Exceptional DJ, award-winning promoter, media personality, businessman and producer. Enter the world of Ed Real, one of the most influential people in dance music. From his early days as an A&R / label manager at Nukleuz Records to founding one of the world’s leading MP3 download stores trackitdown.net, being a founding member of infamous club night Riot! And Riot! Records, Ed has been at the forefront of the Hard Dance scene for many years. Having worked with some for the biggest names in the genre, mixing countless genre defining compilations to running the annual Hard Dance Awards, Ed truly has secured his place in the upper echelons of Hard Dance!

Last year saw him perform at some of the world’s biggest events such as Dance Valley, Global Gathering, Dance Island, Kiddstock to the legendary Burning Man festival in the Nevada Desert. Ed will be performing at the Riot! Summer Of Hard Dance European Showcase Event this month at matter on 24th July. We catch up with the man himself to find out what’s in store!

Are you proud Riot! is now residing at London’s most exciting new club and are you expecting many of the original Riot fans to come to the event?

I’m proud of course that Riot! remains the first choice for super clubs when they want to represent the harder styles. The End will go down in history as one of the best venues in the history of clubbing and matter is designed and run to a similar international standard. For Riot! to be invited is a great thing for the UK hard dance scene - period!

This event is billed as the Summer Of Hard Dance – do you feel Hard Dance is back on the rise – especially seeing as matter have Riot hosting a residency?

Let’s hope so! Certainly we have seen sales of hard dance releases increase this year on Trackitdown.net so that means more people are taking interest. Young people in the UK will always have a passion for hard partying and it seems that the producers are catering for their tastes right now.

You’ve been involved since the hey day in the late 90’s, how has the Hard Dance scene changed / progressed over the last 10 years?

Much more choice is now available to the clubber in terms of styles within the hard dance bracket. This is a good thing for the dancefloor but can mean that crowds are split in taste – luckily Riot! has always been about showcasing the best across the board and certainly this awesome line-up attests to that!

What is the ultimate all time classic Riot Track which everyone goes nuts too?

One Night In Hackney is always a Riot! tune – the line about dancing on a Sunday afternoon was what we were all about.

What are the highlights of your musical career so far? What goals do you still have a burning desire to achieve?

Being able to turn a passion into a career is good enough and the opportunities I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy in terms of travel and meeting some awesome people have been constant highlights. My goals in the medium terms would be more travelling, as there are still places to see and rock hard!

Who were your idols in your teenage - clubbing / rave scene years?

All the original hardcore generals of whom some are still going – DJ Sy and Carl Cox respect!

How old were you when you first put on your first party/ rave? Can you tell us a bit more about it?

16 years old at the tail end of 1991 I held a teen rave party where it was £1 to get in! Lots of snogging and fights in the car park I seem to remember! Nothing’s changed…

Apart from the Simpsons what other TV shows do you enjoy watching and what else do you get up to when your not DJing or raving it up?

Trackitdown.net is my proper job and that takes lots of energy.

In 100 years from now how do you envisage club land and festivals? Do you think DJs will still be spinning the decks or will the kids be dancing using forms of virtual reality and websites like Second Life?

Thought controlled raving will be the future – just close your eyes, forget your name…

What would be your ultimate club night experience?

Torture Garden Halloween is pretty darned close – dressing down to get up!

You’ve played at some of the worlds biggest dance events and festivals, including Burning Man. Is there a particular one that really sticks to mind and why?

Unfortunately my memory isn’t too hot of specifics and certainly if it was a good one then chances I it was a blur! I’ve been lucky enough to go to some splendid raves all over the world and generally my best times have been at outdoor events when it’s warm – can’t beat that feeling!

What would you be doing if you hadn’t taken this path in life?

Politics – got to be easier than the politics and people you meet in clubland!

And finally…Do you think you will ever hang up your dancing shoes?

Only to dance barefoot!