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Saturday, 22 November, 2008

PLANETNOTION TELEVISION!

CAMERA-FOLK AND FILM EDITORS WANTED!

Planet Notion is looking for guys and dolls to film and edit features for its new TV channel, PNTV. Accompanying Notion to artist interviews, gigs, fashion shows, festivals and international events, you will be skilled, passionate and full of ideas about how to produce shit-hot video content. Camera-folk will be experienced and ideally have their own equipment, or at least access to equipment, while editors must be able to turn projects around quickly, and with stylistic flare. If you can both film and edit content, we would especially like to hear from you! These casual, unpaid positions would be ideal for those looking to develop their showreels, and to get the chance to travel, film major artists and top events.

Please email lucy(at)musichqmedia
(dot)com if you’re interested in getting involved, cheers!

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You are browsing the 60 second interviews. Short sharp questions and answers with anyone we think is worth a squirt of HTML. Oh baby give me your URL.

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Phil Kieran

BORN: NORTHERN IRELAND AGE: 28 MUSICAL STYLE: TECHNO AND BREAKS WITH EMOTION Hold on to your headphones... Shine resident Phil Kieran is back! After a two-year hiatus from producing, Phil returns with his 'Alloy Mental' project, a big-room stomper that is currently being championed by the likes of Radio 1's ubercool Zane Lowe. For those who don't know his sound, imagine a twisted hybrid of Carl Cox and Dave Clarke and you'll get an idea. Phil's artist album is due to drop later this year… What is your biggest achievement? Staying alive, buying a house, keeping my girlfriend, having good friends and releasing records on some great labels that I grew up loving. Who are your musical heroes? Anything or anyone that's good! Primal Scream, Joy Division, Andrew Weatheral, David Holmes, My Bloody Valentine, The Pixies, Dave Clarke, The Smiths, Autechre, Black Dog, Basic Channel, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Speedy J, Brian Eno, New Order, The Cure, Aphex Twin, Warp Records, Shine, Motorhead, Pole, Steve Albini, Jesus And Mary Chain, Richie Hawtin, Depeche Mode, Vince Clarke, Funk D Void... I could keep going on and on and on, but I have run out of breath! There are just too many to mention. Tell us about your new projects… My main project at the moment is 'Alloy Mental', which I have spent the last two years working on. I am only starting to release the first pieces of music, but an album is also due out on Skint Records later this year. If you don't know about it now you will soon! 'Alloy Mental' is the sound of true blood, sweat and tears; it's hard work at its fullest. Think Iggy Pop meets Green Velvet! I have a record coming out with Medicine 8 and also have an ongoing project with Funk D'Void. We have one 12" finished for Soma and another on the way. Why did you take such a long break from making music? I needed a new challenge, I think; up to that point I had already released 50 records and I did not want to become another one of those twats who just keeps churning out shit records so they can keep up their public profile. For them it's just a job, like working in an office. So, after a heavy summer in Ibiza, I had a long, hard think and decided it was time to stop releasing tunes and try to come back with something very special. And here I am two years later. The project is called 'Alloy Mental' and I feel fucking good about! For me, music is a passion that needs new challenges, and most of all taking risks. I want to make music that will change lives. Are there any artists you would like to work with? I like the idea of working with creative bands or producing one of their albums. I would love to work with Primal Scream, Depeche Mode, Radiohead or Steve Albini, who produced 'Nevermind' by Nirvana and can get the biggest sound I have ever heard on drums and guitars! Describe yourself in five words... Big, ginger, passionate, unsettled man. What makes you happy? And what makes you angry? Curry, my girlfriend, my friends, my family, my dog, my house, music and booze all make me happy! And curry, my girlfriend, my friends, my family, my dog, my house, music and booze all make me angry! What was the last CD you bought? The new M83 album, it's very good! If not a music maker then what? A property developer or else work for the BBC, making coffee for a bunch of twats with reel to reel tape. What song do you wish you had written? Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'. What would we be surprised to learn about you? Even though I am an ugly bastard I have a really fit girlfriend. And yes, she started going out with me BEFORE I was DJing. 'Alloy Mental' will be released on Skint Records on April 29th.

tags: | phil kieran | techno | northern ireland | producer | alloy mental | skint records

El presidente

STARRING: EL PRESIDENTE BORN: GLASGOW AGE: 22 (AVERAGE AGE) MUSICAL STYLE: ROCK, FUNK, METAL, DISCO, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN El Presidente is the hotly tipped new Glasgow quintet that's El Presidente is the hotly tipped new Glasgow quintet that's set to take the dancefloor by storm. Comprising Thomas McNeice, Johnny McGlynn, Dawn Zhu, Dante Gizzi and baby of the group Laura Marks, who is just 18, they are releasing their second single '100 MPH' in May through One Records. The group have also joined the confirmed line-up for this year's Glastonbury Festival, as well as further promising festival appearances at T in the Park and the V Festival. The band has recently played alongside their own personal heroes, including Peter Hook of New Order and Electric 6, amongst others. Despite having only released two singles so far, the El Presidente sound has been likened to that of artists as diverse as Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, Prince, T-Rex, Andre 3000 of Outkast and Beck. Unsurprising, then, that El Presidente are being touted as one of THE bands to watch. Their intoxicating blend of trashy rock disco is being bigged up left right and centre, so we thought it about time to catch up with lead singer Dante Gizzi. Describe El Presidente in five words... Fresh. Fluorescent. Fragrant. Futuristic. Fantastic. Tell us about your new projects... We're thinking of opening a casino for musicians and when we've taken all their money we can then take the rights to their songs. Could you imagine Prince playing a game of poker, sweating and offering the rights to 'Purple Rain' to see my hand and then losing his cool... classic! What is your biggest achievement? We haven't reached that yet but I think that being told that we're going to do Glastonbury in the summer is amazing. Personally, it's a gig I've always wanted to do since I was a kid. We're also doing T in the Park, which is a sort of homecoming show for us, so that's going to be pretty special too. Who are your musical heroes? My personal heroes include actors as well as musicians. Marlon Brando is one of my all-time idols; the role he played in 'On the Waterfront' was absolutely mesmerising! It gave me the incentive to really do something with my life. Prince is another hero of mine; he just has everything! His talent for writing amazing songs and the energy that he gives off when he plays live are what made me want to become a singer. What makes you happy? And what makes you angry? Right now, playing live makes me happy; with the exception of writing songs it's the only thing I want to do! Ignorance makes me angry. And having to come off stage especially when you are just getting into it! What was the last CD you bought? Plastic Surgeons' 'Lifeless Heart'. A rather obscure band, obviously. I like to find new and obscure stuff when I'm out buying CDs. You find real gems that way, and I get inspiration from that. If not in a band, then what? I can't honestly imagine doing anything else! I suppose I would have to work in a music shop or maybe a plastic surgeon. What song do you wish you had written? That's a hard one! There are so many. 'Last Night a DJ Saved My Life', 'Purple Rain', 'Jailhouse Rock'... I could fill this whole magazine with songs I wish I'd written and the band had played. What would we be surprised to learn about you? I used to be the bass player in Gun. I opened for the Rolling Stones on the European leg of one of their tours. It was unbelievable! Some nights we were playing to over 80,000 people. That size crowd is just a sea of people that extends as far as you can see. Who would you invite to a dinner party and why (dead or alive)? Marlon Brando, of course. I have an unhealthy obsession with his movies! I'd like to ask about all the legendary stories of his demands and the women. Elvis would have to be invited for similar reasons. He started this whole music revolution and it's still being carried on in different guises. And the characters from 'Little Britain'. '100 MPH' by El Presidente is out on May 2nd on One Records.

tags: | funk | el presidente | glasgow | rock | metal | disco | thomas mcneice | johnny mcglynn | more...

Beauty school

BORN: RACHAEL - ABERDEEN, JAMES - BIRMINGHAM AGE: 29 MUSICAL STYLE: DIRTY BEATS Beauty School began life around two years ago as the merging of two existing talents - Rachael Stewart and James Atkin; Rachael previously worked with FC Kahuna and French dance band Telepopmusik, while James was the front man of EMF. Their style is hard to describe - it's electric guitar-based dance with a punky edge, an acid house vibe and pop hooks that even Mylo would be proud of - and they're about to release their debut single, 'Beatbox Baby'. What is your biggest achievement? Doing a 60 Second interview in Notion, of course! Who are your musical heroes? The Clash, Madonna, The Chemical Brothers, Betty Boo, Beastie Boys, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, New Order and The Smiths. Tell us about Beauty School… As Beauty School we don't have a definitive sound and we are quite tricky to pigeonhole. Whatever we produce, it always has a trashy edge to it. We use old drum machines through Marshall Stacks to get the sound as filthy as possible. Add some electric guitar and punky vox and you have the Beauty School sound. Often people classify our sound as electro but we just have to agree to disagree on that one! Live, you'll see James on electric guitar strutting across the stage behind a pair of dark shades and Rachael running around like a Ritalin-induced juvenile delinquent! For the first single we teamed up with Julian Napolitano, also on TCR (one half of JDS) to present the clubbing masses with a breakbeat-tinged track but still with that punk attitude edge. We've already been played on Radio 1 by Judge Jules and Paul Oakenfold contacted the label declaring it a hit! Not that we like to blow our own trumpets or anything... What do you see yourself doing in the future? We want to keep our music fresh and keep pushing musical boundaries. Failing that, we will be doing the usual - cousin's wedding party, neighbour's cat's funeral, that kind of thing. Are there any artists you would like to work with? We would love to do some work with Jagz Kooner - we actually know him, so Jagz if you're reading this give us a call, mate. Also Plump DJs are consistently good!! Peaches would be cool to do a duet with as long as l [Rachael] get to shout louder than her and swear more! And Liam Howlett from The Prodigy - he's our favourite! Describe Beauty School in five words… One big fat hairy noise. What makes you happy? Love, peace and harmony. Crisps of the salt and vinegar variety - the stronger the flavour, the bigger the smile! Big fat royalty cheques. Being the only pop stars in the village - that's not true actually, Mark Owen lives round the corner. And what makes you angry? Technology not doing as it should! Bombing countries for no reason. Being misunderstood. Being called an electroclash band. Being told that making music isn't a proper job! Having to sit in your Nissan Micra to listen to old dance tapes on a shitty stereo after a night out because your mates are complaining about you making too much noise indoors!! Who would you invite to dinner and why? Robert Smith - last time he met James, he fronted him at an award show because he thought James had called him a fat c**t! But if he did come over for dinner we reckon he could eat for England! Bez, coz he's just won 'Celebrity Big Brother' and owes us a tenner! Chas & Dave - for a good old post-dinner knees up around the old Joanna. No dinner party is the same without them! What was the last CD you bought? LCD Soundsystem's 'Daft Punk Is Playing At My House'. If not music makers then what? Sheep dippers! Beauty School 's single 'Beatbox Baby' is out now on TCR http://www.beautyschool.org.uk

tags: | beauty school | rachael | james | aberdeen | birmingham | dirty beats | more...

Emma Fisher

BORN: BOLTON AGE: 19 MUSICAL STYLE: TRANCE/HARD DANCE Late in 2004, Bacardi rum launched its online music mixer and DJ competition for the third year running; www.BacardiDJ.com was back, with the support of some of the biggest names in dance music. Bacardi invited up-and-coming DJs to create their own music with its cutting edge mixing technology and enter the competition. The winner of Bacardi DJ 3.0 was Emma Fisher, who impressed the judges with her euphoric house track 'Dreamzcumtru'. The judging panel was really pleased at the high level of entries on www.BacardiDJ.com, but overall Emma's track won them over with its distinctive style. Her prize? Half a day in the studio with UK DJ Nicky Holloway and top-of-the-range mixing equipment, including Denon CD decks and mixer. What is your biggest achievement? Winning the Bacardi DJ online mixing competition, of course! The competition was designed to find fresh talent in the music industry. And the site itself was really easy to use, with fantastic loops and effects. It was actually my first try at real mixing and somehow I managed to put together a track that the judging panel rated - it must have been beginner's luck! Who are your musical heroes? My inspiration comes from a wide range of musical backgrounds, really. My musical heroes range from house DJs including Lisa Lashes through to hip hop icons like 2Pac Shakur. What have you been up to recently? Following on from winning the Bacardi DJ competition, I've had lots of press and radio interviews. I did one with Galaxy FM's Slammin Boys last week, which was pretty cool, and I've also done interviews for lots of local newspapers. Other than that it's been a quiet enough start to the year. But then, isn't everyone broke in January? What are your plans for the next year? I've been investigating my options for getting a job in the music industry, as music is what I'm really passionate about and it would be great to have a career that involved my interests. I've also been speaking to Ministry of Sound about starting a training course. Doing this might mean moving up to London, which would be great. Generally, though, I'm just really exited about this year and everything that lies ahead. Are there any artists you would like to work with? As part of the prize for winning the competition, I got to have a day in the studio with Nicky Holloway, and I would love to eventually work with him again! I also think Lisa Lashes is great, as well as the tidy boys, Paul Oakenfold... the list is pretty endless! I would love to have the opportunity to work with most of the DJs I listen to! Who would you invite to a dinner party and why? Definitely Nicky Holloway. I think he's a really inspirational person, with such a passion for what he does - I have a lot of respect for him! Other than that I would invite all my friends and anyone else who wanted to come along and we could really get a party started! What makes you happy? And what makes you angry? Music, friends and both of them together make me happy. Right now I'm at my happiest when I'm out clubbing or making music on my new Denon decks. Shallow or judgemental people make me angry. What was the last CD you bought? DJ Tiesto's 'Parade of the Athletes'; it's absolutely amazing! Everyone should own a copy! What is your favourite song? I love so many different tracks that it's hard to pick out just one or two, but one of my all time favourites has to be Lisa Lashes remix of 'Slammer Jammer'. What are your biggest ambitions? In the future I would love to be a DJ and a producer. My dream would be to own my own club to throw bangin' sessions and my own studio so I can have a shot at making my own dance tunes. If this doesn't happen, I'd love to simply work in the music industry in any role. It's early days yet, though. Describe yourself in five words… Outgoing, sensitive, witty, loving and a madhead!

tags: | emma fisher | bolton | trance | hard dance | dj | barcardi dj competition

Ben Watt

BORN: NORTH LONDON AGE: 42 MUSICAL STYLE: DEEP TENDER-TOUGH HOUSE AND ELECTRO-SOUL Ben Watt has been a seminal figure on the dance music scene for more than 10 years, from his days in Everything But The Girl to his Lazy Dog nights. Throughout his career, Ben has championed all music styles - from pop to electronica, deep house to Latino. He now focuses on his night and label, both named Buzzin' Fly. What is your biggest achievement? Obviously, 'Missing' with EBTG, which was Number 1 all around the world in 1995. In underground terms, I'm very proud of my years with the club night and compilation series 'Lazy Dog' (1998 to 2003) and my alternative lateral life as a DJ and remixer. In human terms, my three kids. Your latest track, 'Pop A Cap In Yo' Ass', features Estelle, and is part of the 'Outspoken' series. Tell us about this project... Having spent several years remixing other artists' work I wanted to find a new way of bringing lyrics back into my work. But I didn't want to write songs, so I wrote short story narratives, and looking for interesting voices to read them. I'd then construct music to go with them. It began as a down-tempo project (still unfinished) but when I started experimenting with early Chicago and Detroit grooves the tracks with Estelle and Baby Blak really came to life. What is the latest over at Buzzin' Fly? I've just finished our second compilation mix CD which will drop in March. It features new cuts from some of our young artists - Alex S, Justin Martin, Manoo and Francois A - plus some rare gems. It is a concept album in many ways; I was getting sick of generic funky house mix CDs on the one hand, and ironic disco on the other. So I drew inspiration from early DJs like Larry Levan who told stories in their sets. The mix is shot thru with spoken word extracts and tells a story beginning in post-9/11 New York and ending in redemption. The mix is deep and encompasses electro, deep house, afro-beat, the whole circumference… I hope it sounds fresh and relevant. We also have new singles from Alex S and San Fran boy-wonder Justin Martin. Have you got any other new projects planned? The EBTG 10-year retrospective of remixes in March. If not a DJ/producer then what? Professional slacker You were once quoted as saying: "I wanted to get back to the meaning of house. The modern relentless pumping DJ set bores me". What do you mean? There's a community spirit to house that's in danger of being lost. Where you are actually speaking directly to an audience through words and music, expressing their feelings for them, taking them up, taking them down, where deep grooves have as much of a place as uplifting ones. I'd just encourage DJs to have the confidence to have a dialogue with their audiences. Is it true that the name 'Everything But The Girl' came about because Tracy wasn't popular with the record labels in the early days? It was actually the name of a furniture store in Hull where we used to live. It sold post-war bridal furniture. It was cheesy and retro and seemed perfect as the name for a disposable pop group. Where did the Buzzin' Fly logo and name come from? One of my daughters drew the logo. I think the character looks approachable but 'wired'! The name comes from a song by '70s folk-jazz icon, Tim Buckley. How different is your career now compared to the days of Everything But The Girl? More diverse. Rather than front-loading all my ideas into one big project (album) every couple of years, I spread my ideas over lots of smaller, and often more rewarding projects - Buzzin' Fly, our club nights, my creative role and partnership in two London clubs [Neighbourhood and Cherry Jam], recording club-oriented tracks, touring as a DJ, family life, loafing around. 'Buzzin' Fly Vol 2' - Compiled and mixed by Ben Watt is available March 21st on Buzzin' Fly. Everything But The Girl's 'Adapt Or Die: 10 Years of Remixes' is out on Virgin Records on March 14th. www.buzzinfly.com

tags: | ben watt | dj | remixer | north london | everything but the girl | lazy dog nights | more...

Crispin J. Glover

Crispin J. Glover

BORN: WEST SUSSEX AGE: 37 MUSICAL STYLE: LOADS!! Brighton-born Crispin J. Glover has been producing music for almost 20 years; from his days as a tea boy in Brighton recording studios, Crispin knew music was for him. He became a house producer and had his own label, Matrix, and now combines live bands elements into his music. Who are your musical heroes? Right now, Jack White, without question. He has made a huge impact on music with his production style and minimal musical arrangements. For a band with only two members, The White Stripes make a big noise! What was so special about Ten City's 'Devotion' that made you get into house music? Ooh, you've been doing your research very well! Yeah, I really liked that tune when it first came out. Great production, depth, a good song, a good video, great vocal - the whole package was really good! It stood out because most of the other house music at that time was so basic. You've worked under many different pseudonyms. What names have you used? And why? Back in the day you had literally a hand full of producers from New York, Chicago and Detroit who used to disguise their identity. I guess there were far, far fewer people making house music then, so you could have, say, a pile of about 20 records and they would have been made by the three same people. It made things more intriguing for the punters, and the train-spotters love it too! I just copied that attitude really. I've recorded as Caucasian Boy, Crime, Masterbuilders, Motif, New Chapters in Funk, Century Falls, House of Labasia, Baby Rock, Sleaze, Laj Gloves, Good Guys and probably a few more, but that's all I can remember! In 1997 you shut shop on Matrix. Did you lose interest in house music? I didn't lose interest in house music - that came later. It just got to the point where I was doing more running around and business/label-related things than actually making music. After almost seven years and 20 very credible releases - and a compilation CD - I decided to call it a day. It had run its course. Tell us about your new projects... I'm in a band called Stash with two guys from Ohio. I've started to play the drums again - having learned when I was a kid. I'm in a rock band playing drums and it's brilliant! The band is now going to be my main focus; I honestly don't think I'll be doing any more house music. Since I recorded my album 18 months ago I've moved on. Is 'Which Way Is Up?' different in style to what you usually make? Well, as I said earlier, I won't be doing any more house, so I really see this album as my house music swansong. I met Nick Riggio - the guy who plays all the electric guitar on the album - when I was just starting to record. It worked really well! There's a good chemistry between us! Consequently I went in a more rock-y direction - it just felt right. But if you listen to the whole album it's very varied, more so than my first album, 'Rhythm Graffiti'. I think that's how I'd describe it: varied. And it's better than fucking Mylo! If not a producer then what? This is a good question! In fact, it's one I've asked myself frequently over the years, especially at times of doubt and low income! But the older I get the more I realise that this is it - music for life. There really is nothing else that gives me the same buzz! Who would invite to a dinner party and why? The Krays (for security), Snoop Dogg (for weed), Jesus (for deep conversation), Oliver Reed and Keith Moon (for entertainment), John Lydon (for attitude), Kate Moss (for eye candy), Oscar Wilde (for wit), Ozzie Clarke (for fashion and style), George Bush (he could be someone to totally humiliate when I've had a few drinks). Describe yourself in five words... Gregarious; generous; intense; focused; single! What was the last CD you bought? The Kills album, 'Keep On Your Mean Side'. It's just wicked! 'Which Way Is Up?' is out now on One Little Indian.

tags: | crispin j glover | producer | west sussex | house | live bands | matrix | more...

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