So you’re playing at Innovate & Logic – are you looking forward to it?

Of course. I’ve always admired the Innovate line ups. Logic has long been a favourite place of mine to perform at so combine the both at a venue that I’ve not yet been to but heard a lot of praise about and you get one pretty excited Kevin!

Who makes up the Nu Energy Collective?

Many people and labels (www.nuenergy.co.uk) but in terms of the live show, Myself, K Complex and Sharkey are the main artists. We also call on other artists from our camp depending on the PA and Performance. We have recently changed our hard dance shows which will now be formed of myself and K Complex on the musical front as well as some fresh but secret new visual performance aspects.

K Complex and I have really concentrated on our Harddance music in recent months. We have worked on fresh material for my Elevate ‘The Next Level’ album and have focused one day a week on sourcing new tricks and music for our hard dance shows. Sharkey has been working on an artist album and has focused his work on the hardcore scene. For this reason and the fact that the hard dance scene is not used to MCs we have decided that our hard dance performances will consist of myself and K Complex as the main musical artists.

To illustrate this change, a hard dance PA featuring myself and K Complex will be billed as ‘Nu Energy Collective Unleashed Live PA’. Performances realming into Hardcore and Freeform featuring Sharkey will be billed as ‘Nu Energy Collective Live’

You’re Logic residents – what does the party mean to you?

It means a lot to be a Logic resident. Their policy of pushing underground but stand out music rather then the mainstream fits in with the over all ethos of the Nu Energy Collective. Logic are responsible for the rise of Proteus in the UK and have had a massive hand in the rise of our PA. On top of that they have always focused on offering the best production and stage shows in the scene by working with some of the most talented visual production teams around. Logic has always been close to me and always will.

What do you think the Logic residents can bring to the Innovate party?

Mayhem, Party vibes, Underground but ground breaking music, Energizing performances and Toast – Lot’s of it – with JAM on!

Out of the whole line-up who are you looking forward to seeing play the most and why?

I’m really looking forward to seeing the other live PA. I’m a massive fan of MDA and Spherical so seeing them combined with Phil and SQ will be pretty Jaw breaking. I’m also real keen to see Nick’s set. It’s been a while since I heard him and I’m a massive fan of his new album. Bring it on!

What’s 2007 been like so far for you as an outfit?

As a PA it has been quiet in 07 but this is something we planned. It had got to the stage where we were doing a massive amount of performances which is good for sure… but we were finding it hard to assign the time to find new quirks and tricks as well as write new music. I had to move office and home at the last part of last year as well as work on some massive new projects like our new site launches, the new Elevate album and other big time consuming stuff. Rather then cram in live show gigs and rush to practice them we decided to sit back and work on some new, stronger material and concepts. Our first PA of the year was at Tranzmission where we worked side by side with Greg Brookman. It worked a treat and all of our new material and tricks paid off as the crowd soaked it all up and went nuts. Both myself and Pete (K Complex) are well excited about this year’s performances and can’t wait to build on our format even more.

What have you got lined up for the rest of spring and over the summer?

2007 looks like a massive year for the PA performances. We have gigs sealed at Global Gathering on the Contagious stage, Antiworld’s 7/7/7 event on the Insekt stage, Logic at the Fridge featuring Phil York for an Elevate tour, Distruxshon in Doncaster for a Hardcore performance and the Wildchild summer festival as well as some other big ones to be confirmed.

Logic’s very much a London-based party. Do you play outside of the capital a lot?

As a DJ I’m belting up and down the country every weekend. The PA is mostly south based but we have tripped to Yarm for Good Greef, Birmingham for Sundissential and travelled to other towns such as Hull, Sheffield, Wales and Bournemouth. We plan to push the PA on more of a national scale but it’s hard to fit the dates in around my busy DJ schedule.

What do your live sets comprise of?

We’re currently working on building a two laptop set up running Ableton Live after our performance with Greg Brookman. Because this was a joint PA we had to synchronise our sequencers. It was a headache but we found a solution via midi. It was really good once we had it working tightly and inspired me to use the concept for our individual PA’s so I can have more control over the sequence of additions, loops and track layouts in general. Previously K Complex has had full control of this while I work on performing live riffs, harmonies and FX as well as other tweaks. Two of us working on the more detailed aspects will make for a really stand out performance that can be adapted for the ‘moment’ much more then before.

The theme of the night is The Empire Strikes Back. Are any of you mad sci-fi fans?

I’m not but Pete (K Complex) is a fan of Battle Star Galatia if I’m not wrong!

SQ is going to be part of a live stage performance and I know that you're a massive fan of his work. What is it about SQ’s production that attracts you?

I really like his musical knowledge. He is trained from many different backgrounds and can therefore find those magic harmonies that can make a track reach inside of you. His general production levels have really tightened in recent months and I’m proud to include two of his productions on my new Elevate ‘The Next Level’ compilation.

Are you looking forward to seeing him live on stage?

No……he’s an ugly fu*ker! Lol – of course I am… It will be a first for me and I’m told he will be playing a rather un-common instrument for Harddance music.

How’s the Green Man doing?

Not good I’m afraid. He injured himself on NYE and is still on crutches. The docs are running tests on him. His knee is the main problem and he is in a lot of pain but unfortunately there is no offer of a full diagnosis so he can’t have treatment to fix it. We will miss him as a PA and are hesitant to find a replacement as nobody can offer the energy and performance of him. Let’s all close our eyes and send him some rekei get well cosmic love!!

You’re running a campaign to bring the fun and irrevery back to clubbing – dressing up as lollipop ladies specifically springs to mind! How’s it all going and have you got anything mental planned for Innovate Meets Logic?

I’ve never dressed as a lolly pop man let alone a lady! Sharkey has though so you must have seen that! Yeah we’re tryin’ to get some fun back into the scene as it can all seem so serious at times. As a collective of artists and labels we’re in it as a hobby that for most of us has turned into a job. We do take our business seriously but don’t want to forget why we got into this in the first place….to have fun… So that’s what we set out to do and promote at our own Freeformation events. It’s going great as most people agree with our message… We acted out a nativity play for our Christmas party @ Hidden… Sharkey was Mary who sounded like Vicky Pollard. I was Joseph who was a failed garage DJ obsessed with the Carpenters. Our 3 wise up and get stupid men came baring Terry’s all gold, Marmite and Jam. It was all very silly indeed but great fun all the same. We may well pull something silly out for the PA but I won’t divulge anything at this stage. It’s best to always expect the unexpected with us really. Wise up….Get Stupid.

What is the most insane thing you’ve ever done on stage?

Errrmmm Probably the above mentioned play. Either that or the time myself and Mark Ashley presented our Freeformation set as a fake live radio show from the Netherlands dressed in blonde wigs and tank tops… niiiiice ;)

Do the clubbers get in on the act with you?

Sure they do. Like I mentioned above, it fits with the ethos of why they go out so we’re just fitting in on their level rather then trying to be superstars.

You also have a large DJ agency – what kind of acts and genres do you specialise in?

Sure we do. You can see the artists that we represent at www.nuenergy.co.uk. The majority of DJs on our books are Hardcore / Freeform DJs such as Sharkey, Joey Riot, Marc Smith, Robbie Long, Stormtrooper and others that record for the N.E.C. We are updating and focusing on our agency through our new site launch that will happen very soon indeed. This will push more harddance artists like the Eryk Orpheus PA, and other key artists.

Any new hot names that we should be keeping an eye or ear out for?

Sure… Hoopz, Lost Soul, Arkitech, K Complex on the DJ tip,

You cross over into the hardcore genre quite a lot – which is your favourite crowd to play for, hardcore or hard dance?

I can honestly say that I don’t have a favourite. My favourite crowd is a fully responsive one that gives back what I give to them. This can happen playing to both types of crowd so I can’t single one out. In general the Hardcore crowds are always very energetic no matter what size club or time in the morning. Sometimes a harddance crowd can be a little more laid back on the givin’ it large front if a club isn’t quite full of if it’s late on and people are fading – that’s not a general rule of course as most the places I’m blessed with performing at are full of energetic people.

Check out www.harddancestore.com to see our all new online store that’s due to launch in a few days.
Also check out the all new N.E.C site at www.nuenergycollective.com launched at the same time for up-to date info on our artists, DJ’s and to get mixes for download.
Elevate ‘The Next Level’ mixed by Kevin Energy and Phil York will be released on May the 16th 2007 in all good record stores. Photos given with kind permission by Daf, Beth Crockatt and Kristina Oliver, not to be reproduced without prior consent

Innovate & Logic – it’s music Jim, but not as we know it!
Sat 21st April 2007
Shepherds Bush Empire
10pm - 6am

EMPIRE 1
LIVE ACTS
MDA & Spherical vs. Phil Reynolds ft Jennie Rix & SQ
Nu Energy Collective
DJs
Nick Sentience
Technikal
Superfast Oz
Sutekh
Dani D

EMPIRE 2 – Hosted by DSI London Ravers

Admission
Early Bird £10 / Super Advance Tickets £12 / Advance £15 / MOTD

Web & Credit Card Bookings
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100
www.clubtickets.co.uk (Buy 5 get 1 free)
www.viewtickets.co.uk (Tickets to your mobile)

Info Lines & Tickets
Box Office – 0208 354 3300
Camden – Cyberdog – 0207 482 2842
Innovate – 08707 45 49 40
E-mail – elz@innovateuk.net

Coaches
Picking up in Cardiff, Newport, Bristol & Swindon - Call Jon on 07900 055 090

Websites
www.innovateuk.net
www.logicnetwork.net
www.nicksentience.net
www.welcome2thefuture.com
www.technikal.co.uk
www.dontstayin.com/parties/innovate
www.dontstayin.com/parties/logic
www.dontstayin.com/groups/london-ravers

TUBE STATIONS
• Shepherd's Bush Central Line
• Shepherd's Bush Hammersmith & City Line
Shepherds Bush Empire
Shepherds Bush Green
Shepherds Bush
W12 8TT
0208 354 3300
www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk