As a well known name in the history of hard house, it’s a crying shame that Ian M isn’t spotted out and about as much these days. As part of our New Year resolution then we thought it was about time we found out more about him. Of course we also asked the all important question about his Disko outfit!
As more record labels are switching to digital and doing away with vinyl, do you feel a certain nostalgia for the old ways or do you think MP3s are the future?
Of course I still see vinyl as special because it has taken me years to accumulate the vast collection I have at home. There’s a certain sound quality with vinyl that you don’t get with CDs. And I’m not going to get rid of them that quickly. I wouldn’t say that MP3 is the absolute future because of various factors including compression rates. In a nutshell you lose quality over quantity. There are new formats on the horizon so we’ll have to see if they come up to sonic scratch.
Your name isn’t spotted on flyers as often as it used to be, are you still enjoying playing out as much as you used to or are you branching out into other things?
I don’t have an agency looking after me so everything has to be ‘in house’. I have to get work through friends and word of mouth. I’ve got a MySpace page but not everybody knows that yet. Of course, just because you don’t see a flyer, it doesn’t mean I’m not playing. Believe it or not, I still enjoy playing out otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it. I’ve still got the fire inside of me, it might not look it at times, but it’s there. I’ve invested a lot of time and money into this career, so I’m not giving up that easy. Though in the current climate, it does make it very difficult getting work.
What do you get up to outside clubland?
I love watching movies so I’ve got a vast DVD collection at home and I also like messing about in my studio, doing all sorts of things and gathering ideas for future tracks. When I get chance, I like to visit friends; in fact I’ll be popping up north this weekend to see Mrs Wood, she’s just moved into a new place; also I’ve been know to pop round to Lisa Lashes for a ‘cup of sugar’, she doesn’t live too far away from me.
What do you have in store for us on NYD?
I couldn’t really tell you at the moment because I don’t know myself until the day of the event. But I would imagine it’ll be banging with a little twist in the middle.
Are you playing out on NYE or will you be taking it easy in preparation for the madness of Hard Disko?
Yes! I’ve just been booked (last minute) to play Storm on NYE then after that I’ll possibly dash to some friends in Bedford for a little get together and party, before heading into London for Hard Disko later that day. So quite a busy and eventful 24 hours to look forward to. It’ll be fun!
How has the scene changed since you first started playing out? And what are the similarities?
Of course it’s changed; there were a lot more clubs when I started playing. There seems to be a lot of negative press regarding hard house / hard dance or whatever it’s called this week, but you have to ask, why? What’s the difference between HH and pop or even techno? It’s all music at the end of the day. I wish people would stop moaning and get out there and enjoy what we have left because if the government / police had their way, we wouldn’t have any clubs in England.
Very well said! Will you be donning a disco wig or some funky flares for your set at Hard Disko?
Are you mad! I doubt anything will fit me nowadays. Anyway I did all that some years back! And it wasn’t a pretty sight then, what makes you think it’ll be any better now.
Whereabouts do you live? What’s the club scene like around there?
Most people think I live in London but I actually live in Leicester, it’s central and handy for the rest of the UK. As far as the club scene is concerned, the two big nights are at The Emporium in Coalville where Storm and Passion are held. Regards Leicester, there’s a few ‘Sharon n Tracy’ type clubs but the gems would be Helsinki, where Miss Lashes might do you a bouncy breaks set which always packs ‘em in. I think Starlite 2001 still runs an ‘in-house’ night with locals playing hard house and trance and there’s even a room for the hardcore crew.
With clubs closing all over the place, what’s your favourite venue and why?
It’s hideous that so many good clubs are closing or selling up. Obviously I’m going to say Turnmills (R.I.P) after all my years playing there for Trade; it was like a second home to me. Their sound system in the early days was unreal. If you were there, you know what I mean. Other venues I’ve enjoyed playing at are The End with its fierce sound system and setup, The Fridge again with it’s full on sound system. In fact, I seem to like any club with decent monitors and sound systems.
What’s your opinion of the new subgenres of hard dance – the hardstyle played by people like Cally & Juice or the harder bounce sounds of Andy Whitby?
To be quite honest, I haven’t heard much of either genre but what I have heard seems similar to stuff I use to play (e.g. Time Unlimited / Bonzai labels) at Trade many moons ago. Anyway, there’s a ‘new style’ in town and its called council house, so come along to Hard Disko to hear what that’s all about.
We can’t wait!
Ok, now it’s time to get a bit Mystic Meg. What are your predictions for the Hard Dance Awards this year?
I’ve never been invited to go so it’s difficult to say but my predictions will be me! I’ll try and fix it so I win everything this year. Thanks!
How will you be spending the festive season, aside from your gig at Hard Disko?
I usually spend Christmas with some long standing friends in Leicester, they like to do the Christmas cooking and we do the turning up and eating it. Works out quite well at the end of the day!
Tell us your best Christmas Cracker joke.
Take your pick out of these:-
What did the big candle say to the little candle? I'm going out tonight!
What do you get if you cross an apple with a Christmas tree? A pineapple!
Why are Christmas trees like bad knitters? They both drop their needles!
What did the bald man say when he got a comb for Christmas? Thanks, I'll never part with it!
Well thank you Ian, have a merry Christmas and we’ll see you on New Year’s Day!
Hard Disko is on at Ministry of Sound from 12pm – 9pm on NYD. For tickets see www.ticketweb.co.uk. Remember to add yourselves as going!
Photos courtesy of Ian M and Frantic. Not to be reproduced without permission
Ticket Web - http://ww.ticketweb.co.uk - 08700 600 100
See Tickets - http://www.seetickets.com - 0871 230 0010
Ticket Bank - http://www.ticketbank.co.uk - 01702 306293
Don’t Stay In http://www.dontstayin.com
Ticket Sellers https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/
More on the Door - http://www.moreonthedoor.com
View Tickets - http://www.viewtickets.co.uk
Club Tickets - http://www.clubtickets.co.uk/
Direct Cash Outlets from Cyberdog Camden (0207 482 2842) and Frantic HQ (0207 247 4121)
It’s that time again where Frantic give you the Ultimate New Years Day Party!
Come celebrate with all your closest friends the arrival of 2009 in style and party to the best Hard Dance music at the most prestigious venue in London!
The Ministry of Sound prides itself on being one of London's most advanced, state of the art venues with an audio-visual set up second to none. Come experience the rib-shaking sound system and mind-blowing visual display as we start 2009 with a bang!
Why should commercial music have all the fun? We are here to reclaim the delights of the Disco for all lovers of Hard Music. Its time the Disco Ball went at 150bpm so welcome to Hard Disko!
Join in the theme and get your afros, flares, leggings, micro skirts, platforms, flower-power and hippy costumes out as its time to party like its 1979!
PLEASE NOTE TICKETS WILL BE IN HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS HIGHLY POPULAR EVENT SO EARLY TICKET PURCHASE IS ADVISED!
*Look out for the Exclusive Sinners & Saints Sets from Pickup & Rise showcasing material from their forthcoming Sinners & Saints Mix CD!*
From: Lxon 17th Dec 2008 15:25.58 lemme get in there first - he still looks like Charlie from Enders
From: WEBBOon 17th Dec 2008 23:45.15 damn beat me to it :
From: WEBBOon 17th Dec 2008 23:45.38 ps good interview as always sue
From: saffysueon 18th Dec 2008 10:20.29 Thanks guys, Ian was a pleasure to interview!
From: sexyminxon 18th Dec 2008 12:21.42 Top and wicked interview
From: Lxon 18th Dec 2008 16:58.19 yep Webbo, gotta be quick next time
Charlie in his cab wrum wrum haha
From: richbowenukon 18th Dec 2008 17:53.35 Cool interview Mr M - have a wicked xmas!
From: jonnixukon 23rd Dec 2008 18:41.16 Probably the greatest hard house DJ of all time and he still rocks it like no other. I wish he had more to say about Whitby and Cally they are not fit to wipe his vinyl. Respect!
Nice interview btw :-)
From: carl nicholsonon 24th Dec 2008 09:10.18 Legendary! End of!!! Have a good one me dear!!
From: karl davison 28th Dec 2008 13:49.10 Top bloke and a legend was a pleasure to make some tracks with him this year
From: Mizz_behavinon 29th Dec 2008 17:53.19 He smashed it yesterday at Hood'k!! I am so looking forward to his set on NYD!!
From: WEBBOon 31st Dec 2008 13:28.02 Certainly did , his Hookd set was unbelievable
From: Psycloudon 5th Jan 2009 09:06.14 Totally agree with Webbo - best set of 2008!
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and wicked interview 
