Tom Real - The Interview - Sept 2011

Tom Real - The Interview September 2011

Interview by Jenna Roberts

Ahead of the Elixir event this Saturday...we thought we'd catch up with Tom Real...

·         Hi Tom, How has your summer been?

Hello! Summer’s been action packed this year… typing this on route to Electric Picnic.... my last festival of the summer.

·         What have been some of your festival highlights?

This year the return of Glade was a definite highlight… so good to have it back on the summer schedule. Glastonbury was also amazing (as ever!) I had two gigs, one as part of the InSpiral part on the Friday night in the Glade Lounge which was brilliant… really nice vibes and the third year running I’ve played for those guys followed by a slot at the Arcadia Spectacular gig on Saturday which was outrageous!

·         How did this year’s Glade compare with previous years?

The new site was a definite win, perfect for the Glade. And it was nice for them to strip back the numbers… all in attendance were the proper party crew!

·         You’ve previously played at Burning Man; being a festival that isn’t primarily about its music line-up, does this have an affect on the dance floor?

Without a doubt the Burning Man has to be the absolute highlight of my DJ career so far. Performing for thousands and you’re right, it was a totally different experience on the dancefloor… the crowd were so happy to be there (more than any crowd I’ve ever seen!)  - making the energy go off the scale. As DJing was part of my contribution to the event I got a whole lot of love from the crowd whilst I was playing… people were clambering up the front of the pod I was playing in to give me gifts to thank me for my effort. I’ve never seen such a happy crowd.

·         Can you describe one of your best festival moments of all time.....Behind the decks? On the dance floor?

Bar the Burning Man, being invited to play sunrise on New Years Day at Universo Paralello a few years ago was amazing… the Stage was on the top of the beach overlooking the Atlantic as the first sunrise on the New Year came up over the ocean, whilst on the other side is a tropical jungle. As far as sets go… that was pretty special.

·         Your sets are always very high energy and have an element of fun to them – you look like you are enjoying it as much as the crowd – Do you always create your music with the dance floor in mind?

Thanks! I believer it’s better to be seen to be enjoying yourself behind the decks rather than stand looking bored & grumpy… what’s the point? To answer the second part of the question… my music is always created with the dance-floor in mind… I write bangers, not chill out tracks!

·         Tech-house and Electro-house have seen a big rise in popularity over the past couple of years, both in the underground scene and infiltrating the mainstream, why do you think this is? Did people get bored of moody minimal and too much generic psytrance?

It’s always nice to have an alternative! I love psytrance parties and to a point psytrance but you can’t beat techno.

·         Who have been your biggest musical influences?

From when I was starting out Alex Paterson from The Orb, Jody Way Out West – I supported both these guys in the early stages of my career and the sheer diversity of their tune selection and the apparent ease with which they drifted between them have shaped my style ever since.

·         Can you tell us one of your favourite tracks of all time?

No! ‘Piano Track’ by Peshay  and ‘Atlantis’ by (both Good Looking Records) are both contenders.

·         Production wise, tell us about the track you have written for the new Liquid Tek EP?

It’s a collaboration with Hamish… we met at Universo four or five years ago and kept in touch when we got back to the UK. Besides becoming very good friends we decided to start writing tracks together ‘Green & Orange’ is the second track and has taken two years to complete! I’m glad it’s finally ready and thanks Team Liquid for releasing it!

Tom @ LiquidTek launch Party - April 2011

·         What else have you been working on recently? Any new Disco of Doom stuff?

For sure! We signed to Discobelle Records (www.discobelle.net) this year which is great and dropped a four-track EP in May. We’ve finalised the follow up which is due out in October and has already received Radio 1 support from Jaymo & Andy George. We’ve also been busy remixing – including artists like Robbie Rivera and Mason, we’ve got more remixes planned in the coming month and then back to work on our next EP.

·         What do you consider to be the main differences between the stuff you release as Tom Real, and as Disco of Doom?

Disco Of Doom is ‘mainstream’ (in psy trance terms) but it’s still fucking banging and I like to keep it wonky. Tom Real is deep and wonky… I’d class both as Techno..

·         Sex Face is an EPIC track!! It received a lot of praise and recognition from people such as Brodinski, Dj Zinc, Herve and even Pete Tong, how does it feel to have this high-profile recognition?

Thanks! It’s really cool to be recognized by some of the biggest artists and DJs in dance music!

·         Despite your success, we love the fact that you still play at underground parties, is this something that is important to you?

Definitely. I ‘discovered’ psy trance whilst on holiday in Greece. I was lucky enough to go to one of the original Samothraki parties.  The whole experience totally flipped my mind and I fell in love with the parties, people, mentality and all that goes with it so when I returned I made it my mission to get involved.. not playing psytrance but bringing my style to it. This was around the same time the psytrance crew found breaks so it all fitted together nicely. I love both ‘mainstream’ dance music and underground vibes so I’m really happy to be able to be involved in both.

On the Spot....

Club or Squat - Squat (dependent on the state of it!)

Club or Field - Field 100%

Opus or Funktion 1 - Funktion 1

Liveset or Dj Set - DJ

In the Studio or Behind The Decks - Decks

Ableton or Traktor - Traktor (I love my S4!)

CDJ’s or Laptop - CDJs

Techno or Breaks - Techno

Glastonbury or Burning Man - Arrrgghhh!

Respect of Peers or Smashing the Dancefloor - Smashing the dancefloor!

Tent or Camper Van - Camper Van

Strongbow or Stella - Stella

Hippies or Trendies - Hippies

Afterparty or Fry-Up - Afterparty!

• And finally, give us 3 words to describe the ‘Real’ Tom Real.

Tom Muthafuckin’ Real:)

Thanks for your time Tom….we look forward to hearing him drop some tunes at Elixir on Saturday:)

Ans (FØRM) Interview

Ahead of the Elixir of Life event in London on the 1st October, we thought we'd catch up with one half of FØRM and the main man behind Glade Festival, to see how 2011 has been treating him, and what we can expect from FØRM @ Elixir of Life.

• Hi Ans, How has 2011 been treating you so far?

Very very well thanks. Glade is back, got married and my son has started dancing to beats.

• Glade Festival returned with a bang in 2011, it must of been very satisfying to see the festival you started back in 2004 come back to life after a year off?

Of course. Totally amazing.. Was a battle as had the hangover of the cancellation following us around and lost a site or five but ended up with the perfect home for us. On Friday did an impromptu gig in the World Shift tent with Tristan where a load of mates were and the relief and joy that it was happening poured out. It was absolutely rocking!

• Apart from the obvious return of Glade festival, have any other UK festivals rocked your boat this year?

Glastonbury and Secret Garden Party were both amazing.. Missed Ozora and Burning Man which I know would have been the 2 to mention.

• You’ve previously been to Burning Man; being a festival that isn’t primarily about its music line-up, how has it inspired you with your work in the UK festival scene?

Well, yeah there’s nothing like it. Totally raw out the elements experience it is. Totally love it.. There’s a freedom there that can’t be beaten anywhere else. The no cash thing for example; you just gotta let yourself go and get a large smile on your dial and magic happens.. It’s vital for a good UK festival that the people create their own colour as it’s that that makes a festival super special. I think we try to get that out of people. Obviously we entertain but you gotta get people to push it beyond what is possible through, you know, sound, music, décor and so on..

• Where did dance music begin for you?

At school. I was a bit of a geek then and used to crank up early acid house in my study bedroom. But really it kicked off when I went to Oz for my year off; got really stuck into the parties, lived with a dj out there and became an expert in everything.. When I got back to England I went to Bristol University, this was back in 1990, and started a club night and went to all the circus warp and spiral tribe raves.. I never really looked back.

• You were based in South Africa in the late 90’s, what were those heady days and the beginnings of the Origin Festival/Nano like?

I can’t remember much let’s put it that way. I moved there in 1996 and set up a studio with a pal called Will Brunner. We made loads of great music on a label called Protea on a more progressive techno house tip. Djed and partied and got really messed up. It was great.. Got asked to play some music on the university radio station by this fraggle haired fellow called Regan and we got on like a house on fire. I don’t know that was a time of pure love of the music and the scene. Went to and played at Vortex and Alien Safari parties and one thing led to another.. We had to do our own party, which is Origin and had to set up our own label, which is Nano. It was an amazing brilliant time and has led to not just Origin and Nano but also the Glade.

Regan & Ans

• Techno has seen a big rise in popularity over the last 5 years, how do you see your FØRM project with Matt Allaby moving forwards from here?

Matt and I both feel that there aren’t enough really big tunes any more you know? Whatever you want to call the music were kind of trying to avoid pigeon holing ourselves..It needs to be a larger, bit more psychedelic, deeper but exciting dance floor stuff...

• Production wise, when can we expect some releases from the FØRM stable?

Very soon! It’s taken a back seat whilst Glade back on the road but we’ve got an EP which should be released in October or November at the latest.

• What can we expect from you and Matt’s FØRM set at the Elixir of Life on Oct 1^st?

See my answer to your question about what we want to do with our FØRM project!

• To quote you last week on Channel 4 program ‘The Country House Rescue’ you apparently hold ‘quite good parties’, what can we expect from Glade 2012?

Yeah, I’m british aren’t I. Understatement is the thing...

On the Spot....

Club or Field - Field

Opus or Funktion 1 - Funktion 1

Liveset or Dj Set - DJ set

Secret Garden or Glade - What you reckon?

In the Studio or Behind The Decks - Behind the Decks (after spending lots of time doing the other)

Ableton or Traktor - Ableton

CDJ’s or Laptop - Laptop

Techno or Trance - Techno

Glastonbury or Burning Man - ooohh... Right now.. Burning Man

Strongbow or Stella - Stella

Afterparty or Fry-Up - Fry up!