Kevin Energy vs Billy Bunter : The Hard Dance Heavyweights Chemistry 2nd Birthday Interview!
Reported by benz
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Submitted 05-10-04 21:04
Kevin Energy and Billy 'Daniel' Bunter are both legends aned pioneers within the hard dance scene. They are amongst only a handful of DJs who both DJ and produce both hard dance AND hardcore, and know how to rock crowds at both ends of the BPM spectrum. We caught up with them in preparation for their very special back-to-back set at Chemistry's 2nd Birthday @ The Coronet on October 9th
As DJs who play hardcore as well as hard dance, do you feel that it gives you any kind of edge over other DJs in the two scenes?
KE: Yeah certainly. Especially for the hard dance scene as people seem to like it harder these days. Having the knowledge and experience of movin and shakin’ a rave crowd at crazy speeds has been given me my own unique way to edge up my hard house and hard trance sets...
BB: I feel so, the hardcore is really effecting the way I play hard dance at the moment, I feel the techy end of hard dance although very clever in it’s production isn’t what the hard dance clubs need, and playing a lot of really good hardcore gigs where people constantly have their hands in the air through out a set, really makes me push the fun and uplifting edge in to what I play in hard dance clubs. Then on the other end of the scale it gives me a different perception on how I play hardcore, I’m playing a far more diverse spectrum of hardcore then I would of 10 years ago, and I feel that comes from the influence hard dance has given me through longer set’s and musical variety that the hard dance genre has had over the years. Not only that It keeps me constantly excited as playing so many varied genres makes what I do that little bit more fun and unpredictable.
You are playing back to back at Chemistry’s huge 2nd Birthday Party at The Coronet on October 9th – do you put any planning into these kind of things to ensure that your styles will mesh well together, or do you just turn up and play whatever?
KE: Well I know Daniel’s style and he is fully aware of mine. We worked together on a back to back for Antiworld which worked very smoothly so there will be no problem with the styles meshing. Even if they don’t it will create an erratic set which is good. The set I played with Ed Real for Frantic came out this way but it went down a treat with the crowd. I’m sure we will have a phone conversation regarding the set but nothing more then that – what you hear will be for the moment and off the cuff.
BB: I never actually knew that I was playing back to back until I picked up a flyer at the weekend. I speak to Kevin quite a bit so no doubt we will have a little game plan brewing, but pretty much it’s better to play it by ear and go with the flow.
If you could each only play one tune at the event, what would it be?
KE: err A very long one  If not then I think K Complex ‘adagio’ would be the one.
BB: A remix me and Jon Doe have done of Invicta & Hinsley – Reach the top on Honey Pot.
Who else on the line-up would you recommend?
KE: Type 1 always rock the house.
BB: Organ Donors, I DJed with them in Australia this year and thought they were superb.
Have you played at The Coronet before?
KE:Nope. Lookin forward to the experience.
BB: Yes once for the very 1st event held there that Heat did last year I think.
Do either of you use any special equipment to spice up your sets? I hear they have machines in discotheques these days which play compact discs much like a turntable plays an LP!...
KE: Are you living in the past! CDJ’s are a big part of mixing these days. Back in the old days we had to cut a one off Dub Plate to play a track that we had just finished in the studio before the final press was manufactured. These are very expensive and have a short lifespan. Now days we cut our finished fresh beats to a CDR to test the reactions out before putting the finishing touches on.
BB: At the moment it has to be the standard 2 turntables, the mixer has to have loads of effects on it, 2 cd players, and I take loads of samples out with me to cut in to the set. DJ’ing has changed over the past few years; it’s taking the ethos of the early 90’s of chopping scratching etc, only we all understand bars, tight mixing and technology much more now …. The concept of dj’ing is moving on again in to very exciting directions.
MP3s – are Honeypot and Nu Energy going to be getting involved with the digital revolution anytime soon?
KE: Yep our very own MP3 store will be ready to go live in a week or so.
BB: Of course, it’s extremely exciting. I have just set up a project called Honey Pot Digital in which the vinyl’s will be limited to a 500 press, and will be available to down load from various sites around the world, so far we have remixes of Billy Daniel Bunter & Roosta Devotion & Alpha Zone – Stay 2004 mixes lined up.
The Nu Energy Collective live PA experience has grown to phenomenal proportions in recent months. It will be appearing at Frantic’s New Year’s Day event at a venue where, correct me if I’m wrong, you haven’t done the PA yet? Does doing the live thing for the first time in a new venue excite you?
KE:Well yeah it does but we have already performed one for Frantic at that venue. The Coronet is a first time though and we are really lookin forward to working on the scale of the space that we have.
Can we expect any material made especially for the event?
KE: Of course, as always. We put a lot of effort in having new material and fresh versions for each PA.
Question for both of you – which other live PAs have floated your boat recently?
KE: Group 185 are cracking and on top form right now. Also Eryk Orpheus makes amazing material that you have to check out on his live show. The pair of them will be starting a label soon. Watch out for that.
BB: I haven’t seen many PA’s recently but have always thought Jon Doe & Lee James have been awesome.
Mr. Bunter, I always bump into you outside clubs at about 6am where I find you flyering and pimping your events like a market trader – do you flyer yourself because you think the personal touch is important, or are you just too poor to employ someone else?
BB: Both - Billy “The market trader pimp” Bunter “LOVE IT” I believe in, you want some thing done do it your self, I love going out there meeting new people, getting their opinions and pushing what I believe in, I have had a lot of people saying you shouldn’t be doing that, but I love getting in there and getting the job done, I’m also one tight mother f*cker!!!
Who would win in a fight out of you two? And what about a Nu Energy vs Honeypot Royal Rumble?
KE: I’d flatten him! He wouldn’t be able to catch me! Yeah let’s go – bring it on!! Lol…
BB: Me of course, but you know what they say, it’s not the big guy you want to watch, it’s the little fella, so I reckon Kevin could have a good go. Nu Energy Vs Honey Pot, bring it on baby I’ve got CLSM, Jon Doe, Roosta, Kutski and myself waiting on the front line – IN TO BATTLE WE GO!!!
Please allow yourself a few sentences to plug your latest productions/releases…
KE: Our In house Hard Dance label Dynamix has two recent releases that we have smashed on the live show by AMS and K Complex. Nu Energy records is promoting a release that I made with DJ Proteus right now. There is loads more upfront promo’s and release information at http://www.nuenergy.co.uk
BB: I need a few pages, not a few sentences – Invicta & Hinsley/Reach the top (Honey Pot), Jon Doe/Sonic Expansions EP (Honey Pot), Alex Calver/Subsonix 3, Roosta, Kutski, WMD/Xite 7, Billy Daniel Bunter & CLSM/UK Hardcore 2. Bunter & Roosta/Devotion 2004 (Honey Pot Digital) I know this is a Frantic interview but I gotta plug Tasty 3rd Birthday @ The Mass – November 6th. Also join up to Honey Pot digital to make sure you don’t miss out on the 500 ltd vinyl’s hpd@honeypotrecords.com
Can you suggest a special birthday cake for Chemistry?
KE: Well a giant one filled with cover girls would be cool
BB: I can suggest one, but I don’t think it’s good PR for myself or Frantic for me to go in to too much detail, all I’m gonna say is, fill it with lot’s of surprises, give every one a piece as they walk in the door, and let’s see the place go even more mental then it already is *nudge nudge* wink wink*
Photos by Benz @ Gurn.net
Kevin Energy and Billy 'Daniel' Bunter will be playing a back-to-back set at Chemistry's 2nd Birthday @ The Coronet, on October 9th.
CHEMISTRY 2nd B'DAY & K90 Album Launch!
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On:
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Saturday 9th October 2004
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At:
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The Coronet [map]
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From:
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21.00 - 06.00
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Cost:
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£12.50 +bf EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW ON SALE
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Ticket Info:
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Limited Early Bird tickets now on sale £12.50 +bf
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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The clubbers choice is back with a bang as we take on the sensational Coronet once again!
With K90’s Album Launch, Hard House Anthems album launch and more super star DJs than you can shake a record at - this is how it’s supposed to be done!
For more info please contact www.franticuk.com or 07949 618035
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Flyer:
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Other Features By benz:
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Modernism, Politburo and Sedition: Matthew Duffield’s manifesto
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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