Thank you for the invite ☺ Introducing the Go Hard Or Go Hardcore concept is really an extension of my DJ sets and the evolution of the industrial techno sound in to hard techno and hardcore and the collaboration of the artists that also embody this. For me the strict hard techno sets can lack dynamics and the addition of harder elements through other genres really excites me.

It will most likely branch off again into different sounds, and sub genres as the dance music tree is forever growing, maybe one direction to more proper hardgroove techno and another more hardcore and usually everything in-between, which is currently where we are at anyway. Whatever you are into you can find a scene right now for it. If history informs us though, we are overdue a slower minimal genre to gain popularity, but I think back in the 2000s that was dictated by the release of Ableton Live and it’s presets as well as Ketamine gaining popularity as a party drug and fitting the vibe of what people wanted to listen to and rave to. Right now, we are riding the wave of post pandemic excitement and what energy can be sold through social media and the DJs are dictating the direction of dance music via this.

For the VA I wanted to share different sounds that can be played in a DJ set, some more fun and playful like Franky- B’s ‘The Best You Never Had’ which is the most retro sounding track on the comp, whilst AJA’s ‘Austere’ combines industrial sound design with hardgroove, again blurring the lines between genres. A Go Hard Or Go Hardcore VA Compilation would not be complete without adding producers from the hard dance arena, Reevoid and The Sin Project are representing this with the strongest tracks.

Malke is one of my favourite people in the industry, always positive to be around and super talented. The Way was a very easy collab, where I had the idea for the vocal, made a sketch, sent the stems, Malke added the huge synth and the schranz kicks and I then added the raw kicks. I think the track sits somewhere in the middle of the concept and track selection, more classic hard techno vibes with the groove. We definitely are going harder for our next collab – Doctors orders!

Yes! Very excited for this! As with my previous projects I always prefer to have different DJ styles which are programmed for a night out, which again reflects the concept of Go Hard Or go Hardcore, whilst the sounds are harder the DJs will range in from a more hardgroove opening from legendary DJ Patrick DSP through to hard techno and hardcore and then with a hardstyle closing from Berlin’s own Consumed which I am probably most excited for. Club Ost is one of my favourite venues in Berlin for the sound, layout and vibe that you can create there, so its a perfect fit for the night.

I have no idea, there are a lot of my older listeners who stumble across my social media pages after a few years who are like “wtf happened to you” but my core followers are just enjoying the journey with me and are just happy that I am having fun and still pushing a boundary of what’s possible sonically. I will always be inspired by sound design, distortion and industrial sounds, whether it’s in a techno or hardcore setting, but for me the more creative producers are sitting somewhere between the two right now. I also am aware that there are hardcore lovers that are also in-between the two genres due to a dislike in uptempo, if you have tinnitus DO NOT listen to this, your ears will thank me.

I have only been to Malta to play twice and each time I have had an amazing time as the people are so warm and passionate and we always rave hard. So excited to come back and experience this level of energy again and see how the hardcore drops.

The one and only Liam Howlett from The Prodigy, he’s such an amazing producer and would love to know more about the early days of UK hardcore through to his production style and skills, as well as maintaining playing live and still being inspired after 30+ years.