M-Zone interview by Ikon

Check out my interview with M-Zone on UK-Scene -



M-Zone interview
Welcome to the Darkside!

IKON....just read the interview...MZone makes some good and interesting points in there...i like the fact that he doesn't agree with the idea of pigeon-holing there and to be fair i would consider all of those djs as hard trance although they do also play other styles (last time i saw sharkey he was playing complete head-twisting acid techno, but i'm not complaining!!).. it does sound like he is really trying to keep the scene the way it should be....healthy & underground (well anyone that's heard him play will know that!)...turning down gatecrasher sounds like a good move for the scene, but may be less cash for him...i know that gods kitchen have always got scot project on the bill these days...But cool, it was good to see an interview with the him... any plans for interviews with anyone else?

Yeah good interview Leighton. Some interesting points raised by M-Zone.



I think he contradicts himself a bit. Because first he says 'why the categories' in reference to a question, then he says Mark EG plays 'London Techno and Techno Trance'. Which is categorising isn't it ?



As far as I can see Mark EG plays just Techno + Trance. Being from London and into techno, I've no idea what London Techno is.

If im totally honest I wasnt really happy with a few of the responses i got. I think im some answers he makes some very valid and interesting points but i feel that he has misunderstood some questions and some of his answers aren't answering the questions asked.



For example -



{Question}Many Underground labels such as Overdose and Tracid Traxx are now massive mainstream labels and every Judge Jules wannabe is playing them. Do you therefore think there is still an 'Underground' Hard Trance scene and if so how can the Underground distance itself from the mainstream circuit.





{Answer}Don't really play them labels now, that was 1 or 2 years ago… Aren't they slow????

We've already moved to a new sound …. We are underground…



1. I wasnt asking him about what labels he plays, I used these labels as an example as they are former labels championed by underground DJ's (Such as M-Zone/Mark EG) But are now being cained by every 'Judge Jules wannabe'.



2. He has played many Overdose/Tracid in the past 1 or 2 years, i think i heard him play DJ Wag 'Cocaine' at the last North.



3. The actual question im asking is there is still an Underground Hard Trance scene and if there is how we can distance it from the commercial Hard Trance scene - He answers it kind of "We've already moved to a new sound …. We are underground" Yes, but how is what i wanted to know - what new sound?? Who is underground??



also this question -



"With most other big name Hard Trance DJ's concentrating on other styles i.e. Mark EG - Techno, Vortex - Tech-Trance, Sharkey + Energy - Freeform, that leaves yourself and

Cally + Juice as the only main 'Big name' DJ'S flying the flag for the Hard Trance sound, do you think it's time for some new blood to be introduced into the scene?"



Ok, if you read it properly im not pigeon holeing whatsoever - im just stating a fact and using DJ's and the styles they are now concentrating on more as an example! The actual question is if there is a need for new blood in the scene!!!



The DJ's I mention are all "big names" in the Hard Trance scene and they are all concentrating on different sounds at the moment - hence the styles listed after their names (I have even read on this very forum that Mark says he is concentrating on Techno at the moment!).



Dont get me wrong im not having a go at Mick at all, far from it! I just think that if he had read the questions and underdtood them fully then we would have had better answers (In my opinion).



Mark, if your reading this - would you be up for answering a few questions for UK-Scene???



Laterz



Ikon














Welcome to the Darkside!

it's a good interview but it's typical of Mick... he's so bloody modest, yet he always answers his questions like the has something to hide. FACT: Mick was one of the first people ever to play hard trance in the UK. FACT: Me and Mick are still playing hard trance but we don't play the same style as Jules... Yes we'll play a few H TRANCE things that perhaps Jules plays, but the whole mentalitly is different. He want's comercialism, we want underground... I'm sorry to speak on Mick's behalf but it's time he started to point this out...



Undergound is why we're both here now....



Commercialism is the death of our music...

I used to be a big m.zone fan years ago, haven`t heard much from him in the last 3 years so can`t really comment.

Yeah Mark I totally agree mate!



The point I was trying to put accross was that labels such as Tracid Traxx and Overdose were first played by Underground DJ's such as yourself, Mick, Andy etc etc but but once the 'Judge Jules wannabes' heard Jules himself or others such as Dave Pearce play them on the radio they went out and bought them themselves thus making them more 'commercial' orientated labels (this is also true with the crap they have been releasing recently).



I wasn't suggesting that You or Mick played the same style of Hard Trance as Jules I was merley using his name as an examlpe!



Hope this clears it up!



p.s - you didnt answer my question!

It seems a bit blinkered the interview in parts.



Especially with questions like this:



"With most other big name Hard Trance DJ's concentrating on other styles i.e. Mark EG - Techno, Vortex - Tech-Trance, Sharkey + Energy - Freeform, that leaves yourself and

Cally + Juice as the only main 'Big name' DJ'S flying the flag for the Hard Trance sound, do you think it's time for some new blood to be introduced into the scene?"



Are they the only big name DJ's "flying the flag" for hard trance.



I think not.

Oops......



Just read what I put, what I meant is that I don't recon Mzone, Juice and Cally are the only big names "flying the flag for hard trance". They maybe at North, Vibealite and Skelter.



But it depends which scene and city your in. I wouldn't count Juice and Cally as big, But that's because I'm in Leeds. It's all a matter of perspective.



(So ignore the "blab" post....my alchohol addled mind is doing me a disservice)



I do agree that new blood is needed within the scene.



The bigger nights should do this and lead the way as they can afford to do it.



It seems for the time being they are not.

Yes mate I understand what your saying but the Interview was mainly based around the underground scene - I.E North, Vibealite, Helter Skelter....etc...etc (Just as you say)



And to my knowledge the DJ's I list are the only 'Big names' (i hate that term!) I can think of!





Quote:It seems a bit blinkered the interview in parts.



Can you tell me where else you think the interview is 'blinkered'?

so that I can take it into consideration for any other interviews I do



cheers






Welcome to the Darkside!

Quote:I do agree that new blood is needed within the scene.

The bigger nights should do this and lead the way as they can afford to do it.

It seems for the time being they are not.



Its the same in every bloody genre, sub-genre, pigeonhole of dance music. There will always be little change in lineups at the big events and little oppurtunity for the up and coming. But i'd have to say that the hard trance scene is so much better than others in this respect. The people that have been playing these events for years (e.g. Sharkey, MZone, Mark EG) are still absolutely rockin' it and not distanced up their own arses. Plus you have North which I think is unrivalled in the way it strives to bring in djs from all over Europe and also throw in some new up and coming djs.

PS it says on the flyer for the next North that this will be the last one in the South!!Is this true?!?!