Toolbox's talented Tim Stokes joins the Requiem recruits this Saturday (24th May) at the 414 in Brixton. Pushing the groovy and chunkier side of hard house Tim's recent signing to Toolbox has seen his sounds reach a wider audience, to much acclaim. Ahead of his debut London gig I caught up with Tim to find out more.

Tim let’s go back to the beginning. When was the first moment you knew you wanted to be a dj and how did your love affair with hard house come about?

Well, it was in the year 1997 when I was working in a club in glamorous Dudley actually! My mate Phill was a dj there playing anything from cheese to commercial dance and even some hard house. I’d go and watch him on my fag break. He was wicked on the decks and it really made me want to try and learn myself. So I got some belt drives and some commercial dance and ended up throwing them across my room in frustration! (True!)

The love affair with the harder side of dance was all down to a club in Birmingham called Bakers. It was a dingy dark sweatbox, with nutters all off their heads listening to fast repetitive music! I mean who wouldn’t be hooked hehe!

You are also making a name for yourself as a producer recently being signed to the legendary Toolbox as an artist, how did you get into production and how would you describe the Tim Stokes sound for those who haven’t heard any of your work?

Production I think is a natural progression from djing. If I’m honest I was never a confident dj when I was playing everyone else’s stuff, and confidence in what you play is a big thing.

I’d describe my sound as fairly tough and chunky…for any one who hasn’t heard any of my work then go to the Toolbox Web site and check it out!

You’ve recently done two bootlegs that are receiving much acclaim. My personal favourite is with Riggsy (a remix of the classic Base Graffiti – Smash n Grab) but you’ve also just had your excellent Music is moving (the old Cortina anthem) bootleg signed to Nukleuz. Exciting times?

To be honest I’m still a little shocked Nukleuz have signed the Music is Moving remix. It is very exiting to be a part of one of their albums and to have a release with such a big label. Smash 'n Grab seems to be getting a lot of love too which is cool, and I’m glad you’re a fan!

Do you think bootlegs are an important part of production in the hard house scene these days, some of the key up and coming producers in are scene seem to be making their mark with bootlegs and remix competitions for established labels and tunes are proving very popular?

Personally I think bootlegs are a way of bringing old tracks I love up to date production wise. Production has come so far now, the old Music is moving just wouldn’t fit into my sets. As for other up and coming producers, some of them have been wicked like Adam M’s remix of Diddy - Give Me Love and Lt1/FKM remix of Locked On, you can’t grumble!

Do you have any other tunes in mind to give the Stokes treatment to?

Actually I don’t! I’m going to concentrate on originals for the foreseeable future.

And what else have you got coming out we can look forward to?

Skinhook by myself and Adam k is very close to release on Toolbox, and Gutterpunk is also imminent on Combat too.

Spamhammer by Ultra and myself is signed to Toolbox and then there’s the Music is Moving remix, also by myself and Ultra just signed to Nukleuz.

I’ve got Glasgow Kiss signed to new Flashpoint offshoot Flashlight Digital and a few other little numbers that haven’t been sent out yet so watch this space!

Production can often mean long hours in the studio. What’s your favourite studio food?

PISTACHIOS yum!!

Who are your favourite producers and your ones to watch in 2008?

My favourite producers are Karim, Dom Sweeten and Paul Maddox, say no more.

The ones to watch in ‘08 up and coming wise are Ben Townsend, who has been knocking out some really different stuff lately, and Glenn Harford, who has really started to impress me with his own stuff, just getting better and better every production!

Other producers who are more established are also really pushing things forward too, taking the hard house sound into new realms. Nik Denton’s making some really cool, groovy yet tough new material that I think will take the scene by storm.

Djing wise where do you take inspiration from and who leads the pack for you?

All my inspiration as a Dj over the last 7 years has come from Karim. He is the only Dj that has made me really loose it on the dance floor pretty much every time I see him play. His policy with music is solid and his progression and ability to work a crowd is brilliant.

What’s in your box/wallet at the moment and what’s your “if all else fails” tune?

Lately I’ve been hammering Lucy Fur - Shake It Up, Justin Bourne and Defective Audio - Super Powerz, Ben Townsend - Best Laid Plans, Nik Denton and Steve Gillen’s - We Are One, James Devlin - Do Dat Dance, Kauz and Defective Audio – Caged, there are just too many at the moment I love.

The saviour tunes at the moment are Tango by Adam M & Dave Owens and the aforementioned Smash ‘n Grab remix!

What are your plans for 2008 and beyond?

Hey I believe in fate Kate!

'Que sera sera' then! You are playing at Flashpoint & Tripoli presents Requiem at the 414, Brixton on 24th May.

What are your top 3 Flashpoint and/or Tripoli Trax?

Champion Burns - Emergency (OD404 Rmx) - Tripoli

Jupe - The Negotiation (Defective Audio Rmx) - Flashpoint

Marc Johnson and Ben Stevens - Reactivate - Flashpoint

Remember readers you can purchase the whole Flashpoint and Tripoli Trax back catalogue in digital format at the Flashpoint store today. Click for Flashpoint and Flashpoint Digital, and for Tripoli Trax.

So Tim, what do you have in store for the Brixton massive?

Just really groovy, really uplifting, really chunky good old hard house!!!

Sounds fab! Finally a few quick fire questions:

Favourite non hard dance tune? Queen - Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy.

Cats or dogs? Cats by a miiiiiiiiile.

Indian or chinese? Indian (is that women or food??).

Ultimate B2B partner? Hard one that erm… I think me and Mr Maynard would go well together (B2B too haha!).

Saucy! Beer, spirits or something more exotic? Spirits every time, Bourbon Whiskey! Woodford Reserve if they have it.

Nice one Mr Stokes. Looking forward to seeing you Saturday.

Flashpoint & Tripoli present Requiem is at the 414 this Saturday (24th) May. Be there or be square!

Also don't forget to visit the Flashpoint music store for digital releases and back catalogues from labels like Vicious Circle, Kaktai, Spinball, Fireball, Combat and more.

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