:: INTERVIEWS :: TYLOR LEIGH

For one young lady her appearance on the New Years Weekender line-up for the second time in her short career brings to a close a year that has seen a meteoric rise in the highly competitive trance scene; DJ Tylor Leigh started 2006 as being named a Mixmag Future Hero and since then she has carved out a pretty impressive reputation amongst trance DJ heavy-weights, promoters and clubbers alike. With an impressive list of gigs already chalked up, including the likes of
Inside out, Garlands, Cream, The Coach, Dance Academy, Escape, Gods Kitchen and Goodgreef (where she is resident), this Liverpool lass also lived out her ambition of playing at her (and many others) favourite Ibiza club Amnesia as well as appearing alongside Eddie Halliwell at his series of Fire It Up gigs.

Not bad credentials for someone who was an unknown twelve months ago. Ahead of the Tidy New Year Weekender Tylor reflects on her debut on the trance scene and gives us an insight to the name that has been causing a stir at trance events up and down the UK.

Ru: Hi Tylor, thanks for speaking to tidy.com today. 2006 started well for you as Mixmags Future Hero, fair to say it's been a good year for you then?

Tylor: Yeah it's been amazing! So much has happened in a year. I've played some unreal gigs. It’s been quality!

Ru: Twelve months ago you were a relative unknown, now though your name is springing up all over the shop. Did you ever imagine that you’d be a resident at Goodgreef? Surely a dream come true?

TL: It's exactly that! If you’d told me a few years ago that I would be doing this in 2006, there would be no way I would have believed you! I used to dream of playing in the clubs that I have had the opportunity to play this year, it really is surreal.

Ru: Before becoming a DJ, you were a podium dancer in Ibiza, was DJing always part of your game plan?

TL: Music has always been a huge part of my life, and djing had definitely caught my attention at that time. I'd always wanted to do a season in Ibiza and landed a job dancing for various club nights at Eden. I was having a ball every night! As I became more and more into the music and the scene, the more I became intrigued by djing. The DJ is the musician and the one controlling the whole vibe and experience within the club. Ibiza gave me the opportunity to experience different sounds and genres. It was an education.

Ru: In your debut year, you’ve already chalked up some impressive gigs at some of the UK’s biggest and most respected events, which has been your favourite set so far? Why?

TL: That’s so difficult as there’s been some amazing gigs! All the Goodgreef gigs are quality and bring wicked crowds every time. But Fire It Up at Godskitchen has to be up there, and so does Cream Amnesia warming up for Eddie, both gigs were straight from the top drawer! Amnesia is the one club every Trance DJ longs to play at, so it was pretty unbelievable.

Ru: Did you ever go to a Weekender as a clubber?

TL: Yeah, we did a bit of a cheeky one for the Camo weekender one-year, and sneaked in on the Sunday night! Apologies to the management! I just remember a load of us bouncing into the queen Vic, fresh and raring to go. Everyone was looking a bit worse for wear to say the least and didn’t seem to appreciate our enthusiasm. We had an absolute ball that night!

Ru: You are playing for us at the New Years Eve Weekender in Blackpool which will be the second time you’ve appeared on a weekender line-up. How important do you think events like the Weekender are on a DJs CV?

TL: Events like the Weekender are wicked. It’s a huge event and people travel from up and down the country to join the madness! It’s a good opportunity and highly entertaining at the same time!

Ru: You are a predominantly trance DJ, but trance is quite a wide style, what sort of set can we expect from you at Blackpool?

TL: Trance is at its most experimental stage at the moment, which is great! There are so many different sounds coming through and there's so much more you can play! The crowds are really open minded and appreciating different sounds! DJ's are really thinking outside the box, which has given Trance so many different angles and is also accepting different genres too! I love all the House and Electro sounds that are crossing over into the Trance productions, and the producers are really doing the scene proud at the moment!

Ru: So you share the fairly common belief that trance music is “on the up” after a bit of a lull?

TL: Yeah I think it is. Mainly due to its change of direction I think. Trance DJs have so much flexibility with a set and can really change the direction of their music. I suppose it's opened itself up to wider variety of people!

Ru: Paul Oakenfold playing at Cream in 1999 is responsible for igniting your enthusiasm in trance, but who would you say is your inspiration or trance DJ idol?

TL: Oakenfold got me hooked from the off and was responsible for me attending Cream for my weekly dose of quality Trance back in the late 90's. However, Van Dyk became a huge inspiration to me, his music always really stood out. I always remember having copies of his live sets on my Walkman 24/7! It really frustrated me when I couldn’t find out the names of all his tunes, coz they were just that good.

Ru: What is your all time favourite trance track? Why?

TL: That’s impossible to answer. I'll be here all day! Chicane Autumn Tactics was an absolute cracker back in the day.

Ru: One of your ambitions was to play at Amnesia in Ibiza, but you’ve already conquered that now, how did it feel to live-out your dream?

TL: It was really was unbelievable! It's my favourite club and it was really was bizarre to be playing in there so early on in my career. Hopefully that means Ibiza will have me back!

Ru: Are you likely to stick with Trance or do you have plans to move into the hard-house arena?

TL: Trance is what first got me into the scene and has been at the core of my passion for music for years. I love all different genres of music like House and Electro are on top form, and love experimenting with different sounds, although I can’t see me venturing into Hard House anytime soon.

Ru: Some vinyl purists might disapprove of you for playing from CDs, how would you counteract that?

TL: My 1210's are firmly in use at home, and I do play vinyl from time to time. Vinyl has been at the core of Djing since it first began with Carl Cox playing hardcore and him first inventing 3-deck mixing! It's what Djing has been all about! That will never go away, and as a DJ I have every respect for that! For me personally, I first started using CDs mainly due to the accessibility of music. As a struggling bedroom DJ, it was so difficult to afford paying £8 for one tune and postage and packaging on top. I simply couldn’t afford it. With mp3's, you have access to an enormous source of music from all over the world, and you can have your tracks burnt onto CD and mixing them up in your bedroom within minutes. It really does open up the music window, which is fantastic for DJs. You can be more experimental with what music you buy, as the price of one tune being around £1.50 each, you can afford to try out different stuff and you’re not constricted by your bank balance. The CD decks have brought new features to djing and I think it’s great. Technology has progressed, but it’s always important to remember where the scene has come from and it's wicked that so many DJs are still keeping the vinyl alive.

Ru: What is your view on “back-2-back” DJing for one-off sets?

TL: I personally haven't done one yet. I think if two DJs are wicked mates, bounce off each other and know one another's music, then why not!

Ru: Do you believe in the progression principal during a set? Or do you keep your set on a certain level?

TL: Set progression is an essential part of any set. The progression is what creates anticipation and drive, and builds an atmosphere on the dance floor! It allows you to take the crowd on a journey and be creative. That’s what crowds are there to hear.

Ru: You’ve played all over the UK now, from Glasgow to Brighton and everywhere in between. Do you find that crowds differ depending on where you play or are trance-fans the same wherever they are from?

TL: Crowds differ with every single gig. There are trends within different parts of the country. As you travel, you learn what the crowds like. I really enjoy that. As Trance is so diverse at the moment, crowds are appreciating such a wide variety of sounds, so when you go to a new club, its great to be able to experiment and get a feel for what the people on the dance floor are into.

Ru: Tylor Leigh is your DJ alter ego, but your real name is Gemma Montgomery. What is the reason behind having a DJ name? Is it a tax-dodge?

TL: Ha! Unfortunately not. The taxman and me are already good friends! Some DJ's are lucky enough to have less common names like James Zabelia or Glazby. But my surname, like Smith or Jones doesn't really have the DJ appeal. Many DJs have an alter ego's which suits their persona. Tylor was a name that I always liked and Leigh is my sister's name, and it just seemed to fit and caught on quickly, and so it stayed!

Ru: How will you be developing your career in 2007? Do you have any particular objectives?

TL: 2006 has been such an exciting year. In 2007 I really want to focus on growing and developing as a DJ. The crowds have been amazing and I really appreciate everyone's support. Music production is always something I've wanted to get into, so that’s something on the agenda for 2007. I'm just going to work hard and enjoy every second.

Ru: Have your folks seen you DJ? What do they make of your DJing career?

TL: Yeah! My mum has come to a few of my gigs. She loves the tunes and always comes in when I'm on my decks at home to let me know that she loves the tune! She came to my first gig with Goodgreef for their 5th birthday at Nation and was having it behind the decks! Need I say more!

Ru: So we know that trance is your thing, do you listen to other styles of music?

TL: Yeah definitely! My tastes are changing all the time. I love all types of dance music, especially house. There's so many sub genres going on at the mo. Lots of minimal sounds. I love the lot. The DC10 vibe is wicked.

Ru: Before your trance-enlightenment back in 1999, did you pay any particular attention to any kind of music scene, were you in to pop music for example?

TL: When I was really young I used to love Ah Ha if that counts! I got onto the mid 90's rave sound at about 11years old and was always into the dancier side of music since then.

Ru: What was the last trance compilation album you bought?

TL: Eddies Cream album.

Ru: Do you have any shameful records or CDs in your collection?

TL: I'm sure Ill have a few in there if I delve into my collection. There were some definite cheesy ones in there from the early days I reckon. Probably best not to disclose.

Ru: As a Liverpudlian, are you in a position to tell us the origins of “Scouse House”?

TL: Fortunately not! I take no responsibility for it!

Ru: If I came to your native Liverpool for the night and you were charged with organising a club tour, which nightclubs / events would you make sure I experienced?

TL: I reckon Yousef's night Circus is quality and he always does us proud with the line-ups. If you're looking for some after hour's antics, Bedlam at Garlands is on till 7. If you' fancy a dose of Scouse house, there's always the pleasure rooms! [laughs].

Ru: If you could change any aspect about living in the UK, what would it be?

TL: The weather! Bring on a sunny climate!

Ru: Where will you be spending Christmas and who with?

TL: At home, with the crew.

Ru: Is there anything in particular you’d like the big bearded man in the red suit to bring you or that you wish for?

TL: Liverpool winning a 19th League title would be nice, probably not this season though, maybe next year!

Ru: Do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to share with us?

TL: If you always do what you always do, you'll always get what you always get.

Ru: Finally, please tell us a joke.

TL: A horse walks into a bar and the barman says: Why the long face?

Ru: Thank you!

You're welcome!