Passionate, determined, professional and most of all completely mental (in an alarmingly genius and entertaining way of course), are just a few ways you could describe Mark EG. He is without doubt one of the dark lords of techno and every weekend without fail, crowds come out in their droves to support his many underground DJ’ing engagements. Why? The answer is simple, because he’s a natural born entertainer is why. Talented in the ways of production, established several thousand times over in the art of the deck technician and for anyone that’s caught him live, completely mental on stage – Mark EG’s work has become known in many underground dance music circles as historical and prolific.

You would have known instantly if he’d been headlining an event you’ve attended, if nothing else for the screams of “Mark E-G, Mark E-G, Mark E-G” that fill the room with such volume, so full of energy, that one often wonders how his first tune of the night gets heard over the sound of supporting cheers and screams en mass. When he takes to said stage, on each and every set he delivers - always surprising, always with an ear out for that different sound, constantly striving to sharpen that delivery on a bag full of the World’s finest new music and not just any old track either – his sets are often built up of some of the very best new music from the underground, irrespective of who it’s by – if it was made with craft and passion and effort, if it was man made for a dance floor with such extreme focus and experimentation, he’s more than up for belting it out at full volume. Oh yes friends, for Mark EG originality is key and that’s something he’s maintained for many years and what we believe keeps him at the top of his game.

When he’s not (literally) destroying the dance floor at events for promoters such as Slammin Vinyl, Dance Valley, Hardline 77, HTID, Goodgreef, Bionic, Tranzaction, Creamfields and Coloursfest at home in the UK (or across the globe in Russia, Australia, the USA and beyond), he’s back home dealing with the day to day workings of his label Blackout Audio which has been providing the very best underground music for quite some time. The roster includes such artists as Chris McCormack, Patrick Skoog, Inigo Kennedy, Hardcell, Space DJz, PK Audio and Concrete DJz amongst others and no less including his genius works as an independent producer; it’s a creative outlet that’s become the talking point of many an underground musician, both established and new to the game.

On the 10th April, he makes his debut on the main stage at Ravers Are: X-Treme for their massive return to Lakota in Bristol, firing on all cylinders and gearing up for a full on underground rave session for which we caught up with him for a chat prior to the big day.

Mark EG, Mark EG, Mark EG! The man, the myth, the legend, how is your day today, how have you been and what indeed have you been doing with it?

Well the other day we took our Dog to get his balls whipped off, so I had to nip back to the vets this morning and check everything was OK. It’s quite bizarre having a Dog running around the house with an Elizabethan collar and no John Thomas, I can tell you!

Ha, ha – poor mite, I shouldn’t laugh – you’ve robbed him of his dignity! Ha, Ha, but – let’s get down to business of a musical sort. We are three months into 2010 and already, you’ve had a pretty busy year thus far on the gig front would it be fair to say? Any highlights so far, what’s floating your boat already in this new decade as a DJ on the event front?

It’s been just as insane as usual, with a lot of travelling and a lot of memorable moments. I’ve just actually finished a tour of Australia, where we hired a car and spent the whole time sleeping in hotels and living on beaches in glorious weather. It was bit of a shock getting back to snow in blighty!

Sounds like you could have quite happily stayed, time now to return to your beloved fans here, plenty of which will be out in force to see your usual maniacal stage antics! Speaking of which – you do have such an energetic stage presence; some might stretch so far as to say ‘insanely’ energetic live on stage. Simply put, where do you get the energy from man? You must do what, two – three gigs a week, in peak periods that a night maybe and in some cases on different continents right? How do you not hurt yourself!?!

I used to hurt myself a lot and I’ve spent many unpleasant moments in various A+E departments over the years. But, like with anything, you tend to get better at it with experience. It’s all about balance, focus and of course the music, but more importantly it’s about checking shit is stable BEFORE you play!

Ha, ha, ha – brilliant! Now, anybody that knows you or your work knows that you are a man passionately and physically in this case moved by his music whether it be techno, hard trance, hardstyle, it’s such a broad spectrum you cover and although famed for your particular focus on techno, would it be fair to say that ‘music made with passion’, to quote your good self would be the best description of the music you love?

Yes it’s really weird, when I can hear a track where someone has quite obviously spent ten hours getting the bass line eq perfect because it’s been done in a slightly different way, that kinda turns me on. Techno and electronica tend to do that more than any other music in my honest opinion, but to me any music is good as long as someone has tried to do something out of the norm along the way. Churned out, formulated music made with a pop star ‘making money’ mentality is pointless in my honest opinion.

That love for all things techno is so evident in your production and some of the fine work that you’ve done over a successful and established period and it’s fair to say you’ve made some twisted material, inspired even. What goes into that thought process when you’re writing new material, what inspires Mark EG’s creative spur?

To me the studio is a sacred place where there’s no point in doing anything unless you’re learning and creating. I’m a total nerd in the studio so once I find myself doing something that I’ve done before, I lose interest and don’t want to put my name to it. I’ve had a big run recently of being totally into what I’m doing so expect some nice up coming releases!

Exciting news that Chief! Your work of course is all part of your own label, production house and also an extremely popular forum Blackout Audio, which is now a clearly established outlet. As music changes and evolves moving into a new decade, what are the plans for Blackout Audio and indeed yourself as a writer, producer, artiste and so forth?

Again, you can’t force creativity, so Blackout Audio is one of those labels that releases when it feels it has something to say and I think people respect that and trust us. Recently a lot of people jumped on the minimal and schranz bandwagons, so Blackout Audio has held back and a lot of the artists have been working hard on a new direction in hard techno. Again, Blackout should see a lot of activity later this year.

You have also been appointed these past few months Editor of Core Magazine and worked hard with all of us there to re-define its image, content and general overall feel. Looking back, how do you feel you have changed and therefore made it’s present outcome a rising success and again, what plans moving forward for it in 2010?

I love music, I love magazines and I love writing. I also love organising stuff and making things, well work – and of course that’s an editor’s job completely! So Core has been an amazing project and it’s further fuelled my need to tell people about good music. There’s a severe need in the magazine industry for a magazine that’s honest and open, without jumping on current fashion trends or whatever sells. We’re working on a special festival edition right now – so expect the new Core Magazine out in June!

Indeed, more news on that to follow – but in the meanwhile, looking at events overall, it’s been such a roller coaster ride though hasn’t it? In terms of numbers between the various scenes, parties and locations, how does the event side of things look, in your honest opinion, as someone that sees it each and every weekend?

It’s no secret that there’s been a fall in attendance figures at clubs but that reflects what is happening across the World in general - people just do not have the money to go out! This is of course a cycle and we will all come out of it, but unfortunately certain pop star DJ’s are taking advantage and ripping the people and the promoters off with ridiculously high fees and the bullshit attitude to go with it. It’s up to those promoters to put a stop to it by nurturing and supporting home grown talent!

Wise words my friend, wise words. Speaking of events, we’ll close by asking you about Ravers Are: X-Treme which marks your first appearance for these guys; they seem like a lively bunch, forward thinking and creative in their organising of events. What hath the dark lord in store for what is a presently unmarked event territory for you? How will you be introducing yourself to the Ravers Are: crowd for your debut?

I’ve heard a lot about Ravers Are: parties and I am genuinely super excited they’ve asked me to come down. If you’re into dark, hard, ‘avin it music - your rectum is about to be spun on a cocktail stick and fired several miles in to the sky. If however, you’re not then it might be wise to purchase a set of earplugs from Boots.

See you at the front mofo’s!

Ha, ha, ha. Mark, it is always a pleasure, thank you and we’ll see you again on the 10th April (note to Ben Niacin – screw everything down when building the production on the night).

Mark EG will be appearing with a whole host of great artists on Saturday April 10th at Ravers Are: X-Treme at Lakota, 6 Upper York Street, Bristol. The event runs from 20:00pm – 06:00am and also features Endymion, Darren Styles Vs Joey Riot with MC Storm, Gammer, Slideout, Scorpio, Squad-E, Sy, Brisk, Scott Brown and many more. Tickets are just £19 in advance, more on the door and more details can be found at raversare.co.uk

With thanks to Mark, Chrissi, Ben Niacin & Pikey

Words: Jon-Brown
Pictures: Supplied by Blackout Audio / Xclusiv Management, used with permission
Flyer Design: Obie @ DigiTech Media