Now here’s an interesting case, a man that not only is as good with his promotion, as he is with his production but more importantly, provides an energetic set, bang on every time at every gig he plays. No matter how big or small, no matter where or for what reason – Pikey is always up for a party. “I see a thousand Hardcore DJ’s like that on the scene” – I hear you shout, frustrated at the remarkably high (yet remarkably impressive) level of new breeds seemingly popping up all over the place – but not like this.

Like a marathon, there can be thousands in the race, but it takes the one unique talent that can go that extra mile to fly above the rest, someone with talent that is different, somehow original, yet brings with him assurances, that when he steps onto a console - there’s going to be carnage, but the good kind. The kind that gets you going lifts your mood and gets you climbing the walls with excitement. Very few new breeds or future heroes can achieve this, but there is one – no nonsense, dedicated, focussed, crowd orientated individual that keeps that energy, that spark from the get-go and keeps it moving not only throughout his set, but in the studio, on the road and at every house party. With more passion for the Hardcore scene than Romeo had for Juliet, we invited that one particularly hectic individual back to ours for some Jelly & Ice Cream – it is our birthday after all and in doing so, presenting our first guest through the door of the Fusion pre-birthday interview party… its DJ Pikey.

Name your early influences and in doing so, tell us how they inspired you to move into the Hardcore scene not only as a DJ but as a fan?

My journey into the Hardcore scene was more of a progression. I was never into the sound of commercial Pop music, so started off listening to Rap and Hip-Hop from the likes of Public Enemy, NWA, Run DMC, De La Soul, Ice T, Dr Dre and LL Cool J – basically anything that sounded different to what everyone else was into. Then I found myself more into music that had a lot of energy, this ranged from thrash Metal (Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies), to Rock (Guns n Roses) and then also Dance music from The Prodigy, Altern 8 and The Shamen.

I remember one of my first rave tapes, Easygroove and Lisa from Fantazia NYE 1991-2, the tape never left the deck and from then on I was hooked. It was just a totally different sound. I mostly listened to DJ’s like Lomas, Slipmatt, Ellis Dee, Top Buzz, Ratty and of course The Ratpack. From that point it was all about Hardcore and raves.

As a DJ I started quite late in life at 26, in 2003. Until then I never really appreciated the effort and skill that went into it. My main influence was Marc Smith, from the very first time I watched him play it just inspired me, he was so different from everyone else and his sets were really diverse and full of energy. I still love listening to Marc play and also take time to check out Brisk, Joey Riot, Kurt, Stormtrooper, Sharkey, Kev Energy and Gammer.”

14 is quite a young age to get into dance music, did you get chance to sneak out to all the parties and early raves? What memories do you have of those halcyon days of Old Skool Rave?

Ah the early raves!!! I used to get my tapes from the older boys that hung out with my Uncle and they used to be off to the raves all the time. I went to a few outdoor parties around South Wales but my first official rave was Universe in September 1992. It was mental! They had a funfair, virtual reality machines and bouncy castles (laughs). Its hard to believe that some of the artists that played are still spinning today’s Hardcore sounds (like Seduction, Stu Allen, Producer).

Not being old enough was always a problem; at some of the parties the boys knew some of the DJ’s- so I would go in with them. Other times we were lucky enough to know someone on the security and failing that I used to just walk up, fake I.D in hand and chance it! Dreamscape’s at the Bath & West Showground was a favourite and my all time favourite was Helter Skelter - Energy 97; 20,000 people at an outdoor event!

Old Skool was the best though, for me everyone was friendly. You felt like part of a movement or massive family because of the Criminal Justice Bill the Government brought in, which meant they were basically trying to stop raves. That’s why I love the outdoor raves, even though we don’t get them much anymore, they always take me back and nothing beats that vibe.

We’re celebrating 16 years of Fusion by adding an Old Skool room for our birthday party – name your top ten, all time favourite Old Skool tunes from back in the day and with it – your favourite DJ?

First of all, massive respect to the Fusion crew for being in the game for so long. There are only a handful of promoters that can boast that they’ve been around this long, you old fuckers! (laughs out loud).

My favourite Old Skool DJ? That’s a hard one, there are so many that I used to listen to so I couldn’t possibly choose one - but I’ll give you a list, in no particular order: Slipmatt, Seduction, Ellis Dee, Sy, Unknown, Easygroove, Ramos, Supreme, Sunset Regime, Lomas, Brisk, Marc Smith, Sasha, Ratty, Top Buzz, Ratpack, Scorpio, PSI, Orca, Dougal, Hixxy and Druid.

Same goes for tracks really, I couldn’t choose a favourite but I have some tunes that certainly stood out for me over the years:

‘Lock Up’ Zero B
‘Far Out’ Sonz Of A Loop Da Loop Era
‘Your Love’ The Prodigy
‘Everybody In The Place’ The Prodigy
‘Fantazia’ PSI
‘Life Force Generator’ Ramos, Supreme & Sunset regime
‘Pump Up The Noise’ Marc Smith
‘Boom N Pow’ Marc Smith
‘Do What You Like’ Scott Brown
‘Now Is The Time’ Scott Brown
‘Live 4 The Feeling’ Vibes
‘Rock To The Max’ Ellis Dee
‘Desire’ Ellis Dee
‘Trip To Trumpton’ Urban Hype
‘Activ8 (Come With Me)’ Altern 8
‘Is There Anybody Out There’ Ham
‘Move Your Body’ Xpansions
‘Samplemania Remix’ Seduction
‘Thumper’ Hixxy
‘The Bouncer’ Kicks Like A Mule
‘Rock This Place’ Chewy
‘Forever Autumn’ Supreme & UFO
‘U R Everything’ Helix
‘Head In The Clouds’ Manix
‘6 Days’ Jimmy J & Cru-L-T
‘Hardcore Disco’ Bass X
‘Gotta Believe’ RSR
‘Compended’ Edge 1
‘SMD 1,2,3 & 4’ SMD
‘Dominator’ Human Resource
‘Crowd Control’ Ramos & Supreme
‘Paradise’ Supreme & UFO
‘Dub War’ Dance Conspiracy
‘Bassquake’ SL2
‘Sunshine’ RSR
‘Higher Love’ JDS
‘Fire This Time’ Sunset Regime
‘Age Of Stomp’ JDS & Fury

Sorry, there’s no way I could choose just 10 tracks, I’ve probably missed out loads anyway (laughs).

Which came first – promoting or DJ’ing?

Promoting came first for me. In August 2001 along with Wotsee and another mate, Kevin Jones, we created X-plosion. X-plosion was South Wales’ first Hardcore event in years and firmly put Hardcore back on the map in Wales. I didn’t start DJ’ing until my wife, Laura bought me my first set of decks for Christmas in 2003 – cheers babe x :o)

Your sets (and you with them) are often energetic, upbeat and with your help thoroughly entertaining – with some DJ’s, it’s a performance, with you - it’s a show. What drives you to be the performer that you are? What inspires you and puts you a cut above the rest as today’s Welsh Hardcore prodigy?

I just feel I have a point to prove each and every time I get up there, I have this relentless desire to do something different, to try and be different from the rest. In my opinion, and no offence to any other DJ’s, being a DJ is more than just putting one tune on, waiting for the last 32 bars then mixing out. Where we are now, in terms of the Hardcore scene you need to be doing more than that, you have to have the full package - look at Joey Riot - DJ, Producer, Musician, Singer and MC. He’s right into it, dancing, singing and hyping up the crowd, all from behind the decks and that’s just one of the reasons he’s made it.

When I play out I want to put my stamp on the night, I want people to remember my set, the tunes I played, what mixes I pulled off, what I was like behind the decks. I may lose some gigs for this but I think it has to be said – something else that drives me is the fact that some artists only get booked places because they run an event, (bookings for bookings), or on the basis of what they can do for the promoter, (run a coach etc). I’m proud of the fact that everything I have done has been off my own hard work and dedication to the cause and there are certain people here in Wales that don’t like it when people refer to me as Wales’ number 1 Hardcore DJ. It’s these people that also drive me; they just add more fuel to the fire because every time I play I’m going to prove WHY people are saying that!

You have a close working relationship with Hardcore Heaven Award Winner Joey Riot – want to tell us about how that’s going and what’s on the cards for the two of you in the studio?

It’s really good; I’ve gained loads of knowledge just from watching Joey work. First of all Joey and I are good friends and then comes the working relationship. I owe Joey a lot, over the last year from all the help and advice he’s given me, as well as all the good times we’ve had on our missions up & down the country!

Currently we’ve worked on 3 tracks together ‘Summin 2 Dance 2’, ‘Move Your Body’, and ‘Dr. Evil’. ‘Summin 2 Dance 2’ and ‘Move Your Body’ were both featured on last years Hardcore Underground album, (Kurt & Stormtrooper Mix), which I’m incredibly proud of. I’m looking at getting together with Joey hopefully in the next month or so to start on a fourth track, but Joey is one of the busiest guys I know, with dates set up for studio work with Kurt, Seduction, Marc Smith and Dave Forbes. I hope he gets time to squeeze little old me (laughs)!

As for myself I’m still getting to grips with the workings of my studio, I still have a long way to go before my first finished solo effort; so will be looking to work with some other producers in the near future, hopefully Kurt and Darwin.

We once took you back to a party for a session and you literally set up console and played there and then. Are you always armed with CDJ-s and a mixer at all times? Rumours state that you will literally play anywhere you’re asked, is this true?

(Breaks into laughter) - that was well random!!! Good fun though ?

Majority of the time I do equip myself with my trusty CDJ 100’s, playing smaller parties often require I take my own CDJ’s, so it’s just habit that I pack them now. I’ve also turned up places with Marc Smith or Joey and there’s been no CDJ’s for them to use! So they do come in handy sometimes ;-)

As for playing anywhere, yeah why the hell not, if there’s a party and the right people are asking me- I’ll play for ya. Gives me a chance to show people what I’m all about, whether it is a club with 1000 ravers, or a kitchen with 15 people at an after party makes no difference, as long as I’m doing my thing and they’re enjoying it that’s what counts. It’s all about the party!

You’re on the hot list to be one of the biggest names on the Hardcore scene in the next 12 months – how hard have you had to work to achieve such a status?

Am I? Crikey! Things have moved very, very quickly for me over the last 12 months, I don’t see myself in that position but would like to think that in the next 12 months I can. Who knows, maybe follow Joey and achieve breakthrough DJ? As for me having to work hard, just ask Laura about all the hours she’s had to put up with me not being around! It’s all through hard work though, I see all these up and coming DJ’s moaning that they don’t get booked, but they’re not doing anything! Get off your ass and work at it then!

When I started I spent 2-3 hours almost every night on the decks. The only advice I had from the DJ’s I respected was practise practise practise, so I did. Then came the demo CD’s and getting yourself out there so people know who you are. There’s no point having a perfect demo if nobody knows you so I made a point of going out almost every weekend (not much of a change for me really - laughs); I’d have a stack of CD’s to hand out to people every night I went out. But it’s not just that, it’s the whole package, how you are with people, how you come across to potential Promoters. I am very conscious of these things and try to be professional, (to a point of course, after all, it is HARDCORE! (chuckles)

I have worked extremely hard, pushing myself, promoting myself on the internet, sending out my profile & CD’s – sure, there were times when morale was at an all time low, when I started to question myself and ask why certain DJ’s were being booked instead of me and so forth- but if you keep thinking like that you’ll go insane. Joey also helped me through some of these times, respect bro!

As a budding Producer, DJ and Performer, what do you feel; going from current signals is in store for you in 2007?

I try not to look at the bigger picture yet, I feel I still have a long way to go before I’m headlining or a regular at the high profile events, but it’s nice to know that these people are looking at me and taking notice now. Most importantly this year is just to keep the momentum up and build on the reputation I have worked this hard to gain, more studio work at home and hopefully more collaborations this year will help that. I’m currently in talks with a promoter from New York which may see me heading over there in July which is another boost for me. A personal goal for me would be to play NYE somewhere this year as I haven’t had that experience as yet.

It’s our 16th birthday in April, what did you do to celebrate your 16th and in answering that – what have you got planned for our 16th?

My 16th, now that was a long time ago!!! If I remember correctly I had a bit of a shin dig with some friends from school which involved Strongbow, 20/20 and a headache in the morning! For Fusion’s 16th birthday, me and my right hand man Shy have arranged a stretch jeep limo to bring Team Pikey over to Club Ice in style! I’m playing back to back with the legend that is Druid and the wicked D-Lyte so it should be very interesting. This is my first Main Arena gig for Fusion and it’s a milestone in both of our careers so I know it’s gonna be a party that everyone will remember! I’d like to say a huge thank you to my wife Laura (LaLa) for all her support through the good and bad times, and for putting up with me! Also shouts to Shy & Sayton, Joey & Kurt, Wotsee & Big Kev, Gary Vibealite, Knighty, Marc Smith, Gammer, Hixxy and anyone else that has given me advice or helped me out – Nice one ;-)

Last but not least to the Fusion family – respect.

And it’s been a pleasure having you with us, both today and we’re looking forward to seeing you at Fusion – Red Lights massive!

Hear DJ Pikey's mix on Square One Radio from end of 2006 HERE

See our recent TV interview with Pikey and get more infomation on him through his Official DJ Pikey website

With thanks to Amanda-Smith, gunner22, Gsus-MC, and O-F-F-I-T-E-Y-E-S and anyone I may have missed for the loan of the pictures!

Interview By Jon Brown – With Thanks To Pikey, La La and Magical Trev.