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Features
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| Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! | | Goa based party animal and artist extraordinaire Nirmal talks punk concerts, metal sculptures, flying and rippin' it up on a High Tide! | | DJ Wired talks to us about the Rise of the Hope and parties, ahead of his upcoming set at Tribal Village on 14th January 2022! |
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Innovate preview: Energy Dai gets set to release his explosive power in the UK
Reported by Nikki S
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Submitted 30-08-06 20:42
Energy-Dai (translated) Big energy (life-size, huge, immense, enormous, massive, power, force, vivacity, dynamic, spirit, sparkle, enthusiasm) . . . and that is exactly what you get as soon as his hands touch the turntables!
It was at the young age of 17, as a young raver at hard NRG legend Yoji Biomehanika’s early underground parties that Energy-Dai became inspired and first started DJing. At the age of 22 Dai began promoting his own events and through the years he has risen to the hold to crown of underground djs in Osaka by securing a residency at Club Joule, Osaka’s most famous venue. Since then he has been one of the hottest and most in demand djs on the Japanese hard dance circuit.
Energy-Dai’s sets deliver a 3 deck funked-up dynamite fusion of trance, high energy techno and a touch of harder house that always leaves clubbers begging for more. Having played alongside talents as varied as Signum, Anne Savage, Nick Sentience, BK, Captain Tinrib, the Sharp Boys and underground heroes like Ben Sims, Oliver Ho, Umek, Valentino, Trevor Rockliffe, Daz Saund and many more A-list djs during his residency in Osaka, Energy Dai has come to understand what makes a truly great dj and has set about making himself one.
His infectious energy and spell-binding performances behind the wheels of steel have made him an icon in his homeland and we are delighted to have him at Innovate in London on Saturday 16th September for a very special UK appearance. I caught up with Dai on the eve of his UK tour for a few quick questions.
Hi Dai, we are looking forward to your London set at Innovate at the Fridge on Saturday 16th September. It’s been nearly 4 years since I last saw you play at the Fridge for Convergence, back at the peak of hard house. For those that don’t know you, let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell us where, when and how you got into djing?
I was inspired to dj from the 80s disco scence in Japan, and the body-kon culture of sexy girls, but when I heard the sound of German trance (like Generator) and techno my mind changed and I started djing at a high school party in 1996 when I djed for the first time! At the time I was playing hard trance.
What is your real name?
Daisuke Sakata a.k.a DJ Energy-Dai! Which means ‘big energy’ in Japanese.
Over the years you have played alongside some of the biggest djs in the world including Judge Jules, Mauro Picotto, Nick Sentience, BK, Yoji Biomahanika and Phil Reynolds. Which djs and producers have inspired you over the years and now?
I’ve always been inspired by many great djs! Especially Ben Sims and Eddie Halliwell, for his technical ability. I have also been inspired by Tinrib, Above and Beyond (as the Dirt Devils, Yoji Biomehanika, and the UK hard dance sound — like Trade, as well as the hardstyle sound of Holland and labels like Blutonium Boy’s.
Can you describe the style you currently play and how it has changed since you first began djing?
I play uplifting and technical, tech trance and hard house. I have always played very high energy (hence the name!) and I have always played along the trance lines.
What is the dance scene in Japan like? Who are the local names that regularly rock the clubs there?
The hard house/hard dance scene in Japan is still small and growing. I started running parties there about 4 years ago and I import a lot of international talent. I run monthly parties at Velfarre with a capacity of 2,000. There are also many underground after-parties that play techno, trance and some hard dance and run all through out the weekend until the early hours of Monday.
The psy trance and techno scenes are very big and strong, with massive festivals set in the mountains such as Vision Quest having crowds of over 15,000 clubbers. Big name local djs that also regularly play big international gigs include myself, Tsyoshi Suzuki, Yoji Biomahanika and Taka.
You’re known as the light of the Japanese hard dance scene by promoting the hard dance sound, consistently selling out venues and your spell binding sets. Can you tell us about the different parties that you put on back home?
I have been promoting Loaded at Velfarre in Tokyo for just over 3 years which has a capacity of over 2,000. It’s Avex’s superclub, and although a commercial disco in the daytime, for after hours it’s transformed into a den of crazy after hours people — they also have great lasers, CO2 cannons and even a snow machine in the ceiling so it’s a great party venue.
In Osaka I am resident at Club Joule and Club Rockets. We get around 1200 people in every month. All of the parties are going from strength to strength. Over the years I have toured the key players in hard dance to Japan including Nick Sentience, BK, Ed Real, Phil Reynolds, the Organ Doners, Eddie Halliwell and Judge Jules.
Do you get much of a chance to get in the studio and do any productions? I know of your ‘Loaded’ track with Mike Koglin. I’d imagine djing and promoting full time would be very time consuming. Are there any other tunes coming out soon from yourself?
I recently made a couple of tracks with Sam E Reeve that are more acid techno inspired. I hope they will be released in Japan soon through Avex.
Is it true that you utilize some scratching skills as well as three decks in your mixes?
I mix techno on three turntables and often include scratching and technical tricks. However when I play hard dance sets I am more aware about the performance aspect, making a seamless journey, starting somewhere and taking the dance floor with me to another level, to create a relationship with a crowd that some techno djs miss, keeping the energy levels high as well as the number of turntablez.
What can we look forward to seeing in your upcoming Innovate set?
I will be doing a 3 decks dj set at Innovate so watch me go mental! I will be blending a range of high energy tech-trance and hard dance. I get stuck into my mixing but also enjoy being a performer at the same time. I love London clubbers. They know how to party hard. It has been a while since I last played at the Fridge so I am looking forward to it. I have known Nick Sentience and Phil Reynolds for a long time so it will be fun to play alongside them on their home ground — they both get good energy too!
What has been your most memorable gig to date?
Dance Valley 2005 and touring South Africa!
What are some of the tunes you have been caning over the past months?
Criez D — Knockout Remixes (John Dahlback at Huggeland 2006)
??? — Direct Disko (Sander van Doorm RMX)
Marco Bailey — Dark Roast
Soul Sherling — Distek
TALLA 2XLL — Carry Me (Airbase Vocal Mix)
The last time I saw you play was at the Fridge for Convergence back in 2002 and you totally blew me away! I asked a couple of our UK hard dance legends that have toured with you recently for some feedback on your dj sets. Here’s what they have to say . . .
“Energy Dai is one of Japan’s most rocking DJs. He never fails to smash the dance floor” BK
“Last time I saw Energy Dai in Tokyo his ultra fast mixing and having it large tunes had me on the dance floor . . . and that doesn’t happen very often these days!” Nick Sentience
How does it feel having such high praise from the scene’s top artists?
It’s fantastic! I have a lot of respect for them both as djs and producers. I hope the London clubbers enjoy my music just as much.
Thanks Dai for your time, see you on the dance floor!
N x
Photos by www.innovate.net, Energy Dai and Mainline Music. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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INNOVATE - Amber D Showcase!
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On:
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Saturday 16th September 2006
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At:
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The Fridge [map]
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From:
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22:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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£12 Advance tickets - MOTD
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Website:
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www.innovateuk.net
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Ticket Info:
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.
Web & Credit Card Bookings:
www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100
For guest list email:
guestlist@innovateuk.net
Info Lines:
079 3298 2233 / 078 1506 9633
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Now into it’s 3rd year and firmly established as one of the capitals most exciting club nights, Innovate, continues to deliver the most upfront club anthems from the UK’s top hard dance artists along with the most up-for-it party people in town!
Innovate welcomes to the main stage Amber D for her Innovate debut and DJ showcase. Having gone from rising star to super star in no time, 24 year old Amber has the world at her feet. In 2 years she has gone from Mixmag Future Hero to headlining every major club event and festival around the globe including Godskitchen Global Gathering, Creamfields, Dance Valley, Slinky and the legendary Tidy Weekenders. After a summer of show-stopping sell out performances at Extreme Euphoria vs. Tidy Ibiza plus Radio 1 Essential guest mixes Amber will be turning up the heat at Innovate … so be sure to get your tickets early and reserve your front row seat!
Making a very special debut guest appearance all the way from Japan is Energy Dai. His infectious energy and spell-binding performances behind the wheels of steel have made him an icon in his homeland and we are delighted to have him at Innovate for a rare UK appearance.
Of course, no Innovate would be the same without the UK’s No. 1 team of residents – Nick Sentience & Phil Reynolds and regular guest Nicki S to set the tempo.
Inspire – Create – Innovate
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Trance. Acid Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Psy Trance. Hi NRG. House. Funky House. Hard House. Tribal House. Funky Techno. Techno.
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DJ's:
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Main Room:
Amber D (Showcase Set)
Energy Dai (Loaded/Japan)
Nick Sentience
Phil Reynolds
Nikki S
Olly Perris
Martin Begley
Ice Box hosted by Box Social & Cyclone:
JP Reacher (aka Dirty Cowboys)
Danny P (Electro/Techno)
Fear and Loathing (Hard Funk/Hard House)
Steve Mercer (Electro/House)
Chris Conduit (House)
Ben Davis (Techno)
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Other Features By Nikki S:
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Let me hear you say Waio
Nikki S interviews Vini Vici ahead of their London debut at the Astral Circus presents Psy-Fi Festival London Launch party
Nikki S looks at making Babies, ahead of London Landscapes 2 at Ministry of Sound
Nikki S interviews Sinerider - one of the psy scene's fastest rising stars
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1.gif)
A favourite memory of my 3 years in Japan is my birthday at the opening of Joule, where I heard Energy-Dai play for the first time... 
Looking forward to see you at Innovate! Very nice interview Nicki