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

SOCIALEYES 5TH BIRTHDAY @ CORSICA STUDIOS

Jakwob / Sei A / High Rankin / Justin Robertson / Mensah / Robin Ball & the Groove Pleasure Soundsystem / Robin Beats

Saturday 28th May 2011

10pm – 6am

Corsica Studios, 4/5 Elephant Road, London, SE17 1LB

Nearest tube: Elephant & Castle

Super early Bird £6/ Extra early bird £8 / Early bird £10 / Advanced £12 / MOTD

Available from;

www.socialeyes.eventbrite.com

www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?246854

www.datatransmission.co.uk/ViewEvent/13059

Socialeyes return with one of their biggest, most interesting, boundary pushing and fun line ups yet!

Created in 2006 from the Groovepressure & Groove Pleasure labels the Socialeyes parties have been popping up for one-off nights in and around London until finding their home at Corsica studios in 2010. They have hosted a broad spectrum of quality electronic guests from Funk D Void to Bar9, Terry Francis to Elite Force, Ben Sims to Max Cooper and always pushing open-minded, forward thinking electronic dance music on the best quality sound systems in intimate fun spaces. That is their ethos. 

On Saturday 28^th May they celebrate their 5th birthday party and one year to the weekend since their first party at Corsica Studios.

Socialeyes is not restricted to one genre, the emphasis is quite simply on ‘good’ music. So on Saturday 28th May you’ll find two rooms, one for house, techno, disco & electro and the other for dubstep, breaks, beats & bass.

Jakwob is one of dubstep’s biggest new stars. First coming to acclaim via some major appreciation in the blog world for his bootleg of Ellie Goulding’s ‘Starry Eyed’ and bolstering such support with his remix of ‘Under The Sheets’ he’s since gone on to remix the likes of Kid Sister, Robyn, I Blame Coco, Empire Of The Sun, Temper Trap, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Audio Bullies and Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip.  Hailing from the Midlands, Jakwob is a multi-instrumentalist playing in many bands in his teens starting in jazz moving on to play death metal and folk. This goes a long way to explaining his style which transcends genres combining elements of dub step, electro, ghetto-tech and break-beat (to name a few). This eclecticism also manifests itself in Jakwob’s DJ sets, which take in dub, hip-hop, drum and bass, dub step and beyond. Currently working on a debut album, and very much in demand as a producer of the moment, he’s redefining the experimental, dub step, double-step, and electronic scenes

Sei A shot to fame with his recent release on Tiga’s Turbo Recordings, he’s one of the most exciting new producers and songwriters in the techno and house scene producing rich textures, moody atmospheres, subtle psychedelia and haunting vocals, characterized by an instinctual gift for melody and a sincere romantic flair.

High Rankin - One of the scenes more eccentric artists, his music brims with character and personality that engulfs the listener as well as causing the obvious dance floor riot!  An all round force in dance music be it as a dj, producer, blogger, label owner,  he is the quintessential modern dance music artist!

Justin Robertson’s tastes have always been eclectic, though in 2011 you would be hard pushed to find a musician working successfully in areas as diverse as techno, house, dancehall and art pop. Justin is a true modernist: he excels as a DJ of international repute; is a creator of bespoke techno; one third of New Pop band Thee Earls and a remixer for the likes of The Whip, Bjork and Felix Da Housecat.

Mensah - With his releases on Jake’s H.E.N.C.H. imprint amongst other releases and collaborations on Baobinga’s BUILD and LoDubs, Mensah displays a kind of dancefloor ownership that offers the now pre-requisite bass weight with a decidedly more dance element. Being supported by the likes of BLOC and Fabric Mensah is an ascending force on the scene.

Robin Ball  & the Groove Pleasure Soundsystem  

2011 sees Robin enter into his third decade as a dj, with a career that has taken him across the globe from London to Sydney. His passion for a wide variety of electronic music has inspired the eclectic line-ups for his Socialeyes parties and his non-stop passion and dedication for the scene.  This year he debuted his latest project “Groove Pleasure Sound System” which received a great response at Corsica Studios back in January when his skilled crew of tech-house, disco, jamming wizards performed live to the backing of Robin’s deft DJ skills. As a testament to his eclectic passions, you will also find him in room 2 playing a set of dubstep, breaks, beats and bass under his alias, Robin Beats.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tel:  07956 375370

socialeyesparties@gmail.com
 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158588667535779
   

http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/Socialeyes-Parties-the-original-London-Socialeyes/117719964906247?ref=ts
 

http://twitter.com/socialeyesparty

Socialeyes presents Robin Ball & the Groove Pleasure Soundsystem

Eye eye party people, please come and join Socialeyes as we travel to West London for a spring warm-up in what is fast becoming West London’s best venue for underground dance music, the Raving Buddha.

Robin Ball, captain chief of the brilliant Socialeyes parties is treating West Londoners to a semi-live performance with his Groove Pleasure Soundsystem.  Debuting at Corsica Studios back in January, he and his skilled crew of tech-house, disco, jamming wizards perform live to the backing of Robin’s deft DJ skills. 

The Raving Buddha, which boasts the favourite sound system of choice, the Funktion One system, is a small new venue, launched recently by London event promoters Proactive, responsible for the recent Drumcode and Cocoon warehouse parties.  With everyone from Luke Solomon to the Freestylers playing there, it provides the perfect spot for Socialeyes and a Saturday evening drink with a backdrop of tech-house grooves.

Socialeyes presents: Groove Pleasure Soundsystem

On Saturday 22nd January, Socialeyes returns to Corsica Studios for something a little bit special, the birth of the Groove Pleasure Soundsystem! Groove Pleasure and Socialeyes creator Robin Ball debuts this new concept for Socialeyes where he invites musicians and vocalists to add a live element to his dj sets. Robin says “I’ve had a dream to do this happen since seeing the Massive Attack Soundsystem in the early 90’s at the Glastonbury Festival, I had seen reggae dub djs playing whilst an MC sang but Massive Attack were doing it with dance music and it blew me away! What I will be doing is bringing this idea in a modern form to our Socialeyes night at Corsica Studios.”

Currently Groove Pleasure and Groovepressure are the names given to the 2 rooms at Socialeyes parties, they represent the different sides to Robin’s musical passions, Groove Pleasure covers house, techno, electro & disco whilst Groovepressure covers dubstep, breaks, beats & bass (expect to see a Groovepressure Soundsystem in the future). They are also the names of his previous record labels and parties in the UK & France and are currently the titles to his radio shows on Samurai FM; 

www.samurai.fm/groovepleasure / www.samurai.fm/groovepressure  

8 Reasons to come and witness the debut performance from the Groove Pleasure Soundsystem and Socialeyes with us;

1.  It’s a new religion, you need to make a pilgrimage to Elephant and Castle on the third Saturday in January!

2.  You will be able to say you were at the first ever Groove Pleasure Soundsystem event!

3.  That wagon you're on is too heavy, someone needs to jump off!

4.  Dancing is more pleasurable than 1000 press ups!

5.  It’s at Corsica Studios, immense sound system and all!

6.  It’s only £6 for an advanced ticket and drinks are very reasonably priced!

7.  Bass is good for the soul, so said the Dalai Lama 2011!

8.  It’s my birthday party!

SOCIALEYES presents GROOVE PLEASURE SOUNDSYSTEM

DJ + live elements

SATURDAY 22nd January 2011

22.00 - 06:00

House, Techno, Electro, Disco

@ Corsica studios

4/5 Elephant Road, London SE17 1LB

Nearest Tube: Elephant & Castle

Tickets £6 in advance from:

http://socialeyes.eventbrite.com

http://www.datatransmission.co.uk/ViewEvent/10300/

http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?221148
Door £8 b4 12, £10 after

Tel:  07956 375370

socialeyesparties@gmail.com

Time for the Advent

Ahead of his live UK gig @ Corsica Studios on the 5th November techno legend The Advent discusses how he started out in music, the state of the scene today and his inspirations and ambitions in music.

Q: As a true ambassador for techno what is your opinion of the techno scene in 2010?

A: MMMM, good Question! I think techno as it's true pure form, for me has been diluted into to many sub genre's which is a shame, I hear a lot more known djs & artists playing deeper "tech house" rather than the more pumping techno from the past, which for me is lacking in the energy that techno originally brought to the club, of course it depends on the artist & release. Some new artists are maintaining that energy that I personally call techno, like Legotech. Sash Carassi, Spirakos & Steen, Len Faki & Audio Injection to name a few, so there are a few that I am into and would play their music, but most of the other known artists & labels I’m not really into these days. Hopefully in 2011 that energy "wake up call" will return back into techno.

Q: At the beginning of your career you studied sound engineering at college and then moved on to work in a studio. Has this been a big influence on the way you make music?

A: This was my introduction into the music industry! Starting as an assistant sound engineer and working my way up the ladder was a good way to start working with a lot of artists, mostly rock music for the first year but the second year I got more involved with the early house artists and from this point (1987) I was completely hooked on house on techno. I learned a lot between 1986 and 1988 from some of the early pioneer's of Chicago & Detroit like Finger inc, Adonis & Derrick May, TO MENTION A FEW!!

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

A: Yes I do get the chance from time to time to listen to promos but they don't inspire me to make music, usually what gets me ticking is a good weekend playing in front of a 500 club or a 30,000 festival, and seeing how the crowd react to my music, this inspires me to make music the following week, it's my Addiction! 

Q:  What else in life gives you inspiration to make music?

A: Life itself of course, you know sometimes you have a good day and sometimes you have a bad day so the music has it's ups & downs as well, all good inspiration is from life!!
 

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:  That’s a hard one as I haven't been to see a dj in a long time, for the last 15 years I’ve been back & forth from London so on my days off I’m usually spending time with my kids and the other weekends I’m always away Performing at events, if I’m on the same line up as another artist / act I haven't heard for a while I usually stay a few hours at the event, as a posed to going straight back to the hotel, the last people I heard were Dave Clarke and the Space DJ'z at Nature One in Germany.

Q: You have recently had a release on Advanced Intelligence, is this your label?

A: Yes it's a new label I started with Ricardo AKA Industrialyzer, for our deeper & slower side. In today’s scene I think it's good to expand your variety in music production, it doesn't always have to be one sided, so the label "AI" is to focus on another side of our music styles.

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

A: Recently I have finished quite a few projects some are actually out in November: 

Pig & Dan "Addiction EP" The Advent & Industrialyzer remix and Tom Hades remix on his "Rhythm Convert-ed" label. Also I just completed an EP for label "1605" which is one of UMEK's and there’s a new Kombintaion Research release on the way "KR034" The Advent Vs Minimalrome which has two nice electro tracks on there. There’s a new CodeWorks & Advanced Intelligence release "Jonestown EP" which was a concept we had about the Jones town Massacre". In 2011 there will be a lot more projects to look out for!

Q: In the past you have recorded a more house sound under the name G Flame, is there any chance we will hear more house style releases in the future?

A: MM, Good question. Well after leaving our contract with London Records / FFRR me and my ex production partner Colin Mc Bean decided to move to another label also run by the same A&R that signed us to FFRR, now he was based at BMG/Metalbox, which for us was a great way to start something New: "GFlame & Mr G", this was a time before tech house exploded, so we used Elements from house into techno and vice versa, unfortunately after 6 12'" EP's and one Album we decide to stop, only a few months later Colin wanted to carry on as Mr G as he had departed from The Advent, so I helped him

with his label "Phoenix G" first 6 or 7 releases, which helped him get into the scene with a new alias. I did start a label for G Flame releases from NYC Called "Alpha Recordings", I had 4 to 5 releases, then stopped to carry on The Advent as Techno is my first option in Music, so who knows, maybe sooner rather than later you might see a G Flame release!!

Q: Do you prefer a day in the studio or playing a live gig?

A: I could never choose between these two! It has to be both. I prefer in the week  to be in the studio and then at the weekend I like road testing the week's studio work. It’s hard to choose as these days I like to be in the studio and performing as much as possible. 

  

Q: What are your ambitions for the future?

A: To discover new Talent with that desire and drive that I had back in the day. There are a few good new names to watch out for; Hugo Paixao and Jason fernandes are two young producers that I have been working with in the past year, we started a new label

S.T.G. and they also have new releases on Kombination Research. So there’s still a lot to for fill and accomplish!!

Q:  What makes a good party for you?

A: First the Sound and PA has to be very good and loud, a good Line up, A LOT OF DRINKS, and whatever’s your poison, then the rest is a blur I think... burp!!!

Interview by Robin Ball

The Advent plays live alongside Ben Sims and Mark Broom in room 1 with Justin Robertson & Colin Dale in room 2. Socialeyes and Tilted Disco @ Corsica Studios London, Friday 5th November 2010. Click here for tickets

Robin Ball talks Socialeyes

Hello I’m Robin Ball creator of and resident dj for the Socialeyes parties. And i thought you might like to know a little more about me and the ideas behind Socialeyes.  

I have been involved in the dance music industry since the early 90’s and have worked on all sorts of music events from small clubs to big festivals but I feel that the best surroundings to hear great dj’s in is in an intimate space with a solid sound system, a relaxed vibe and a vibrant atmosphere, so I made it my goal to start a night with that concept, and in May 2006 Socialeyes was born!

Since then there’s been many great nights, the best for me being the five boat parties, the most recent holding host to Justin Robertson who went down a storm!

Up until now the parties have been kept low key and promote on a word of mouth system but now it’s time to let more people in on the vibe, which brings us to the first party at the excellent Corsica Studios in London! Corsica was recently voted “Best Small Club” in DJ Mag and just this month was voted “41^st best club in the world” in DJ Mag! It’s the perfect venue for Socialeyes for many reasons, firstly it has two rooms so we can push our eclectic music policy on lovely Funktion One sound systems, also it has good lighting, an old skool warehouse vibe, and it’s run by a forward thinking management with a good attitude to music! Come and find more reasons your self on 29^th May.

The Socialeyes concept is a strong eclectic dj line up of the best underground talent playing for an alternative crowd who want to have fun and let go to a sound scape of diverse well programmed electronic dance music. I believe strongly in good music programming so the night flows well and I put a good deal of thought into that. For the opening night on 29^th May in one room we will be covering techno, techouse, electro, Detroit, acid house and anything in between, played by myself alongside legends Justin Robertson and Colin Dale and one of house and technos brightest hopes Max Cooper, the other room will be a mix of dubstep, breaks, beats and bass with myself under my new alias Robin Beats alongside two of dubsteps best names, Bar9 and Rob Sparx, plus the mighty Elite Force who is on top form at the moment riding high in the Beatport charts and ripping up clubs wherever he goes. This is a line up I am very proud of and it’s going to be a treat!!!

Watch out for forthcoming interviews and mixes from the other djs playing on the 29^th May.