Bebo

1) Hi Pete, thanks for doing this interview, what have you been up to recently?

No problem. Recovering from a mental 2008, and just preparing for another hectic year full of DJ gigs, Spectrum events and whatever else comes up I guess. I’ve also been spending some time producing as well, which has been long overdue.

2) You are the promoter of Spectrum, tell us a little about it, how did it all come about?

It’s funny, I still don’t consider myself as a promoter. I was (and essential still am) just a DJ who decided to put on parties to try and showcase his own sound and put on the acts that I like. It all happened by accident 8 years ago in Nottingham, and it’s all gone from strength to strength. These days I effectively oversee the brand, rather than directly promoting it per se.


3) If you had to think of a favourite Spectrum memory from over the years, what would it be?

Man, that’s a hard question. As I’ve been so involved from the start, I’ve seen pretty much everything. From overseas tours, road blocked events with touts selling tickets for 5 times the value outside, to all kinds of inspirational performances and crowds. For me, the best times have come with me on the decks, controlling the party and loving the music along with the crowd.

4) Any embarrassing stories from over the years? Any dirt you want to dish on anyone? Any axes you want to grind? All in good taste of course, now’s your time……

I’ve seen some funny stuff – people doing odd things in clubs, DJs too, most I’d rather forget about. The worst thing is dealing with far too many acts who have lost a sense of reality and where they started out. Names? No chance, all publicity is good publicity for these acts who think that they are bigger than people who come to see them.

5) What have you got planned for Spectrum in 2009 then?

First big event is January 31st at Air, then February though to March sees us get on the road for our ‘8 Years in the Game’ tour. Hitting our regular haunts across the UK, plus a few special one off events. A couple of weekender events at Pontins in March, then onto the summer season. More overseas shows and a returnto a rather special festival in July, not to far from Birmingham! ) The rest of the year, we’ll have to wait and see!


6) On a more personal note, what’s going on with you these days? Are you happy to concentrating on Spectrum or will we be seeing your name in lights in the near future too?

I think anybody who promotes events has to be happy to sit in the background a little, however as time has gone on, it’s become more difficult to just play the support role. The crowds keep getting bigger for each of my sets and stepping into the starring role seems to come naturally. I’m a totally different person when I’m DJing. Due to having a top team who work with me to push the brand, I’ve been able to focus more on my DJing, and more and more bookings seem to come all the time. I can’t lie that the intention is to keep going higher up the bill, yet I’m still very selective about where I play. I guess I’ve been spoilt with the amount of top events I’ve played at in the last few years.


7) Times change and things have moved on a lot in the UK dance scene in recent years, where do you see it going over the next few years?

I started going out to clubs in 1995 and I have seen a lot of the worldwide club scenes. As long as people are on this earth, they will want to go out and dance – simple as. Yes, trends and tastes change, but that’s half the fun of it. It you stick around for too long and don’t develop in a positive fashion then you quickly become a dinosaur. People who say it isn’t how it used to be are accepting the fact that they have gotten old and forgotten what it is like to approach each night with an open mind and ready to enjoy yourself.


If you could have any super power what would it be?

I would definit

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ERIC PRYDZ IS ON A ROLL AT THE MOMENT, WITHOUT DOUBT LEADING THE WAY. HIS LABELS MOUSEVILLE, PRYDA, & PRYDA FRIENDS ARE POSITIVELY BRIMMING WITH UNDERGROUND CLUB HITS. ERIC IS NOW IN CHARGE OF THREE HIGHLY RESPECTED LABELS WHOSE RELEASES ARE IN FEVERISH DEMAND, CONSISTENTLY SELLING HUGE QUANTITIES OF VINYL WHICH IS TRULY INCREDIBLE IN THE MARKETS CURRENT CLIMATE. THE LABELS ARE ARGUABLY PROVING TO BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND FORWARD THINKING IMPRINTS CURRENTLY EXISTING.

Each label was strictly developed to give Eric a platform to release his own productions without outside interference, simply his music on his terms. It was important for Eric to step back after his previous successes and release music without schedules and pressure. Ultimately he wanted to control his own image & destiny, something extremely important to him and his career.

The ethos behind the labels was truly underground, scarcely any promotion, no press intrusion and true label/design identity… a formula which has proven massively successful!

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Releases on his more hard-edged Mouseville Records under the pseudonym Cirez D have been tough and powerful a throw back to the underground techno roots his native Sweden has become so famous for. The huge demand for this label has been nothing short of amazing with his massive ‘Knockout EP’ selling over 18,000 copies on vinyl alone. The more melodic based Pryda imprint showcases his early house influences with harmonies, melodies and hooks fused with his trademark powerful basslines. Pryda & Mouseville are solely for Eric’s own productions, vehicles to develop his sound a sound that has become so influential, constantly imitated and copied but yet to be bettered.

Therefore Pryda Friends was created to release friend’s productions as currently there was no other outlet for the growing list of tracks submitted to Eric by his close colleagues. Collaborations such as the hugely successful Paolo Mojo “1983” & Axer “123”/ “321” written with fellow Swede Axwell proved the worth of this new imprint.

Then just recently he became the first ever artist to be given the green light to sample Pink Floyd as his massive ‘Proper Education’ fused “Another Brick In The Wall’s” school choir chorus into a UK & European chart smash for Ministry of Sound. Eric has proven to be an artist that can actually fuse commercial success with underground success, something previously impossible to achieve and sustain.

It was always the enjoyment of working with music that kept Eric coming back for more. From making music on the piano aged 8 to convincing his parents to buy him a keyboard so he could make his own Depeche Mode tracks it was always “just a bit of fun.” However, with his debut artist album set to hit the world this summer, Eric’s key loves of house, techno and electro will see him bring all of his styles under one roof for the first time as his underground club roots come to the fore. A bonefide global chart smash in the making, it’s surprising just how far a bit of ‘fun’ can go.

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Going back to 1994 Eric became the drummer in a synth band called ‘Enemy Alliance’, touring Sweden and dreaming of becoming the next Kraftwerk. He jacked his job in, hooked up with two friends who had a small studio set up making more pop based material and lived the next two years virtually penniless - working on his own hard-hitting, techno-funk tracks and DJing locally when gigs came up.

Eric’s first release came about almost by accident. Having made a bunch of new material solely on a Roland MC-505 Groovebox he gave a cassette to a friend who ran a clothing store in Stockholm. Eventually finding its way to the London offices

Wednesday 31st December - Old School Classics Night

It's New Years Eve which can only mean one thing, the biggest party of the year, are you ready? December 31st sees a carefully picked selection of legends, past and present, giving you a full retrospective of Godskitchen classics from years gone by. Remember standing on the dancefloor dancing your heart out to 'that' tune or rushing into the main room just in time to see your favourite track being played? Well this is your chance to do it all again so dust of those dancing shoes and get ready to party like its 1999!! The main room will be playing host to some familiar names; Tall Paul, Guy Ornadel, John 00 Flemming, John Kelly and Big Al who will be digging out those trance classics to take you down memory lane. The Nitrogen room will be where you can hear those gone but not forgotten House tracks. The living legend Alistair Whitehead returns for a very rare appearance, joining him will be fellow old school legend, K-Klass. Also appearing on the night will be Paul Lucas and Deep City Soul completing a mouth watering line up - what better way to bring in 2009!

Oxygen Room
TALL PAUL
GUY ORNADEL
JOHN 00 FLEMMING
JOHN KELLY
BIG AL

Nitrogen Room
ALISTAIR WHITEHEAD
K-KLASS
PAUL LUCAS
DEEP CITY SOUL

Carbon Lounge
Si Forestiero
J Roc

Early Birds - £20 + bf
Advanced - £25 + bf

Joint Xmas + NYE ticket Ultra Early Bird - £27.50 + £2 bf
Joint Xmas + NYE Early Bird - £35 + £2 bf
Joint Xmas + NYE Advanced - £40 + £2 bf