Hi Alex, you are one of the most unpredictable DJs on the Hard Dance circuit. Euro Hard Trance/ Hard, Techno/Hard Dance. You are one of the big showmen out there which is brilliant. Who were your DJ heroes you aspired to growing up listening to mix tapes and early adventures in clubland?
“Hey how you doing – well I’ve heard many descriptions of me over the past few years but that’s the first time I’ve been called unpredictable. I think for the Kidd sound to be defined is an impossibility because I’m always changing my tastes. Two months ago, I was obsessed with carnival techno and minimal beats. Now I’m listening to Dutch gabba at 180 bpm. I have a remix to do for my label this week which will be more on a hard dance tip and next week I’m playing a techno set at ‘Riot’! So for me there just isn’t enough hours in the day to explore and express myself through all the amazing music out there and I guess thus comes from my early trainspotting days. Whether it was Jeremy Healey, Fantazia tapes or sneaking into raves at Bowlers in Manchester when I was 16, this all contributed to shaping my tastes in electronic music. I worked in Spin Inn records for a few years when I was first breaking through so I got heavily into all the rave and underground dance music. Also when I was young, I had strong ties with what was happening with the scene in Holland. My sister and her crew used to run big squat parties and push acid techno and I’d be over there every weekend, picking up on the Dutch hard dance scene and networking with all the HQ and Dance Valley guys. I was obsessed with the scene by this point and I wasn’t even old enough to legally get into the events. But every artist and DJ that I idolised in the early days taught me something new each time I watched them. My thirsty mission begun to emerge myself fully into this life changing soundtrack that was taking over every aspect of my daily routine. I used to bunk off school to practice on the decks and go out record shopping. The good old days ha ha. But now I look back and I see the same kind of guys I worshiped back then, still cutting the mustard in today’s dance culture and thus they are still a living inspiration for me to look up to. Guys form all different genres like Sven Vath and Andy C have out stood the test of time and they show how much of a journey one artist can create for so many people over such a long period of our lifespan.”
Tell us about your residency at the legend that is ‘Goodgreef’, some amazing night’s huh?
“I think working behind the counter at Spin Inn showed me from an early age what it would be like to be fully involved in the industry and opportunities such as Goodgreef and countless others were all starting to launch at the time of the hard house boom in the North West. From working on other projects with the guys at GG, we were all very much on the same level working towards similar goals when they started the GG events. It was all about cutting into a lively scene with something new and fresh and to make some marks on the harder end of the dance map. I always remember the very first Goodgreef event, the venue is literally 60 seconds away from where I live now. We used to use it for Totally Mashed events but that brand was given an early retirement so the guys could concentrate on GG and the anticipation and expectations were at breaking point. Needless to say it was an outstanding success, I came on after Rob Tissera who played possibly the best set I’ve ever witnessed from him and there’s been a lot of good Tissera sets in the days gone by. I remember him finishing with Delerium’s ‘Silence’ and I opened up with Miss Shiva’s ‘Dreams’. I’m talking 8 years ago and I still remember it all quite vividly. Happy days ha ha.”
Outside of Goodgreef, you have played the world twice over and DJ’d at all of the UKs big Hard Dance nights, Sundissential, Frantic, Passion etc… what has been the best worldwide club and best UK club you have played at?
“I’d say on a worldwide level, its more the big events than the clubs that have stuck out for me. The huge arena shows and festival like Planet Love in Ireland, Wonder Lake in Russia, Q Dance’s Australia tour and Dance Valley in Holland have all been the most amazing time of not just my career but of my life and I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to be on stage at these mammoth events. My favourite club though on an international scale would have to be Es Paradis in Ibiza. I’m good friends with all the guys that run and own the venue and we have worked together last season on Kiddfectious debut of Ibiza . I love the club so much that I’m ready to go back there this season and shove a hard dance rocket up Ibiza’s arse and show the island what it’s all about! In the UL, there are lots of standout venues and events, Kiddstock and Kiddfectious nights are always a huge buzz for obvious reasons but mainly because I know of the hard work that has gone into making these parties go off with a bang. The other best places I play at in the UK would have to be a shortlist of Inside Out at the Arches in Glasgow, Ministry of Sound in London was sic to play at on NYD, Slammin Vinyl’s main stages at their gigs are in a league of their own. I used to love the Dance Academy in Plymouth before it closed down and The Opera House in Bournemouth is also a winner. Tall Trees in Yarm is legendary and The Warehouse Project in Manchester is off the Richter scale. One other huge gig that definitely sticks out in my mind would be Camden Palace for Frantic on New Year’s Day a few years back. It exceeds all other candidates by a country mile because I remember how much of an adrenaline rush and a high I was on after that gig. It ran through my blood for days…”
So I am talking to you days before your Kiddfectious 1st Birthday at Area 51 in Manchester on January 30th with Lisa Lashes, Kutski, Dark By Design, Kidd Kaos, Rascal, yourself and the Kiddfectious All-Star squad. What can we expect on the night, who are you looking forward to spinning with = Kutski is incredible…?
“This is shaping up to be the event of the year and we have only just entered 09! We are expecting this event to be a sell-out so it’s safe to say that we will be celebrating the birthday in style. I’ve just ordered the KF IS 1 cake so get there early if you want a slice! I’m looking forward to all the sets because I handpicked the line up from the creme de la creme of the UK talent. Kutski played the KF launch party last year so he will be stepping up to show the masses why he is at the top of his game. DbD will be pulling out some tasty new productions for the event so I can’t wait to see the crowds reactions to the tricks he has up his sleeve. Kaos is killing it right now, where ever he performs he seems to be stealing the show so it will be good to see how he fairs next to all the legends on the line up. And of course the lovely Miss Lashes will be dominating the dance-floor with her skills and who better to headline the birthday than the original Queen of all things hard. I’m also looking forward to hearing Rascal and Technicians, these guys have skills…”
Tell us about your event Kiddstock 2008…
The biggest success story of my journey so far I guess. The vibe and concept of the event mixed with the passion and atmosphere from the artists and the clubbers made Kiddstock enter the hard dance history books yet again with a legendary double paged spread! The venue and the line up was awesome and the event went off in such a big way it’s impossible to describe it with any sort of clichés or words. You simply have to be there to witness what takes place on those country hills of Durham Early bird tickets for Kiddstock 09 are available now from the shop on www.djalexkidd.com
What has been the craziest night you’ve had out in Ibiza?
Too many to remember, one time on my birthday I got myself in such a tangle I missed out on playing the last set at Tidy in Es Paradis and ended up being found in a locker in the dancers changing rooms. That actually was probably one of the not so good nights – but worth a mention anyway. My best night out there would have to be the times I’ve spent in DC10 all last summer watching Luciano, the guy is incredible.
So scooping Best DJ at the Hard Dance Awards – quite an honour, were you expecting it?
“At the time it was such a big deal that I could never actually picture myself winning the award. I still find it crazy now even though it’s sat staring at me above my fire place. It is a huge honour and one that will give me happy memories for the rest of my days. As always big love to all those who have shown me your support and shared my passion , I can’t thank you enough.”
What are the biggest ten tunes in your box at the moment?
I’m loving a few tunes off Zany’s ‘Fusion of Sound’ album, one of the tracks called ‘Knock You Down ‘ is hard-style at its finest.
Also I’m really into Evil Activities hardcore sound, They are really at the top of the tree when it comes to Gabba and I’m a big fan of their work.
So…
10. EVIL ACTIVITIES ‘NOBODY SAYS IT WAS EASY’
09. ALEX KDD ‘DREAMING’ (IBIZA SUNSET REMIX)
08. SUNI FEENIX AND KIDD KAOS ‘CAPTURE’
07. TDV ‘THE DAWN’ DBD 2009 REMIX
06. LISA LASHES V ALEX KIDD & KIDD KAOS ‘NEW RELIGION’
05. ZANY ‘KNOCK YOU DOWN’
04. EVIL ACTIVITIES ‘NO PLACE TO HIDE’
03. AMBER D ‘AMBERS THEME’
02. HYPERDRIVE ‘PUNISHMENT’
01. LUCIANO ‘LA TORTUGA’
It’s great that Hard Dance has sort of re-invented itself, as I suppose dance music has. A lot of the cowboys have left the scene and left the people who care about the music to get on with things?
“Well there is always going to be the organizations that are only money orientated who try and extract what they can. But with Hard Dance being quite a small scene compared to electro and trance, the quality always shines through and prevail. It’s about time the good guys won.”
What was the best tune of 2008?
“For me it was ‘The Kiddstock’ theme tune I made with Kidd Kaos, because of the memories and the vibe the whole track captures, it really was a standout track for me last year. The fact that everyone from Scot Project to Lashes were caning it meant that we crossed over an underground sound with a big summer classic.”
What is the maddest thing you’ve seen in a Hard Dance club?
“Good question. One that I’m struggling to think of an answer for. I remember this club I played at in Taiwan getting raided by over 100 armed police who were turning the club inside out for drugs and weapons. That was a mad experience to say the least, especially when I saw my face on the Taiwanese CNN channel later that day after me and my brother escaped from the Police precinct and made it back to our hotel. Long story!!”
What can we expect from Kiddfectious in 2009?
“We have some uber events coming up that are going to shake the scene to its foundations. Kiddfectious will be hosting arena’s at different festivals and big one off events throughout 09, including Fantazia’s Valentines spectacular on Feb 14th. There have been talks of taking the brand back over to Ireland for a show over St Paddy’s weekend, as a warm up for our big Ireland event we have scheduled in for later in the summer but that is all quite hush hush for now. So plenty of gigs and events and arena’s which is going to take the year by storm. Kiddstock 00 and The Kiddfectious Ibiza Xperiment are looming and KFHQ is getting giggly and excited as we look towards the summer months. On the label side of things, the new Lashes v Alex Kidd and Kidd Kaos ‘New Religion’ track is getting its release soon and I expect it will be getting a major hammering from all the top jocks.”
What has been your best studio work you have produced?
“I’m really into my remix of Signum – Coming on Strong. It was a big track for me over the last year and it was well received by the clubbers, as it’s never going to get an official release there is still a lot of hype about it and I get asked to play it every set.”
What does your family think about your success – and do they like your music?
“My mum came to Kiddstock and to watch me play the midnight set at Slammin’s N.E.C. She loves it – bless her. All my family are happy for me to be following my dreams but they have slightly different tastes in the music…”
Is Sundissential’s Madders just about the craziest person ever? I mean this is the guy who raffled off his bed to the Sundissential massive once…
“No comment.”
