With the over-commercialisation of clubland and abundance of syndicated nights that only play a single genre, it’s hardly surprising that many people have got bored and gone back to the pub, or worse, are staying in to drink by themselves in front of the TV. The music scene definitely needs something new and fresh, and it’s possible that the launch of Rock & Rave at The Fridge this Saturday night might provide just that….
Featuring DJ Magazine Top 100 dance/rock crossover act Skazi and rock band King Lizard, the main room also showcases some of the best names around in psy trance at the moment — such as E303 vs Psykinetic, Kristian vs Metaphase, Phil Lankester and Andy Forse vs Pan. Meanwhile the second ‘Underground Floor’ presents techno and minimal from Diego CK, Sutekh, Peter Well aka Zeus, DJ Kymo vs DJ Kito, Zwezd@ and many more. Performances from the Kwalilox Crew and Trancel8rs and a VJ set by VJ Baby K bring that extra festival feeling to the party.
We caught up with outrageous psy trance hard rock punks Skazi to discuss stalker fans, Japanese ice-cream, their new album, and of course, Rock & Rave..
You first started out in punk. Where did your journey into music begin? And how did you first get into dance music?
The journey began, as you know, in the punk and hardcore scene many years ago. For us the scene lost her power, to us and for the crowd, so we looked for a new innovative sound that would produce the same power. We discovered the electronic sound and decided to combine them both to achieve the next step in our music.
Did you always plan on being full-time musicians or was it something that you fell into over time? What did you want to be as kids growing up?
The music was always in our blood, though the future as a kid seems a blur. You cannot decide to have it full-time from the start because you still need to work and make money, but we stuck to our dream, had some hard years and in the end it just shows that if you believe in your dream strong enough and long enough it will come true.
Where does the name ‘Skazi’ come from? And how would you describe the Skazi sound?
The name ‘Skazi’ came from a nickname that Asher had in the period when he was living in Jerusalem.
And it stayed, but it doesn't have actual meaning. We can describe the ‘Skazi’ sound as a combination of hard rock punk and psychedelic electronic dance.
Who or what have been the most defining influences on your music over the years?
We think it’s a lot of things: from punk to rock, hardcore electronic and even classic music — you don’t define the influence. It’s just the mish mash that’s going on inside our brains from being exposed to a lot of different styles for a long long time.
How do you find rock and metal audiences accept the use of electronic music into the act?
I think that now the use of the combination of electronic and metal has been used a lot by lots of bands for a couple of years. This combination was hard on the metal audience, who might see in this step something bad for the metal scene.
What instruments and equipment do you usually use on stage? And how does this vary from what you like to use in the studio?
On stage we use most of the equipment we use in the studio; it depends on the event and the promoters. For this event it’s only Asher and B-Bass. At the big festivals we have more band members, like a drummer, bass guitar, electric violin, a singer and an extra guitar — so it depends on the show. We try to bring most of the electronic and acoustic gear for every show.
For the geeks out there, what’s your favourite piece of kit in the studio right now?
The SSL console in Asher’s studio!
What other DJs, producers and bands do you rate the most?
We think Astrix is a really nice dance producer, Guy Gerber is brilliant and Infected Mushroom are good friends and killer producers.
Over the years you’ve collaborated with some amazing artists and done some wicked remixes, such as Infected Mushroom’s ‘I Wish’ and Benny Benassi’s ‘Satisfaction’. Is there anyone out there that you’d still really like to hook up with?
Sure – Metallica, U2, System of a Down and Muse.
You’ve had more than 100 tracks on over 40 albums and compilations. What, in your opinion, makes a killer track?
A really good vibe in the studio and brilliant ideas in the process. We think there isn’t any formula for a killer track, it’s a combination of lots of things.
Unlike most electronic acts your music contains a lot of lyrics. How do you go about song-writing? What comes first, the words or the music?
Again, no formula — sometimes the words, sometimes the music comes first and sometimes together.
You’re considered one of the most innovative duos in dance music and this has been officially acknowledged by your inclusion in the DJ Magazine Top 100 over the last couple of years. What are your views on the DJ Mag Top 100? It must feel pretty cool to see your name alongside the likes of Tiesto and Paul van Dyk! Has it changed things for you at all, or is it just a nice compliment from your fans?
It changed nothing, it’s always nice to have recognition from your fans, but we don’t make huge promos and big mailing lists to make people vote, we think it’s too much. And we play for very big crowds all over the world each week — like all of the top DJs — so I think our work and the time we are out there make the difference.
You’ve played some incredible gigs all over the world and you’re perhaps best known for your awesome live shows. What’s been your favourite one to date? And the worst (you don’t have to answer that one!)
The favourite was last year when we performed live on stage in Brazil at the famous Planeta Atlantida Festival on the main stage for 140,000 people and got broadcast to 170 million live. It was really nice.
The worst was in 2000 in Mexico at a rave that was pouring with rain and the party needed to move five times to a different location. It was a nightmare and in the end we played on house speakers for 6,000 people.
Having travelled the globe, what country do you reckon has the best psy trance scene? And why do you think the scene in Israel is so huge?
Actually the scene in Israel is not as big as everybody thinks. We just have a lot of electronic music producers and we play in a lot of different scenes, not only psy. I think the biggest parts are now in Brazil.
I know that what goes on tour is supposed to stay on tour, but you must have some wicked stories from life on the road. What’s the craziest tale you can tell us?
There is so much — from girls throwing panties at us, to girls stalkers that run on stage, to a crazy after-boat party that goes wrong and we’re stuck in the middle of the sea, to having a private jet touring with us and find out that the pilots are 17 year old kids with no permit, to having an ice-cream flavour in Japan that’s called Skazi. Hehe, a couple of those we could do with now.
If you could throw a party anywhere in the world with an infinite budget, where would it be and who would book to play? A Skazi 8-hour set?!
Hehe, if the legs of the crowd could handle it and the payment was right, everything is possible.
At long last, you’re returning to London on November 28th for Rock & Rave at The Fridge. Are you looking forward to coming back to the UK? Other than blowing the roof off The Fridge, is there anything else you hope to do while you’re here?
We are just in the making of our new album so we’re gonna come play and run this time… We love the UK and the London scene, but I don’t think this time we’ll hang out so much, but surely the next. We love the girls in the UK — bloody hot, heheh!
What else do you have on the horizon for the rest of 2009? And beyond?
Lots and lots of touring, different projects around the globe and a new album. 2010 is a busy, busy year for us!
Finally, what advice would you give someone reading this who wants to become a full-time DJ/producer?
We think that every producer should find their unique self that they can implant on the music they make. That their sound will become noticeable from all the other huge amounts of sound out there. Never give up, always follow your dream, don’t listen to nobody, go all the wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
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Photos courtesy of Skazi. Not to be reproduced without permission.[/size]
Advanced tickets for this show are well cheap priced at only £ 10 Plus BF.
We expect them to sell really fast so please get yours soon while they last
Here is the official and direct link for you:
http://www.antidote909.com/hsbc/details.cfm?item_code=ANT00492 More on the doors!
Antiworld Events London Present:
November Rain 001
The Rock & Rave Experience!!!
Feat Skazi Live In Concert!!!
Supported By King Lizard Live!!!
Saturday 28 November 2009
@ The Fridge In London!
Town Hall Parade, Brixton, SW2 1RJ, London, UK.
Blast Off : 09.00Pm - Re-Entry : 07.00am!
Plus After Hour In Collaboration With Cohesion!
29.11.09: The Official After Hour In Brixton :
After Hour In Collaboration With Cohesion!
Antiworld Residents DJS Confirmed So Far: E303 / Sati / Prozak!
See you there!!!
Advanced tickets for this show are well cheap priced at only £ 10 Plus BF.
We expect them to sell really fast so please get yours soon while they last
Here is the official and direct link for you:
http://www.antidote909.com/hsbc/details.cfm?item_code=ANT00492
More on the doors!
Antiworld London Present:
Break The System Down 003!
Saturday 06 February 2010!
@ Secret Venue London!
More Info:
http://www.facebook.com/antiworldevents
http://www.myspace.com/antiworldevents
Early Birds Tickets Available Here @ Only £ 10.00 Plus Booking Fee:
http://www.antidote909.com/hsbc/details.cfm?item_code=ANT00495
From: antiworldon 25th Nov 2009 14:32.00 Can t wait for Skazi to Headline Antiworld Rock n Rave this saturday at the Fridge...see you all there cicos and cicas!!!!
From: andi jarredon 25th Nov 2009 14:56.57 Indeed, see you there!
From: Mariaon 25th Nov 2009 15:16.49 Another amazing interview from our lovely Tara! I will be here in Ibiza sending the best wishes to the party!!! mmmwwwhhhaaaaaa
From: antiworldon 25th Nov 2009 16:23.50 bring it on....only 4 days to go!!!!
From: phil lankesteron 25th Nov 2009 18:13.41 Cant wait til Saturday....
From: antiworldon 25th Nov 2009 19:05.19 looking forward to your debut set at antiworld Phil it will be cracking!!!
From: Taraon 27th Nov 2009 14:03.38 Thanks for the comments guys Can't wait til tomorrow night!
From: Mariaon 28th Nov 2009 08:38.55 Set times for tonight show!!! I wanna goooooooooooooooooo!!!
Main Stage:
The Over Ground Floor:
09.00 - 10.00 : Andy Forse Vs Pan
10.00 - 11.00 : Vagrant Misfit (Bristol)
11.00 - 00.00 : Lobster (Rock & Rave Set)
00.00 - 01.00 : King Lizard (Live)
01.00 - 02.00 : E303 Vs Psykinetic (Rock & Rave Set)
02.00 - 04.00 : Skaz...i (Live & DJ Set)
04.00 - 05.00 : Kristian
05.00 - 06.00 : Phil Lankester Aka Libra 9
06.00 - 07.00 : Monster Vs Matt Loraine
VJ Set By Baby K (Chemistry)
Second Stage:
The Under Ground Floor:
09.00 - 10.00 : Candyman01 (Techno Set)
10.00 - 11.00 : E303 Vs Lorenzo (Psy Minimal Set)
11.00 - 00.00 : Andi Leppard (Techno Set)
00.00 - 01.00 : Zwezd@ (Secret Party / Ibiza)
01.00 - 02.00 : Diego cK (cK Family)
02.00 - 03.00 : Technonotice (Secret Party / Ibiza)
03.00 - 04.00 : Sutekh Techno Set
04.00 - 05.00 : Peter Wel Aka Zeus (Roots Productions)
05.00 - 06.00 : DJ Roo (Nuclear Free Zone)
06.00 - 07.00 : DJ Kito (Freedom)
There are still a few tickets left so please make sure you get yours soon!!!
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Can't wait til tomorrow night! 