:: INTERVIEWS :: JON DOE

Is it really only four years since London based after-hours club Twist opened its doors for the first time? Twist is one of those events that you’d expect to always be there, in some form or another. Resident DJs include the legendary Karim, Frantic’s Golden Girl Cally Gage, Tom Basquil who is making something of a name for himself, the talented Steve Maynard and the addictive Superfast Oz. Whilst they have their individual styles they all contribute to a unique Twist sound that is not available anywhere else in London on a Sunday morning.

Acting as official after-party to many of the capitals big hard-house events, with guest appearances from the likes of Billy “Daniel” Bunter, Justin Bourne, Tim Clewz, Jason Blade and Matt Pick-Up, Twist’s appeal extends beyond that of clubbers wanting something extra from a Saturday night; a hardcore group of Twist fans regularly dispense with a Saturday night out, opting instead to go to bed and get up early on Sunday morning to make Twist their clubbing event of the weekend. In these changing times, Twist has evolved to adapt. Those that dismissed Twists emergence four years ago as “flash-in the pan” and commentators at the time who wrote it off saying it “wouldn’t survive” hadn’t banked on a hard-skinned, hard-working promoter with drive and determination. To Steve Darragh, Twist is more than an after-hours party; it’s a passion and a hobby.

So why did Twist leave Fire? Was Twist not just surfing the crest of the wake left by Trade? I caught up with Steve Darragh to reflect on a colourful four years. It’s one of “those” articles where it’s necessary to point out that the views expressed here are not necessarily those of the interviewer, or indeed the publishers! Of course those who know Steve Darragh would not expect anything less.

Ru: Launching as a gay after-hours club in November 2002 at Viaduct, (the venue now known as Fire), you’d think it was optimum timing given the sudden demise of Trade. Yet reports at the time suggested that, on occasions, attendance was so low that you were forced to close early at 7am. Why do you think there was such a lack of support from a scene that were the pioneers in after-hours clubbing?

SD: Twist was never created as a commercial party so yes in the early days there were times when attendances were low however this was not the main reason for being and you could almost say it was a side hobby for me while the club was being re-furbished into Fire. There was always enough of my friends to have a great party and listen to some great music (after Trade’s sad demise there was no where else). We closed a few times at 10am but can never remember 7am. I really have no idea why a gay scene that was previously so welcoming to new trends and different styles of music suddenly decided to go soft. I think to some extent the whole World is becoming more homogeneous.

Ru: Surely you must have lost a lot of money? What inspired you to keep going week after week? Did you ever want to give up?

SD: Yes I did but I liked it, not losing the money but having the party. I suppose many people have spent more on their hobby. The only time I thought about giving up was when a certain someone (spits on floor – lol) wanted to use the slot for a full on gay funky house party. Needless to say it did not happen.

Ru: In order to survive you took a drastic decision to move away from the gay-scene; many considered this ambitious and there were a fair few that doubted you’d survive. What, if anything, did you need to do in order to provide for this significant change in direction?

SD: It was not as such a conscious decision. Because there was no gay parties that played the music we liked we found ourselves going to Frantic and Tidy etc. The after-party scene for these events was practically none existent and we found an audience ready and willing to embrace a quality after-hours. We didn’t do anything different just offered the best music at the best after-party. Only stupid people don’t respond when they are offered the best on a plate!

Ru: With-in four years, and not counting the additional one off parties you’ve had at the Fridge, Twist has had four homes (five if you count the Viaduct and Fire as two separate venues). As impressive as Fire was, and despite a brief occupancy of a room at the after-hours mother ship venue Turnmills, comments posted via online message boards in the week you moved to Crash indicate that it feels like Twist now has a permanent home, would you agree? What makes Crash perfect for Twist?

SD: Crash really is the perfect venue for Twist. I guess if you’ve been you now why and if you haven’t well you should.

Ru: You’ve made some quite interesting changes to you list of residents over the four years. Was that a case of trial and error or more that DJs just move on?

SD: Like all things that want to remain ahead of the game I think not resting on ones laurels is important. We strongly believe, for the type of party we are, we have the finest resident dj roster. It’s certainly not trial and error.

Ru: The Twist boys’ club season last year saw you pick-up a new resident in the shape of Tom Basquil, and I understand that the current boys club has seen you recruit also Matt Pick-Up. Is this just a co-incidence or do the boys club / girls club seasons act as potential recruiting grounds?

SD: It is certainly a good opportunity for DJs to see how they fit with the Twist crowd but is not intentionally a dj recruiting vehicle. Tom Basquil is a name I believe will make a big impression this year. Anyone who has ever had a liking for real, proper hard dance should check this guy out. Matt is another exciting talent but not a Twist resident (yet).

Ru: Twist has a distinct sound despite your residents having their own unique styles; what best describes the Twist sound to anyone yet to experience it?

SD: It’s hard dance you can shake your arse to, hard but groovy, baby.

Ru: Twist has so far survived the highly competitive and specialised after-hours market while leaving some promoters with spectacular failures in its wake, what do you believe makes Twist different?

SD: We still do it for love not money. End of story.

Ru: Whilst doing research for this interview, I spent quite sometime looking at online message boards, particularly Harder Faster, going back through weeks of clubbers reviews; it is extremely difficult to find anyone with anything disparaging to say about Twist. Does this mean that everything is going well and is the Twist of today is here to stay?

SD: Yes I think we are on the start of a resurgence although generally the market
is slower than it has been for years however we are genuinely having some of the best parties ever.

Ru: This month sees the second outing for Terminal, and as with the previous event earlier this year Twist is co-hosting the main floor. Does this mean that we will see more collaborations? Are there any more Twist influenced Terminal events planned for next year?

SD: I should think so. We get on very well with the Terminal crew. I have an amazing idea that I would like to get of the ground next year.

Ru: Further evidence of Twist exploring beyond the after-hours boundaries came last month with Twistathon, 12 hours of non-stop Saturday night to Sunday lunchtime Twist action. How did that go and will we be seeing another Twistathon in the future?

SD: We were delighted at the response of Twistathon and hope to do 4-6 a year.

Ru: Twist has always been a London phenomenon, although I know that some travel regularly from the West County and from the North to come to the club, would you ever consider taking a version of Twist on tour of the UK? Or franchising out the formula and Twist name?

SD: We are doing a Twist v Storm next January but yes would like to try some parties further a field however it’s hard fitting it in when Twist is EVERY weekend!

Ru: In addition to your DJs, you have the support of Jenny and Richard who are known to the Twist regulars and are very much part of the team, how did the three of you meet?

SD: Jennie B was a Twist knocker from HF – lol - who just didn’t get it. However 2 weeks at brainwash camp and she soon saw the light. Rich and I were clubbing friends at Trade before any of this.

Ru: What are your views on back-2-back DJing?

SD: Parties that just stick as many dj names on a line up, I personally have never understood. So if the point of sticking DJs b2b is to get more dj names on a flyer, this is unforgivable. I want a DJ with the talent to be able to do something special with his 90 minutes or two hours. Few can barely do this on their own never mind when introducing another dynamic. The rare exception might be when, like at Twist, the residents all know each other so well and spend a lot of time discussing what they would like to achieve by doing a b2b. Even then it can be a risk and when people come to Twist they expect the highest quality standards. So I’m not in favour of b2b generally.

Ru: There is unspoken dance-floor etiquette where you do not attempt to engage a fellow clubber in a long and meaningful conversation about world peace or poverty, or indeed any subject, particularly when your intended victim is clearly soaking up all that the DJ is throwing at them. How would you deal with someone who was trying to do this to you?

SD: Easy, I just stick my tongue under my bottom lip and say ‘I’ve got no socks on’.

Ru: Finally, please give me your own words of wisdom.

SD: Wisdom is all very well with the benefit of hindsight.

Twist is on every Sunday morning at Crash, Goding Street, Vauxhall. See www.twistclub.co.uk for details.