As the next instalment of Nu Religion draws closer, we spoke with one of the stars of the show Matt Handy to find out about his history, and the story behind his South Coast knees-up Contact. He's been involved in dance music for many years now and has got a few stories to tell....

So Matt, how did you get into the whole dance music game then?
What are your earliest memories of loving it?

Hi there DSI .

Well I got into it in my early teens, about 14 . Dance music in general had only just begun with acts and DJs like Moby, Steve Silk Hurley, Adamski, Todd Terry, Farley Jackmaster Funk and the like . We then went on a holiday to Ibiza in 1990 and I was hooked. The first proper club I went to was Pacha and I was blown away by the vibe and the sounds and effects. I’d been to clubs before on holiday in Majorca a year or so previously and loved the laser show they had there every night but nothing compared to Pacha and Ibiza and the clubs I visited their that year. I didn’t know at the time how lucky I was to have experienced Ibiza in 1990 - the whole dance scene hadn’t been commercialised then it was still really fresh.

It was a like nothing else I’d experienced - like many peoples first time proper clubbing. So when I came back and started to try and hunt out the best clubs in the area and the UK . Not many people were into it then so finding good events and people into it was hard, but it was really fun as you always had to hunt high and low and we all knew we were part of something really special it was all very new. I started collecting loads of underground mix tapes recorded from all the original raves which I still have 1000s of in the loft and loads of records. I didn’t know how to mix or even what mixing was. I just loved the music on them. The passion for it just grew from there really, within the love for the music and the vibe of the events and people I’ve met.

What inspired you to get decks in the first place then? Did you have a life-changing moment? An epiphany if you will?

I was always interested in music from way back into my early childhood. I come from a very musical background within my family and learnt many musical instruments. I always found electronic music really interesting when I first heard it in the ‘80s and I was fascinated by the unlimited scope of sounds it had . Even stuff like [French electronic music pioneer] Jean Michael Jarre was an really early influence. I used to get my tape player and record clips of different tunes and try and record them back together again into a mix tape of loads of bits of tunes & stuff I liked. I remember scratching on my dad’s turntable with early records I’d collected when I was about 11 in 1985, much to his dismay. I didn’t really know anything about DJing or decks back then. I was only very young. Mixing and DJing on decks this way was very new and pretty much unheard of anyway.

After going to Ibiza in 1990 I started to find out more about it all and my friend had some really old crappy decks one night that he bought round my house for a party as my parents had gone away. He left them round there for a week afterwards with a box of records and every moment I had I was trying to work out how to mix and make it sound good … which it definitely didn’t by the way! When he came back to get them I was gutted but he bought a proper good London DJ round who was amazing at mixing and scratching. I’d never seen or heard a DJ mix & scratch so well back then and it was amazing .

That was it I had to get my own decks and start learning to mix and scratch. I had a few different friends in different areas that actually ran events and they gave me a shot at playing at some really popular events of theirs at the time in about 1993. I started to get booked more and more and in the end it grew into playing at most of the top clubs and events in the South Coast and London over the last 10 years or more it did still remain a hobby for many years though. I won many DJ competitions as I progressed such as PLAZA at Earl’s Court in ‘97 judged by Cut Master Swift , Pogo and Xpress2 and then Mix Moves in Paris the same year and started to play abroad in France and Holland & Poland and other countries also making some great friends on the way.

What is the best gig you have had or gigs and what events do you rate at the moment?

There has been so many but playing at Brixton Academy, Camden Palace, Turnmills for the DJ Mag 200th Issue Party, The Drome and seOne many times... Enzo’s, The Manor, Alexandra Palace and too many more too mention...I’d be here all year so I wont’ go on. I have literally a whole room full of flyers Ive been on though. I’ve kept almost every one and I never even used to get paid to play I just did it because I loved it so much.

Also playing in Holland many times for the Love Parades they have had. Over 30,000 people dancing in the street with DJs on loads of floats with artists like Marco V and 100s more. DJing in a swimming pool one time out there was most bizarre also , with everyone dancing around all night in there speedos!

Tell us about your record labels and what your highs and lows have been with them...

I have run Hands On for 12 years or so, which is a record and music business now incorporating events, production, labels, management, teaching and an agency plus anything else to do with the club/DJ industry. The idea first started in 1995 as a hobby to get the music I loved out to more people than it was [getting to] and help people get into it. So as a passion and hobby it then grew from there after many years into a business and job. I gave up work and studying to follow the overwhelming passion that was growing for what I really loved. It was a hard choice at the time and I was very unsure about if it would amount to much but I didn’t care I had to follow it. Since the beginning of that we haven’t stopped progressing the shop and DJing and events have gone from strength to strength and we have sent records all around the world to 1000s of DJs over the years. All the events and teaching and other aspects have gone really well too and are continuing to grow.

I have taught 1000’s of kids in schools all over the South over the last 10 years - even those with special needs. Many times it very rewarding seeing them get into it and excited. I have been lecturer at Chichester College for the last 6 years or so in a BTEC in Popular Music also which is a nice sideline from running my businesses and DJing every weekend . I meet people I taught when they were like 10 years old out now and they come up to me a say thanks and you can really see that I helped them get into it. It’s a great feeling .

I’ve been heavily involved with helping most of the best events ever in my area over the last 12 years and now I run more successful events myself. About 6 a month at present from CONTACT (Hard Dance night), HARMONIZE (Band events), IMPACT (local up and coming talent night) , OVERLOAD (all day Fort events), GOODLOVE (House events), RETROSPECIVE (old skool classics events) all are going really well and we haven’t had a bad one yet .

The only downside to all of this is I have very little time for anything else. We are extremely busy all the time and have been for years but I don’t mind as I love it more than ever.

Now that the climate in the record industry has changed drastically, are you still going to be carrying on with your labels as previously or have you had to have a change of thought?

No definitely not. I will still play and keep within the record / vinyl industry but also embrace any new directions it takes. It is a very fast changing industry in a lot of ways. Each year new music styles come and go and what was popular is then not, then it all comes back round again in big cycles … just look at electro and hardcore again now . We were listening to stuff really similar over a decade ago and it went out of fashion and has come back stronger again. So now a lot of people mix on CD and MP3 and the like which is cool I still prefer watching a DJ use vinyl as do many others and get really stuck in .

Our labels - we still will release on vinyl but also on downloads as well giving both markets a chance to get the tunes. Some record labels never release on download and you wont find them on any sites other than vinyl. It’s the same with digital - some labels never release on vinyl. I use CDs really only of stuff that I’ve been given that isn’t out yet, or our own tunes , so incorporating both into your DJing you can go wrong. Plus I have so much vinyl in all styles of music - who needs to use CD! I think the main benefits from CD are mainly weight if you are playing abroad.

I do play all styles of music such as House, Trance, Techno, Hardstyle, Hardcore, Breakbeat, Old skool, Classics, Rave. even Downtempo and Chillout. I am a massive record collector which is where my passion grew from originally even if I didn’t DJ I would still collect records. Some of these records will never be out on download ever and they are a different class …. timeless

We have some great stuff coming out in the new year on CONTACT and HANDS ON, and also some other labels we run and are setting up in all styles. Watch out for them , they are been caned by some top DJs as we speak on promo ?

If you are producing stuff in any genre please do send it down to us @ Hands On Records 112a Albert Rd, Southsea, Hants., PO4 0JS or contact us through the email :- info@handsonrecords.co.uk

Contact is the name of your very successful Portsmouth based promotion....how did the party come into existence and what has made it such a success?

Contact was a culmination of 100s of parties I used to play at and help out with since about 1993 - not for a job or living just because I loved it. I had been to so many great events and also helped and played at some of the best clubs and events the scene and UK had to offer at the time, such as Ministry, The End, Camden Palace (Now Koko), The Drome (Now SE1), Sterns, The Manor, Enzo’s and the biggest underground events by far in the area. Sometimes 1000’s of people attended. Also promotions such as Sunnyside Up, Spooky and too many more to mention.

Also my massive background within the free party scene and countless outdoor parties, underground farms, woods, tunnels, warehouses all over the South and the UK had a big influence. The underground rave scene in the UK was at its height in the early to mid ‘90s for sure

We have used all this experience to bring Contact and we put in a hell of a lot of effort, always trying to add new things to make it more enjoyable and a real experience with mindblowing visual shows, multi-colour lazers, superb effects & special FX, terrastrobes, scans, pyrotechnics and fire shows, Funktion 1 sound systems, top musical and theatrical production, awesome dancers and crowd. You’re guaranteed a top atmosphere and night out everytime. We have never had an event that hasn’t gone off from the start to the end! We run it once a month, sometimes more, at various venues in the South and often further a field .We even do fundraiser parties each year with giant inflatables and rides inside the club like rodeo bulls and bouncy castles – it’s great fun. The pyrotechnics are always a big favorite and very unusual. Everytime it gets people! Watching their faces is very amusing, especially the clubbers and DJs that haven’t been down before and don’t expect it.

Every DJ we have had down loves it and many say its one of their top gigs as well as all the Contact Crew Clubbers over the years. Everyone has been absolutely wicked. The atmosphere’s been electric every time and it keeps getting better! We keep it raw. St the end of the day Contact is just about everyone who comes and is a 100% proper rave vibe like it used to be when I first went in the beginning of the ‘90s. I’ve played at so many massive clubs and events and some have no atmosphere this is what contact is all about the atmosphere and vibe. We really want to see and most of all HEAR everyone enjoying themselves to the maximum – making some fucking noise!

We have had regular appearances from the best international acts and DJs, including Mark EG, DJ Sy and MC Storm, Cally & Juice, Alex Kidd, Organ Donors, Lisa Lashes, Yoji Biomehanika, Lab4, Proteus, Hellraiser, Andy Whitby, Cally Gage, Chris Liberator, Dave The Drummer, Kevin Energy, Sharkey, K Complex, Nu Energy Collective, Hixxy, Dougal & Gammer, Darren Styles & Whizzkid, Uberdruck, Slideout, Vinylgroover, CLSM, Ed Real, M Zone, Oberon, Ting, Chris Vaux, Dave Robertson...plus many more top international artists along with the freshest and best underground talent and they all always wanna come back. Without fail we always present to you the most forward thinking music in our field and put it together with the best sound and light shows and the finest up for it party people…Contact crowd you are wicked!

We were Voted No.1 thing to do of the month in Mixmag and nominated by them for best Southern night. We were also nominated in Guide Awards for Best Club Night and DJs!

If you wana check it out go to www.dontstayin.com/parties/contact

I think the success has come with the fact that Contact supplies a top atmosphere every time without fail and the nights and DVDs always prove it. When we get time we will make these available for download.

What valuable lessons have you learnt since being a promoter? And what tips would you give to newcomers to the game?

You have to work really hard and try to remain as grounded as possible. It’s a crazy industry and a lot of weird and wonderful things can happen. It’s no big deal to be a DJ or promoter. Some people let it go straight to there heads. A bit of popularity is nice but it doesn’t make you better than anyone else out there. Always treat people as you wish to be treated yourself and be careful who you help out some people do not appreciate it and will try to undermine what you do.

Never stop working as hard as you can to bring the best nights out possible to your crowd. Think exactly the same way you did when you were just starting out clubbing and what would make your nights special for you as a clubber not just a DJ or Promoter don’t follow a fashion - be unique and keep it real. People think the job is very glamorous and the be all and end all but some people are in it for the wrong reasons and I believe it’s much like any other job - a lot of hourrs and ups and downs. Without a doubt if you do it for money it’s so the wrong reason. It’s done for love and enjoyment - far off from superficial gains and popularity. We are all in it for good times and memories and I’m sure we all have loads of great memories of times we have had out raving. England by far has the best clubbing scene in the world we should all be proud of it and stick together not fight each other or get political!

There is so much to learn as a promoter and you never stop learning either. You have to do because you love it ultimately .

Tell us about your events at The Fort...it sounds like a bit of a mad venue!

Overload is yet another new event and venue we are running with amazing success. All the events have been awesome and the vibe and enjoyment has been fantastic. It’s the most unique venue in the world set a mile off shore from us – a 200 year old fort in the middle of the sea. We are staging the biggest parties ever out there with a massive open air arena and underground dungeon rooms and tunnels. We have got many more planned and are working very closely together to bring you lots more and make them even better. Its a hell of a lot of work though. We love it!

To check out photos and comments from these unique amazing events go to
www.dontstayin.com/groups/overload

What’s the South Coast region like for hard dance generally? Is it a big deal or more of an underground thang?

When I first started clubbing and DJing and helping with events all dance music was pretty much underground no clubs played it round here so we used to go into more underground locations for raves. It was very hard to find others into the same thing as you or even any other people that were underground DJs. Slowly but surely it has become much more accepted and a little more mainstream and a much wider variety of people have got into it which is great.

We have had a big influence on educating people towards it in this area for sure over the years which is rewarding when you see them having such a great time and also inspiring them into taking it further as a hobby or career. Big up the south coast massive - you’re wicked.

You will be playing for Nu Religion at their November 18th event at Hidden in London – a big 3 room mash-up that is spearheading the next generation of hard dance events. How did you get involved with these guys in the first place? And why do Contact and Nu Religion make good bedfellows?

It has been through a lot of the other work I’ve been doing for many years . We have worked together many times and we really enjoy it. They have a great sense of what it’s all about to have a good night and put in a lot of effort like ourselves. They have great crowd and the parties always rock together.

Who are you really excited about seeing play and what are your reasons for this unbridled anticipation?

Lisa Pin Up will be really nice to see and hear. I have been on line-ups with her in the past but many years ago and I haven’t heard her or seen her for ages.

The Nu Energy Collective always rock and Kevin Energy, Sharkey and K-Complex always put on a great show and you can tell they still love it as much every time. Kevin is also a resident for us at CONTACT and always rocks it.

Also some of boys on the ever-growing Hands On / Contact roster are really good :- Baz & Butch3r are an excellent Hard House duo that have been making waves since winning our Impact DJ competition. Dan Thompson is a wicked trance DJ as well as all the others on the bill in all the rooms. I do love my house music loads and Chris Vaux is excellent and has gone far since winning a DJ competition set up by a friend and us called Vinyl Meltdown which has run in our area for 5 years or so. It will be good to hear him and all the others play there it will be a really good range of music . All in all this will be a top night in one of the best small clubs in London by far

Thanks for your time DSI. See you all on Saturday for another fantastic instalment! This is will be another great Contact with Nu Religion!

[url]www.handsonrecords.co.uk[/url]
[url]www.dontstayin.com/members/matt-handy[/url]
[url]www.dontstayin.com/parties/contact[/url]
[url]www.dontstayin.com/groups/overload[/url]
[url]www.dontstayin.com/parties/hands-on-records[/url]
[url]www.dontstayin.com/parties/harmonize-regulars[/url]
Msn:- handsonrecs@hotmail.com
Myspace:- www.myspace.com/matt_handy