The original and the best. The good times are rolling again…
There are not many club nights and labels that oozes the class and style of Hard Times. After ripping up the rule book in the 90’s and doing it their way, this seminal Yorkshire club is back…and this time they’re taking on Ibiza. Dan Prince gets a world exclusive with the most famous farmer in the music world, Mr Steve Raine…a rare breed indeed…
Mr Raine a very big welcome to DMCWORLD…what part of the world can we find you in today?
I’m in the middle of a field in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales on the farm braving a snowstorm and howling gales.
Lovely. You love a tune to get you going in the morning, normally it’s a Michael Jackson song. What was the first piece of music you heard at the crack of dawn today?
I have a piece of music that seems to be going around my head at the moment, like lots of tracks. There are specific parts of a vocal that seems to drive home, the track at the moment is…’Earned It’ by The Weekend.
Well, there we all were settling down for a bit of Sunday night TV when all of a sudden up pops Steve Raine on Twitter announcing…”I am giving up my wellies and tractor for the white sands of Ibiza…” So young man, what are the plans for the white isle this summer and how long have you been planning this incredible Hard Times move?
It has taken about 20 years to finally agree to come to Ibiza for the season. In the past I have done very successful parties with the Ministry Of Sound, but I have to confess my feet have never touched Ibiza soil which maybe hard to believe, but it’s true. I just never managed to board the flight. However this time around I intend to be there. I was contacted back in November by Neil Evans from Electric Ibiza and was asked if I was interested in coming to the island for the season. We discussed who I would like to work with and was happy in the way they said they would manage the whole project. So after giving it a lot of thought, I finally agreed. It’s a massive step forward for Hard Times and into unknown territory, but I’ve always been prepared to follow my gut feeling.
I won’t be the first and I won’t be the last so let’s get it out of the way sharpish. You must be hoping you’ll do better in Ibiza than the other clubland Mr Raine did last year?!?!?!
You mean there was another Mr Raine in clubland? Only joking, just for the record we are not related in away other than by name. I cannot really pass any comment as I neither know the man personally or the situation surrounding him. I don’t really take any notice of what other people are doing or have done, it’s head down and get on with our own stuff…and thats always been the case.
“It’s always been about the music”. If ever there was a sentence that perfectly sums up a club, then that is it. The past few weeks clubland has been buzzing about Hard Times bringing us Roger Sanchez, Angel Moraes and Michael Watford sweet music. What are the plans for the year ahead release wise, surely Ibiza is going to be a great showcase opportunity for you?
Ibiza is a massive showcase for both the Hard Times The Label and our events – together with the artists we are working with on both club and label releases. There are some really exciting projects planned, both new productions and remixes using artists from both past and where we see ourselves in the future. This has never been about creating an all our yesterdays club event and label, I have no interest in that, it’s about taking the best from our past and allowing clubbers of today to witness our unique Hard Times experience. We always saw ourselves as pioneers in the industry and I still maintain that ethos doing our thing our way. So yes Ibiza will enable us to showcase what we are all about.
What will give you the most satisfaction…a good lambing season or a good season in Ibiza?
Lambing and clubbing are two total different ends of the spectrum, however I am the ultimate Gemini – so both are as equally important. As a young man I struggled with trying to decide which path I should take and which was the right one, however now I have grown up a little and I know they can both work together, I will have finished lambing by the time Ibiza comes around. It may seem strange, probably is… but it’s who I am. You once said it Dan, ‘the most famous farmer in clubland’ and I’m happy at that.
Musically, the last two years or so must have been marvelous for you. Praise the lord, big powerful vocals are back, nice heavy basslines, piano riffs a plenty. It’s great to have house music back up where it belongs eh?
Yes it’s brilliant, it shows how massive house music – or electronic music as it’s now called (ha ha) really is. When other musical genres had it’s time, along came another to take it’s place. Not house music. It’s just come full circle and bang!…off we go again. I really noticed it driving home on a Friday night listening to Annie Mac on Radio 1, I couldn’t believe the tracks what were being played from the past – big vocals with massive fresh basslines and piano riffs. It was like going back in time, yet all fresh.
Your return to clubland with your London Kings of House gig featuring David Morales, Louie Vega and Tony Humphries must have been a very proud night for you. Nothing changes at Hard Times towers though. A brilliant line up inside a hot n’ sweaty club with a packed dancefloor. Must have felt you have never been away?
The first party I did on my return was with David Morales at The Warehouse in Leeds followed by the return of Louie, Kenny, Todd and Kerri to name but a few. However my return to London was a very special moment with The 3 Kings of House which was their first ever gig in the UK. London has always been very kind to me, from when I did my first ever party at Bagley’s film studio’s in Kings Cross which to this day I believe has never been surpassed as a one-off club night. Looking out into the crowd at the 3 Kings, I did feel very proud – and yes it felt like I’d never been away. I felt brilliant!
You teased the world with a Facebook post shortly after the party captioning a photo of you and David Morales with the words… ‘myself and good friend David Morales at our 3 Kings of House party having a laugh. We are going to be working on a special project together. Watch this space!” So come on then, what’s the plan…?
Myself and David are currently working on a very special project to be released on the HT Label later this year with a legendary house music male vocalist…hopefully set for release later in the year. All the release on the label I see as special projects it’s not about churning out track after track, to me it’s as much about the people involved and the situation surrounding the project that makes it what it is. The next track we are about to start to work on is the classic Angel Moraes – ‘Welcome To The Factory’. This has very special meaning for me personally and a project I’m really passionate about in more ways than one. I am not trying to emulate other successful labels, we are just doing our own thing.
The dance/club scene you left all those years ago has certainly moved on from then. The internet rules the roost, DJs think nothing of charging $100,000 for an hour’s set, bedroom DJs will never break through unless they have a cool new tune tucked under their arm, the US market is number one again, dance tunes fill every advert on the telly! So Mr Raine, as you sit there in your muddy wellies with a steaming cup of tea in your weather worn hand, what do you make up of clubland in 2015?
To be honest Dan, other than the technology, it’s pretty much the same…still as fiercely competitive and everyone striving for that no.1 spot. In the early years it maybe was a bit more personal with only a small network of clubs and labels, everybody knew each other and this made it very interesting to say the least. Obviously the industry has grown beyond belief and with so many different fractions it’s going to take me a little while to get back up to pace, but I am planning on doing so – I am not just back here for the ride.
What does your daughter think of the sounds of Hard Times? She loving her house music?
My girl has pretty much only known me as a farmer so all this club and music stuff is new to her. She was a big part of my inspiration to re-launch. My other children who are now grown up knew all about Hard Times and I think it will be nice for my girl to know who her dad is and that there is more to him than wellies and a tractor.There is someone else who has played a big part and has inspired me to look at new projects both for the club and the label. She prefers to stay in the background, so I will say no more for now…
Tell us about a typical, non Hard Times office day on Garthook Farm. The days begins at…
At the moment we have just started lambing so I am up at the crack of dawn around 5am-ish and soon walking around a field checking for sheep that are about to give birth. Obviously it’s pretty harsh weather so if you don’t attend to the new born lambs immediately they will perish which is a big responsibility, so really long days. In the summer months it’s a wonderful life looking after the animals and hay making which is fun. I love walking around the farm on a summer evening after a long hot day. This summer will be different as I’ll be trading the farm for the sands of Ibiza, exciting times!
An album in your collection we’d be surprised to find…
As you know Dan I’ve a pretty varied musical interest and yes, Michael Jackson ‘Off The Wall’ is one of my favourite albums, especially the track ‘Rock With You’. However the least expected album would maybe have to be Fleetwood Mac ‘Rumours’. Again it’s not just the music on it’s own, it’s the story behind the album that makes the music what it is, it gives it real depth. Which is once again the ethos behind Hard Times and the label.
Leeds is in the middle of a joyous clubbing revival at present. Some stupendous DJs, brilliant clubs, great music and some fine festivals. June 13th sees the famous Tetley brewery site in the heart of the city centre bring 5 iconic brands together for Made In Leeds. You involved?
Yes I am involved, however our opening night in Ibiza is also on June 13th. The Warehouse which is my Leeds home are hosting the main arena with Steve Lawler, Miguel Campbell and Brotherton Wing – who are our in house production team and they have just release their remix S-Man ‘Time 2 Stop’, which is receiving rave reports.
Cannot interview the great Steve Raine without touching on the James Bond fascination. A strange notion is whirling around your head that you and 007 have a lot in common. That’s too much fresh air lad. Who though would you like to play yourself on the big screen if ever a film was made on your life…
I think we all would like to think there is a bit of James Bond in our make up. Actually myself and 007 have more in common than you think, we both have a love of Vodka and the rest…hahaha. Should there ever be anyone crazy enough to make a film about my life, whoever is lucky enough to play me would have to be roguishly good looking, with a bit of an edge. Actually I’ve just been told by the lads in the office that I have a striking resemblance to Dr Evil more than James Bond…
Mixmag quite rightly awarded you the prestigious Best Year Of The Year Award in 1994 (amazing that the silk tie had only been hung up two years prior)…one of the ingenious parts of Hard Times was the iconic artwork. The bible, the boots, the printing works, the roses, the newspaper covers, the battered out of order photocopier. Every month at the magazine we’d all be waiting for the courier to deliver your artwork, eager to see what piece of genius you’d come up with this time. Who was behind all this?
In the very beginning Hard Times was formed by a number of friends; myself and Donna Skinner, Pete Jenkinson who worked at the Hacienda, Miles Hollway, Elliot Eastwick and another gentleman called Paul Cleary. It was Paul who in the beginning came up with iconic designs at a time when other clubs where just using flashing colours. We wanted to use an image that had some meaning and identity which it did and still does today. There has been some amazing artwork used, however my favourite still is the printing press design. ‘It was the best of times, It was the worst of times’ which is the opening passage from the Charles Dickens novel Hard Times…which was based upon a town called Coke Town. Which is a town I’m sure a few people have visited.
The Finest 5 Moments In The History of Hard Times…
– Bagley’s Film Studios.
Everybody in the house music industry under one roof
– 3 Kings of House
David Morales, Louie Vega, Tony Humphries @ Electric Brixton
– Hard Times 1st Birthday in Huddersfield
With Kenny & Louie, 4 decks, 2 mixes and me doing a duet with Juliet Roberts
– Frankie Knuckles Hard Times 10th Birthday @ Club Barcelona
First ever Hard Times NYE
– Roger Sanchez Hard Times Mirfield
And the saddest moment…
There hasn’t been a particularly sad moment. There has been some wild times and some happy times. Even when we finished which we did a number of times due to venues, I always thought we would come back at some, so no real sadness.
An up and coming DJ/producer to watch out for in 2015…
Yes we are currently working with a number of DJs/Producers who we believe are just about to break through. Mat Playford – who I’ve known from being just a young kid and used to come to the club religiously, has just become our resident this year and is now getting tracks played on Radio 1. His remix of S-Man ‘Time 2 Stop’ was premiered by Skream on his show. Also we have our own in house production teams with Brotherton Wing and Louis Bailey who I believe will both contribute to the success of the label, all three have mixes on the S-Man release and all receiving high acclaim.
Interesting thing you said a couple of years back when discussing years gone by and the future…”Maybe other clubs got more credit than us. But we just did our own thing.” Was there ever any animosity on your part back then with the likes of Cream, Gatecrasher and Ministry always plastered over the press? I always thought you were happy on your Hard Times house high road sticking two fingers up at the likes of Baron Palumbo…?
No, again we never gave any thought to what other clubs where doing, especially MOS and Cream – remember they came second and third behind us. Sure they were in the press a lot but saying what? That term superclub was being banded about which was something we never wanted to be a part of. We did our own thing which was unpredictable and pioneering. Obviously I have massive respect for both MOS and Cream, they have achieved amazing things over the years, however in the same instance we have done exactly what we wanted to do and achieved what we wanted.
Southport is just around the corner. This weekend was once upon a time the most important on the calendar…but this is the finale. A sad event…
Southport is a massive achievement and over the years have showcased so many artists that it has to be recognised as one of the greatest house music institutions. However yes I believe that this Southport is the last so it’s a little sad. However who knows, it may rise again.
How much fire is in your belly still regarding Hard Times? What do you REALLY want to achieve in the coming years?
Hard Times is something I am still very, very passionate about. As I said before, this is not about coming back and doing a few trips down memory lane parties, that does not interest me at all. If I didn’t think I could make a real contribution I would have stayed on the farm. I see this as my time to once again be a part of an industry I love and hopefully re-introduce the Hard Times experience to today’s club scene. New, vibrant and fresh.
When was the last time you were on the farm and you thought to yourself, ‘f**king ‘ell Steve, these are hard times’…?
It was probably last Thursday morning walking through real harsh weather conditions to find new born lambs perished in the cold. As a farmer you have real responsibility and try to ensure new life, however sometimes nature beats you and I still find that hard. But it’s all part of it.
And finally gotta ask. You love bringing out the old “up until 1992 I thought nightclubs were all about wearing a suit and a silk tie” quote. That first night when you walked into The Hacienda in Manchester with your clubbing L Plate on your back, did you really have a Mister Byrite whistle on?
No Dan! Luckily I’d been tipped off that the Hacienda was probably different to any other nightclub I’d ever been to before, so I exchanged the suit and silk tie for jeans and a t-shirt, how right they were…and how glad that I went as it was the Hacienda that was the inspiration behind Hard Times…
