LEFTY, OR AS MOST OF YOU WILL KNOW HIM AS DAVE THE ELF IS A NAME THAT HAS BEEN GETTING AROUND THE MIDLANDS AND BEYOND OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS FOR A FEW DIFFERENT REASONS (AND NO NOT ON CRIMESTOPPERS).

I CAUGHT UP WITH THE MAN HIMSELF TO FIND OUT A BIT MORE ABOUT HARD HOUSE BEING BROUGHT BACK TO THE FAMOUS SANCTUARY AND FOR A BIT MORE INFO ABOUT THE MAN HIMSELF

So then mate, it’s a pleasure to take some of your time to do this interview. First things first, do you fancy telling us a little bit about Crafty and Crank and the concepts of the new nights?

Putting it quite simply Crafty is for everyone! Me, Jack Richards and Steve NRG wanted to start something fresh, building on new talented dj’s and producers from across the country and showcasing some of our finer top end dj’s and of course, to put on a night that the clubber will enjoy and talk about, cos that’s where I began. So get yourselves down to The Sanctuary on the 29th August.

Crank is the other night i currently promote in Birmingham with Abe and Adam K, I love this night due to the intimate atmosphere and loyal following we have. Last event was awesome with Karim and LT1, I think it will grow and grow, check it out.

And for the readers at home who don’t know who you are, do you fancy telling us a bit about yourself and your journey into Hard Dance?

Hi my name is Dave the Elf, ive loved hard dance ever since I was a kid, when I was 10 I was listening to Faithless and Leftfield and my mates thought I was a tw@ cos I didn’t like take that, so I became a raver!!!

How did you manage to get the nickname ‘The Elf’?

True story...
When I was 16, unemployed and broke, I was struggling for work. I saw an advertisement in the paper about a Christmas helper’s position which was available. I thought to myself “anyone can get that job, or I must be a loser". Anyway, I went for an interview and the shopping centre where I was sat in front of 3 people in suits. They started firing questions at me like “why do you want to be an elf?" and “how much do you actually like Christmas?" I answered honestly and said “I just need some cash flow to help me through". I thought I did pretty well under the circumstances. 2 days went by and I didn’t hear anything, so I decided to go back up and enquire. I managed to spot one of the interviewers so I went up and asked "how did I get on then?" he replies "Dave, your not elf material", then walked off.

And how come you have decided to revert back to working under the name Lefty?

Its not really as funny as the last one but I started my dj and production career known as Lefty but when I got signed up by Sundissential I was told Dave The Elf was more popular. Still ive always thought it as a nickname only nothing more. Since leaving Sundissential to do my own thing I decided to have a clean break and started throwing out some material with a little more darkness than the name "Elf" could handle.

So that’s why your new track ‘Into The Sound’ is so ferocious, it’s the Lefty in you breaking out, it all makes sense. So you have made tracks under Dave the Elf & Lefty, is there any other persona’s or split personalities hiding there we should know (and fear) about?

I actually did it with Riggsy, Adam Michaels and Steve NRG, we use the name Switckdisk when it’s the 3 of us, but yeah I felt like doing something a bit more extreme, the riff is quite disturbing. I also do a few things under LSR from time to time.

How would you best describe your sound as a dj? What tracks are the moment are doing it for ya?

My style has changed over the last year I’d best describe it as tough NRG which is quite vocal driven, it gives it a hard edge but people can associate with it especially with a few patented bootlegs dropped in there. Im well impressed with LT1s current production like Drop The Dime and Generation X. Im also loving Riggsys own stuff like The PVD - For An Angel RMX and his new track My DJ. Valex has also done a wicked RMX of Cafe Del Mar which sends shivers whenever I hear it.

You’re a bit of a ‘Tune Machine’ if you don’t mind me saying. Every time I speak to you, you always have a handful of new tracks up your sleeve. How many tracks have you made now and have you got any forthcoming releases we should be looking out for?

I love your voice
Sorry
Dunno about tune machine, ive gotta give credit where it’s due to my engineer Riggsy who without a shadow of a doubt is the most talented bloke I know, and he cooks a mean fajita! Also Kye Shand and Paul F who I have done a couple with.
I think I have done 30 tracks since I started off DJing last year, I forget where most of them are (if you’re out there tracks please come home)!
Ive collaborated with some wicked producers like LT1, Princess SKB, Matt Pickup, Shenton, Mini Minx and FKM to name a few. All bring something totally different to the table.
There are about 10 tracks of mine coming out this year on Razor, Toolbox, Sumo Training, Xtension and Fruit Jack of course which was mixed on the new Frantic & Nukleuz cd by your good self.
Keep your ears open for Deeper Kicks signed to Razor which me and Riggsy done on a bit of a mad one, it’s really different.

Mate, that’s too true about Riggsy. Ive been a fan of his for years now but only got myself in the studio with him recently when Matt & I got our Rock the Beat remix made but I was amazed at how fast he works! Is there anyone else out there in the scene that really floats your boat and needs a mention?

Defo... how long you got?

Princess SKB, awesome DJ and producer, she opened my ears to techno which i now love. LT1 is also one of my favourite DJs and producers along side Steve NRG who without those two and Riggsy i would be nothing. FKM also always does it for me; he has grown and grown over the last year with a release on the new harder generation cd. Tony 2 Pills and Shine have given me a great opportunity and helped me since the start. I have also recently got into the studio with Jason Speed who amazed me. Lastly I would say Mark H who has constantly been impressive over the last 4 years and always puts on a good show.

Ha-ha...

Oh also Andy Rise and Matt Pickup of course, im well proud of you both and how far you have come.

Compliments and you declaring your love for my voice, are you trying to tell me something? Anyway back to the questions, what gigs have you got coming up? Where is the Lefty tour bus stopping over the next few months?

Ive been taking a bit of a break recently from playing out and got back in the studio to come up with some new material for a fresh set. Im playing at B2T on September 20th which im well up 4 cos I love the atmosphere there. Im also a resident at Smashed Up in Leicester and Shine of course so you can always catch me there. I try not to play at my own nights every month but have decided to make an appearance at Crafty on October 26th @ The Sanctuary.

Helping organise and promote several different nights, getting down and dirty in the studio as often as you can & playing regularly for various different promotions around Birmingham and the midlands must take up a lot of your time, what do you like to get up to in that little bit of spare time you have?

It’s hard to have a free moment but when I do get chance I like to drop my trousers and start shouting “FREE TIBET" in my nans shower cap, I dunno it’s probably just a phase!!

Anyway mate, I think ive taken up enough of your precious shower cap time from you. Before I leave you be, can you tell me the most random thing you have ever seen (and make sure it’s not so obscene it can’t be published).

There are so many things as you probably know but the latest one was been given a flyer for an event called Roller Gospel Blitz, I still don’t know what its about but im planning on going down to it on August 25th to find out.

DON'T FORGET TO MARK THE 29TH AUGUST IN YOUR DIARYS, THIS WILL BE A LAUNCH PARTY NOT TO BE MISSED, SEE YOU DOWN THE FRONT ! ! !