Representing the girls on our massive 10th Birthday line-up, Lisa Pin Up, Cally Gage and Frisky each represent something different for Frantic. Lisa is one of the legends of Hard House that still lives and breathes the music that we love, and remains one of the most charismatic and widely-loved figures in the scene. Cally broke through the ranks of Frantic in an unbelievably short space of time due to her talent and commitment, and was one of the first young DJs to challenge the old hands who had ruled the scene for so many years. 21 year old Frisky is spearheading the new wave of passionate young Hard House DJs that Frantic is committed to bringing through, and like Cally has come so far at such a young age. Enough of our babbling though – let’s get to the good stuff!

So – when did you first come into contact with Frantic? When and how did you first hear about it?

Lisa: I am just trying to work out how long I have been DJing for Frantic...I know it has been a good few years but time just flies when you are having fun! I think it was around 2001. I don't know exactly what the first gig was but my earliest memory was playing for them at Brixton Academy, my first time at the venue and I was so impressed. I knew Frantic was special and that it would be around for a very long time to come.

Cally: I’m embarrassed to say that as a clubber I never ventured down south at all, so never even went to a Frantic event. The first time I came into contact with the mighty Frantic was when I played at the warm up party for HHA which was at Cyberdog, way back in August 2004.

Frisky: I first really heard of Frantic going back to 2002 when they hosted a tent at the Escape In the Park Festival. I didn’t know much about the brand to be honest as I’d never been up to London clubbing before.

Tell us about the first time you went to Frantic...who played, which tunes smashed it, and what did you think?

Cally: The first time I went to Frantic was 28th August 2004 (to be precise), it was Hard House Academy at the incredible Brixton Academy. I can’t remember who played on the night exactly, it was a long time ago now, but I do remember having the most amazing time all night and being completely gobsmacked by the size of the venue.

Frisky: Believe it or not, I actually travelled to London with Cally and Juice for their first ever gig for Frantic, held at the Fridge in March 2003. That was the first time I’d ever been to London clubbing so I remember being really excited as we arrived at the club. I also remember being impressed with the two massive fridges stuck on the outside wall of the club! I don’t really remember who was playing but I do remember Will being very impressed with Cally and Juice’s set and gave them loads more dates straight away. Overall I was really blown away with the whole atmosphere and production of the event, I also found the London clubbers really friendly. I knew that I’d definitely be in attendance at the next Frantic event.

How did you first wangle a gig for Frantic then?

Frisky: Lol, well I’d got to know Will and a lot of other people at Frantic, especially my friend Maxine. Maxine came to stay with me one weekend and saw me DJing at an event in Wales. As soon as she returned to London I don’t think that she shut up about me so thanks to her they booked me to play at Hard House Academy in February 06 b2b with Shimmer in one of the top rooms.

Lisa: I honestly cant remember, think they just rang up my agent and booked me. I was already producing for Nukleuz at the time who were heavily involved with the club which could have been something to do with it....

Cally: Well I’m not completely sure, lol! I had won the Tidy Weekender Summer Camp competition in the summer of 2004 and played for Frantic quite soon after that, even though I hadn’t been playing out for that long at all. Will (owner of all things Frantic) is all about moving the scene forward, so is always booking new up and coming DJs – to help keep the scene alive really. I guess that’s why and how I got booked – maybe we should ask him though?!

What was that first gig like? Take us back...the sights, the sounds, the...smells?

Cally: I remember getting the phone call to say that I had been booked for HHA in October 2004 - it was unreal! Having only been to Brixton Academy once, but remembering the size of the place, I was so bloody nervous I could have cried, ha ha! It was amazing though – I was quite new to the London scene so really didn’t know what to expect, but it was absolutely brilliant and a gig that I’ll definitely never forget.

Frisky: Well I think that most people will agree that Brixton Academy is absolutely mind blowing. I remember being very nervous driving into Brixton. We were playing first set so the room was quite quiet but towards the end of the set it had filled up.

I just enjoyed the rest of the night by taking in the whole Hard House Academy experience. Sitting on the balcony admiring the sea of people below you, stomping it down in the foyer and everything else that has to be done when attending Hard House Academy!

However, my first solo gig was in February this year at Timeless. This gig sticks in my memory more as it was a landmark gig for me. I was playing 3-4 in the Girls’ Room and the set went so well. I was quite apprehensive as I was playing a different style to everyone else but the crowd seemed to really enjoy it. I got quite nervous 5 minutes before the set but as soon as I put my first tune on the nerves had settled. After the set I was lucky enough to get loads of compliments and throughout the week people were messaging me on the forums to say how much they had enjoyed, which was very flattering. About 3 weeks after the gig I went to meet with Will and Chloe about joining UDJs so I think that it must have gone well!

What’s the most memorable set you’ve seen another DJ play at a Frantic event?

Cally: Oh God, that is such a hard question, as I’ve been to so many Frantic events now – although I don’t get to stick around that much anymore. I do remember warming up for Paul Glazby once, which was scary, but he absolutely smashed The Foyer then! I also remember Justin Bourne at Timeless when it was at The Koko, Andy Whitby’s first gig at HHA was unreal, I was so nervous for him! I also remember the first time I saw Greg Brookman's A.L.I.V.E. PA at Future, I thought it was just incredible and quite like nothing else I’d ever seen. I’m sure there are loads more, but there isn’t just one DJ that sticks out above the rest though and my memory isn’t that good anymore either, lol!

Frisky: Tricky one but I’m gonna have to be biased and say it was Cally & Juice’s set at the Frantic Midsummer Ball which was held at Camden Palace back in June 2003. I think that it was the first ever time the decks were set out on the stage and I walked around the whole club taking pictures of them playing and it was going off in every part of the building. That set was also recorded and I still love listening to that CD, bring back a lot of good memories.

What’s the most amusing thing you’ve ever seen happen at Frantic?

Frisky: Well there was something very amusing that I did hear about but didn’t actually see. I remember being told about the legendary Greg Brookman, before Frantic knew who he was, I think that it was at Camden Palace where he’d carried a friend’s record box into the club and went to place it on the stage. Steve Hill was on the decks at the time (I also heard this story from him!) and he turned to Greg who was putting the records down at the time and asked if he was on next to which Greg replied “Yes”. Greg then proceeded to get his stuff ready when Steve then asked if he was sure and asked his DJ name, to then Greg replied “I’m Nick Sentience”. By this point I think that Steve realised that he was trying to blag it as Greg of course looks nothing like Nice Sentience!

Fairplay to Greg though, and it’s all paid off for him now!

Cally: I don’t think I’ve seen anything that amusing happen at Frantic, obviously I must have missed it if it has! In that case though, if anyone wants to do anything amusing at 10:15, could you please make sure that I’m around to see it – excellent, thank you!

What’s your all-time favourite Frantic anthem?

Frisky: Obviously my Frantic anthem is going to be different from most peoples. I think that it’s going to have to be Cally & Juice’s remix of Pendulum’s ‘Tarantula’. The first time I heard it played out was New Years Day at Camden Palace ‘06 I think it was and it blew the roof off!

Cally: My all time favourite Frantic anthem has to be Jonah – ‘Sssst (Listen)’ – it is so amazing! I remember dropping it when I played for Frantic Timeless at KOKO – the scene from that stage is incredible, something you’ll never get anywhere else and the crowd always go crazy when the breakdown kicks in – it gives me tingles just thinking about it.

10:15 is of course also the celebration of Nukleuz Records’ 15th Birthday. What are your favourite tracks from the legendary Nukleuz vaults?

Lisa: ‘Biggest Baddest Mutha’ by myself of course! I think this track is timeless and still love to play it.

Frisky: God there are so many! However, there are two tunes which stick in my head and still rock the dance floor. The first one is Taiko – ‘Silence’ (Darren Styles Remix) which was released on Nukleuz Green. The other one is Organ Donors – ‘Rhythms Divine’ which was released on Nukleuz Black.

Cally: God, there are loads – how long have you got? Nukleuz has churned out so many classics, I could be here forever! Here are just a few for you though:

BK – Revolution
BK – Bad Ass
Andy Farley – Accelerate
BK – POS 51
Fergie & BK – Hoovers & Horns
Cortina – Music Is Moving

I think there’s enough BK tracks there for everyone, hehe!

What’s the best thing about Frantic for you?

Lisa: The people, the atmosphere the production and the team behind Frantic as they are so friendly they are a pleasure to work for.

Cally: It’s just the best promotion in the country and they always throw the best, biggest & brightest parties ever – okay, I’m a bit biased, but it’s true! So much effort goes into every Frantic event and Will and his team work for months beforehand making sure that everything is how everybody expects it to be – just so you know that you are going to have a night that you’ll always remember. To be part of the Frantic team and a resident for such a huge promotion, is an absolute honour for me and something that I’m very proud of.

Frisky: I think that the best thing is the whole Frantic experience. As soon as you walk into an event there is just an instant vibe. The clubbers are always friendly, I’ve met some really close friends from attending Frantic events. The production is awesome, especially the Hard House Academy events, so much work must go into these types of events just to give us all one amazing night. Frantic really showed me what clubbing was all about!

And finally – what else is going on in your world? Plug yourself silly!

Lisa: Well my very own ‘God Save The Queen Tour!’ So far it has been out of the world and I have had so much fun taking it to some of the largest venues across the country and who knows - hopefully one day I could do a combined party with Frantic, now that would be a dream come true!

Cally: Absolutely loads all of the time and I love it - although looking after my little puppy Henry is proving to keep me pretty busy just on his own! As well as playing up and down the country each weekend with some pretty big gigs coming up, I’m also working on a new demo which will be available for download soon. I’m booked into the studio again with the fabulous Greg Brookman in July and am also working on Frantic’s new album, which I’ve been asked to mix alongside of……………………well that would be telling wouldn’t it! To keep up to date with me, please check out:

www.callygage.co.uk
www.getgaged.com
www.myspace.com/djcallygage

Thanks honey and I’ll see you at 10:15 – I can’t wait, woo hoo!

Frisky: Well I’ve just returned from playing Ibiza, the week out there was amazing and I’m hoping to be back in August. Before flying out I also played one of my favourite gigs of all time – Escape In The Park. I couldn’t have ever imagined that it would go off as much as it did – amazing day!

I’ve also just finished a new track with NuSense called “Who Do You Think You Are?!”, the final touches are just being put on it and then we can look into getting it released. It’s a very driving Hard Trancer with one hell of a bassline and it’s been going down great in the clubs.

And also not to forget 10:15. I was so chuffed to be asked to play this event as it really is going to be a landmark event. The fact that we’re returning to Koko too is brilliant – I can’t wait to play there!

Check out the full details of Frantic's 10th Birthday here:
http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/london/koko/2007/aug/11/event-123791


You can book Cally and Frisky through UDJs: www.udjs.net

Check out their websites here:

www.callygage.co.uk
www.djfrisky.com