

See above. Whether it's sticking two fingers up to the establishment or showing your pimply white arse on stage to the horror of the crowd, everything I do has an underlying humour to it. It's that not taking yourself or your life too seriously that keeps me getting up in the morning.

What do you have planned for the next year?

To keep doing what I'm doing as far as my DJing goes. I've got involved as Editor for a magazine called Core (www.core-mag.net) so I'm gonna be doing alot with them and I'm really gonna hammer the studio output too.

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