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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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Interview with Tomcraft
Reported by Tanya Daly
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Submitted 03-08-03 06:22
Despite having appeared on Judge Jules' Top 10 a year ago, Loneliness has only this year received mass adulation, spending almost 2 months at the top of the UK dance charts. The handiwork of Germans Thomas Brukner and his studio partner Eniac, with its unique sound, Loneliness has been the No. 1 selling dance track of 2003 to date. Tomcraft received 3 awards at this years German Dance Music Awards: Best Album 2002, Best Dance Track and Best Radio Hit. With the follow up single now completed, there will hopefully be more to come…
What came first: djing or producing and which do you enjoy most?
First came djing, but was followed directly by producing my first track. I like both, it depends on the club/track I’m playing/working on.
How did you land up in the dog-eat-dog world that is the music industry? ?
I started djing 12 years ago like everybody else on little parties and at home. Then one thing came to another and I produced my first track for Kosmo Music. It worked well and so the whole story basically started.
Have you found it relatively easy or has it been a long slow slog uphill to get where you want to go?
It’s never easy to realize what you want to do. Things came together and today it’s much easier for me to do the things I want to. It still is hard work and people sometimes forget how much energy and faith djs/producers put into their work.
What is the most frustrating aspect of what you do?
Not enough time for my little son and my family.
Which people have inspired you or contributed to your career?
There are so many people who inspired me. First of all my wife as she always keeps me down to earth. Musical wise there are to many people who inspired me and if I start to name them all, it will blow up.
How long has it taken you be where you are and do you now consider yourself successful?
I am constantly working on tracks and djing since 12 years now, but to be successful, it’s always a definition from yourself. I would consider myself successful, I guess, but this would never be a reason to stop hard work and try to progress myself.
I once described Loneliness as versatile. Was this your intention: to create a track that could be such a crossover success or have you just been lucky that it has such broad appeal?
Both, I guess.... When we first found the sample and built the track around it, I thought that it’s gonna be a good record. When I played it out the first time, I thought: “ups, this could definitely blow up.” You never expect a dance record to get such a great over-ground potential, do you?
Was there inspiration for the sound that you have used?
No, it just came together in the studio..........
Do you find it frustrating that people accuse you of being commercial and selling out simply because "Loneliness" has had such massive crossover success?
Does anyone accuse me?? I don’t know, I don’t see me as a commercial dj or producer. It was the right track at the right time, plus a little bit of luck........ My fans and the people who know me know that I never was commercial and never will be. I do my thing and if it works, that’s good, if it does not work, I try to improve and to the best I can. Does it mean that if people like your music and buy your records, you are commercial??
Are you worried that your 15 minutes of fame is up? Or do you lie awake at night thinking about the next big track that will ensure that you won’t fall into the one-hit-wonder cracks.
The main problem in the UK is, that people see me as a one-hit-wonder. Not a lot of people know that I am producing and djing since 12 years and that I have done nearly 25 releases and about 50 remixes. Now I have to prove to the people that there’s much more behind Tomcraft then "just" loneliness. The only thing who keeps my awake at night is my little son.
Has the track done well internationally or has it stayed within Europe?
At the moment it has stayed in Europe. It was released in Australia and went into the Top 30. Also South Africa is coming up, maybe another big one there. I am looking forward to the us release as my fan base there is very big.
For those who haven't seen you DJ, what kind of styles do you play during an average set?
It really depends on the club/event I am playing for. I play different when I play on big raves then when I play to 600 people. Always rocking, electronic and groovy stuff..........Tomcraft style!
Currently, who is your favourite DJ?
Felix da Housecat rocks, but unfortunately I don’t have time to listen to other djs a lot as I am away for gigs all the time. Timo is definitely still one of the biggest and best technical djs around.
Do your parents still tell you to get a real job?
No, they never really did.
Thanks to Tom for his time.
Tomcraft will be making his UK DJ debut at Gallery@Turnmills on 8 August.
Photos courtesy of Kosmo Records
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Other Features By Tanya Daly:
My dog's a DJ - The John Askew Interview
Heat:Evolution - Review
Euphoria@Heaven - Review
Swamp @ Bagleys - Review
Future @ Ministry of Sound - Review
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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Tomcraft and myself will both be making our DJ debuts at Gallery @ Turnmills on 8 August (this Friday). If anyone wants concession passes just drop me a PM