:: INTERVIEWS :: JON LANGFORD

1). Tell me about your EP.
I’d been asked by a few labels to write a new Knuckleheadz single but the time wasn’t right, when Sam approached my to do a release for Tidy I felt that this was the ideal opportunity to resurrect Knuckleheadz. The EP as a whole shows my diversity in hard dance, from my beginnings in hard house to my current position in hard trance. Alf and I had worked on our track some 2 months earlier and it was decided that we would use it for my release on Tidy.

2). Can you summarise the Knuckleheadz and K-series sounds?
The Knuckleheadz sound has always been about chunky loops, a funky bassline and stab sounds. Hard house has moved on some since my productions in 1996/7 but the essence is still the same. K-Series is all about uplifting hard trance!

3). Its been a while since we’ve heard from the Knuckleheadz, are there any more projects in the pipeline?
As I said earlier I had been approached by various labels to do Knuckleheadz productions but decided to hang on until now… I’ve been working on several different things in the Knuckleheadz vein which I hope to release very soon.

4). It wasn’t until I researched for this interview that I appreciated the spectrum of your work. Please give a brief synopsis of each of your aliases:
Blimey… how much space do you have????
Knuckleheadz – Originally Warren Clarke & Myself – Hard dance, chunky, funky
Mr Bishi – Myself & Steve Hill – Fun, bouncey hard dance with big riffs!
Voltswagen – Born from Mr Bishi – Myself & Steve Hill – again fun hard dance music
Flashheadz – Myself & Paul Chambers (Flash Harry) – Uplifting hard trance
K-Series – Taken from the K in Knuckleheadz – Uplifting Hard Trance covers for 21st Century!
Vicki Pollard – Myself and Paul Chambers – haha… that was funny… 5 mins of fun!
Neon Lights – Myself & Steve Hill – Hard Trance cover versions – vocals & instrumentals
Masif DJs – A coming together of various artists including Alf, Steve Hill and myself

5). You did two mixes of “In Your Eyes” for Kylie Minogue, and that piece of vinyl became one of Tripoli Trax most in demand releases, how did you get involved in that project?
Ahhh… Steve Hill is very well connected man! I’d like to say that we met Kylie and discussed with her and her management how we would put together the remixes, but unfortunately it’s not quite as exciting as that. Steve made a few calls and twisted a few arms and there you have it!

6). You’ve been working in the industry for 14 years, what first lured you in to dance music production?
Warren Clarke…. He was behind Soundsation (they did a track using Lenny Kravitz guitar from “Are You going my way”) and started that god aweful trend of guitar riffs in dance tunes!! Anyway, with the advance he got from FFRR he bought a small studio setup and I used to pop round there and mess about with things. It wasn;t until he moved to London that we produced the first Knuckleheadz single and gave it to Chris B to give to Steve Thomas & Tony De Vit.

7). Your first ever studio track “House Rocca” was hugely popular with the likes of Tony De Vit (it was TdV’s track of 1997) and is something of a Trade anthem. Have you ever been to trade? How did House Rocca come about?
Ohh yess.. I’ve been to Trade… The first time I ever went I sat in the DJ box all night with Ian M, Tony and Pete Wardman… I was a little nervous about venturing out around the club!! I went a couple more times after that and got to know a few more people. It was always a haven for industry types… Sharp Boys, Danny Rampling, Mrs Woods, Tall Paul…

House Rocca was born in a basement studio in Bow. Warren had recently moved to London and had setup his studio with some guys who ran Interstate Records (UK Garage as it was then). I found the vocal sample on a Sample CD and used ideas from Sharp and Mac Zimm records to produce a faster funkier record in that style. The breakdown was what made it… that HUGE drum roll!!

8). Do you go out clubbing? What would be classed as a good night out for you?
I don’t go clubbing often these days – well, not when I’m not DJing!…. A good night out for me would be sitting side of stage away from the packed dancefloor listening to the DJ play. I like listening to what Sasha plays, but I’d need a comfy chair to sit on!!! It’s not really dance music with any energy!

9). As well as a being a prolific producer you’ve also DJ’d the world over and have toured Australia 8 times. If you had to single out one set as a the best which would it be?
I played New Years Eve at the Theme Park just outside Sydney… THAT was amazing… all the rides were going (and FREE!)…. 5,000 people! A fantastic night

10). If you were a promoter for the night who would be your headline DJs and what would be your preferred venue
Sharp Boys, Malcolm Duffy, Steve Thomas, Steve Hill, Tony De Vit, Pete Wardman… sounds like a Trade line-up to me!!! Playing in my favourite club, (that’s no longer standing!) The Manor, near Bournemouth. Low ceiling, massive soundsystem, great people. They’d all have to play early hard house though, but the progression from one DJ to the next is what is important. Sharp Boys, Malcom and Steve playing the funkier stuff, Steve Hill bringing it up with some uplifting tunes and Tony & Pete taking it ALL THE WAY!

11). Your remix of Moby’s “Go” launched the K-Series to much acclaim, the series includes the legendary Airwave, Binary Finary and the magnificent 10in01 - will there be more in the K-Series?
Indeed I am working on a few different things at the moment. I just needed a break from it for a little while.
12). Excluding your own musical output, what are your current top five tunes?
In no particular order:
Mauro Picotto - Komodo(P.H.A.T.T. Remix)
Base Graffiti & Andy Farley – Bail Out
Harry Diamond – Spectrum (K-Series 2008 Remix)
MDA & Spherical – Futurism
"Trevor McLachlan (Addiction Digital)

13). What’s the one track guaranteed to get you on to the dance floor?
Legend B – Lost In Love (Paul Janes Remix)

14). What else are you working on at the moment?
Steve Hill and I have a few things up our sleave that we are working on! ;0)

15). Finally.... please tell us a joke
Q: Boy asks his granny, 'have you seen my pills they're marked LSD.'
A: Granny Replies ' forget your pills, have you seen the size of that dragon in the kitchen?'

Man walks into his bedroom with a sheep under his arm.
His wife is lying in bed reading.
Man says,"This is the pig I have sex with when you've got a headache"
Wife replies, "I think you'll find that is a sheep."
Man replies, "I think you'll find I was talking to the sheep."