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Psycatron are Paul Hamill & Dave Oost Lievense, Ireland’s hottest techno act. Robin Ball talks to Paul ahead of the Socialeyes gig this Saturday

Hi Paul thanks for taking the time to answer some questions :o)

Q: How did you first get hooked onto electronic dance music, what djs were you into and what style of music were they playing?

A: I'd always been into electronic music before I became aware of actual DJ culture. I was into stuff like Art of Noise, Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk from a very early age. In 1993 I remember picking up my first mixtapes from Billy Nasty and Justin Robertson as part of the Journeys by DJs series. I also discovered Colin Dale around this time too funnily enough through a mixtape from the Evolution/Hellraiser raves that were happening in Belfast. 

Q: How did that love for the music progress into you making your own?

A: I think every DJ reaches a point where they want to discover and learn more about how the music they play is made. My mum made me go to piano lessons for a couple of years while at school, I never fully appreciated what she was trying to do for me at the time or the sacrifices she would have made to send me to lessons, but I definitely took something from those couple of years even if I didn't follow through and do all the grades. Dave and I only began working together in 2008 even though we'd been friends for years but doing our own thing. Once we started working together we realised we were both really into the same music and shared a lot of common influences. He's been running his own studio for years though.

Q: You have a residency at Shine in Belfast tell us about it?

A: Shine celebrates its 17th birthday next month with John Digweed, Julio Bashmore, Space Dimension Controller and ourselves and is the longest running club night in Ireland. Both Dave and I have been going to it right from the start as punters before Psycatron became residents around 10 years ago. It's always had an amazing vibe in the room which is just big dark room with a balcony, great sound and lighting. Because the venue is situated in the students union of Queen's University its crowd has always been a right melting pot from all over the city, this is a big part of the reason its vibe has always been amazing. It’s the only regular gig we do in Northern Ireland, partly because the guys behind it have always put on great shows and have the kind of attention to detail that always makes it a joy to play.

Q: If you were going to have a night off and go out to a club which artist / dj would you like to hear?

A: Probably Nile Rogers and his band. Went to see them a few weeks ago and they were mind-blowingly great.

Q: Do you get time to listen to other styles of music and if so what music do you take inspiration from?

A: Yes of course, this week I've been listening to a lot of The Charlatans, Devo and The Clash mainly because I started reading Tim Burgess' autobiography. I try to listen to something new every single day, not just dance music. I went through a phase a few years ago of listening to nothing but dance music, then realised how much great music I'd missed out on. Lately I've been digging deep and re-discovering some of the tracks that got me into dance music in the first place but have been somewhat left behind, stuff like the early Plastikman, Emmanuel Top, Tresor and KMS. I find a lot of music from this era far more inspirational than whatever flavour of the month is doing the rounds.

Q: You played on the 20 years of Planet E tour! How did that come about and did you enjoy it?

A: We had put a couple of singles out with Planet E and just got an email out of the blue a few days before Xmas from the label inviting us to play Berghain as part of the tour. That was the first show in a yearlong series of gigs which was a great adventure.

Q: One of our favourite releases of last year was “Stolen” a collaboration you did with Paul Woolford. How did the hook up with Paul come about?

A: We just became mates through playing each other’s music really and we invited Paul over to the studio in Belfast. The first time he came over we ended up with an EP on Cocoon and on the second visit the Hotflush record was born. He was the first collaborator we'd worked with in the same room as we'd done a few things over the net at that point, but it made a huge difference to the production process. I remember all three of us throwing everything we had into the pot; we couldn't get the ideas out quick enough. Dave was cutting up loops while Wooly programmed the 909 and I was programming delays and writing chords all at the same time. He really brought energy to the studio that brought out the best in everyone. We're planning some more bits and pieces once we get the time to schedule them in.

Q: We hear Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore is a Psycatron fan! What an honour! How do you hear about that?

A: He charted a remix we did a few years ago on Beatport which was undoubtedly one of our proudest moments. As a band they've connected with us both since we were kids in a huge way and really influenced our music over the years. To have that connection come full circle was (and still is) a massive deal for us.

Q: What projects and releases are you working on at the moment?

A: We've a new Planet E release in the pipeline we're just working on the b-side for. There's a remix coming out next month on Fools Good of this track from Jokers of the Scene we've done also. Trying to sort some time to get back into the studio with Francesco Tristano for a project we started last year and also just prepping the next releases on our label Inflyte which has been going really well. 

Q: As a dj do you play cds, vinyl or are you computer based?

A: Been through vinyl, CDs, Serato, Ableton and now using Traktor with Touch OSC on IPad. We used Traktor a few years ago but it was quite buggy back then, but the latest version has ironed out all the issues we didn't like and is rock solid. We use it in four-deck external mode which just allows a level of creativity that's not really possible with other programs. I really don't care what people use, so long as they use it well.

Q: What makes a good party for you?

A: Great sound, great music and great people.

Thanks Paul. See you on the 29th September

Interview by Robin Ball

Psycatron dj mix; http://bit.ly/PrPyLc

SOCIALEYES with k-1, Psycatron, Colin Dale & Robin Ball

Saturday 29th September @ Hidden, London

TICKETSHERE http://bit.ly/QUuNq1

SOCIALEYES WITH K-1 / PSYCATRON / COLIN DALE & ROBIN BALL

SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

HIDDEN, 100 Tinworth St, London, SE11 5EQ
10pm - 6am
£8/10/12

Tickets RA - http://bit.ly/QUuNq1

Socialeyes continue their inspired programming with a Detroit tinged special. Flying in from Detroit for a rare London appearance is a true legend. Keith ‘K-1’ Tucker has brought his unique style of Detroit techno to his legions of fans since 1990 and now over 20 years later he’s still at the top of his game releasing quality tracks on his own label Puzzlebox Records under his Optic Nerve guise and as one half of Aux 88’s ‘Black Tokyo’ project.

For this one-off night with a heavy Detroit influence, Socialeyes pop up at Hidden, one of London's truly undercover venues - serving an incredible clubbing experience set in a classic railway arch that combines state of the art sound and lighting with unique mezzanine levels, dramatic passages and walkways.

Joining K-1 is Ireland’s hottest techno act Psycatron who have been touring with Carl Craig to accompany their release on his Planet E Records. To cement their reputation, Psycatron have recently been included in Fact Magazines Top 50 Tracks, performed on London's infamous Boiler Room TV, and had releases on Hotflush, Tresor, R&S and Cocoon.

A great addition to this line up is Colin Dale who is undeniably a UK techno institution! For 16 years his ground-breaking "Abstrakt Dance" radio show on Kiss FM bought Techno to the masses. The show played host to many a Detroit hero as they passed through London on tour.

All these legends in one room rounded up by Socialeyes creator Robin Ball.

Tickets RA - http://bit.ly/QUuNq1

Nomad Cinema

Our friends at Nomad start their season of pop up cinema on 18th August taking in some truly amazing locations around London! Plus they'll be hosting the newly built amphitheatre at Bestival for the whole weekend!

http://www.whereisthenomad.com/

_ _ _ _ ;

Paul Woolford_
Robin Ball_
Funkineven_
Commix_
Deadboy_
Gang Colours_
Wbeeza_
Randomer_
Laurent Fintoni_
Widowmaker (Alias Set)_

+ Special Guests

Friday 27th July 2012
22:00 - 06:00
@ The Lightbox, 6A South Lambeth Place, London, SW8 1SP

SOCIALEYES AT GOLDEN DOWN FESTIVAL

SOCIALEYES AT GOLDEN DOWN FESTIVAL WITH 
FOUR TET//GHOSTPOET //KERRI CHANDLER//JOY ORBISON//JULIO BASHMORE//BEN UFO//PEARSON SOUND//SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER//MIDLAND//HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR//DUB PISTOLS// DJ EASE//MOUNT KIMBIE//LEE SCRATH PERRY//ROOTS MANUVA//GILLES PETERSON//FLOATING POINTS//PORTABLE//THE HERBALISER//SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA//APPARAT//PORTICO QUARTET// THUNDERCAT//LUCY ROSE//STEALING SHEEP//THEFROWN//ADRIAN SHERWOOD//CLEAN BANDIT//LORCA//YOUTH IMPERIAL//NOMAD SOUL//ROBIN BALL

As the UK summer festival season is fast approaching we’re pleased as punch to announce we’ll be joining new festival in town, Golden Down.  We’ll be spreading our Socialeyes love from Friday 15th June, so why not come and join us in the fields of fun.

"Discover new sounds and indulge in some wholesome yet decadent discovery."

Golden Down Festival is a brand new festival for 2012 - already organisers have confirmed a whole host of diverse and world-class acts, including Four Tet, Roots Manuva, Lee Scratch Perry and Kerri Chandler.

The festival will take place from the 15th to the 17th June in Black Bush Valley on the Matterley Estate. The festival will be an incredible summer playground, and promises party-goers a feel-good three days featuring a mix of eclectic acts and genres.

Artists will play from noon onwards and continue into the festival’s late night celebrations. However, the entertainment doesn’t stop there as revellers can enjoy Golden Down’s delights well into the early hours of the morning.

A handpicked selection of brilliant musicians will warm up the festival site during the afternoons; Submotion Orchestra, Floating Points, Lucy Rose, Stealing Sheep, Slow Club, Portico Quartet, Time & Space Machine and Adrian Sherwood (DJ Set) are all confirmed.

As evening dawns the next wave of enviable artists take to the stage, with Friday welcoming Ghost Poet, The Herbaliser, and ethereal headliner Four Tet. Saturday evening will see MOBO award winner Roots Manuva headline, with many more acts to be announced. Occupying the evening slot on the final day of the festival are Apparat and Dub Pistols, who are headed up by the legendary Lee Scratch Perry.

Late night at Golden Down will showcase some of the best DJs in the Dance Tent, including house legend Kerri Chandler, tech/house aficionado Portable, and the forward thinking Pearson Sound; along with ‘footsteppin’ Julio Bashmore, self-confessed ‘Galactic Funk’ DJ Space Dimension Controller, Leeds supremo Midland, and the genre-bending Ben UFO.

As well as crafting the perfect party atmosphere, chill out time at Golden Down will be unparalleled. There will also be a broad selection of fantastic bars on offer supplemented with award-winning fresh food at fair prices, plus big welcoming camp sites, plenty of toilets and washing facilities.

Golden Down - discover new sounds and indulge in some wholesome yet decadent discovery..

Organised by likeminded festival-lovers with a simple mantra to put on a brilliant festival done to the highest standards, Golden Down aims to take the festival back to its glorious roots.

Set in Black Bush Valley on a private estate the Golden Down Festival will provide you with the perfect weekend escape with space to breathe and party all night long in an intimate haven away from the hustle and bustle of reality.

Revellers can expect quality music transcending a variety of genres, with a line-up oozing with talent from across the board. Although extremely important, we know that it’s not just the music that makes a festival one to return to; often it’s the small things in life that are the most appreciated. Golden Down will not only provide you with audible treats and visual delights to stimulate your senses but also great bars with local beers, ciders and wines (and of course all your usual favourite tipples!) supplemented with award-winning fresh food all at fair prices, as well as big welcoming camp sites, plus plenty of toilets and washing facilities. Capacity is only for 5,000 people, keeping queues to a minimum and the festival intimate.

Whether you want a string of hazy summer days or a fun-fuelled weekend of music and dancing, you’ll find what you’re looking for along with lots of cheeky surprises. We can’t promise you that this festival will change your life - if we did we’d be lying - but we can promise that you'll meet new people, discover new sounds and indulge in some wholesome yet decadent discovery.

Hannah Holland gives us the low down ahead of her gig for Socialeyes this Friday alongside Boddika, T.Williams & Presk

Hi Hannah thanks for taking the time to answer some questions :o) 
No problem :)

Q: Can you give us a rundown of how you first got hooked onto electronic dance music? What dj’s were you into and the style of music they were playing?

A: I grew up in south London, and when I was still in primary school, my friends brother, who was about 16, collected records and we used to sneak into his room and play them. I remember Shut Up and Dance's Raving I'm Raving and On A Ragga Tip, I think that was the moment I became hooked, also Normski's show Dance Energy was on the TV, so most kids were fed Prodigy and Inner City from a very young age. As a young teenager me and friends would be locked into Dream FM pissing around on Clapham Common, loving all the jungle classics like Helicopter, Valley Of The Shadows and Dred Bass. I remember going to my first rave at the Epsom leisure centre, aged 13, DJ Hype was playing.

Q: How did that love for the music progress into you becoming a dj?

A: I played bass in a band during school times and genuinely left school thinking we would be huge...this never happened! however, I had to get a job and I became a runner for a music video company and just absolutely loved working in soho and not being at school. I did this for quite a few years, working on some seminal videos and even directing some myself. Throughout this time I bought decks, as I went out so much to amazing clubs like Nag Nag Nag and Bodyrockers, I wanted to have the music I was hearing at home and touch it and play around with it myself. I had a couple of really close dj friends, who inspired me to start spinning. After a few years playing in my bedroom and house party gigs, I started spinning around shoreditch in bars, there I met Mikki from Trailer Trash and Rob from Mulletover and that’s when it went nuts and I was playing every weekend and my career started, eventually after a few years, I gave up the videos to fully concentrate on music, it’s been about 10 years now since I started playing.

Q: You are well known for being diverse in your dj sets, blurring boundaries between house, techno and bass music. Would it be fair to say you adapt to the environment you are playing in? And if so does this complicate things when it comes to choosing what to play at your gigs? 

A: Yes I definitely adapt to the environment, that’s what I love about djing, feeding from the crowds energy which inspires the tracks you choose, it's magical. I guess I have my staple tracks that are a starting block, and then I venture down whichever road I feel is right for that occasion at that moment...whether it be techno, house, minimal, harder, deeper...you'll be able to hear it’s me playing, I choose tracks to play that have a certain sound/vibe and that goes for any genre and sub genre, together it all makes sense.

Q: We are really looking forward to you playing at the next Socialeyes Party! You will be DJing alongside Boddika, T.Williams and Presk are you playing any of these guys productions at the moment?

A: All of them are the dogs bollox! great line up, I can't wait to play.

Q: As a dj do you play cds, vinyl or are you computer based?

A: cds and vinyl for me. still not into the computer thing personally.

Q: You have gained yourself a name as a London dj are you originally from London?

A: Yes I’m from South London, Clapham

Q:  Hannah Holland is a cool name were you born with it? 

A: Yes I was born with it! thanks, I'll let me mum know.

Q: What projects are you working on at the moment?

A: As well as Batty Bass records, )we just released NYC's The Carry Nation and just about to release Deadstock 33's new EP),  I’m setting up a new label with Deboa (BB resident) called Native City, showcasing a more stripped back deep groove / bass house/techno. Plus I’m writing an album....which has definitely got all kinds of influences in and sounding pretty out there right now, I’m working with some incredible vocal talent, I’m really excited about it.

Q: What makes a good party for you?

A: It's the people and the energy they bring to the place. The best parties that I've been to have almost been tribal, Bodyrockers at Cynthia's Robot Bar was the best example, it was Damian Lazrarus's night before Cross Town Rebels. I was about 19, I used to be silent hours before we got in I was so nervous and excited, it just had this insane electric energy. Trailer Trash and Batty Bass has those vibes too, and to be a dj on the other side of it, is very special indeed.

Thanks Hannah see you on the 27th April  

Get Tickets For;

Socialeyes with Boddika, Hannah Holland, T. Williams, Presk & Robin Ball

Friday 27th April 2012, 11pm – 6am @Rhythm Factory

www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?338657

Dj mag have recommended Socialeyes in the top 5 UK parties this month

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Socialeyes with Boddika, Hannah Holland, T. Williams, Presk & Robin Ball

Friday 27th April 2012

10pm – 6am

Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1EW

Nearest tube – Aldgate East

Earlybird £7 / Advanced £10 / On the door £12

Available from;

www.socialeyes.eventbrite.com

www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?338657

www.datatransmission.co.uk/ViewEvent/20388

If a line-up was ever to fully showcase the Socialeyes ethos, then this is it. 

After 6 years of blurring boundaries across the dance music spectrum at great venues including Corsica Studios and the summer boat parties, Socialeyes bring you some of the most exciting and open minded artists on the scene playing across two rooms (no short dj sets here).

Socialeyes is very excited to welcome the unique and innovative sounds of Boddika who is currently flying high with his solo projects and collaborations with Joy O. All round musical style guru and curly haired queen of the London party scene, Hannah Holland also joins the party, followed by two of the hottest breakthrough artists of the moment Teknologi Co-founder and Rinse Fm resident T. Williams and Grote Prijs award winner Presk.  They join Socialeyes’s very own musical chameleon Robin Ball.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tel:  07956 375370

socialeyesparties@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/events/241190035967108/

http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?338657

http://www.socialeyesparties.com

http://www.facebook.com/SOCIALEYESPARTIES

http://www.twitter.com/socialeyesparty

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Socialeyes where tech-house meets bass!

At Socialeyes we are very excited about 2012! Over the years first as Groove Pleasure and more recently as Socialeyes we have always pushed a wide variety of electronic dance music, normally over 2 rooms,  one covering house and techno and the other covering what is most recently being called bass music. 2012 will see these sounds amalgamating like we haven’t seen since the late 80’s / early 90’s and we are going to support this all the way with our line ups! Below is a list of some of the dj’s we have worked with over the years and 2012 will see us adding some exciting new names to the list, with forward thinking underground warehouse vibes being the name of the game! Watch this space for more info!

Some of the DJ's that have played for Socialeyes / Groove Pleasure;
Andrew Weatherall, Bar9, Basement Jaxx, Ben Sims, Coldcut, Colin Dale, Dillinja, Elite Force, Funk D Void, High Rankin, Jakwob, Justin Harris, Justin Robertson, Kenny Hawkes, Kevin Saunderson, Luke Slater, Luke Solomon, Matt Tolfrey, Mensah, Mark Broom, Max Cooper, Mickey Finn, Miguel Migs, Plump Dj’s, Rob Sparx, Silicone Soul, Slyde, Stacey Pullen, Sub Focus, Suburban Knight, Tayo, Terry Francis, The Advent, DJ Yoda.