Q. Where does the name Loki come from?

Loki is a bit of a bastard really! He is the Norse God of Conflict. He was the muse behind all war in Norse mythology! He didn't get on very well with the other Norse Gods, always playing tricks on them and causing mayhem. Very apt to my style of DJ'ing and living, I never like to be "one of the normal ones"! Legend tells that Loki eventually got killed by his wife by tieing him to a rock and having snakes bite him for all eternity. Hopefully that bit wont come true for me!

Q. What is the most predominant colour in your wardrobe?

Ha ha ha! Excellent! Well, you would know I would be lying if I said anything other than black. As Henry T Ford said "You can have any color of car, as long as it's black".

Q. Who does your make up and how long does it take?

It's quite strange when people ask me to recommend an eye liner that is waterproof and survives 60 minutes of Hardstyle DJ'ing! It seems to take me less and less time nowadays. I do it all myself and normally takes about 20 minutes or so. I had some horns made for my by a SpecialFX Make-Up artist called Golgotha, out of latex. These take a little bit of time to glue to my head, especially as I spend a lot of time head-banging, so they have to be securely attached. It's bad enough losing a glow-stick when you're dancing for a clubber, imagine if half of your face flys into the crowd as a DJ! Not good!!!!

Q. How long have you been into Hardstyle?

I first got into Hardstyle probably about 4 or so years ago. Proteus and Yoji Biomehanika! Fucking legends!!!

Q. In your opinion where does Hardstyle come from?

Spiritually, it comes from the pits of your stomach. When you hear a tune and it either makes you want to throw up, cry or smash something up, this is where it comes from. The feeling in your dreams where you are being chased and the rush of adrenaline hits you like an on-coming train, THIS is Hardstyle! It's like no other. You can hear a tune for the thousandth time and it still gets to you! When I first heard Donkey Rollers live I had the feeling! When I heard Proteus first play Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams" I had the feeling. And every time I DJ I still have the feeling! It's like you're gonna puke! A fucking full-on Adrenaline rush!!! Love it!!!!

Q. What drew you to it?

I've always been into the harder edge of all music. Music with bollocks! I dont do full-on euphoric "hands in the air". I like music that is about YOU! It's not group hugs, it's stomping your fucking heart out until you think you cannot go on. I've been to the very edge of what I can take physically, emotionally and spiritually! I want people to experience that! If you think you can stand around and watch other people when I'm DJ'ing, you've got another thing coming! It's all about rocking out and fucking off what anyone else thinks! Friday and Saturday nights are about YOU! And only you! I like music that keeps you interested! I dont want chin-stroking going on when I'm playing out! It's music, dance!!!!!!

Q. Have you ever played any other style of music?

When I first started DJ'ing I used to play Hard House along the lines of Shock Records and Tidy. I remember playing out "Here Comes The Pain" by Lee Haslam and the crowd going fucking skitso! This was what first drew me to the harder end of hard house! When that tracks builds up and the sample screams out "Here comes the pain", and then fucking hoofs it into the driving bassline people were loving it! And this is what it's about!!! Just letting go of all inhibitions and enjoying the music!

Q. Who are your inspirations?

I have a few people who know who they are that are my inspiration. Fi and Adam are my life! Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. They guide me as Virgil did in Dante's Inferno. They show me the way through this Hell-hole. Fucking love you Gumbo!

Musically I love Dutch and UK Hardstyle. Donkey Rollers, Headhunterz, Brennan Heart, Clive King, D4rk, Dark By Design to name a few. Also, when I'm not listening to Hardstyle I love Slipknot, Machine Head, System of a Down amongst others. Fucking LOVE Norwegian Black Metal! Dark as dark could ever be! This puts me in the mood for Chaos! Ha ha ha!!!

Q. Hardstyle seems to pull its crowds from a multitude of genres. Hard House, Hard Trance, Hard Core and even Hard Rock. Apart from the obvious hard element do you think there is another reason Hardstyle pulls everyone together?

You know what guys, you are absolutley right! Hardstyle is relatively new as a genre of Hard Dance music, and seems to bring in all sorts of people. Those old fuckers like me, who were into Hardcore as kids and always wanted something between Hard House and Hardcore. Then you get the metallers who are into dance music, you spot them a mile away. Weird and random bands on their T-Shirts that no fucker has heard of.

Q. Hardstyle seems to have its own Dark style of Cyber. Do you think this is just a reflection of the darkness of the music or is there a deeper meaning to it?

I remember when CyberGoth first came on the scene. It was different to the "normal" cyber of the day. Not just with the fact that they wore black, but it was more industrial. When cyber first hit the scene, it was all about being bright and almost "comicy". Then CyberGoth came along and was a bit more "serious". It was a reflection of the desire to be seen as the yang of the yin of cyber. You had the bright fluro kids like UVLee of Crasher Kids, then you had the dark gothicky guys doing CyberGoth. I was one of the latter.

Q. I come from a world where dance floors are full of happy faces and bright colours!. When Hardstyle is played I can’t help but feel a much darker sensation almost of anger and rage! Is this misunderstood or is Hardstyle just a completely different extreme for expression?

No mate, totally correct! Well, it is with me anyway. If you've ever been to a metal concert and seen the circle pit, then it makes total sense. Hardstyle tracks seem to be about fucking off normallity, questioning religion or having moral courage and standing up for what you believe in. This isnt happy music, it's serious shit! Ha ha ha!!! There are quite a few tracks out there that are still euphoric, but it is in context.

It doesn't mean that Hardstylers are aggressive towards other people. Some of the nicest fucking people I know are pure Hardstyle worshippers. It just means that they are SO into their music, that nothing else matters at that point. If you ever go jogging with your ipod on, and doing that final sprint and listening to a certain track just makes you want to go faster, and harder, and tougher and makes you want to feel like you are gonna throw up cos it gets in your head, then this is the type of thing that Hardstylers feel when a good track is going on!

Q. Where would you like to see Hardstyle in the future?

I'm not a snob when it comes to music. I'm all into keeping things "non commercial", but quite honestly, I want Hardstyle to come to the masses. It's thanks to club events like Glow Ball grasping the Hardstyle Revolution by both hands and displaying it to the world. I fucking love it when people come up to me after a set and say "I never used to like Hardstyle, but you've changed my mind for me!" Fucking awesome!!!!!

Q. Where do you see yourself within that world?

I'm happy just playing music to people. The rush that I get when I DJ is like no other. I like to think that I give my alll when I play and if you've never seen me play, make sure you come along and witness the insanity that is Loki.

Q. I hear your joining us in Ibiza! What are you looking forward to most?

Can't wait til Summer. Although it's a bit harder to wear all black in the blistering heat, I'm sure I can find a pair of spiked shorts somewhere! Ha ha ha!!! Can't wait to see the Ibiza sunset. Something magical about it! It's like Goan trance, there is something spiritual about it!!

Q. How do you feel about Playing for the UKs Ultimate Cyber Rave?

I cannot fucking wait!!! It's going to the party of the year, and if you're not coming why-the-fuck-not???? Cyber holds a special place in my heart and I totally understand it! Fuck the outside world, this is about the Glow Ball. Miss it at your peril!!!!

www.DJLoki.co.uk for more info, downloads and more!