:: INTERVIEWS :: ALEX KIDD

On face value, it would be easy to assume that big name DJs have a pretty cushy number – turn up at venue with flunkies, bung a few records on, look fabulous, get paid. The reality is, of course, rather more prosaic. The life of an international bright young DJ is not all vintage Dom Perignon champagne, coke-fuelled orgies or 6-figure appearance fees, it’s about hard work, dedication and persistence. And it’s a competititve world out there; even Mr or Miss DJ-Superstar knows that they can’t rest on their laurels, because there are hundreds, even thousands, of talented new DJs out there, hungry for success and eager to out-shine established names. To stay ahead in the game, you’ve got to have more than talent and dedication, you’ve got to have a point of difference. It’s a pretty standard marketing ploy – you’re never going to be noticed if you’re just as average as the next disc-spinner, you’ve got to stand out from the crowd, do something different, push the boundaries a little and do more than simply show off your beat-mixing abilities.

After a temporary lull in fortunes, the hard-house scene appears to be on the verge of a renaissance. Exciting new hard-house music is being created and played by a new generation of DJs, and technological advances have created bedroom songwriters and bedroom producers, not just bedroom DJs. The scene is now (arguably) more vibrant and creative than it has been for years. One man who certainly believes this is Farntic’s top man Will Patterson. When I interviewed Will recently he stated that he’d “not seen this much excitement in hard-house since 2000”, and attributed much of this excitement to the new breed of DJs who are “so determined there’s nothing they won’t do”. All the young DJs who Will rates so highly have their own unique style, their own point of difference, be it musical style, deck-trickery, stage persona or studio wizardry. For one young man however, a single point of difference just isn’t enough it seems. This young man is Alex Kidd, a DJ for whom the phrase “standing out from the crowd” seems somehow inadequate. If you’ve ever seen Mr Kidd play then you’ll understand why. Alex kind of breaks the “hard-house DJ mold”, because his sound is not a traditional hard-house style, and his on-stage performance is far from being “typical” or “ordinary”. Yet, for me at least, he also manages to encompass everything that hard-house represents; hard, fast, fun and addictive. For Alex Kidd virgins, be prepared to be ricocheted off the walls by his unique sound. It’s a sound which is brutally hard and banging, yet peppered with familiar vocals and uplifting melodies. Many of the tracks he plays are his own remixes or own productions, often in association with Gaz West (AKA Dark By Design). It is not the tracks themselves that make “The Alex Kidd Experience” so unique; it’s the way in which he delivers those tracks to his listeners. Known as “King of the FX”, Alex’s technical abilities are in no doubt, and he attacks the decks with such force of energy that it’s exhausting to watch him. With all the characteristics of a fierce warrior on a sprung coil leading a packed arena into hard-house Euphoria, Alex has an amazing talent to entertain that has hard-house promoters the world over booking him for some of their biggest events. I caught up with Alex just before his most recent trip to Australia, to find out more about this Tidy Weekender favourite.

1). 2006 has been a busy year again for you, with your fifth visit down under in 18 months, how do Australian clubbers compare to us back home?

Well my 6th visit to Oz is next week which is a perfect timing because when I get back to the UK I have the busiest DJ schedule I’ve ever seen, something like 10 gigs in the week leading up to the New Year. I was speaking to an Aussie chick at a gig in London last Saturday, and she was telling me she thinks the clubbers in Oz are a lot friendlier than in the UK. In Melbourne the clubbers there have there own religious type dance called the shuffle. It has to be seen to be believed!! These subtle differences are pretty surreal when I’m actually behind the decks giving it some. I think the Aussies are also quite a bit more open minded in terms of what gets played on a night, the line-ups there are a mash up of hard dance, psy trance and techno all on the one stage, where as in the UK it would be split up. This has both its pros and cons for the DJ as my style stands out more from the other artists but it doesn’t necessarily flow very well in terms of musical progression.

2). Where else have you travelled to this year?

Plenty of trips to Belfast and Dublin in Ireland, Ibiza 6 times for Tidy, Q-dance, Queens day and Dance Valley in Amsterdam, Tunnel in Germany and of course the length and breadth of the UK every weekend.

3). What is your favourite country to DJ in and why?

Taiwan was pretty fuckin’ off the hook. I didn’t know what to expect and I toured there for 3 weeks, taking in the maddest sights and experiencing some unique parties. Ibiza takes some beating though, as corny as it sounds it can be a spiritual place at times.

4). With an impressive amount of residencies, is there a promotion / venue / event that, when you play, you regard as “coming home”?

Tranzaction in Truro is cool because even though it’s the other end of the country (feels like the other end of the universe at times lol!), I’m always greeted with a massive welcome from the regulars there and they definitely make me feel at home. Goodgreef is always an emotional gig as well, as this is where I grew up and made my name in the scene. Funnily enough I feel more and more like Melbourne and Ibiza are my 2nd homes with the amount of time I spend there, but yeah , it’s always good to play in Manchester for Goodgreef and see all the old faces.

5). We are pleased to welcome you back to Tidy for another one of our weekenders, this time the New Years Eve Weekender in Blackpool. Which has been your favourite Weekender so far and why?

I think this is my 4th weekender that I’ve played at, the 3 sets I’ve done have all been unreal. The debut was always gonna be special because I’d been dying to get on the line-up for a while. The last New Years Weekender was immense because I really got the atmosphere going into overdrive and the crowd were loving the style I was pushing which was a good feeling because I wasn’t too sure how the Tidy crowd would take to it. The last one I played was the most memorable because I mixed the live weekender CD, and all the preparation that went into it finally pulled off when I finished mixing my last tune and I sat back and soaked it all in. But my favourite one so far was the Wild West weekender, I didn’t play but it was the most fun anyone can have in Prestatyn, even though I might have been a tad mischievous!

6). How would you describe a Tidy Weekender to anyone that has not been yet?

For the industry type people it’s a must see, it shows all the other promoters how to pull off big events properly. For the clubbers it’s an institution, an asylum of the most mentally creative lunatics that the scene can bring together. I love the atmosphere and this can’t be matched by any other event, it’s so unique and it’s always a massive honour for a DJ like my self to be involved in the shenanigans.

7). Yours sets are legendary, you describe your style as “predominantly European Hard Trance, with elements of Hard Dance and Hard Style and a splattering of Techno” – but how would you describe one of your sets to someone that does not understand what these styles are?

Haha, why thank you Ru, still doesn’t get you a copy of that tune I’ve been playing that you are after though!

My style is always changing and forever evolving. This year I’ve got really into the schranz sound, last year I championed the hard-style, who knows what 07 will bring.
The main ingredient for my sets though is creativeness and energy. I’m not a stand still type of DJ and my music reflects this; furious, unpredictable and pretty cutting edge. I like dropping in some well known riffs and vocals and cutting it up with tracks that other DJ’s simply can’t get their hands on because they come out of my studio and I try and keep them as exclusive as possible. If someone comes to see me play and hasn’t heard of any of these styles before and is a hard dance virgin, then there’s every chance that they might crap their load first time round!

8). Where and when was your first set?

In a function room of a hotel for a friend of a friend’s birthday when I was about 13, going back a long time ago now. I used to play jungle in which ever club or party I could bully the decks at. But then when I started getting seriously into the hard dance scene, my 1st gig was for a night that one of my fellow clubber mates put on as an after party in the peaking days of Gatecrasher. Since then it’s been a long ten years but it’s all been worth while.

9). I read somewhere that you’ve been into hard dance since you were 12, is that true? Did you imagine back then that you’d be headlining gigs around the world?

I’ve been one of the more educated DJ’s on the hard dance circuit because of my upbringing. I had a staple diet of Hacienda House and squat party acid techno from my big bro and sis respectively from the tender age of 9. Then a bit later on I was bunking off school to play on my decks, sneaking into raves when I was 14, constantly surrounded by not only Dance music but the scene that goes hand in hand with it. So I was vibing off TDV when he was releasing cd’s for Global Underground etc and it really got me going from day dot. I didn’t necessarily know at that age that I would be following the hard dance scene in such a big way, but I knew my fate was definitely with dance music in general. Whether it be commercial or underground, selling coach tickets for clubs or playing behind the decks, I knew this was where I would put all my passion and energy.

10). You played at the awesome Dance Valley in Holland, almost ten years after first going there as a clubber. How has the scene changed in that time? Has it changed for the better?

Well for me it’s changed for the better, hard dance is a lot more established and recognised and there were many DJ’s back then who didn’t really have much talent but still were in the limelight. But to be fair 10 years ago I was more of a clubber and the music in those days was totally mind blowing so I didn’t care too much about the skill of the DJ’s. Nowadays I think there is a lot of shit music being churned out by kids in their bedrooms which dilutes the scene to some extent so in that respect things haven’t changed all that much. The scene is now a lot more corporate and money orientated but this also is a plus because it forces artists to work harder and makes real talent shine through.

11). For any DJ wannabes out there, what is the one piece of advice you’d give them?

Produce. Production. Make tunes. It gives you a proper understanding of the music and gives you more appeal as an artist. If you know fuck all or don’t know the 1st place to start then go on a music tech or sound engineering course. I did just that and I’ve never looked back.

12). Your DJing is only part of the story, you also have a working relationship with Gaz West / Dark By Design and have a number of productions under your belt, how did you and Gaz get together in the first place?

We’ve known each other for years from clubbing and then my DJ’ing took off so we lost touch and didn’t really see each other all that much. Then a very close mutual friend put us back in contact. This friend used to spend every night at Gaz’s watching him make tunes and smoking joints till the early hours and he sent one of Gaz’s CDs onto me. So I listened to his new tracks and played a couple in my sets and we started to work together straight away and within a day we were best friends. At the time I was resident at Goodgreef and I also ran their record label, so I hooked Gaz up with Goodgreef, Mine and Gaz’s relationship is more than a partnership though. He knows I’m here for him through thick and thin and I get the same in return. We’ve both had highs and lows individually in our careers but knowing we are both there for each other is one of the best things to come out of the whole music career for me. A true friend and a massive inspiration.

13). Your latest production “Boot It Up” is a collaboration with the Organ Donors and is ripping up dance floors all over the world, is there more to come from the Organ Donors / Alex Kidd partnership?

The Kidd and the Donors are as tight as they come. We are real good mates which is brilliant because I’m now associated with them on a professional level, and that’s uber-cool because they really are the dons in what they are doing. I love their DJ sets, and have so much respect for them as I don’t really rate that many DJ’s on the hard dance scene. Obviously they are amazingly talented in the studio too which is so rare. I only know of a few hard dance DJ’s who are awesome both on the decks and in the studio and they are definitely worthy of being praised for both in that way. I love working with them on tunes and our new track is a shranz-esque workout of a well known Madonna anthem and it’s even bigger than our first collaboration. It’s still kinda exclusive though and can only really be heard in our sets but the release plans will be put up on my website in the next few weeks. Me and the boys have talked about some other ideas and projects so we will concentrate on nailing those as soon as Scot Donor pulls his lazy arse into shape and gets the new studio ready! I have a bit of an ongoing war with Scot right now which all started when we headlined Frantic’s 9th birthday with a b2b set. We went back to his place for an after party and the next day I was pissing about on my message board forums and mistakenly left myself signed in on his computer. When I left for the journey home he got wind of my fatal mistake and changed my whole profile for everyone to see and converted me into a granny shagging pervert who likes school dinner ladies. He got proper creative though and stitched me right up for weeks on my dsi forum, putting pictures up of 90 year old women on my user profile and I didn’t know about this for about a month because I was away touring and stuff.. Then I somehow got my car stuck in a huge ditch after Westfest the other week and that turned into the funniest thing the Donors had ever seen and I got ripped and annihilated for 5 hours whist we waited to get towed out. So after all this I was starting to feel like revenge was the only way to get my own back. I started my own radio show a last week and thought it was perfect if I could pull off “prank the DJ”!! It was a classic, I had Scotty right over, it was poetic justice ha. Check out the clip on my website, it’s fucking hysterical!!!!

14). Who else would you like to work with on the production side?

Well this year I’m concentrating a lot more on my own solo stuff rather than with engineers or other producers but I will still work with a few select people when the right opportunities come up. Id like to get in the studio with Zany because he’s the boy right now, definitely nailing the hardstyle more than any other producer. Id love to work with Frank one day too (Scot Project) but he’s not so big on the collaborations, so I don’t know if that would ever happen. I’m loving the schranz style Alex Calver is making so I’m gonna hopefully hook something up with him soon when I get back from my Oz tour. I think some studio time with Mark Sherry would be cool too but last time we spoke he thought I only played industrial type gabba so I still have to convince him a bit more! Also Kamui would definitely be interesting to work with because his sound has been amazing this year and he’s got a real unique style that appeals to me.

15). If you had to chose between DJing or production duties, which one would you pick?

At the moment I am loving my Dj’ing but long term it’d be production. Really though right now they go hand in hand, I produce for my DJ sets and when I am DJ’ing it gives me the creativeness I need and urges me to get in the studio.

16). Other than your own material, what is your favourite all time track? Why? [Doesn’t have to be hard-dance]

That’s a tuffy I have a mental block when it comes to things like this. Maybe “Pump Up The Jam” by Technotronic. Erm right now I’m feeling all the electro stuff and Booka Shades “White Rooms” is a winner. But for all time track I’d probably go with Dave Clarkes’ remix of Phat Planet.

17). Your new website [www.djalexkidd.com] has a shop facility which I believe will be selling Alex Kidd branded merchandise soon. Tell us a bit more on this…

The shop is really taking shape because we have some new designers in the office and the idea’s we have come up with are ridiculous. For now it’s just an outlet for my releases on CD and vinyl but next year it will be a full on shopping experience, it’ll be like a visit to the Trafford Centre but without a queue for the car park.

18). Is Alex Kidd your real name / is it a coincidence that it’s the same as a character from Sega Games?

It’s not my real name and I’ve had many a nightmare when promoters have booked my flights in the wrong name, only for me to find out when i arrive at the airport to get my tickets. It comes from about 10 years ago when I played my first official hard house gig, the guy running it didn’t know my name so that’s what he stuck on the flyer. I didn’t think it’d stick with me for ever but it’s served me ok.

19). Your career so far, in particular the last three years or so, has been flying with your name appearing on some of the biggest festivals and club events, where do you go to from here?

The usual stuff like compilations and artist albums is important to push the cause. Production is undoubtedly the big step for me personally because it’s such a big industry out there and this is clearly an area where I can show my creativeness to a bigger audience. I feel at ease in the studio and when I’m locked in there for days the time fly’s by and I love every minute of it. I am also keen on doing some radio shows so I will lock that down if the time and opportunity is right.

But above all of this, the main element that keeps me going though is the music and the people raving, that is what keeps things fresh for me, and I have such fucking mad experiences and crazy times behind the decks that I wouldn’t want to change any of that right now. Some people don’t understand that I might be orchestrating the proceedings and ripping the dancefloors up, but when I m skipping around the stages and speakers to the beat it’s because I can’t compose myself!! It really is the best self satisfaction and purest adrenaline rush I could ever have and the clubbers on the floor can see this quite clearly because I’m a clubber at heart and totally on their level. So I’m quite happy where I am right now. It’s been a lot of hard work, no doubt about it, but I’m still very far from where I could potentially take things. The next level will progress with the more hard work I put in but I’m enjoying myself along the way which is just as important.

20). If you were to host “an evening with Alex Kidd” who would you invite as guest DJs (and why)?

I’m mates with most of the DJ’s I play alongside, so this is a hard one. Ok, Dark By Design, Donors, Savage and Lashes, Whitby, Farley, Amber, Russel Pate, Eddie Halliwell and Adam Sheridan, Fake DJ and Mistress De Funk, Kev Energy, Proteus, Kutski, Zany and Dana and Howard Marks. Oh and Kate Lawler from Big Brother. I run a night in the club downstairs from my studio (Sankeys), not a hard night, an electro night. She’s good mates with all the DJ’s who play for us, and she played there the other night. Then we went out and got absolutely smashed together and had a complete riot so I know she’s up for a good party!

21). When not DJing/working, do you go out clubbing? Where to?

I suppose I go to Sankeys downstairs when I’ve got a night off and they have people like Seb Fontaine, Fedde Le Grand, Mason, Bookashade and Jeff Mills on their line ups. It’s a legendary club and it’s just been super kitted up so I can often be found in there propping up a bar. If I’m in Ibiza I might go to the odd night now and again but I’m quite happy away from the clubs when I’m in a hot country. If I had the choice I’d love to see more techno and Drum and Bass DJ’s and go to those sort of clubs but it just doesn’t fit in with the schedule. It’s a shame because going to see these other DJ’s is very important to me as it gives me a lot of inspiration.

22). What is your most shameful moment / drunken escapade?

Too many, every after-party picture on DSI is quickly forgotten about in my book. And the signing session and harder generation game at the last Tidy Weekender I went to wasn’t a very good idea Alex!

23). What CD is currently in your car CD player?

I only have a tape player, still not got round to sorting it. It’s an old Slammin Vinyl mix tape from Andy C I think. The only other tape I got in there is a recording of when I was on Riley and Durrant’s New Breed show on Galaxy a few years ago and I sound rather camp in the interview so I hid it in my car so the boys in the office don’t find it and stitch me up.

24). Considering your hard and tough style, if I were to go through your DVD collection, is there any film there that I would be surprised to find?

Aladdin, Sex and the City Box Sets (come on boys you know you love it!)

25). Where will you be spending Christmas this year / who with?

Ill be spending Christmas with my mum and ill probably get a few close friends to come round for one of her infamous dinners.

26). Anything specific on your Christmas wish-list? [can be anything you like from material objects to career aspirations, world peace and everything in between]

I’m greedy, and I wont get any of it but hey… New Tom-Tom, new car stereo, new car, new head for every Monday for the next 10 years and a partridge in a pear tree!

27). Do you have any words of wisdom to share with us?

That might be how it should be but this is how it is

28). Do you have any New Years resolutions for 2007?

Gym, quit smoking, spend more time with my friends and my mum

29). Finally, please tell us a joke! [it’s for the tidy board so as low as you can go on this one Alex!]

An old dear wanted travelled by bus to the pet cemetery with the remains of her cat. As she boarded the bus, she whispered to the driver, I have a dead pussy.
The driver pointed to the woman in the seat behind him and said, "Sit with my wife. You two have a lot in common.

Thank you! xxx cheers ru, cheers tidy, cheers everyone who I see out on the dancefloor and I cant wait for what is surely gonna be the best weekender yet!