Anyone that knows me will tell you that if I had my way, back-2-back sets would be punishable by death. I hate them. Why? Because they are often the result of a promoter squeezing as many DJs as they can onto a line-up without really much thought behind the compatibility of the DJs concerned. The ensuing result is normally a half-hearted set that is probably disjointed because the two DJs (who individually may well be really good), play a selection of random tunes without really having the opportunity to deliver their trademark style because they are too busy trying to outplay the other. I actually feel ripped off by many random back-2-backs, and it seems that I am not alone.

However, despite my one man crusade against the repugnant diluting of DJ sets, there is actually one back-2-back I am really looking forward to; Nik Denton with Andy Farley at VCr2, the Vicious Circle event at Stylus in Leeds on Saturday 07 July. Both DJs are signed to Red Management. But the reason for this particular pairing for VCr2 is far more than the fact the same agency represents them; these two friends have huge amounts in common, not least their admiration for everything that the hard-house mother-ship Trade represented.

Ahead of their VCr2 set, which is being recorded for future release, I managed to catch up with Messer’s Denton and Farley, with strict instructions from their management company not to mention the “Andy Farley toilet incident”.

Ru: Thanks for taking the time to talk to me today. You are playing a back-2-back set at VCr2, what do you say to those who disapprove of back-2-backs and dismiss them as gimmicks to get more DJs on a line-up?

ND: I think it’s hard to comment overall because different promoters and DJs arrange and play back to back sets for different reasons. I do think it is something that has to be thought through because two wrong DJs placed together means everyone is likely to lose out; DJs, Promoters and more importantly the crowd. If it’s not planned well then it could come across as a gimmick, unprofessional and a bit of a joke.

AF: I think if they’re done in moderation, as in one special one every now and again then it’s a good thing.

Ru: What qualities do you think a back-2-back should have?

AF: I will only do back to back sets with people that I know I will work well with. I don’t see the point in putting two artists that are totally removed from each other musically together, because it just won’t work. It should be about two DJs working together to give something new to the crowd, not two DJs showing off and trying to outdo each other to prove who is the best, as has been the case in a few I have seen.

ND: I totally agree. Most importantly I think the DJs styles need to compliment each other. If their styles are similar or cross over, then that’s definitely a good start. The DJs knowing each other and knowing how the other works is also important.

Ru: Back-2-backs are one thing, but there seem to be a fair-few three-way back-2-backs cropping up – if a third was to join you on 07/07/07, who would you choose?

ND: The caretaker (Or someone else who can assist with opening toilet doors)… Sorry Andy!

Ru: The Caretaker? Is he new? Where does he play?

AF: He does a lot of lock-in parties. To be honest I would say no to doing a three-way back to back as I don’t see the point in something like that. But the Caretaker is a good person to have around if you get stuck in a toilet cubical for 45 minutes.

Ru: I have to ask, what did you do for 45 minutes?

AF: Tried to dig myself out with the toilet brush a la Shawshank Redemption…

ND: Still a sore subject.

Ru: What actually happened?

AF: I was getting ready for my set at VCr1, and making use of the executive VIP changing-rooms I decided to use the plush behind the stage facilities before I took over from Nik, not realising that the latch on the cubicles lock had been removed. You’d have thought somebody would have realised I was missing… perhaps the person I was taking over from….

ND: I got a new jumper out of it….

Ru: Moving on… Your VCr2 set is being recorded LIVE and will be released as part of Toolbox V – what is Toolbox V?

ND: It’s basically a series of EPs, a tour and an album, all of which based around me working with a handful of other artists/DJs… Our set at VCR2 is being recorded for the album part of the project, which will be a two disc album. The other disc will be a recording of my back to back set with Mr Glazby @ Storm back in May. This is something I have always wanted to do and it’s great that it is finally coming together.

AF: What it’s not is a nifty little tool box that helps you escape from toilet cubical with no inside handle to unlock the door.

Ru: Toolbox has had Paul Glazby, Steve Thomas, Paul King, Pete Wardman and Ben Stevens appear on the label, is there anyone that you’d like to have on the label that so far has eluded you?

ND: Off the top of my head I’d probably have to say Ian M. I’d love to get him on the label sometime soon.

Ru: VCr2 is the second instalment of Vicious Circle and Red’s collaboration to bring Hard House and House events together, when does house music become hard-house?

AF: The term hard house originated from Trade when Steve Thomas and Tony de Vit were asked to describe the music they were playing, to which they replied it’s ‘hard’ house music. Back then it encompassed anything from tough American Tribal house music through to full on 170bpm German & Belgian hardcore trance. The term now of course covers what we all know and love.

ND: First of all you don’t find house tracks much faster than 130bpm – where as Hard House seems to kick things off at around 145bpm. A lot of the house I have produced in the past has had lots of elements/sounds that you would use in Hard House, but the tempo and arrangement stops it from being hard.

Ru: You obviously know each other quite well, is there one aspect of each others personality you’d like to change?

ND: Would anyone change anything about Andy? I don’t think so. We like him just the way he is. (Oh, apart from the ability to get locked in toilets of course…)

AF: No I don’t think there is actually, we’ve know each other for quite a few years so no tweaks needed!

Ru: You both rocked Stylus from its foundations on your last visit for VCr1 in February, what have you both been doing since then?

AF: I’ve been busy with production, plenty of new tunes to come over the next few months and also doing my weekly radio show for Ministry Of Sound which goes out on Saturday mornings between 4 and 6. I’ve also been doing loads of gigs as well up and down the country and am off to Australia and New Zealand in August.

ND: Mainly running Toolbox (Distribution and labels) and putting time into Hard Heart Beats and the Hard Heart branding. I’ve also spent a lot of time in the studio working on Toolbox V and various house projects/remixes. I’m very fortunate to be able to spend my time doing lots of things that I enjoy. The only thing I have not done that I want to do is find time for a holiday!

Ru: How have things been for you guys since being signed to Red Management?

ND: It’s been great. Balancing out my house gigs and Hard House gigs has been tricky at times, but overall it’s been a really good few months. I’ve played some amazing gigs and have loads of great gigs in the pipe line. I’m really happy with how things are going.

AF: Amazing, it’s great to be working with someone who cares about your career and puts in 200%.

Ru: Andy – you’ve been described by many as the God Father of Hard House. How would you describe Nik?

AF: Mr Workaholic… he’s got so many things on the go it’s sometimes difficult to keep up,

Ru: The VCr2 event will be one of the first major events after the smoking in public places ban comes in to force, how do you think that will effect nights like VCr2?

ND: As a non smoker I’m not entirely sure what it’s going to mean to most people. I know from people I surround myself with that the general feeling is a positive one. So from that I can only assume it’s not going to have that much of an effect.

AF: I think a few people will be disgruntled to start with but I don’t think it will stop people clubbing. It’s a good thing from a non-smoker’s point of view as you won‘t go home smelling of other people’s smoke!

Ru: Imagine that you are taking over from another DJ during the evening, and you notice that the DJ has been cheating – he or she has not actually mixed a single track but instead has been playing a pre-mixed CD but has made it look as if they’ve been mixing. How would you re-act?

AF: I’d say “Hi Nik”

ND: Oi oi…

AF: Seriously, um, mmm… I’d probably be disappointed in them for being such a fraud but wouldn’t let it show.

ND: First of all I’d ask them why they were playing a mix CD, just in case the other CD player wasn’t working. But if it was and they were just taking the piss, I’d probably just send them a “First step to becoming an actor/actress” booklet along with a note saying: Now you don’t have to hide your desire to pretend darling! Or something a bit random like that.

Ru: What do you see as the biggest threat to the hard-house scene?

ND: I don’t think hard house particularly has a threat that is any different to any other music genre. I honestly think we have managed to survive our biggest threat and that was when the variety in hard house disappeared. However 2007 seems to have opened the flood gates to variety. Melodic riffs, funkier bass lines and more imagination seem to be on the menu right now and I think it’s a lot healthy for the scene.

AF: Too many remakes and bootlegs are not healthy for a scene, and there is a lot of that around at the moment. I think if someone is going to spend time in a studio then surely that is better spent making future anthems rather than just rehashing old ones. Don’t get me wrong, a good remix of an old track every so often is cool, but it’s too much the other way. The scene needs good future anthems to move forward and stay healthy. As Nik mentioned above though, there is a lot of variety creeping back in which is great so onwards and upwards!

Ru: If you had to pick a hard-house track that best describes each other, what track would it be?

ND: For Andy it would have to be NRG “Never lost his hardcore”

Ru: OK, I can see that. What about for Nik?

AF: Cortina / Higher

Ru: Not sure I understand

AF: Cortina… the car… the only Cortina’s I know now are old bangers.

ND: Steady….

Ru: Nik, if Vicious was an acronym of words to describe the VC brand, what would it stand for?

ND: Sweet Jesus, er. Well… Very Infectious Continuous Intelligent Output Unique Sound.

Ru: AF – If Circle was an acronym of words to describe the VC brand, what would it stand for?

AF: Chunky Intelligent Raving (in) Clubs (for) Looney’s Everywhere!

Ru: Nik, Andy, thank you so much for your time, really looking forward to seeing you at VCr2