rawelements.net
myspace.com
DjScar-RawElements
Sc@rs Powder Room
core-mag.net


So introduce yourself?

Hey guys my name is Kaylene aka Sc@r / Scar. I’m an Aussie chick currently living it up in London. I’ve been here for 4 years already and apparently losing my accent L

A little about you – oh boy here we go….

What is your favourite meal? Mums spaghetti Bolognese, no one cooks better then my mum!
What car do you drive? A Nissan Primera.
What was your first car? Mitsubishi Magna, her name was Betty, and the best rave car ever! I even lived in her for 4 months while backpacking the east coast of Australia.
What was the meanest thing you did as a child? Mean? I was a nice kid! It was when I hit my teenage years I did some not so nice stuff, heehee
If you could save only one ice cream in the world, what would it be? Mars Ice cream for sure
Do you have any moles? I grew up in the sun. Moles and freckles are part of the Aussie requirement
Favourite non-hardcore song? Imagine by John Lennon
Who was your first crush? When I was 8, I had a crush on a guy called Glen who was in the grade above me at school, looking back on it he had buck teeth and was weird looking.
Chips and gravy or chips and cheese? Ohhhh all three please! They call it Poutine in Quebec, Canada, and it’s made with special Cheese.


Aside from Hardcore, what else do you enjoy listening to? What CDs do you secretly stick on in the car when you’re on your own?

Got to be Italian old skool, it’s like Euro 90s house. I totally love it! That or its Classic FM on the way to a gig. I think that’s why people have stopped asking for lifts to parties now.

When did you “discover” hardcore? What DJs did you look out for on line-ups?

I started listening to techno back in ‘94 when my older brother went out to parties back in Oz. I was only 13 then and wasn’t allowed to go out raving so he used to give me all his tapes and flyers to decorate my room. So I have my brother Jason to thank for getting me into it! I followed a lot of the local Sydney DJ’s but any UK DJ that came out to Oz was a must to see. Never missed a Luna-C, Hixxy, Scott Brown or Ultra Sonic set in those days when they came out.

So then, when did you discover your skill behind the decks? What made you pursue this further?

Discover? Heehee I’m still trying to find it J It was Jan 2006 when one of the UK DJs had to cancel the rest of his Sydney tour so I was asked to fill his spot. Three weeks later I learnt to mix on vinyl and played a back to back set with Uplift as a UK DJ! Two years later I’m out mixing every weekend, loving every minute of it and looking forward to what the future has in store.

What was your “breakthrough” set?

I would have to say my first UK set would be my “breakthrough” set, which was Raindance in April 2006. They flew me over from Australia as a birthday present to play a surprise back to back set with Uplift. I had only been mixing 2 months at the time. It was an amazing experience and Raindance still continues to support me today.

Is Dj-ing what you do, or do you contribute in other ways, i.e. producing?

I live, breath and non-stop talk about hardcore. I co-run the label Raw Elements with DJ Uplift so I am always learning to produce, put out releases and promote the label. My week is busy playing on three radio stations (History of Hardcore, Eruption 101.3fm and Krafty Radio). Just recently, I have started writing for the newly founded Core Magazine. I have 4 regular articles in there, which keeps me busy. Somewhere in my week I manage to go to work as a nurse, keep up a social life, travel and have chill out time with my cat.

What is your style? What makes YOU stand out from the rest?

I think what makes me stand out is my unique choice of tunes from our own productions for Raw Elements to a variety of international sounds. I love the Australian and the American scene and the talent they have to offer. My style varies from uplifting vocals right into the dark drivey sounds of the underground. I also see myself as a raver, I love getting dressed up, dancing around while I’m playing and getting right into the vibe of the party.

When you are on the decks, how do you use the crowd to make your next move and work your set?

I always watch the crowd and their reaction and believe a DJ must have interaction with them as much as the mc does. I try mixing a variety of my personal favourites and combine them up with some well known tracks to keep the interest on the dance floor. It is important to be able to read a crowd and know how to structure a set.

What would you say are the most important things to prepare for in the run up to doing a set?

Make sure you have your tunes, headphones and ear plugs with you. I never leave for a party without all three. Also know your tunes well before you play them out and have fun while out there performing.

In your opinion what benefits and drawbacks does an MC make on any given set?

I believe MC’s are a must have when it comes to a Hardcore set! Having a good mc who works as a team with the DJ does miracles to a set, as they hype up the crowd just as much as some good tunage. I love working with some of the London MCs like Spenno or Chitchat as they really know how to control the crowd well and keep watching what the DJ is doing so they don’t mc over the mixes which can be a draw back at times. There are some really good up-and-coming MCs that deserve a mention here like Adam Lee and Tempo who I find a pleasure to work with on stage.

How do you feel the scene is moving at the moment? Positive or negative, and if you had the power to change or enhance the way things are going what would you do?

It’s been an interesting year for Hardcore. From vinyl and digital sales right through to the dance floor and parties. Times are definitely changing, hopefully for a positive future.
If I had the power to change anything would probably be the influence of international hardcore scenes. There are some amazing artists and tunes being made on the other continents, it would be great to see more international acts here in the UK like Haze and S3rl from Australia or Milo and No Left Turn from the States.

Hardcore and DnB have had, and probably always will have, a very love/hate relationship. What do you think of this?

Being a hardcore junkie I have to admit I do like a bit of DNB and even mix it on occasions. Strangely I have played a hardcore set in a main room of a DNB party in London and it went down really well! There will always be segmentation between a lot of genres in music but hardcore and DNB have their history together. Basically in 94 the happy stuff and jungle separated then in 95 the introduction of the kick drum in Happy Hardcore pushed them further apart. I feel they both have a similar vibe within their own scene plus I have noticed there are more events holding Hardcore and DNB rooms in the same party.

Hardcore is taking a lot of criticism at the moment for becoming commercial, what are you views on this as a DJ within the seen?

That comment is as old as hardcore itself! I remember trying to tell the kids at school that “Here’s Johnny” by Hocus Pocus was commercial because it was on the radio and now it’s a classic! I do think big labels and albums like Clubland are a good thing for the scene as they sell like crazy and introduce the harder beats to the general public. I also have to give credit to Dj Breeze for playing hardcore at the Clubland tour! I don’t think some of those kids knew what hit them, but there was me and Druid raving hard surrounded by teenage kiddies singing ‘Come Runnin’ on the top of our lungs and doing the air guitar moves.


What was your most memorable night and why?

Raving wise it was seeing Ultra Sonic for the first time play live, in Sydney in 2002 as they are were my favourite group. It was the most amazing night, was partying with my brother and all my friends were out in full force, plus we were all dressed up as the biggest Kandy kids ever!

DJing I have plenty memories! My fondest one is my playing my first Canadian gig on my 26th birthday along side Uplift last year in 2007. It was a Halloween party with 1000 ravers dressed in costume, and speaking French to us which was quite interesting.

Do you still attend raves/nights out that you are not booked for, just for the rave factor?

Of course! Though recently haven’t had much chance “to hang out’’ but if there is something that looks wicked or a party I have friends playing at I will always try my best to come out and have a boogie on the dance floor.

How have you handled becoming well known in the scene? How do you keep a reality check? :-P

Ha ha, does this mean I can try the “don’t you know who I am” thing? I am always working my heart out, I love the music so all my focus goes into that and trying to give back to others what I enjoy. I’m a full time nurse where even if I mention anything about DJing I get grouched on so that definitely can be a ‘reality check’ I suppose.

If you could do a back-to-back set with any DJ in the world, who would it be and at what venue?

My DJ partner is Uplift. I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to play with anyone else as we work so well together. We love the same tunes and bounce off each other when it comes to performing, so I would have to say for certain DJ Uplift as my choice. The venue would be to play at Air in Birmingham, Opera House or at one of the big Slammin’ Vinyl parties.

To close up, give us a run down of your best events, and events you are due to play at.

My favourite events have to be my residency parties – Raindance, History of Hardcore, Master Ravers, X-Treme Energy pre parties and Subsonic. All ran by amazing people and the party goers that follow them are just as supportive. Forthcoming I have a lot of parties lined up around the UK including some real exciting ones including Firewall, a car show in Northampton and a surfing Competition in Cornwell. What I am really looking forward to though is our next international tour to Canada in July playing at ‘Explosive KandyFest’ in Montreal and at WEMF (World Electronic Music Festival) which is a 3 day camping event just outside Toronto.

Any final words?

If you see me out and about feel free to come up and say hi or buy me a JD and Coke J In the meantime check out the Raw Elements website at rawelements.net to hear my tunes and my mixes
myspace.com and DjScar-RawElements
Dont forget to grab youself a copy of Core Mag all details a core-mag.net and Sc@rs Powder Room


Rave safe and see you on the dance floor.

Big up 2 sc@rs! Yet to see you play out, hope to in the future %-)

My week is busy playing on three radio stations (History of Hardcore, Eruption 101.3fm and Krafty Radio).

Ziiiing! Good read ;D

haha. shouldve asked her if she believes in ghosts xD. sorry thats an in joke

If you see me out and about feel free to come up and say hi or buy me a JD and Coke

Haha Kaylene get you, trying to blag free drinks :p x x

you are all going to love her she is one wkd dj and can party hard all night you go scar!

top interview and a very interesting read :)

Thanks guys!

Ziiiing!
plug time


shouldve asked her if she believes in ghosts xD.
''who do you call? ghost busters''

Haha Kaylene get you, trying to blag free drinks :p x x

well........

plug time

hehe ;)

Wkd read, and a very big up to you Sc@r. Your one great dj and we always look forward to you playing your residency slots with us at Sub-Sonic...

shouldve asked her if she believes in ghosts

i had a random text about being a ghost....


Any final words?

Where can i find 7 midgets :)

i had a random text about being a ghost....

lol apparently im now a granny ghost with 8 cats.....ask pikey about that one.

Where can i find 7 midgets :)
JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!

apparently im now a granny ghost with 8 cats

SHIT WHAT DOES THAT MAKE ME !!!!

JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!

indeed jerry, thats going to be one hell of a p.a

cant wait to see them being fired out of the canon :) lmao

grand finale is the triangle

you know people are gonna think were loonies dont ya :)

you know people are gonna think were loonies dont ya :)

''gonna think'' or should u insert ''do think'' in there

Nice one sc@r, wicked times :D

"there was me and Druid raving hard surrounded by teenage kiddies singing ‘Come Runnin’ on the top of our lungs and doing the air guitar moves. "

Hehe ..... was a good night , and we got to see Scooter too !!

Great interview Kaylene :) X

Hehe ..... was a good night , and we got to see Scooter too !!

Great interview Kaylene :) X

we wont say in public that we only went coz u really wanted to see cascada live dave! scooter was aweseome live!!!!

scooter

I think its really wayward of me that I want their latest album!!