Dj Sy is the definitive hardcore legend. Having discovered hip hop through listening to pirate radio in the mid-80s he progressed into acid house, house then hardcore. Gaining his first residency at a club in Nottingham whilst at university he began to get bookings all over the UK and abroad from there. Today he is affectionately know as the Scratchmaster, a clearly deserved tag as anyone who has seen him play can testify. He is the owner of Quosh records (with Dj Unknown), one of the leading hardcore labels with over sixty releases. All in all I wonder if there is anything Sy hasn’t seen in his time or been asked in interview. I’d best get my thinking cap on!
Sy, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. I've heard you are reluctant to give interviews, do you think you’ve said all there is to be said over the years or are you just shy?
Reluctant? Why do you say that?! I’ve done several interviews in the past year; however, it starts to get a bit tedious answering questions such as “how long have you been dj-ing?” and “how did you learn to scratch?” every time, it’s nice to see some original questions for a change!
It’s well documented that you used to be a Graffiti artist and Sy was your tag leading to your DJ name. What did you used to draw and where? (I was wondering if you drew the Quosh logo?)
I’m afraid draw would be an exaggerated compliment, I was more of a vandal, but I’m not going to reveal where and upon what I scrawled!
The Quosh logo was designed by an old school chum of mine, Stylo, who was in our 'crew', and progressed to become the editor of Graphotism, a world renowned graffiti magazine.
What did you want to be when you grew up, did you aspire to be a DJ from a young age or fall in to what you do?
I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to be, but from playing the drums at secondary school, through to my love of hip hop and beyond, music has always been the most important thing in my life!
You said once in an interview 'there'll never be a music genre as good as the early hardcore, because it encompassed everything - tough beats (some break beat, some kick driven), bass lines, vocals, pianos...everything!' - I think its fair to say the hardcore scene has taken much more of a diverse direction over the past year, and could possibly be getting back to being as broad a genre as it was in the glory days. What are your thoughts on the resurgence of hardcore?
The most satisfying aspect of the “resurgence” as you put it, is that it’s totally down to the dedication and talent of those involved in the artistic side of the scene, and the faithfulness and unswerving support of the UK’s ravers. It simply couldn’t just die back in the late ‘90s, there was too much love to be lost from the scene’s artists and followers. We (the artists) have all stepped up our commitment to production levels, and that’s why there are so many good tunes around today.
What do you think about the recent commercial release of classic tunes such as Flip & Fill’s – Shooting Star? Does it add value to the scene?
I don’t think it makes the slightest bit of difference to the 'core scene to be honest, because they’re all tunes that were from times gone by, and so have no real bearing on what is happening in today’s hardcore scene. If the success allows the original writers of said tunes to reap financial reward which otherwise would have passed them by, then I say fair play. Further, if commercial exposure of old hardcore tracks attracts more young ’uns to the 'core scene, then there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!
You released your first tune with Unknown (“Are you ready” on Hectic Records) ten years ago. Define the sound of Quosh today and where you see the label headed?
At present I’m pushing the bouncy sound, along with trying to expose new producers to the ravers, a policy which I’ll be pursuing for the foreseeable future!
Speaking of which, I see you played a bouncy set (as well as Hixxy) at BBTB on March 5th. Was that actually a bouncy hard house set? Have you been building up any other collections over the years? Can we expect a funky house set from Sy anytime soon ?
I often do bouncy house sets, because we also run a naughty bouncy house label. I don’t collect records anymore, I haven’t got the space! I very much doubt you’ll ever see me play funky house, though some of it’s alright…. (*grimaces*)
Having played in many different clubs across the country and over the world do you have a favourite club or night that stands out in your mind as you look back? What makes a good party for you?
Well of course The Sanctuary was always a favourite, but there are too many to list; it often will simply depend on whether there are good DJ monitors set up, enabling me to really get into the music I’m playing, rather than just going through the motions: they really are that important! I don’t care about the lighting in the venue, the size of the venue, the location of the venue, s’all about the sound system!
I know hardcore always rips up a dancefloor but what tunes are putting the smile on your face at the moment. What 5 would you not be leaving home without?
1 Gammer – Let It Go (Quosh 62)
2 Seduction – Slammin’ & Jammin’ (Maximum Impact)
3 Sy & Unknown – Make It Bounce (Quosh 63)
4 Fracus & Gavin G – Open Your Eyes To Love (Sy & Unknown remix)(Hecttech)
5 Asa & S1 – makin’ Me Wanna Dance (Sy & Unknown remix) (Quosh 60)
What is your proudest production?
I particularly liked “Gonna Get Ya”, because it was bouncy, a little darker, but still had that cheeky, fun, Quosh element which we try to capture in all our productions.
What are your thoughts on the ever raging debate: CD vs vinyl? What percentage of your tunes in a set are on CD?
I play everything off CD now, because CD decks enable the DJ to play upfront, unreleased tracks. The only pain is setting up the damn CD deck before my sets, something all the hardcore jocks hate. I still always get the vinyl copy of any track that I really like though: you can’t beat vinyl for collectable appeal.
(dj k8-e: Quosh are offering MP3 downloads of their back catalogue, click here to browse and buy.)
What else do you like to listen to when you aren’t listening to the hard stuff?
I often get mix CDs off my good friend DJ Krafty Kuts (from the breaks scene), featuring wicked mix-ups of old skool hip hop and new breaks tracks. There’s one in my car CD player at the moment, mixed by DJ Aladdin from New York – it’s f**king amazing: he mixes up loads of old 80s pop songs and scratches and cuts ‘em up like a mad man. Bad ass!
Have any new dj’s really impressed you lately? Who are your top tips to watch in 2005?
Gammer’s smashin’ it at the mo! On the production tip, also watch out for Joey Riot, he’s comin’ with some dope shit, I’m tellin’ ya!
Finally you will be returning to Portsmouth Pier to play at ELEV8 on March 18th. What do you have in store for the good people of Portsmouth?
Errr, I wonder!!?? What do ya bloody think!? HARDCORE, Quosh style! Big up the Portsmouth crew, I’m gonna rock ya titties off!
Early Bird tickets available from Monday 31st January at only £19.50 whilst stocks last.
www.slamminvinyl.co.uk
www.alexandrapalace.com
Info & Tickets: 020 8363 5566
For 10 long years London has been starved of a massive underground dance music event. Despite being one of the leading cultural centres of the world and the birthplace of many styles of dance music, the capital in recent years has been denied a truly huge party that it could call it’s own….
THE WAITING IS OVER.
We are proud to present TRANSMISSION, the largest indoor event of 2005, to be held in London’s, if not the UK’s, biggest and most prestigious venue – Alexandra Palace. Situated in parkland in the heart of North London, but conveniently close to major road links, this place will literally blow you away. From the stunning Victorian architecture to the amazing view over London, there is no other venue that even comes close to Alexandra Palace.
The first place to transmit a TV broadcast way back in 1936 now becomes the venue which will transmit the fact that London is now well and truly back on the dance music map.
7 major promoters have assembled for the first time ever to create the essential event of this year:
Slammin’ Vinyl: The experts in staging huge multi-arena events
Frantic: London’s unstoppable Hard House machine
One Nation: Drum & Bass in ya face London
Raindance: 15 years on, still the best party in town
Hardcore Heaven: The kings of the hardcore scene
Wildchild: Fast becoming the leading Trance organisation in London
Pushca: Injecting glamour into clubland
As you’re no doubt aware by now, if you’re only going to go out once this year, make sure you go here. Why dance in a club this Easter when you can dance in a Palace?
Flyer:
Region:
London
Music:
Trance. Hard Trance. Psy Trance. Nu NRG. Hardcore. HardStyle. House. Bouncy House. Deep House. Funky House. Hard House. US House. Breaks.
DJ's:
ONE NATION
Andy C
Zinc b2b Friction - ON 4 Deck session
ED Rush & Optical
DJ Hype
Pendulum
Baron & Fresh
Brockie
Logistics & Nu-Tone
MC`S: Fearless, Eksman, Shabba D , Skibadee, Dynamite, Det, Foxy, SP
N-JOI LIVE
Top Buzz (Jason Kaye & Mad P)
Slipmatt
The Ratpack
Billy Daniel Bunter Kenny Ken
Squirell
Demolition Cru
Herman b2b Flashback
MC`S - ICE - Strict - Fearless - Everson Allen - Mad P
HARDCORE HEAVEN ARENA
Hixxy b2b Breeze b2b Styles
Kevin Energy b2b Sharkey b2b Marc Smith
DJ SY
Scott Brown
Mark EG
Brisk
Seduction
Dougal
MC`S - Storm - Whizzkid - Odyssey - Smiley & Rude
From: *cheeky chick*on 16th Mar 2005 10:48.32 nice interview hun shame i cant make it friday
have a good one as for SY
From: babyredon 16th Mar 2005 11:34.34 Wicked interview K8-e I cant wait for friday its gonna rock big time!
From: BEANY~on 16th Mar 2005 14:25.45 NIce one K8-e, Will see you fri if not b4
From: gav the try hardon 20th Mar 2005 21:48.22 dj sy a proper legend and by god what a dj even though dont listen to hardcore that much anymore i always find time to dig out a sy tape or two my fav being helter skelter:lost in music
From: K8-eon 21st Mar 2005 14:48.57 Sy Rocked on Friday night at ELEV8. What an amazing night! True legend of a dj. Thanks for everyone's comments on the interview (both on here and on other boards). Keep on raving!!!
From: Intervention-UKon 24th Mar 2005 14:15.31 wicked interweiw mate
sy keep up the good work mate
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by
their respective companies. All other content is (c) 2001-2025 HarderFaster.
![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1.gif)
?
