Fusion Invade The Capitol This Weekend For Some Full-On Hardcore

On Saturday 27th October, the mighty Wildchild return to the collossal SE One club in London town to celebrate their fifth birthday. In doing so, they plan to throw their finest party for quite sometime and despite anything you may or may not have heard – this one looks set to be the biggest one yet with an unshakable line-up of awe inspiring talent that will rock the very foundations of SE One’s darkest tunnels.

In doing this, it was the job of the Wildchild family to set up arenas that would not only impress, but diverse in musical style and to continue the tradition that Wildchild have their ear firmly to the ground when choosing a line-up is concerned – the famed London outfit chose once more to include the ever growing, feverish Hardcore craze within that. In doing so, they hand-picked one brand for the job, a brand that has been making waves at the forefront of Hardcore for over a decade and a half, a brand that carries the motto “It’s What Hardcore’s All About” and a brand that currently is ramming venues up and down the country, the one and only Fusion.

Joining me today - Fusion’s South Coast faithful – Supreme, Sunset Regime, UFO, DJ Chunky and Clodhopper. Picture the scene if you will – packed in a rather small room at Fusion HQ...

Starting with Fusion’s original promoter- Supreme – how do you feel as the head honcho about Fusion’s debut at a WilDCHiLD event, have you worked with them before and what’s your view on their events?

Supreme: Feels good to be back in London, we haven't been there since Tasty last year and before that, Wembley Arena many moons ago and it's nice to work with a promoter that's bringing something different to the table. Normally our collaborations are with other Hardcore brands and it would be nice to have different styles of music in the alternative arenas. Really looking forward to working with the Wildchild guys and hopefully it's a successful night with them.

Tell us about what’s going down with Fusion right now? What’s in the pipeline?

Supreme: We’ve got new fresh venues and plans for next year, we've also got our residency at Club Ice in Wiltshire whereby we have another Fusion (number eight) happening on the 9th November which forms part of our True Hardcore tour (as does this date with Wildchild – so don’t miss the next part of the tour in London!) and we also have a massive New Years session coming up with our good friends at Destiny and featuring pretty much everyone that’s here today (he smiles at the rest of his interview companions in the room) and it’s going to be a South Coast massive brandtastic mash-up with our label THC, Experi-Mental, Depth Charge, Hardcore Distortion, Q-Bic, the list goes on... it’s in Bournemouth at The Old Firestation.

You also happen to be one half of THC Records (along with Rus Turbulence), how has the journey been from your first release until now?

Supreme: THC has gone through the roof, absolutely crazy and completely overwhelmed with the tunes on label, each release from number one completely selling out, we're up to THC 008 on the release schedule and another seven or eight releases to go with more in the pipeline still! Off the back off THC we have secured a four album deal along with Essential Platinum and Quosh Records to do True Hardcore which is currently storming the charts - in the top ten. We’re really pleased with THC and feel like we've got a solid foundation to continue being a force in the Hardcore scene. We’ve also been nominated for a few awards – so we’re overall very pleased with it’s success so far.

Speaking of which, the Fusion arena at WiLDCHiLD is in association with the launch of the True Hardcore album compilation, how has the album sold since release and do you feel the album has been a turning point from the usual Hardcore compilations – what does True Hardcore bring to the table in terms of new concepts for the ravers?

Supreme: Well as I mentioned before it’s currently riding at Number 7 in the Top 10! True Hardcore brings plenty to the table when it comes to ideas because it enables us to push forward all of the artists on our label and get exclusive tracks from all those artists including remixes from myself and (points to Sunset who sits across from him) Sunset Regime. True Hardcore has opened up doors worldwide and we are currently receiving bookings and tour dates all over the UK. We're really pleased with the way it's been sold and promoted and also from the ravers themselves and the immense feedback we've had has been amazing, so thanks to you all and if you haven't got it - go buy it! Another thing which is cool, is that it’s also the first time (legendary MC’s) Storm & Whizzkid have had an opportunity to have an involved role in the production of an album both as hosts and artists.

Cheers Supreme! A brief clap and cheer follow from our other guests, whilst I in the meanwhile move around the room to Supreme’s partner in crime and co-Producer of THC material as well as Fusion mainstay resident – Sunset Regime. Looking cool in his trademark Baseball Cap and tee, I take a quick moment to ask how it’s all going right now from his perspective. You’ve got a few remixes and original productions (with Supreme) on the album – is it your first studio mix album and in answering that – did you have a massive selection of prepared material to choose from or did you produce material especially? What went into that process?

SR: I've been offered to do studio albums before, but turned them down as I was waiting for the right project to materialise. The True Hardcore album came along just at the right time and also with the right people! I had a lot of prepared material all ready but my attitude is “can I write something better?" so I ended up writing new stuff as well as using some bits I already had. Making music is a lot like painting a picture (a one off piece of art); I’m always thinking my next one will be better!

You have some very interesting inspirations in regard to what you listen to, play and produce, tell us what it is that inspires your work in Hardcore? What goes through your head when producing a track?

SR: I do listen and get inspiration from all different sources, ‘classical’ bits from Thomas Newman to ‘industrial’ stuff like SPK. I’ve never had a problem writing or producing music so when I'm in the studio I usually let the synth sounds influence how the track is going to go.

Like Supreme, you too have been part of the Hardcore collective for many years, just when did it begin for you, how was it that you met Supreme and became a big part of Fusion?

SR: I put my first single out in 1989 and got involved with the Fantasia albums soon after that. Ramos and Supreme contacted me and asked to come into my studio and we put our first single out in 1993, there was no such thing as Happy Hardcore till us and Slipmatt started writing it.

As a DJ, how do you feel the Fusion faithful today have changed from the crowds at Farnborough and so forth in 1992?

SR: Its funny because at first I started thinking Fusion today is the same as it was in the nineties, but to be honest its better now than ever, ravers today really put the effort into dressing up and looking good, I just hope it carries on that way.

A quick applause for our man Sunset and we move swiftly across the sofa to our next contestant in our South Coast Hardcore mash-up, by turning our focus on the one and only UFO, no, not a ship – but in fact a very talented DJ & Producer and a regular on the Fusion line-up. How goes it fella? What’s going down on Planet UFO? (You see what I did there?)

UFO: (Chuckles), yeah I noticed the clever interjection there mate!

I’ve been really busy with my label Ufology Records over the last year. We're on release five and it is all going really well. It gets a bit hectic sometimes as you can imagine, as I have to divide my time between running the label, writing new material and DJ’ing. I also engineer and produce tracks for other artists such as GEOS, The Chunky Boys (Chunky let’s out a “wahey” in the distance, UFO grins whilst continuing with his answer) ...and others so it can sometimes be hard to find any time for anything else. Sometimes just DJ’ing can take up most of your time especially if you spend alot of time abroad. Four weeks in Australia is a wicked thing to do but when you get back you should see the backlog of emails you have to get through! (Laughs).

How long have you been associated with playing at and for Fusion events and what great memories do you have of those parties?

UFO: I think I first played for Fusion around 94-95. I knew Jeff (DJ Supreme) (UFO gestures at Supreme who is consequently now on his phone in the background) - from our school days and got introduced to the event that way. I’ve always rated Fusion as one of my favourite events as it started life as a South Coast event (and therefore a kind of home) for all of the South Coast DJ’s that were emerging back then such as Hixxy, Vinyl Groover, Ramos, Supreme and Druid. Of course there was the record label (Hectic) as well, which I had a few tunes on.

As you mentoned before, you have your own label, Ufology – as a Producer, is it challenging to write, produce and find new material in today’s seemingly crowded Hardcore scene?

UFO: It’s always a challenge for anyone to keep coming up with new, original material in any music scene. Hardcore is no exception. I dont think the Hardcore scene is any more crowded than it used to be to be honest. The main difference these days is that everyone has raised their game. I’ve always said (and still believe), that I will always try to make the best music I can make. That obviously is a relative statement as what one person thinks is good, is complete tosh to others (laughs).

Are you a fan or follower of the the new THC material?

UFO: I’m really liking everything thats coming from the THC camp at the moment. Its also great to see artsist such as Sunset Regime (gives Sunset a nod, who nods back).. back on the case. Who knows, I may even submit some tunes to get ‘em on the label myself!

Now, on the subject of South Coast roots - South Coast Crew do London! As a member of the local faithful – how do you feel Fusion will fare when it makes a welcome return to London for WiLDCHiLD’s 5th Birthday Party?

UFO: Fusion is going from strength to strength with its continuing Club Ice events in Westbury and others; I’ve really enjoyed every Fusion gig I’ve played over the last couple of years. Linking up with an institution like WiLDCHiLD will make it nothing less than spectacular and will be a logical progression for Fusion to continue on its upward spiral.

I cant wait for it!!

Judging from the looks on the faces of my counterparts in the room today, they would all heartily agree, which, brings me to Fusion’s new blood. The recent addition to the Fusion Management & Promotions Team, DJ Chunky, originally part of Experi-Mental (which has now merged in with Fusion) and now part of the Main Arena line-up at each and every event – Chunks, talk to us about how things have been since joining Team Fusion? What are your plans to take the brand forward?

Chunky: Since joining Fusion I'm now working with Supreme, the legendary Rus Turbulence and the mighty Jon Brown (he grins… I blush) and it's good because we all have our own ideas so it's a learning curve all the time and we’re a hard working team… like a massive think tank.

As for plans with the brand, we want to be the best, so that means having high targets and wanting to give the ravers what they pay for, high quality production, bigger and better line-ups. I’ve also been in discussions with ex-owner and Creative Director at CRIMINAL Clothing as we are going to be launching our own merchandise very soon, so watch this space!

What’s your background? Have you always been a DJ? Do you produce?

Chunky: My first real experience of clubbing was when I was just 17 and we went to the Opera House, Bournemouth for the first time on a Thursday, I remember the night was Hot & Horny back then and it was considered naughty for the first time by my normal friends standards (laughs) and just fell in love with the big trance anthems. I then started going to Cheeky Little Monkey which was the infamous Bournemouth Hard House brand back then. Loved listening to Lisa Lashes, Anne Savage, Tidy Boys then started getting into M-Zone and Mark EG at The Country Club in Yeovil where they played uplifting Hard Trance... and as Hard House and Hard Trance changed I grew to love the Hardcore more after going to Slammin Vinyl in the Hardcore room in 2001 at Bagley's and never looked back since.

I’m not producing just yet, in the processes of working with (points around the room) Supreme, Sunset and UFO and looking at starting to get some of our tunes out there. We (talking of Mark his other partner in crime as The Chunky Boys) do want to learn how to do it ourselves - but trying to find the time with promoting Fusion and everything else - I'm hard pushed at the minute! (Laughs).

Is this your first WilDCHiLD event that you have played at? If so, what are you looking forward to? What are your thoughts on the brand?

Chunky: It's the first Wildchild I have been to! Used to be a big lover of Trance (as I mentioned before) and I am looking forward to seeing what the buzz is like in the Trance arena as well as our own! Love my Trance classics but because of what I'm doing now, I don't see any of the big Trance arenas anymore and am used to Hardcore so it will be nice to be back in touch with Trance and see how it’s moved on. I’ve heard a lot about Wildchild, but never been there so looking forward to the experience!

I thank the newest addition to the group – who thanks me in return and slinking (as I do – it’s a small room, more of a shuffle) swiftly over to the furthest corner of the room, where one little lady in particular is last, but by no means least – the quickly crowned ‘Queen Of Hardcore’ and Fusion resident – Clodhopper. I greet her with a smile and begin the last of our interrogation process.
So we’re taking Fusion in the road once again and quite rightfully so, you’re joining us – looking forward to invading London? Do you play there often and your thoughts on the Hardcore scene in the city and of course within your own stomping crowd – Bournemouth on the South Coast?

Clo: I am most definitely looking forward to Fusion invading London; the capital does not know what‘s about to hit them! Personally I have been really excited about Wildchild’s 5th Birthday, not only because Fusion will be hosting one of the rooms but also because Wildchild and Sundissential are events that I have been to on many occasions in their earlier years. The combination of all three events at SE One to celebrate Wildchild’s 5th Birthday will be explosive, and I for one will be checking out all five arenas. As for the London Hardcore scene itself, I can honestly say it is an area of the country that I know very little about. However I have heard lots of good things and hope to be able to come back to London for future events. Bournemouth and the South Coast have a really strong following, with events regularly throughout the whole of the South Coast. I’m really looking forward to seeing in the New Year, by playing in my home town for Fusion.

Have you been busy? We hear you’ve got some hot numbers cooking in the studio?

Clo: Yeah I guess you could say I have been busy lately. I have recently made two tracks ‘Mystery’ and ‘Blow Your Mind’ and have also been in the studio with Ramos and Punch. I have also made two other tracks with DJ Sc@r ‘Subsonic’ and ‘Bring It Back’; both are forthcoming on Raw Elements. I have a number of other bits that I am working on…but all will be revealed when the time is right (smiles).

As a fairly recent addition to the Fusion brand, did you feel overwhelmed when you were first asked on board, knowing the grand history that came before it? What are your apsirations for your part in Fusion in the near future and in closing, what you will be doing for us on the night?

Clo: It was a great honour to be asked to join the well respected Fusion family, something I never expected! In the near future I hope to continue to bring something different to Fusion, through the tunes that I am making, hopefully by providing some stomping sets and having some laughs…I’m sure there’ll be a few stories to tell!!

As for what I am doing on the night, I guess you’ll have to wait and see…I can’t be giving all my secrets away.

Quite right too, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls – we give you the South Coast Hardcore collective (for their sins) – thanks for taking the time out and joining us today, we’ll see them all on the massive Fusion line-up at Wildchild 5 at the SE One Club on Saturday the 27th October along with Nysse & Hinton, Dougal, Gammer, Breeze, Re-Con and many more!

Words: Jon Brown