Interview

Benz - When and how did you first start playing? Was it by accident or a dedicated effort?

Clare - Back in 2000, I met my partner Bruce, and as we both had a great love of Hard House and Trance we thought it would be great fun to get some decks to mess about on. We got some Sony decks and I soon picked up how to use them and was hooked, playing on the decks most nights. I never intended to DJ in clubs, as I didn't think I would ever be confident enough to play in front of people. But as my mixing got better my confidence grew and I started playing out at house parties. At one party I was spotted by MOM/SSUP promoter and given my first club booking for Mind Over Matter at Camden Palace in the Black and White bar in June 2002. Despite being extremely nervous the gig went well and I've been playing out since then, 4 years this month!.

Benz - How would you describe your style?

Clare - I would describe my style as very energy driven. I love everything from uplifting riffs and vocals through to hard and bouncy beats and the odd classic thrown in. My first love of dance music was Old Skool Rave and Jungle, so you can expect to hear those sounds coming through in some of my sets. I always seem to get a better reaction from the crowd when I mix the styles up, than when I stick to the one genre in a set.

Benz - You are resident for the Brixton-based afterparty Baklash... What makes a good afterparty in your opinion?

Clare - BakLash is my first residency in London at Club 414. It’s been great to DJ there alongside fellow resident Craig Mac and watch the party grow over the last year and become a very successful afterparty. Mark Baklash is doing a great job.

In my opinion a good afterparty needs DJs that understand that most of the clubbers have been up all night and need a little bit of TLC when they enter the club, and not just bang, bang, bang. At Baklash we try to keep the music fun, with varying styles, so as to keep the party going as long as possible and not wear everyone out too early. Finding the right venue is also important, a good chillout helps, baring in mind that most people have been up all night and just wanna sit and chat for a while. That’s what I love about Club 414. And of course having an enthusiastic and dedicated crew is important for any successful party.

Benz - Many people are saying that the Hard Dance scene is dying...if so, what do you think it needs to get some life kicked back into it?

Clare - For as long as I can remember, many people have said that the Hard Dance scene is dying. I personally don't see it. There are still so many excellent parties going on. Lots of wicked tunes being made. Parties do come and go like they have always done, as do the clubbers. People move on and tastes change. The Hard Dance scene is all about having fun, as long as there is plenty of energy, melody and grooviness going on the Hard Dance scene will keep on going strong.

Benz - You’ve been making some tracks with recent newcomer SQ. Who is this guy and what have the two of you been up to?

Clare - SQ is classical cellist outside of dance music, and regularly plays in top concert halls with orchestras worldwide, as well as working on film music sessions such as the “Da Vinci Code” soundtrack. He's had a love for Hard Dance for a long time and has only just started producing in the last year. He’s been very busy in the studio writing his own material and also working with lots of other producers and DJs. He is probably well known for his excellent bootlegs. I've been a fan of his work since I heard his remix of 'You've Got The Love' and have played out a lot of his tracks.p>

This year SQ asked me if I would like to make a track with him and of course I said yes! I have wanted to get into producing for a while and couldn't think of a better person to start with than him. We have made two tracks so far. The first one is a called 'This Party's Started' and is a bouncy remix of ‘Baby Wants To Ride’. The second is called 'Just Give Me' and is a energising Hard Trancer with a nice piano sample and vocals. I'm hoping to go back in the studio with SQ very soon to write some original material with him which I look forward to.

Benz - Which producers would you most like to work with? Whose sound do you really admire?

Clare - There are so many producers out there who I would like to work with in the future as I have different musical tastes. Hard House wise I would like to work with producers such as Digital Kid, Paul Glazby and newcomer Ellard. The Hard Trance producers I would like to work with include Phil York, Gaz West, Nick Rowland and Greg Brookman, Glen Orpheus and as I've said, many others. I admire all of the above’s work but the person who I have most admired for a number of years is Jon Doe.

Benz - You are playing for Tasty at their Generation Energy event on July 8th at Renaissance Rooms in London. Can you remember the first time you went to a Tasty event? What did you think?

Clare – Yes I remember very well the first time I went to a Tasty event. I had wanted to go for a long time as I have always been a great fan of the Honeypot Label, and knew that the music would be right up my street. I first made it to Tasty about two years ago, albeit a last minute thing. There was another party on that night that I was going to with friends, but we thought we would stop of on route, once I got in there I really didn't wanna leave. The atmosphere was electric, the music superb. What I really love about Tasty is the mixture of Hard Dance, Old Skool and Hardcore all under one roof.

Benz - You are going to be playing with James Condon, another rising star of the Hard Dance scene... How do you think your styles will mesh together?

Clare - I never had the pleasure of hearing James play, but we've had a chat and I think our styles will blend very well together. Like myself James has a style which incorporates the many sounds of Hard Dance and I'm really looking forward to DJing with him.

Benz - Which other DJs do you always make the time to go and see?

Clare – There are many DJs that I would like to make the time to go and see, but I don't really have the time any more to check them all out as often as I would like too. But if I had chance I would go and see the likes of Anne savage, JP & Jukesy, Kevin Energy, Marc H and Hinsley and my all time favourite DJ Skol. Also newer DJs such as Ben Skinner, Zappa and Elvis all of which have played some of the best sets I've heard this year.

Benz – Why do you love the Hard Dance scene so much? What makes it so special for you?

Clare - I love the Hard Dance scene so much for the music and of course the people. The atmosphere in Hard Dance is like no other, So colourful and refreshing and no bad attitude. And that’s what makes it so special for me.

Back to interviews