SCOTT ATTRILL aka VINYLGROOVER - www.tidy.com interview by Ru Curthoys

1.I know that your DJing roots can be traced back to Worthing and 1992, can you tell us more about how you got into DJing? Where was your first gig? How did you get that?

A) My first event was actually at Sterns nightclub in Worthing back in 1992. It was an under 18’s night they were doing called ‘Chance to dance’. I was speaking with Carl Cox who was playing that night & the promoter Mensa was also with us, one of the residents came running up from the underground & said Grooverider was running late due to Traffic & he asked if he could continue. Carl turned to Mensa & said “give Scott a go for 20 minutes”? Mensa agreed & it was amazing! After that I got booked for the over 18’s nights which led on to becoming Fusion & Dreamscape resident which was amazing! I also remember running into Carl again at Fusion at Farnborough recreation centre and I was on before him – he walked up the stage, smiled & said “I had a feeling you would make it”. I owe a lot to him & he has always been one of my biggest inspirations in Dance music!

2.You were originally a happy-hardcore DJ, do you still play hard-core?

a) I was actually never a ‘Happy’ harcore dj, when I started playing it was pretty much hardcore – spinnin the likes of ‘The Prodigy’, SL-2, Altern 8 etc! The scene just moved on & I moved with it to play what was eventually known as happy hardcore! I never really loved it as much in the late 90’s which was why I decided to play hard dance/Trance as it was a lot more exciting to me – like the buzz I had when I first heard hardcore! Tidy at the time were of course one of the front runners – the big rave stabs & uplifting melody’s sucked me in & I was hooked! I still play the occasional old school set & I love doing it, I have some very fond memories of that time & music – I actually played ‘Don’t go’ by Awesome 3 as my last track at the last Tidy weekender and it was unbelievable! One of my moments of the year for sure as it was also the last set in the Goodgreef arena on the Saturday night – wicked!

3.You were DJing since the age of 13; but when did you start producing? What was your first track?

A) My first track was a collaboration ep with DJ Ramos on Hectic records. One track was called ‘Phantazm’ and the other side ‘The Beast’, it was excellent to experience the whole vibe of going into the studio & then hearing it played out – ‘Slipmatt’ played it at Fantazia at The Sanctuary in Milton Keynes & it went off!!! That was in 1994 I think?

4.Can you tell me a little more about the Vinylgroover / RedHead partnership? When did that start? How did that come about?

a) I was working in Fusion records in Portsmouth & Jim walked in with a track he had recorded with a guy called Steve! I checked it out & at the time was recording in Southampton so it made sense to do some studio work in Portsmouth. We worked together & I produced ‘Groove Control’ with him as my first track, we clicked & it went from there!

5.In 2005 you set up Traffic Records, how are things going there?

Traffic is going great & we have actually just merged with Riot! Recordings which now means there is myself, BK & Ed Real at the controls so we are hoping to really step things up for 2008! We have been working on some great projects with the likes of Nick Sentience, Yoji Biomehanika, Greg Brookman, Judge Jules, Lisa Lashes, Alex Kidd, Anne Savage, The Donors & loads more so I cant wait to get into next year & getting some of the content out!

6.Your first Nukleuz claim to fame was Move Your Body, and you’ve gone on to produce various anthems which have been supported and played by the biggest DJ names in hard-dance. What has been your favourite track to-date and why?

a) There really has been too many to mention just one? Groove Control went top 10 in Australia which was amazing! Hearing Judge Jules play ‘Midnight Express’ as his tried & tested was also fantastic & Microwave this year has taken the roof off of every club I have played it in! Sorry but I really can’t choose as they all mean something to me.

7.Do you define yourself as a producer that happens to DJ or a DJ that also produces?

a) I am without doubt a DJ first & foremost! It’s what I started doing first & what I always wanted to do from when I was 12 years old at school. The producing I love also, it is an amazing feeling to make a track & then take it out at the weekend, play it & see the reaction & everyone having an amazing time – there’s nothing like it.

8.In previous interviews, you have mentioned that Liam Howlett from the Prodigy is a favourite producer of yours, who else would you add to your favourite or most inspirational list? Why?

a) Again there are many that I have respect for, in the dance scene & beyond! I have to say Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) is another big favourite of mine; he finds great samples to work with & makes blinding tracks! Also Vince Clarke is a massive inspiration; the guy helped define electronic music & is a legend as far as I’m concerned!

9.The list of people you have collaborated with reads a bit like a who’s who of hard-dance, is there anyone you haven’t worked with yet that you’d like some studio time with?

a) I love working with anyone that has great ideas & passion for the music! I’m quite lucky in the sense that I have never been in the studio with someone that hasn’t really been bothered. I’m hoping to do something with Lisa Lashes next year which would be great. I also really like my big trance breakdowns & stuff so Scot Project would also be another I would like to work with.

10.Talking of collaborations, your next release on Tidy is the much anticipated Techno Shock which is the result of working with the Organ Donors; can you tell me more about the track?

a) Its just crazy! What I love about it is you can really hear our collective ideas come across. I actually penned the vocal the day before we went in the studio & thought along the lines of a ‘Live for the weekend’ type project? Scott & Matt both loved the vocal & Scott Donor said he wanted a crack at it! Me & Matt went to the shop & by the time we got back Scott had put some excellent attitude into it so we recorded it. The rest fell into place after that. It was a pleasure to work with the guys & we had an amazing time writing the track & I hope that comes across too.

11.What else is planned for Vinylgroover?

a) More of the same to be honest! February or March see’s the release of my artist album ‘Bass Junkie’ & I’m really excited about it. I have collaborations on there with BK, The Organ Donors, Greg Brookman, Ali Wilson & The Red Hed as well as a few more tracks that have been getting an amazing reception! I sent a taster of the album in to Kutski which resulted in a Radio 1 mix and interview this week. I will be promoting the album around the globe & plan a UK tour too so I can’t wait for that! There are also the unreleased session’s projects on Traffic that are stepping up a gear next year as well as Riot! Releases & more top music.

12.Originally hailing from the South Coast, would you agree that there is such a thing as a north/south hard-dance divide?

a) I don’t think there is to be honest! I think there are various cities that prefer certain types of music but not a divide as such. For example when I go to Wales & Cornwall they love the more Hardstyle thing there, then I go to Scotland & its more European big tech Trance tracks. To be honest I personally love all types of hard dance & try to reflect that when I play, it doesn’t matter where I am as long as everyone’s having a good time I really don’t care!

13.Having played the world over, do you have a favourite country or venue to play in?

A)I have been lucky enough to play at some amazing clubs & festivals also. The crowds can be different in different parts of the world, in America once the dancefloor was quite empty & I noticed everyone was huddled around the speakers together really going for it, which was pretty mad. I love touring in America, Canada & Australia because the countries are so big you get to meet so many people & go to places I never thought I’d go to. The craziest experience for me was touring Japan when I did three weeks on my own with no-one that really spoke English, I found a little bar in down town Tokyo & got plastered most nights then went to the karaoke…lol, but it’s so different there it’s absolutely amazing. Of all the clubs I have ever played I would have to say ‘ Stern’s’ in Worthing was brilliant – an old mansion with rooms over 4 floors & the main room in the underground rocked it every time. I also enjoy playing Tall Trees for Goodgreef, Ministry & Air in Birmingham! Scotland’s Inside out at the Arches also rocks – they are all fantastic clubs!

14.Obviously known for your hard-dance style, what other (if any) styles of music do you have an interest in? Are we likely to find you at Chesney Hawkes tribute night for example?

a) I like all kinds of music, I love all the old-school breakdance stuff, Breaks & Motown too! When I’m in my car I usually check out all the oldies for a bit of a break from the Dance music.

15.I happen to know you are a bit of a film buff, what do you recommend we go and see at the moment?

a) Beowulf is a great film – really different & shot in 3d too!

16.As I mentioned earlier, you’ve been in the industry since you were 13. What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t a DJ/Producer?

a)was good at art at school & offered an apprenticeship to develop artwork for companies so I would have pursued that I think!

17.Finally, please tell us a joke…

a)A little boy and his father are walking down the street, and they see two dogs having sex. The little boy asks his father, “Daddy, what are they doing?”
The father says, “Making a puppy.” So they walk on & go home.
A few days later, the little boy walks in on his parents having sex. The little boy says. “Daddy, what are you doing?”
The father replies, “Making a baby.”
The little boy says, “Well, flip her around! I’d rather have a puppy.”

YOU CAN CATCH VINYLGROOVER PERFORMING AN EXCLUSIVE 'ACCELERATE' SET (The toughest hard dance thru to the fastest hardcore) @ THE FORTHCOMING FIRESKY NYE BASH @ THE LOUNGE, DORCHESTER, DORSET:

Interview by Ru Curthoys @ www.tidy.com

Techno Shock is released this Monday on digital and 23rd November on vinyl from tidy.com and Hard To Find Records