In the run up to Destination on the 12th July we thought it'd be a good idea to get our very own Hoopz to interview Encore's Dawson, then next week turn it all around and get Dawson to interview Hoopz. Soooo here it is. Hoopz does Dawson!! (oo er)

So Mr Awesome Dawson!! When did you start spinning the wheels of steel??

Well then Mr Hooooooooopz, I brought my first decks after Tidy Weekender 6 which was October 2004... I then mixed on and off for about 6 month, trying to find the style I liked and also what I wanted to play...(Funky or Hard House). I finally got my arse into gear and fell in love with Hard house. I finally did my first mix in 2006 after about a year of taking mixing seriously and not just going on them for a few minutes a week. Then my second CD came a year later in 2007 and now onto 2008.. I think another is due ha ha.

Can you tell me what makes you different as a DJ to all the others??

Mmm good question. I would like to think that in my sets you get to hear a vast mix of tunes... not just one style... I love playing a set and dropping a bounce track or a filth track when people least expect it. At the end of the day I love all types of Hard house... Weather it’s groovy, hard, trancey or bouncy I want everyone on the dance floor to enjoy it all like I do =oD I love trying to make my mixes exciting and I want to try and put across my energy to the crowd. I love going mad behind the decks and having a right good arse wiggle! And then after my set hang about and get on the dance floor myself!!!!Apart from that I think that I’m the only DJ in our scene that has the same name as an international rugby player.

Is there much happening on the production side at the moment??

Production wise at the moment things are going insane. I have had 2 vinyl releases 1 on Relapse* (Faster & Faster) and one on Nil By Mouth (Hackney Council vs. Scot Fo-Shaw – Bring back music). Over the next few month Myself and my production partner Some Punk (under the guise Hackney Council) have tracks coming out on the new Trauma remix album as well as another relapse on Relapse*. So make sure you keep your eyes peeled for those. A few of our tracks have been heard played by the likes of Matt Pick up & Andy Rise, Ben Stevens, Johny Favourite, Gazz Hunt and The Tidy DJ’s, the biggest being Hackney Council – 1 Night in Wonderland a remix of the Pants & Corset classic Malice in Wonderland. Also I will be going in the studio with a few producers who I really think are pushing the energy and fun of the scene at the moment. People like Kye Shand & Paul F, Tom Berry, Riggsy, of course the fresh bugger Some Punk

Can you tell me how you came up with your production alias Hackney Council!! Wicked name!!
Ha Ha Mr Punk and I have been asked this a few times now... We were coming back from a gig at The Factory in London for my first residency for the awesome Happy Nation and we had finished our first remix (Travel Bulgarian) and we were really struggling for a name... It was about 5am and we were driving through the dirty (but quite pleasant) streets of Hackney and saw the sign for Hackney Council and with that tripping the techno side of our brains and the awesome tune 1 night in Hackney we decided that .. “Well balls to it yeah... Hackney Council sounds wicked” And that’s about it really lol

What are you 3 favourite tunes of the moment and why?

Mm I have never been good at questions like this... I love so many tunes... they it is always difficult trying to put together a top 10. Let alone a top 3. I would have to say
1 – Trauma – Rock your beat (Hackney Council Remix)
2 – Abdul Glazby – Intergalactic
3 – Hackney Council – Shut up (YOU C$NT)
I love them because they are full of madness, energy and awesome bass lines you will be hearing these for a few more months to come... gotta love them!

What are the 3 favourite up and coming DJ’s on your mind at the moment??

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr You big boy lol

No seriously I can’t really put it down to 3 so here are a few.
I will have to say you fella. Your last set at Vinyl destination got my dancing and I love your energy behind the decks! Oh and of course that cheeeeeeeky smile ... The ladies love it ;-)
Also Jordon Suckley, Caz Wood, Wain Johnstone, Nathalie, Tobias, Helen G, Pearce M, Johny Favourite, Paul F, tom Berry & Kye Shand.. This group of people are going to be the future... I’m telling thee. They all have such a wicked presence behind the decks and I hope that I get the opportunity to play a lot more events with them in the future

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PARTY TO PLAY AT!!! *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* haha

There aint no party like a V.D. party... (ooops that came out wrong) Vinyl Destination baby, wicked promoters and fantastic nights!!!! Fair play boys! Also One Chance is another belting up and coming night and of course the amazing Polysexual and B2T which I have been lucky enough to have played the in the Main room for. Its events like these that people go to month in month out... the way it should be... lets get that party atmosphere going again! =oD

What are the most memorable places you have played?

I have been lucky enough to play the main room at my 3 favourite clubs. The Emporium in Coalville and Air and Subway City in Birmingham. Such a breathtaking experience and really emotional was the main room Emporium. I had my own stunning Dawsonettes in very little clothing dancing around. Main room Air for Polysexual I got to play a warm up set which I love doing and that main room is immense and of course I got to play a power hour of bounce at the amazing B2T.

What genres of music do you actually play as I know you are extremely eclectic?!?!

Well I don’t have a preferred style the best way to sum it up is Council House. Dirty, fast, bouncy, groovy trancey and filth lol I love mixing it up and showing people that you can have a set which covers all different types of hard house!

So what are your plans for the future with Encore Music Management?

Ahh now that would be telling. Lol
I owe a lot to Encore and my management team. Iain has his head screwed on, and knows how to treat not just me, but other clubbers and promoters, and then Johny has such a talent for advertising and design it makes me sick ha ha Between us we have a lot of plays not just for me but for the Encore brand. Having already hosted rooms at events like Polysexual we are definitely moving in the right direction. All I can say is.. WATCH THIS SPACE

Transformers or Iron Man??

TRANSFORMERS all day long!! I was a massive fan in the 80’s and I nearly made a mess in my pants when I saw the movie... If anyone would like to buy me anything ever I would really like my own Bumblebee please!

Peanut Butter or Jam??

Peanut butter baby... can’t beat it on toast... oh and looooooads of it!! If not peanut butter it would have to be the Snickers spread!

Badgers or Squirrels??

Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger Mushroom , Mushroom... but I suppose if squirrels were all as cool as secret squirrel (I hope people can remember that 80’s cartoon lol) then I would have to be Squirrel lol

Vinyl or CD’s??

I love vinyl. Once of my proudest moments ever was seeing my name on a vinyl! BUT I love what you can do with CDs. I love how I can create mixes and bootlegs and play them the same night as well as using cue points and loops I would have to say... CDs are awesome ha ha

Well there you have it guys! Round one of the interviews over =D Next week it's Hoopz turn to answer Dawsons questions so watch out for it=D Remember to add you buddies to this thread, and click " ill be there" if your coming! Event details can be found here. NICE!