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Features
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| Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! | | Goa based party animal and artist extraordinaire Nirmal talks punk concerts, metal sculptures, flying and rippin' it up on a High Tide! | | DJ Wired talks to us about the Rise of the Hope and parties, ahead of his upcoming set at Tribal Village on 14th January 2022! |
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Mark Rawson’s last Thirsty Thursday: will it be the thirstiest yet?
Reported by HarderFaster
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Submitted 17-10-06 22:47
Mark Rawson first hit the decks in 2003, picking up the basic principles of mixing within just three hours after a night out. Buying his own decks shortly afterwards, he played out for the first time only one week later at a house party and knew he’d found his calling. Totally self-taught, he’s yet to have the basic concepts of mixing explained to him technically: “I watched my friends play, watched them twitch these knobs and then worked out what they were doing!”
A year later he was invited to become a founding resident of Ozone London, playing at the first party at the Purple Turtle in Dec 2004. He’s played at every Ozone since, becoming a member of the promotions team in early 2005. This took Ozone to the next level, as they moved to Friday nights at the Soundshaft for a couple of great parties.
But just when it looked like Ozone at the Soundshaft was going to be a regular Friday night event, unfortunately the venue was turned into a cocktail bar and Ozone was homeless… They then moved to SeOne’s Deep Blue, where they held two successful events. After founder Richie Anderson moved back to Australia, Dulcie came on board and helped promote Mark’s birthday party in May of this year, which was to be the last Ozone in London.
In addition to his regular Ozone residency Mark’s also played at Free Fridays @ the Fridge, Electrolysis @ the Factory, the Koz Bar and HF’s very own Thirsty Thursdays. Spinning several styles from fresh funky house, dirty house, trance and hard trance, he’s just at home getting people up dancing to funky at the beginning of a night or banging out the hard stuff towards the end.
This week’s Thirsty Thursday is Mark’s final London set until early next year, as he’s chasing the sun to return to New Zealand for a much needed break and production sabbatical in Auckland over summer, to educate the kiwis and upset his Mum’s neighbours. As his decks and vinyl have beaten him back to NZ already, it’s looking like it’s going to be a great summer. I had a few drinks with him as we prepared for his going away party at Thirsty Thursdays @ Soho’s Freedom Bar this Thursday, where he’s chosen a wicked line-up sure to see him going out with a bang…
When did you first start mixing? Did you always want to be a dj or was it something you fell into?
I always liked dance music back home but didn’t know anything about decks back then. I remember the first time me and my mates sat at a computer and compiled a CD of my favourite dance music tunes. It was the closest thing I got to mixing back then. We had a wicked party, had a 1500W strobe light in a double garage and did the white walls up with UV. Even the people that didn’t take anything were tripping!
As for the second part, a bit of both really. When I lived back in NZ I always had a love of dance music. My mates would sit and listen to the likes of the Chilli Peppers and Hole — bands! I’d be listening to the latest Gatecrasher and all those trance CDs.
You play many different styles from fresh funky house, dirty house, trance and hard trance. How would you describe the Mark Rawson style? How do you keep up with so many different types of music?
It depends on what mood I’m in. I have phases where I prefer to play hard, other phases where I prefer to played more chilled stuff, where house and trance predominate. I’m a Gemini so I suppose it goes with the different sides of my personality!
You’ve played at many gigs in London over the last couple of years, including many Ozones at the Purple Turtle, Soundshaft and Deep Blue, warming up for Steve Blake and Carl Nicholson at the Fridge’s Free Fridays, Electrolysis at the Factory, the Koz Bar and of course our own Thirsty Thursdays. What’s been your best gig? And your worst?
My best gig was at the Fridge. Why? Cos it’s the Fridge, one of the best places I’ve been clubbing in London. I remember standing there thinking, I’d love to play here. Then finally I got the chance to.
My worst gig was at the Soundshaft when we were having technical problems on the decks. Something was wrong with one of the decks so trying to beat match was impossible cos I couldn’t hear. I realised that I couldn’t play to the crowd so took my headphones and records and stormed off in frustration…
You were one of the founding residents of Ozone and played at every Ozone party. What was your favourite Ozone party? Will there be any more Ozone parties when you get back early next year?
The second time at the Soundshaft when I didn’t have a technical problem and could make up for what happened last time! There’s no plans for any more Ozone parties at this stage, I’m looking forward to starting something new!
The last time you went back to NZ you had a small problem with the day of your ticket, despite getting friends to repeatedly check the exact time of your departure. That must’ve been quite stressful. How are you going to plan things differently this time round?
I’m going to check my ticket every day! I’ve told friends in the UK and NZ of the day and time of ticket and have asked them to remind me not to miss it. I’m also going to take the week off work before I go. The last time I was completely caught up running my own business full time so ‘small practicalities’ went by the wayside.
I spent so much time running round sorting out my new flight I drove in and out of the London Congestion Zone to the travel agent, only to be landed with a £150 fine three days into being back in the UK, so landed an extra £300 altogether. All in all, a £650 trip home cost me £1200 by the time I’d changed tickets, and sorted Ozone and my electrical business… talk about stress!
What are your top tunes of all time?
1) ‘Dreams’ (the Glazby mix). I fell in love with it at the Fridge, where I heard it for the first time, followed by ‘Empower’. My dream was always to play ‘Dreams’ at the Fridge and now I’ve done that. Apologies to Rachel Harvey who was playing after me as I took up a wee bit too much extra time, but it had to be done!
2) At the moment, K11, which I’ll be playing on Thursday.
3) Café del Mar. It’s so good I had to buy the box collection of every remix ever made.
4) Stimulant djs — ‘F*ck the Beatz’
5) The Thrillseekers — S‘ynaesthesis’
6) Heaven’s Cry — ‘Til Tears Do Us Part’
OK that’s enough…
Who are your favourite djs?
Phil Reynolds, Paul van Dyk, Tiesto, Armin van Buurin — guys who play decent stuff. Anyone who can get up there and play a decent set and keep the crowd happy.
And you favourite producers?
I don’t have favourite producers, some are cr*p, some are good. If the tune’s good, I’ll buy it! But I try not to limit myself to certain people.
Since you’ve been in the UK you must’ve been to some wicked parties. Do you have a top night?
The Gatecrasher Summer Sound System and Global Gathering 2005, where I spent most of my time in the tidy tent. There’s just so much selection, you’re not limited to one kind of music and you can just wander around and hear it all. People are just there for a good time. Ultimately that’s where I’d love to play!
My messiest night was when I went straight to the Fridge after a 26 hour flight from NZ. Then I went to Camden Palace the next night — straight back into a normal weekend… from peaceful tranquillity into a London bus ride… But of course it was the first thing I wanted to do when I first arrived in 2000: go clubbing!
What would you say are the highlights of your dj’ing career?
Every time I get up and play to a crowd that appreciates it. Obviously the Fridge was very special to me, but any party where the audience appreciates it and are up for having a good time and enjoying themselves.
What are your goals for next year?
I’m going home to spend 3–6 months working on music, then hopefully I’ll come back to storm the London scene. I hope to get out and play as many gigs as possible back in NZ. I can’t wait to play a few sets out in my hometown of Auckland and see how they react to it.
When you were growing up, what music inspired you?
Dance music! I’d always keep some CDs in the car, cos my mates liked bands like the Chilli Peppers, but as soon as they got out they’d get thrown to the back seat and I’d put on a dance CD. In those days it was mainly trance coming through. Hard house and trance only really took off for me when I got to London. In New Zealand I was kinda limited!
Having run your own business in the UK and going out dj’ing and clubbing most weekends, how do you fit it all in?
There was a caption in the paper once that summarised it really well: “When you’re self employed your life ends.” That’s straight to the point!
Since I’ve gone back to working for someone else, I don’t have contracts to see out and I’ve got more free time back, which I’d lost over the last few months.
You played at the second Thirsty Thursdays at O-Bar with no monitor speakers and what can only be described as a terrible sound system, yet still played a great set. How will your set at Freedom Bar be different?
Well it was a challenge! I’ll have monitors, I’ll be playing hard and it’s my last London gig for the year so it’ll be special!
Are you keen to get into production?
Yep I’ll definitely be getting into it when I get back to NZ.
How would your ideal record sound?
Wicked! It would be a hard trance tune, really banging but uplifting, cos I’d want to play it at Camden.
Is that your perfect venue? If you could plan your dream party with the ultimate lineup, where would it be and who would you book?
If I could play anywhere it would be on an outdoor stage to a festival crowd. About 40,000 people would be fun! Of course I’d play along with Fatboy Slim, cos he always knows how to work the crowd. Armin van Buurin, Tiesto, Paul van Dyk and of course some hard djs: Phil Reynolds would so suit a festival. Dave Joy, Steve Hill, Steve Blake… they’d all suit playing to a big crowd.
Being a hardcore clubber and festival-goer over the last few years, what are Markies’s top five clubbing & festival tips?
*You’ve got to get some sleep or you’ll break your body.
*If you’re at a festival don’t wash for five days, as you end up looking really tanned before you have a shower.
*Make sure you have a good breakfast, cos you know what happens after breakfast...
*Smoothies & Pimms
*Always take gum boots and a good stash. But don’t leave your stash under the tent before a five hour torrential downpour!
What are you most looking forward to when you’re back in New Zealand in a couple of weeks?
Playing on my decks as I haven’t had them for so long. They haven’t taken long to get there, just six weeks. I can’t wait to unpack those records, it’s going to be like Christmas again unpacking my DJM500 mixer! I can’t wait!
Photos courtesy of the HarderFaster archive. Thanks to Adam Symbiosis, Juz and Chris, Matt Waters, Rachael M and Vixta. Not to be reproduced without permission.
HarderFaster presents Thirsty Thursdays
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On:
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Thursday 19th October 2006
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At:
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Freedom [map]
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From:
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19:00 till late
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Cost:
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Free. Nada. Nothing!
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Website:
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www.harderfaster.net
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Ticket Info:
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Just rock up to the door and walk right in. You will find us down the stairs at the back.
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More:
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Last time we welcomed Shaf de Bass home, this time we say goodbye to Mark Rawson. Mark played one of our very first Thirsty Thursdays and was keen to return for just one more.
Musically we're easing in gently with some house and then getting harder as the evening goes on.
As always it's happy hour at the bar until 21:30 with some great prices on beers and spirits so make sure you get there early. And if there's anyone else celebrating a birthday, make sure you find Matt as there are some free drinks for you too!
The concept behind Thirsty Thursdays is to include all the music genres that HarderFaster now covers and cater for a wide variety of musical preferences.
We want to give new DJs the chance to gain experience, playing alongside the more experienced HarderFaster DJs, plus we will be inviting some VERY special guests down to grace the decks!
Too Much But Never Enough Maria will be at every Thirsty Thursdays event to satisfy your discount ticket requirements.
Remember we run on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month at Freedom. This party is run by HarderFaster for its members – if you have any ideas or suggestions, or if you would like to get involved then please contact tara@harderfaster.net
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Euro Trance. Hard Trance. House. Deep House. Prog House.
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DJ's:
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Sarah Goodson (house/Ozone)
Scott Grant (tech house)
K8-e (tech house/trance)
Mark Rawson (hard trance/Ozone)
Mark Ashley (hard trance/NEC)
Fatty Matthews (hard dance)
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Other Features By HarderFaster:
HarderFaster Awards 2016 - The results are in!
HarderFaster Awards 2014 - The results are in!
Lashes, Dimples and the Brighton Music Conference
HarderFaster Awards 2013 - The results are in!
HarderFaster Awards 2012 - The results are in!
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.
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