Joey Riot and Kevin Energy are two of the biggest names in the Hardcore scene! Both Joey and Kev have been pioneers of their own sounds and labels for a good few years and are going to rock Hidden Core sideways! On Friday 2nd October they are playing an exclusive B2B – this is the first time you will ever see this set in London so make sure you don’t miss this Hardcore set of the year! Check out the interview below to find out what you can expect from the set and news of their brand new label Lethal Energy!

Hi Joey and Kev, how are you both?

JOEY: I’m doin great thanks mate.

KEV: Actually – in pain! I pulled my neck out at the gym and I seem to have lost the movement in it – I hope it’s not serious!

No way Kev, hope your neck heals soon. What does a typical day involve?

JOEY: Up at 9am, check emails. Update status on facebook, twitter etc. Hit the studio till early evening, then deal with label and mp3 store business.

KEV: Well – I’m up early to start work on all the music, labels, store (hardbeatsdownload.com ect. It’s hard after a heavy weekend of gigs! A cup of strong coffee gets me into gear along withy a walk down the shop to buy a paper that I never read! Then hours go like minutes at my computer dealing with my general e-mail and NEC tasks! nuenergycollective.com will explain it all!

You both run very successful labels; do you have any advice for someone thinking of starting a label?

JOEY: Think twice b4 doing it! It’s getting really hard these days. The world of music and how it is bought and sold is changing dramatically and it’s harder to make any money than ever. You have to have a unique product to make it a success. Something that is proven to work on the dance floor is essential.

KEV: Now is a very difficult time to sell music seeing as the new generation of children seem to think music is something you download and don’t pay for! I suggest they think carefully about where their audience is and try to promote it the best they can. It’s always good to get DJ support, so sending your tracks to DJ’s is important. Finally – I think it’s important to make sure that the music is ready for public release. The digital label boom is making it easy to set up a label with no overheads but a lot of the music can be from producers that need to spend a little more time polishing their production skills.

I hear there is a new label in the pipeline from you both called Lethal Energy, can you tell us more?

JOEY: Both me and Kev have worked on a couple of tracks together and really gelled in the studio, hooking up and doing more work will definitely happen, Lethal Energy as the name suggests is a joint Label to showcase the work we do.

KEV: Sure – we have both been working on tracks together so decided a joint label venture would be a great way forward. We have a brand new version of ‘Lethal Energy’ ready as well as a thumping track called ‘The Number Of the Beast’ The label is due to be launched soon. Check nuenergycollective.com for more info.

Are there any other forthcoming releases you want to tell us about?

JOEY: Lethal Theory 19 will be going to press as we speak as will LT Raw 02.

KEV: Well you should know that I’ll have loads to mention! There’s a great new 4 track EP from Lost Soul due out on Nu Energy records. Australian S3RL has a new EP on relentless vinyl including the ‘Dealer’ track on it. Our vocal label Liquid Hardcore has a great new track titles ‘Pretty Eyes’ from Australian producer Lumin8. This has some top remixes on board from A.B and Petruccio.

Do you prefer mixing with Vinyl or CDs?

JOEY: CD’s for me. There is so much more you can do with that format than vinyl.

KEV: I still prefer vinyl - I played an old skool set at HTID last week and playing vinyl again was really cool. I still try and play my new releases on Vinyl when the club set up is right.

The Hardcore Heaven Awards are only a few weeks away, both of you have won awards in the past so what are your thoughts on who will win this year?

JOEY: God knows! Gammer is still the benchmark as far as DJing and production goes. I’ve been nominated for quite a few again this year and it would be spanking to pick something up, but just to get nominated is unreal.

KEV: Who knows – The crowd have the final say so it is hard to predict. Gammer still continues to smash it up – he is a great DJ – a proper DJ that works the mix and cross fade.

Are there any new artists that we should look out for in the next year?

JOEY: Yeah, Chaos, DJ Mob, JBC, Auscore, and there are more. A lot of promising producers out there, I just hope they stick with it and persevere.

KEV: There’s always new names coming through and currently I’m getting great material from: Ales Sash – A young USA based producer, A.B – UK based producer getting better with every track - Endemic – a group of 4 producers from the UK that have more enthusiasm then Barack Obama!

You have both toured in Australia this year, how do the Ozzie crowd differ from UK?

JOEY: For a start the dress sense is totally different. A lot of Kandie is worn similar to the American ravers. Baggy pants are a must for them too. They’re really into their dancing too, not just having a bounce but different areas have their own “dance”.

KEV: I love the Australian crowds. They are always up for a range of sounds. The Australian crowds don’t get the chance to see big UK acts a lot so when we go over there they represent well and make the most of it. Australia is a beautiful country in general with lots to see and do so being able to tour there is a huge bonus. Also, they don’t have as many MC’s down under and it’s a refreshing change to play a set with no MC – just the music.

What were the highlights of your tours?

JOEY: Swimming with sharks was my highlight. Shit my pants but loved it!

KEV: Adelaide was awesome. I played for the Enchanted crew at HQ night club and the crowd were off the hook. I recorded the set and took some cool video which will be up at nuenergycollective.com very soon.

What have been your favourite gigs so far this year?

JOEY: The hardcore heaven weekender, transmission, htid 33 were all amazing gigs. Too many to mention, it’s been a good year.

KEV: Last week the HTID summer gathering was really good. It was the first time I played in the Rojak warehouse. The crowd were really up for a wide range of sounds. I’ve also enjoyed the hardcore heaven weekender as well as the Freeformation tour to Hereford.

You both are very busy either running your businesses, producing and DJing but if you do get any time to yourself – how do you unwind?

JOEY: I’m pretty much doing something work related most of the time I’m awake. I love what I do though so it’s fun. If I have the time I like to go to the cinema, go out on my bike, me and Gammer often go for a Sex in the city style lunch.

KEV: I like to release any tension down the gym. I just got sky TV so I can follow the football more this year – other then that, cooking a good meal is a good way I like to chill out.

You are playing back 2 back at Hidden Core on Friday 2nd October, when was the last time you played together and what can we expect from the set?

JOEY: I think it was in Derby at HTID or Raverbaby, which was a while ago now. I really enjoyed that b2b. I’m sure our set at hidden core will be rockin, uplifting and get gradually tougher as that’s how we both like it.

KEV: We last played b2b for the Ravessential event in derby a good few years back. It was on a bank holiday Sunday at the massive roller complex. We worked really well off each other so I expect we will cause mass carnage for Hidden Core ;)

Finish this sentence. Hidden Core is….

JOEY: Hidden Core is…. Comin to get ya!

KEV: Hidden Core is…. Representing London raves the proper way ;)

Thanks guys - make sure you are their to witness one of THE biggest Hardcore sets to hit London this year!

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