SpadgePosted: about 18 Apr 2004recovered
Kenny M was interviewed by Hex for Rave Adelaide on the 16th of April 2004
This is the first in a series of many interviews Hex will be conducting for Rave Adelaide. The first cab off the rank is the one and only Scottish Hard dance DJ/producer Kenny M. Kenny M is the founder and label manager of Lit Up Records and took some time out to have a chat about various issues.
Enjoy.
Hey Kenny how you doing today?
Hi Daniel, I’m not bad mate, signed off work with a cold type flu thing but sure I’ll be ok for the weekend’s adventures.
Can you give us a brief history about yourself? How you got into dj-ing and the like?
I got in to dance music around 15 –16 when my big sis disappeared to travel round Europe with a free party sound system, Spiral Tribe, wondering what it was that made her do it I done a little research and found the reason.. Hard music!!
Before then I was listening to some hardcore tapes but nothing serious. I then got my first set of decks and basically let them gather dust whilst I spent my hard cash of clubs rather than tunes.
After seeing Karim play out for the first time I decided I want to hear more of that…(Didn't we all - Hex) so I decided to get buying records. Which is pretty mad considering my first ever proper gig was warming up for Karim in 2001.
image not archived: kenny1.jpg
Being the Founder, Producer and Label Manager for Lit up records can you give us a bit of an insight into what Lit up is all about?
Lit Up started when I was studying event management, I had to put on a club night, I named it Lit as my main love was dark music…. Still doesn’t make sense why it’s called Lit but that’s just me for ya. After the night a local radio station invited me and Dave Easton (my business partner at the time) up for a live mix (Fresh Air FM), whilst doing the mix we met Martin Saddler (now our in house web designer and engineer). After a few chats over some beers we thought yeh we may as well have a crack at this since there really isn’t any one in Edinburgh or Scotland doing this stuff.
Then came along Chris D, who’s probably now just as much involved as me. Chris used to run a night called Naked in Edinburgh and also played at super club storm, which is a quite a feat @ 17, he caught ear of what we were doing and asked if he could get involved. So there was now four of us talking about how we would change the scene etc. etc. dreams eh! haha
image not archived: kenny_chris.jpg
How do you feel the first few releases have been received by dj’s and audiences alike?
Yeh we were well pleased at how people took to the label, I think they seen us trying to do something different and give those up and coming producers the chance to get there stuff pressed, we didn’t just want to use up and comers but there stuff was some of the best we were hearing..
Hoover Bitch went well, with it getting plays from pretty much all the big players in the UK and OZ (Even myself - Hex). We were really happy that we got forgotten man Eufex on board, as he’s someone that’s seemed to have been discriminated against for having his own sound and sticking to it some thing we love about the man. Even still I’m still seeing it getting charted and it was released in Nov.
We have been really slow getting LUR002 out but we’re trying to get everything in place so we can start churning them out. We’ve taken flack for that.. but there’s no point chucking 5 tunes out and going bust due to lack of organization… we’ve got 7 releases lined up all ready that we feel will be big and want to make sure we’re able to cope with things especially since we all have full time jobs.
Are there any artists that you would love to have on your label?
Of course, The captain is someone we firmly have our sites on as him and Karim were probably my main influences, Weirdo as well, Lectrolux, Roosta, Banga Matt at some point, we’re already using Superfast Oz and Eufex so that’s them taken care of. I really want to use the first year trying out producers and then keeping it to a small number of regular producers, so see what this year brings and you’ll have a pretty good idea. What I don’t want to do is start using the same producers as every one else is…. No disrespect but seeing the same producers in peoples charts or mix’s does my head in, I don’t want to be putting tracks out that are by some one who already has 5 tracks out that month… whats the point.
Regarding new breed producers, Narc and Matt R are always keeping me interested and I wouldn’t be surprised if you see one or both on Lit Up in the near future, we’ve also signed a Ben Stevens track Turn It Up which I’m more than sure is going to be a monster, Jeff Sealey’s another that is really doing the business we’ve signed 2 off his tracks Feel The Bass and Serious Shit which have been both getting cained by some of the UK’s hard dance’s biggest names.
Any up coming releases you feel we should know about?
Apart from what I’ve mentioned above…… Eufex remix of Feel The Bass is a corker…. He’s ripped out his funky baselines etc and used this growler of a rolling bass line, taken the lead synth and used it underneath another one, which just adds bite and venom! On the flip of that will be Superfast Oz’s remix of Serious shit… he’s not started it yet but his first question was “I can go as hard as I want eh” surely a good sign.
Lit up 4 is due out soon what can you tell us about Aftermath’s vision?
Aftermaths Vision is a stomper of a tune, almost funky but with loads of hoover’s and fx to fuck your head right up… It’s getting a make over by Casper which we think will really compliment the tune as he’ll add his usual driving bass lines and probably pitch it up slightly but we’ll just have to wait and see.
It’s not the first time they have appeared on the label is it?
Nope your right it aint, LUR002 is Operation Green Ice and Too Hot, We chose these tunes as their really aint much of that about, nice building tunes with cheeky vocals and FX. What I like about Aftermath is their tracks always sound nice and full. I do like my minimal tracks but you have to be able to tell if the producer wanted it minimal or full… nothing in between. These guys are going to blow up this year with tracks coming out on Kaktai, 999 and Toolbox. So were glad we grabbed them when we did!
After having a quick browse around your site www.lituprecords.com, I’ve seen it’s had a recent up date, do you feel websites and message boards are essential to help promote the label?
Yeh gives you the opportunity to find out what people think and want…. And build a little following which is equally important… people want to feel involved with things and message boards and site do that.
Have you got any productions in the pipeline?
Yeh mate, just finishing one called 57C which I played out in London and the response was unreal, biggest reaction all night which made me well….. pretty happy. I wrote that one with Jeff Sealey and Chris D, will be out under the name lumin8, some labels have shown interest and it aint finished so will be looking forward to seeing what happens with that one….. it ooze’s darkness but with key changes that keep the crowd on their toes.
I’m also working on one with on of your guys Narc… he’s started it sent me it and I’m going to try and add my style to it to see what happens. Also working with Alex Calver in the near future but that’s still to be arranged.
image not archived: kenny3.jpg
What can we expect to hear when you venture to Australia for your up coming tour?
As some will vouch for on the board, depending at what time you see me it’ll either be very hard NRG or me talking utter bollox! Haha, Nah I’m coming over to play bak2bak with Chris D, our sound is mainly hard NRG lots of dark stuff mixed up with little up lifting breaks… we like to make sure that the crowd’s force fed energy to keep them dancing..
After playing in Oz last year I noticed you can get away with banging it out a lot harder than the UK due to the way your scene is… which is something I fucking love… considering I played NWA hard as nails first track might give you an idea.
We will be packing our sets full of Lit Up stuff as it’s that which represents our sound best. We’re bringing over a new Edinburgh based talent Paul Nesbit too so look out for him as he plays some of the best techno I’ve heard, he also plays wicked trance sets (proper trance).
We all know you are a regular visitor to the Rave Adelaide site what do you think of it?
Yeh Rave Adelaide is a good board, I usually stick to the music board… but some of you may have noticed my revealing picture of odyssey in his kilt showing of his ickle chipolata on the general forum. Haha!
I really like the music board tho, as I have an interest in D&B and obviously Hard Dance so theirs always something to make me chuckle or think about.
What do you think of Adelaide and what do you think of our rave scene?
To be honest mate it’s shit! Nah I’m sure most people I speak to in Adelaide understand the respect I have for you guys, Out side the UK you have the best hard dance and possibly rave scene. A lot of people in the UK say ah it’s because you’s are behind the times musically wise but that’s utter bollox… their just jealous, with guys like Odyssey and Mr S at the helm things will only get better.
I was really taken aback at how you guys really love your NRG, out side London I cant see a crowd who get in to it as much as you guys… hence the reason UK dj’s are queuing to get themselves over. I hear that there’s a label in the pipe line too and with some of the quality productions coming out of Adelaide it’s about fucking time!!!!!
Adelaide’s a place that I’ll always be keen to come over and visit… and I think the reasons because you guys don’t do things by half’s…. I mean what’s the point in that. I was almost considering coming over for a few months next year but we’ll see what happens!
image not archived: kenny2.jpg
Do you feel that there has been a large output of quality releases around lately?
For sure there is, there’s a lot of bad ones about too but nothing like it was. Hard dance has taken a far darker route, which is great, with some new faces setting out there stalls like Alex Calver etc. Although it does seem to be the same names making the biggest impacts production quality has soared and there is some really good work coming out, Justin Bourne, Dom Sweeten, Paul Maddox, Weirdo, Simon Eve, OD404, Andy Farley, Banga Matt, Roosta and co are setting the standards high but the higher the standards get the better the new comers are getting which is great for the scene. All though Nukleuz have fallen away and tidy are still being well tidy the scene is certainly moving at some speed.
All the big names are still on top, Mik Cree’s (Dynamic Intervention) always going to be delivering the goods. But Alex Calver really does seem to have the bull by the horns, Jeff Sealey even tho he aint had any thing released (will soon tho LUR003), Nik Denton, Testube Babies, Casper, Weirdo all seem to be on the top of their game at the mo. Oh and I forgot to mention Ian M… good to see him back in full force one of the legends still going strong.
What do you think of the whole Tek crossover thing going on recently?
The whole tek cross over thing was good for hard dance but I reckon there are too many producers who are “rinsing” it to it’s death, but that’s always going to happen… producers seem to find a formula rinse it then move in to the next… usually the same style that BK’s doing!!! (which from what I’ve heard is breaks at the moment - Hex)
Where do you see the label and yourself in the next few years?
I’d love to see Lit Up make 50 releases and me still playing all over the UK but if that aint the case as long as I’m still involved in the scene I’ll be a happy man!
Any final words?
LONG LIVE NRG!
www.lituprecords.com
This is the first in a series of many interviews Hex will be conducting for Rave Adelaide. The first cab off the rank is the one and only Scottish Hard dance DJ/producer Kenny M. Kenny M is the founder and label manager of Lit Up Records and took some time out to have a chat about various issues.
Enjoy.
Hey Kenny how you doing today?
Hi Daniel, I’m not bad mate, signed off work with a cold type flu thing but sure I’ll be ok for the weekend’s adventures.
Can you give us a brief history about yourself? How you got into dj-ing and the like?
I got in to dance music around 15 –16 when my big sis disappeared to travel round Europe with a free party sound system, Spiral Tribe, wondering what it was that made her do it I done a little research and found the reason.. Hard music!!
Before then I was listening to some hardcore tapes but nothing serious. I then got my first set of decks and basically let them gather dust whilst I spent my hard cash of clubs rather than tunes.
After seeing Karim play out for the first time I decided I want to hear more of that…(Didn't we all - Hex) so I decided to get buying records. Which is pretty mad considering my first ever proper gig was warming up for Karim in 2001.
image not archived: kenny1.jpg
Being the Founder, Producer and Label Manager for Lit up records can you give us a bit of an insight into what Lit up is all about?
Lit Up started when I was studying event management, I had to put on a club night, I named it Lit as my main love was dark music…. Still doesn’t make sense why it’s called Lit but that’s just me for ya. After the night a local radio station invited me and Dave Easton (my business partner at the time) up for a live mix (Fresh Air FM), whilst doing the mix we met Martin Saddler (now our in house web designer and engineer). After a few chats over some beers we thought yeh we may as well have a crack at this since there really isn’t any one in Edinburgh or Scotland doing this stuff.
Then came along Chris D, who’s probably now just as much involved as me. Chris used to run a night called Naked in Edinburgh and also played at super club storm, which is a quite a feat @ 17, he caught ear of what we were doing and asked if he could get involved. So there was now four of us talking about how we would change the scene etc. etc. dreams eh! haha
image not archived: kenny_chris.jpg
How do you feel the first few releases have been received by dj’s and audiences alike?
Yeh we were well pleased at how people took to the label, I think they seen us trying to do something different and give those up and coming producers the chance to get there stuff pressed, we didn’t just want to use up and comers but there stuff was some of the best we were hearing..
Hoover Bitch went well, with it getting plays from pretty much all the big players in the UK and OZ (Even myself - Hex). We were really happy that we got forgotten man Eufex on board, as he’s someone that’s seemed to have been discriminated against for having his own sound and sticking to it some thing we love about the man. Even still I’m still seeing it getting charted and it was released in Nov.
We have been really slow getting LUR002 out but we’re trying to get everything in place so we can start churning them out. We’ve taken flack for that.. but there’s no point chucking 5 tunes out and going bust due to lack of organization… we’ve got 7 releases lined up all ready that we feel will be big and want to make sure we’re able to cope with things especially since we all have full time jobs.
Are there any artists that you would love to have on your label?
Of course, The captain is someone we firmly have our sites on as him and Karim were probably my main influences, Weirdo as well, Lectrolux, Roosta, Banga Matt at some point, we’re already using Superfast Oz and Eufex so that’s them taken care of. I really want to use the first year trying out producers and then keeping it to a small number of regular producers, so see what this year brings and you’ll have a pretty good idea. What I don’t want to do is start using the same producers as every one else is…. No disrespect but seeing the same producers in peoples charts or mix’s does my head in, I don’t want to be putting tracks out that are by some one who already has 5 tracks out that month… whats the point.
Regarding new breed producers, Narc and Matt R are always keeping me interested and I wouldn’t be surprised if you see one or both on Lit Up in the near future, we’ve also signed a Ben Stevens track Turn It Up which I’m more than sure is going to be a monster, Jeff Sealey’s another that is really doing the business we’ve signed 2 off his tracks Feel The Bass and Serious Shit which have been both getting cained by some of the UK’s hard dance’s biggest names.
Any up coming releases you feel we should know about?
Apart from what I’ve mentioned above…… Eufex remix of Feel The Bass is a corker…. He’s ripped out his funky baselines etc and used this growler of a rolling bass line, taken the lead synth and used it underneath another one, which just adds bite and venom! On the flip of that will be Superfast Oz’s remix of Serious shit… he’s not started it yet but his first question was “I can go as hard as I want eh” surely a good sign.
Lit up 4 is due out soon what can you tell us about Aftermath’s vision?
Aftermaths Vision is a stomper of a tune, almost funky but with loads of hoover’s and fx to fuck your head right up… It’s getting a make over by Casper which we think will really compliment the tune as he’ll add his usual driving bass lines and probably pitch it up slightly but we’ll just have to wait and see.
It’s not the first time they have appeared on the label is it?
Nope your right it aint, LUR002 is Operation Green Ice and Too Hot, We chose these tunes as their really aint much of that about, nice building tunes with cheeky vocals and FX. What I like about Aftermath is their tracks always sound nice and full. I do like my minimal tracks but you have to be able to tell if the producer wanted it minimal or full… nothing in between. These guys are going to blow up this year with tracks coming out on Kaktai, 999 and Toolbox. So were glad we grabbed them when we did!
After having a quick browse around your site www.lituprecords.com, I’ve seen it’s had a recent up date, do you feel websites and message boards are essential to help promote the label?
Yeh gives you the opportunity to find out what people think and want…. And build a little following which is equally important… people want to feel involved with things and message boards and site do that.
Have you got any productions in the pipeline?
Yeh mate, just finishing one called 57C which I played out in London and the response was unreal, biggest reaction all night which made me well….. pretty happy. I wrote that one with Jeff Sealey and Chris D, will be out under the name lumin8, some labels have shown interest and it aint finished so will be looking forward to seeing what happens with that one….. it ooze’s darkness but with key changes that keep the crowd on their toes.
I’m also working on one with on of your guys Narc… he’s started it sent me it and I’m going to try and add my style to it to see what happens. Also working with Alex Calver in the near future but that’s still to be arranged.
image not archived: kenny3.jpg
What can we expect to hear when you venture to Australia for your up coming tour?
As some will vouch for on the board, depending at what time you see me it’ll either be very hard NRG or me talking utter bollox! Haha, Nah I’m coming over to play bak2bak with Chris D, our sound is mainly hard NRG lots of dark stuff mixed up with little up lifting breaks… we like to make sure that the crowd’s force fed energy to keep them dancing..
After playing in Oz last year I noticed you can get away with banging it out a lot harder than the UK due to the way your scene is… which is something I fucking love… considering I played NWA hard as nails first track might give you an idea.
We will be packing our sets full of Lit Up stuff as it’s that which represents our sound best. We’re bringing over a new Edinburgh based talent Paul Nesbit too so look out for him as he plays some of the best techno I’ve heard, he also plays wicked trance sets (proper trance).
We all know you are a regular visitor to the Rave Adelaide site what do you think of it?
Yeh Rave Adelaide is a good board, I usually stick to the music board… but some of you may have noticed my revealing picture of odyssey in his kilt showing of his ickle chipolata on the general forum. Haha!
I really like the music board tho, as I have an interest in D&B and obviously Hard Dance so theirs always something to make me chuckle or think about.
What do you think of Adelaide and what do you think of our rave scene?
To be honest mate it’s shit! Nah I’m sure most people I speak to in Adelaide understand the respect I have for you guys, Out side the UK you have the best hard dance and possibly rave scene. A lot of people in the UK say ah it’s because you’s are behind the times musically wise but that’s utter bollox… their just jealous, with guys like Odyssey and Mr S at the helm things will only get better.
I was really taken aback at how you guys really love your NRG, out side London I cant see a crowd who get in to it as much as you guys… hence the reason UK dj’s are queuing to get themselves over. I hear that there’s a label in the pipe line too and with some of the quality productions coming out of Adelaide it’s about fucking time!!!!!
Adelaide’s a place that I’ll always be keen to come over and visit… and I think the reasons because you guys don’t do things by half’s…. I mean what’s the point in that. I was almost considering coming over for a few months next year but we’ll see what happens!
image not archived: kenny2.jpg
Do you feel that there has been a large output of quality releases around lately?
For sure there is, there’s a lot of bad ones about too but nothing like it was. Hard dance has taken a far darker route, which is great, with some new faces setting out there stalls like Alex Calver etc. Although it does seem to be the same names making the biggest impacts production quality has soared and there is some really good work coming out, Justin Bourne, Dom Sweeten, Paul Maddox, Weirdo, Simon Eve, OD404, Andy Farley, Banga Matt, Roosta and co are setting the standards high but the higher the standards get the better the new comers are getting which is great for the scene. All though Nukleuz have fallen away and tidy are still being well tidy the scene is certainly moving at some speed.
All the big names are still on top, Mik Cree’s (Dynamic Intervention) always going to be delivering the goods. But Alex Calver really does seem to have the bull by the horns, Jeff Sealey even tho he aint had any thing released (will soon tho LUR003), Nik Denton, Testube Babies, Casper, Weirdo all seem to be on the top of their game at the mo. Oh and I forgot to mention Ian M… good to see him back in full force one of the legends still going strong.
What do you think of the whole Tek crossover thing going on recently?
The whole tek cross over thing was good for hard dance but I reckon there are too many producers who are “rinsing” it to it’s death, but that’s always going to happen… producers seem to find a formula rinse it then move in to the next… usually the same style that BK’s doing!!!
(which from what I’ve heard is breaks at the moment - Hex)Where do you see the label and yourself in the next few years?
I’d love to see Lit Up make 50 releases and me still playing all over the UK but if that aint the case as long as I’m still involved in the scene I’ll be a happy man!
Any final words?
LONG LIVE NRG!
www.lituprecords.com