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A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London!

PhilTime Preview: Interview with Phil Reynolds

Reported by Tom Allen / Submitted 19-01-04 14:56

The winner of last year's HarderFaster 'DJ of the Year' award and this year taking second place in our Resident of the Year award, Phil Reynolds has always been one of London's and now the UK's favourite hard dance DJs. Now in the 6th year of his residency at Frantic, he takes to the stage at Camden Palace where he's reigned supreme for the last time for the very last time at PhilTime this Saturday night... read on for more.


Phil Reynolds at Wildchild


Your sound has notably toughened up over the last 12 months - what's been the driving force behind this? We've got an old quote from you from this time last year "I'm going to be sticking to the trance sound because that's what I love" - does this still hold true?

I think over the past 6 months it's gone back to being more trancey. The reason why I had to toughen up my sound was because that is what the crowd were looking for. I have to be realistic when I'm playing. You have to play to the crowd and if they are demanding a harder sound then that's what I have to play. It also depends on what music is around at the time. Over the past six months there has been some really good hard trance records about, so it's been easy to adopt a more trancey sound again.

Where do you see the sound on the dancefloor going over the next 12 months?

I think you will see trance making a comeback. At the moment progressive tracks are making a big come back. You can see how popular clubs like becomeone are and the bigger clubs have now introduced trance rooms into their multi-room events. The cycle of trance and hard house will keep going. People always get bored of the same thing. If anything I think you will see a more diverse range of music in clubs over the next year. I think that it will become more interesting for the clubbers and hopefully the scene will start to grow again.



Have you ever played any hardstyle tracks out? What's your opinion of the genre?

I've played a few. I considered it to be hard euro trance before it got named hardstyle. Some of the hardstyle tracks can be uplifting, but I find a lot of them sounding either too dark or either too commercial for me.

With Camden Palace finally closing it's doors in February, it's the end of an era for Frantic and you at that venue. What are your feelings about the old place? Sad to see it go or happy to be moving on?

I think it's going to be a sad day for clubbing when Camden closes. It's been a kind of institution in London for as long as I can remember. There is no other venue like it that I've been to in the uk. And I consider myself very lucky to have played in the main room. You ask any DJ what it was like to play the main and they will tell you the experience was amazing. I think every up and coming DJ sees playing the main room at Camden as one of their main goals.

What was it about Camden that made people go back for more, week in, week out?

I think it's because structurally there isn't another venue like it in London. There are so many amazing views from different parts of the club. I think there has always been a special atmosphere on the Camden dancefloor, something that never seems to be recreated anywhere else. Well it certainly wasn't the VIP room or the toilets was it Wink


Tearing it up at Camden


Do you have a favourite Camden moment?

About 4 years ago I played last set at what has to be the greatest Frantic ever. The crowd was simply amazing. I have never seen a crowd go off so much in all my life. I played 'See No Evil' as last tune and the reaction was something I will never forget. All the hair on the back of my neck were standing on end. It was almost overwhelming. It was an amazing moment that I'll never forget.

Which of the newer venues opening in London have you particularly enjoyed playing at recently? Which do you regard as your favourite venue now that Camden is closing?

I haven't played at any of the new venues yet!!!!! Camden was always my favourite and the other venues don't come close from a DJing point of view.

Word's reached us that you've created your first ever funky track which was played out at Frantic Ministry on NYD - who was that with and how did it go down?

I've finished two and both were played on NYD. Unfortunately I was playing for Goodgreef in Newcastle on NYD so I didn't see what reaction they got. But Richard Launch who played them said that they both got really good reactions.

Any plans to play Funky House sets at Frantic or other events in the near future?

I've played a few funky sets at some friend's parties and it's something which I want to start playing more of. Watch this space........

What do you personally rate as the best set you've ever played? What made it so good?

That's a difficult question to answer. You know when things have gone well and you also know when you've played a shocker. There are a few sets that stick as being really enjoyable like my 3 hour set at timeless, or another set at Camden palace that I consider to be the best ever frantic as I mentioned previously.



We recently heard your awesome new tune with Kevin Energy, 'Pounding Senses' - when and which label will that be out?

I don't know when it's coming out (you'll have to speak to Kevin Energy), but it's coming out on Dynamix.

Who've you been working with in the studio recently?

I've just finished the b-side to 'Cause and Effect' with Nick Sentience. Other than that I've been working by myself. I am currently writing an album. I am planning to write lots of different styles and not just hard dance. At present I've finished 4 tracks and have another 3 on the go. So I'm keeping myself very busy.

Which new producers do you see being stars of 2004?

The only up and coming producers that I've come across which have impressed me with a tune are Brookman & Coe. If they continue to write tracks like the one they gave me, they will be big.

How are things with your label, Impact Recordings? Any forthcoming releases or plans you can tell us about?

Steve Blake and myself have been pretty busy working on other things for the past few months and haven't really had the time to concentrate on the label. We are at present sorting things out. We have about 3 tracks to come out. The next release will be by Jupe, which will have a Roland and Wright remix. Then we have a track by Kevin Shepherd, which I am remixing and finally we have a track by Roland and Wright and myself. We are at present trying to sign two further tracks which I think are both going to be really big.



Which 3 tracks are currently really doing it for you at the moment?

1. Brookman & Coe - Panzan
2. Optek - Check out the sound
3. Double drop - Imaginate

You've got 2 hour set upcoming at 'Philttime'... is this going to be a retrospective or are you going to be playing your usual upfront stuff?

It's going to be a mixture of both. As it's going to be my last set at camden I'll be focusing on playing what I consider to be my biggest camden tunes mixed with the more upfront stuff.

What plans do you have over the next year for your DJing and Production?

Well at the moment I'm working hard on my album which I hope to have finished by the middle of the year. I've got a lot of international gigs coming up in various places such as Russia, America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, which should keep me very busy. Other than that I don't really have any set plans. My year is really being set around releasing my first album.

Finally, what do you regard as your top 3 'Frantic at Camden' tunes of all time?

1. Parker & Clind - Generator
2. Wippenberg - Neurodancer
3. Nick Sentience & Phil Reynolds - Instru(mental)

Thank you for your time Phil


With thanks to QueenShArOnA, Kiko and sim pat for the use of their photos Thumbs up



Phil Reynolds headlines at PhilTime on Saturday 24th January at the Camden Palace.
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Other Features By Tom Allen:
Hardhouse Academy Preview: Interview with Nuw Idol
The Thirsty DJs Interview with DJChewy
Lashed Preview 2: Interview with Charlotte Birch
Interview with Nick Rafferty
Interview with Jana
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
Comments:

From: Tom Foy on 20th Jan 2004 09:44.40
Nice interview Tom! Can't wait for PhilTime - Bring it on!

From: Shaun on 20th Jan 2004 09:55.04
Thanks for the mention! Big grin

From: Red5 on 20th Jan 2004 10:17.27
Phil has been my favourite DJ since I started clubbing, and I'm gutted I won't be there for this event.

From: Krazy Nut on 20th Jan 2004 11:48.58
Wicked Interview Tom, A master behind the decks and superb producer, A 2hr set of classics and some new material sounds like im not gonna be missing this one. looking forward to both Pounding senses and World Of Doubt, keep hard trancin it up Big grin

From: Luckyfuka on 20th Jan 2004 12:05.07
I'll be there at the front!!

From: Jana on 20th Jan 2004 12:53.59
See you on saturday! This will be wicked night I can feel it!xx

From: Micheline WP on 20th Jan 2004 13:09.59
Your the best Phil!!!!! Smile

From: Lorenzo Barrero on 20th Jan 2004 13:34.01
Nice interview Phil!! Very much looking forward to your set on Saturday! Looking very much forward to be purchasing Imaginate, Pounding Senses, Cause & Effect etc. Hope this year is even better for you!!

From: Steve Prince on 20th Jan 2004 13:58.02
wicked interwiew phil
have a good one mate

From: Marky Boy on 20th Jan 2004 14:57.53
Nice interview Tom.
Phil's been my favourite DJ for quite some time and I'm really looking forward to this set.
Bang it out for the last time @ Camden Mr R!
(And why not play the K90 mix of 'Escallation' one more time.. for old times sake, eh?!?!)Thumbs up

From: Nikki S on 20th Jan 2004 15:54.21
Reynolds . . . your a legend! You have been my all time fav DJ and have been my clubbing inspiration. . . . . I think we should all Double Drop out of respect for the master of the decks at Camden Palace!!
xo
. . . or lets push the limits and triple drop???? he he

From: Richard Launch on 20th Jan 2004 16:56.34
Phil you are indeed a leeeeegend. Extremely looking forward to this weekend mate - Rip it apart.

Thumbs up

From: djviticus on 20th Jan 2004 17:43.20
sux i cant be there have a blast and rip it up one last time. sad to see camden closing

From: Ian Edwards on 20th Jan 2004 18:59.29
nice interview tom, going to savour every secound at camden. big shame. dj stretch

From: Paul Reeves on 20th Jan 2004 19:31.45
1. Parker & Clind - Generator
2. Wippenberg - Neurodancer
3. Nick Sentience & Phil Reynolds - Instru(mental)

Not worthy... Not worthy...


From: V.J. FX on 20th Jan 2004 23:18.28
top man
top dj
good luck for this year mate
Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up

From: ~deleted3264 on 21st Jan 2004 09:58.23
Sorry we wont be able to make this one Phil, but you are indeed a legend.............wicked interview. Thanks for the good times....

Thumbs up

From: shazzabazza on 21st Jan 2004 12:34.18
Wicked interview Phil and Tom. Looking forward to this one - about time there was a Phil Time! Thumbs up Hyper! Wiggles Not worthy...

From: sallyp on 22nd Jan 2004 02:47.01
Hey Phil - I got goose bumps with the reminder of Instru(mental) being played at Camden Palace.... Wow. So many memories, so many good times, I'm just goose bump central!!! Don't think I'd recognise clubbing without Camden Palace, or the time the car was broken in with Nick&Nicki ha!!!! - Go Hard Phil. Love from afar - Sal xo p.s I'm tripple dropping with you Miss N xo

From: onthebass on 22nd Jan 2004 13:14.35
Phil Reynolds - you couldn't meet a nicer guy, and to top it off, a wicked dj. *SO* gutted i'm on the other side of the world and can't make it for this special night.
Camden Palace for me was about tunes, friendships and some very munted nights. Thanks Phil for the great memories and hope you have a wicked night. Not worthy...

(hi salWaves)

From: Nikki S on 23rd Jan 2004 01:03.43
Hey Sal & TC. I wish you guys were going to b here 4 dis 1. It'll definately be the end of an era! I'll boogie my arse off to Instru(mental) 4 u both.
xo xo

From: Nikki S on 23rd Jan 2004 01:05.44
Any one got any requests???

Tinrib 11 (at plus 8) he hehe
Curva Peligrosa
ABBBA and a shout out to my mum

From: sallyp on 23rd Jan 2004 02:27.42
do do that miss n xo

From: rico on 23rd Jan 2004 17:01.09
like many others the palace was my 1st taste of clubbing in the uk and phil was the reason i kept going back
its going to be emotional...
se you on the dancefloor nicki x3!!!

From: hard as nails on 25th Jan 2004 21:23.01
i can't make it, but will be there in spirt. camden palace always rocked wen-eva i woz there

From: Tin Tin on 27th Jan 2004 11:09.14
nice work, a big inspiration to many DJs including myself! can't wait to hear the album! Thumbs up

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