He’s the award-winning top man in Hard Dance! He’s one of the main promoters behind Riot events! He’s label owner of Riot Recordings! He’s also a lovely chap! We caught up with Ben ‘BK’ Keen in between mad studio sessions to find out what he’s been up to, how the first Riot at matter went and what’s in store for next weeks Summer Of Hard Dance spectacular!

RIOT: Hi Ben! How are things in the land of BK at the moment? What have you been up to recently?

BK: Hi! Mostly working on our matter party …which has been taking alot of time. I am also working on a project with Anne savage and currently have five remixes to finish!

RIOT: Riot! returns for its second event at matter… how was the first and what can we expect from this one?

BK: The first one was great. We only had a short time to get it together, had serious transport troubles as they were doing work on the Jubilee line and we still got great numbers. The venue is really amazing and are really keen to make Hard Dance work there so we have been working very closely to make this a major event!

RIOT: Did you expect that Riot! would ever come to London’s biggest and best new club?

BK: I always hoped but never expected it! The line up we have for this event is the biggest Hard Dance line up London has seen in ages so its correct that it should be its premier venue,. Its good for the scene that a major venue like matter is Taking Hard Dance seriously. matter has all the top specialist nights and to be asked to be one of those is amazing!

RIOT: Original Hard Dance legends Lab 4 are making their first London live appearance at Riot! since reforming. Did yoxu see them live back in the day? As original Hard Dance masters how have the guys influenced you?

BK: I have played along side lab 4 loads of times so it’s great to see them back together. They are the hardest live act around and that combined with matters amazing sound system will be very special. I have made a track with them in the past so its good to have them back… they bring some attitude to a line up!

RIOT: DJs Andy Farley & Pete Wardman, and Anne Savage & Lisa Pin-Up will be going head to head in a battle during the night – who’s your money on?

BK: I couldn’t say I would be in too much trouble! Farley and Pete are playing classics so they may have a tactical advantage.

RIOT: When DJ’ing do you prefer to play your own material? What do you think is a good ratio of playing your own vs. other peoples?

BK: Its about 50/50 really it all depends on how busy I have been in the studio as I may want to hear new tunes I have finished on a club sound system …or I may just be sick to death of hearing my own stuff so play more of other peoples!

RIOT: Tell us the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in the past year?

BK: Always look left and right before you cross the road… also always wait for the first one to work before taking the second ?

RIOT: If you had to pick one which quote or saying do you live your life by?

BK: Treat other people how you would like to treated.

RIOT: You recently opened a Facebook group for production tips, can you tell us a little bit about that?

BK: It really does what it says on the tin. I give tips, samples and free tracks away. We will be having guest producer tutorials teaching how to work software next. People are sharing their sounds also their knowledge on the discussion boards plus I get so many mails from people asking me about production so it was a logical thing to do. Who knows we may just discover the next big thing!

RIOT: Besides Riot! what other gigs are you looking forward to this summer?

BK: The Zoo in Ibiza is going to be fun, also the Monday bar boat which is a cruise from Sweden to Estonia Oh and Frantics birthday …in fact there is loads of good stuff coming up!

RIOT: What’s next in the world of BK?

BK: As I mentioned I am working on a project with Anne savage and we are already getting the line up sorted for the next Riot. Bring it On!

For more info on BK visit: bkworld.net