djOpel - My Year In Hard Dance

What's been your biggest achievement of the year?

Playing at a Tidy event. In the 9 years ive been djing, ive always wanted to play a Tidy event. Being from overseas (Canada), its very difficult to break into a foreign scene, and play at top events. Ive been very fortunate, and playing at Tidy was a huge highlight of 2009 and my dj career. Working with Defective Audio was a huge highlight as well. He is a legend, and i have followed his work for years. To finally be able to sit beside him, and work with him on creating music has been a huge highlight, and look forward to more!

What moments will you never forget?

Storm Halloween 666. One of the best parties ive been to, hands down. The whole night from beginning to end was amazing. Great people, great drinks, great djs.

Who's been your favourite newcomer of the year?

I feel like im a newcomer hahaha But i would have to say Ann Tsoulli. She can really crank out the jams, and she always has plenty of my tunes in her mixes, so she cant be all bad, right?! She will be one to watch out for in 2010!

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

Defective Audio keeps cranking out the hits. Ive had to opportunity to work with Dom a few times now, and he is an absolute genius. I love the work he does, and my sets are always crammed full of Defective Audio tracks.

What's been your favourite label of the year?

Deprivation. 100% JP and Jukesy have done amazing work with that label, and I am very proud to have releases with them. They have been very supportive in my efforts in the UK, and always have Deprivation tracks at the front of my cd wallet.

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

There have been soooo many good tunes that have come out this year, but Defective Audio's Psycho Rap was a huge standout for me. That hoover line in it is something else! Jimmy Dean's Kings of Filth is a very very very close second. First time i heard that at Storm, i was pushing people over to get at the dj booth to find out what track it was. Jimmy has been on fire with his production work, 2010 will be a massive year for him. I am very excited to have him back over in Canada with his XSTATIC & DEPRIVATION Present ' Masters of Hard House ' UK & World Tour.

What's been your favourite event of the year?

Storm Halloween 666. The Emporium is an amazing nightclub, and Jimmy has done a fantastic job to keep things rolling. I love Storm, and am willing to fly such a long distance even to just come and party. Long live Storm!

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

Missing my flight back to Canada after Storm 666. Wasnt funny at the time, but just comedy of errors that happened all day for about 6 hours leading up to me missing my check-in by 7 minutes. Everything from East Midlands Railservice having a train driver go AWOL, to a taxi driver getting lost, to Air Canada wanting me to pay for a new flight (but finally getting them to transfer me to a morning flight, thanks to my Air Canada status) At that point, i just got a hotel room, got room service and a bottle of wine and drank my sorrows away!

What do you have planned for the next year?

Many more trips to England. Playing the legendary RAINDANCE in February, as well as more Storm bookings. I have a few parties planned here in Canada as well, with Garbo coming back in January, Jimmy Dean returning in May for the XSTATIC & DEPRIVATION Present ' Masters of Hard House ' UK & World Tour, as well as JP and Jukesy back for a 3rd time in Canada on the XSTATIC & DEPRIVATION Present ' Masters of Hard House ' UK & World Tour as well. I have a LOAD of tracks coming out the next while on Deprivation, Fireball, Beat Ranch Digital (6 track EP!) and more! Can expect more production work from myself along with Defective Audio, Riggsy, Adz, Daley and more More MORE!

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