mate seriously, come on, im a cocky bastard and even i wouldnt tell someone else they dont understand their own question. And this isnt about me at this present time with what im up to, i have my own mind musically and i know where im going and what i want out of my music

i totally get what u mean, but im not talking about that whatsoever.

I am asking people if they have had that moment when they've been in their studios working on tracks, presumably quite happily and content, when they've suddently realised what they are doing sounds suspiciously like one of their fave artists or particular records, and where do you go from there? Whats the next step?

I can admit this has happened to me when i started out, there's no shame whatsoever in it, everyone needs influence in practically everything they do unless they are someone genuinely original and groundbreaking. I remember a few times when ive been working on stuff and half a track throught its dawned on me that it is just toooooo similiar to a certain artist or record, and this, for me, was the point when i'd have to put my own personal ego and ambition to the side and rethink what i was doing. Like i say, no shame in this at all, because, again for me, it stems from a complete passion for certain artists music and what it has done for me and what it means to me

im not asking "how many of you sit down and actively copy your fave artists, and why, and how, and what do you do from there?"

i totally get your point and even agree to the extent that yes, it is technically copying, but the point of realisation wasnt reached through a concious effort to sound like something or someone else, but was merely your passion for certain music coming through TOOOO much, subconciously, and was only apparent at a point when several hours had been, effectively, wasted creating the music up to that point

Crime made a great point which backs it up entirely about his friend who refuses to listen to any other techno except his own output, and, in Mark's view certainly, creates some of the most original stuff he's heard, which to me summarises everything i mean

im not taking pot shots at anyone or anything like that, im simply asking the question can too much influence be a bad thing and why? What im not asking is "is copying a bad thing and why" because, quite clearly, that answer is already widely known. Or certainly should be