Brighton Hard Trance legends LD Concept tell us all ahead of their set at Frantic's Hard Dance Showcase on Friday 15th May.

Tell Us about LD Concept

Both: We’re two lads from Brighton (Lee Walls & Dan Pannell) that share the same passion towards Hard Trance. We both have the same concept of how we think Hard Trance sounds best. EG. Driving Basslines, Euphoric Uplifting Melodies, Rolling Drums etc. So we formed to make LD Concept, as we feel we defiantly have something to give to the hard dance scene.

Describe your DJ / Production style

Lee: We Like to keep our DJ sets as Uplifting & Energetic as possible but still keeping a steady progression & structure from track to track, which lets our sets build & build. Our production style we feel is more of a unique sound, blending the emotion & euphoria of Trance in our Riffs/Hooks/Melodies & keeping the energy of Hard Trance in a European & UK style.

Who are your influences?

Dan: Our influences in the scene past & present come from artists such as Alphazone, Ferry Corsten, Technikal, James Lawson/Edison Factor, Guyver, MDA & Spherical, the list goes on & on. We also take inspiration from the clubbers & our friends in the scene who we feel make the nights what they are. Our families have also been a big inspiration to both of us.

How did you both get into the Hard Dance scene?

Lee: I started out going to nights like Escape from Samsara & Pendragon at The Fridge with friends I had met through clubbing in Brighton & just got hooked on the Hard Trance sound. I then started going to Frantic events such as Hard House Academy. A few years later I was running my own promotion “Energize” in Brighton & thats how I met Dan who had just started Clubbing / DJ’ing & he got into the scene pretty much the same way I did.

May's HDS is a tour party for Technikal's album "Klubbed Together" - Have you heard the album yet? If so what are your thoughts?

Dan: Yeah we've both listened to the album & both think Alf's in a league of his own! Every track has the Technikal sound & stamp on it, but you can also hear how he really brings out & defines each individual artist he's done the collab with. All the tracks on the album are wicked, but the one that stood out most for us was “Turn It Up” with MDA & Spherical mainly due to the amazing production.

Have you ever produced with Technikal? If so does he have any bad habits??

Lee: Yeah we've been in the studio with Alf a few times. We released “Technikal pres LD Concept – This Is Now” with him & Dan also had “Mass Effect” signed to Technikal Recordings under “The Lost Boys” guise. Which then went on to be signed to the Masif Hard Dance Anthems 2 album. We also produced “Backlash” with him that got released on our ep signed to Inertia Digital. We've both learnt untold amounts from the time we've spent with Alf in the studio & are very gratefull for this.

As for bad habits.... He can be a hard bloke to get hold of! Alf if you’re reading this, check your inbox!!!

What makes HDS a successful club night?

Both: We think the growing support it gets every month, along with all the regulars who attend month in month out. Also the fact that they support the up & coming Dj's which is a great way to keep the Hard Dance scene fresh & moving in the right direction!! The music is always spot on in every room & obviously not forgetting all the hard work that Will, Chloe, Elvis & the Frantic team put into the night.

You both come from Brighton, what is the Hard Dance Scene like there? Any up & coming DJs we need to know about?

Both: The scene is definitely growing with nights such as “Harder” where we're Residents & a fairly new night “Insurgence” which is starting to make a name for itself. The most successful Hard Dance night is “Hard South” at the honey club where we've just secured a residency for “Vision Control” in room 2.

Up & Coming DJs to watch out for would be Buzz-Fx, Digital Harry, Willzeh & DJ 75 for sure!!

Finally, Are you a Marmite Lover or Hater ?????

Dan: Depends on the situation at hand hahaha :-p

Lee: Is this a trick question?

Thanks boys see you next Friday!

Make sure you check out the LD Concept sounds at HDS next Friday 15th May at Hidden!