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EPIDEMIK INTERVIEW
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The Epidemik kru and Paradox Promotions have more than become very popular over the last two years. Holding down some great Club Nights and promoting up and coming stars via their promotional company, the Epidemik boys are certainly contributing to the scene in more ways than one. We interviewed Jim and Twilite, to see how they have made it into the scene, and to find out what we can expect from them in the near future.
BAZZY B - Q1 - TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU GUYS GOT TOGETHER
TWILITE: After clubbing and raving for nearly 10 wonderful years it was time to put something back into the music scene, which I loved so much. I had seen the magic & unity at some early Acid House Warehouse Raves of the late eighties & was soon out every weekend havin' it at events such as Raindance, Helter-Skelter, Dreamscape, Universe, World Dance, United Dance, at venues
such as Camden Palace, The Rocket, The Sanctuary, Stevenage Arts
centre, Lydd airport, Sheperton Mallet, to name but a few & was a regular at clubs such as Labyrinth & Oscars ..... wicked times were had by all & PEACE, LOVE, UNITY & RESPECT was true to form .... one big family of dance music .... people from all walks of life leaving their egos at the door & raving to a
mixture of music styles before the many musical splits that followed .... which is why OLD SKOOL is still cool today !!!! After a few years I noticed a lack of quality parties to go to - so I thought "Why not run a party" and here we are...
BAZZY B - Q2 - WHAT WERE EACH OF YOU UP TO BEFORE "EPIDEMIK"
TWILITE - Dancing! Anyone who has seen me out knows what I mean - I jump around like a fucking kangaroo!
BAZZY B - Q3 - YOU'VE BEEN FORMED TOGETHER AS "EPIDEMIK" FOR 4 YEARS OR SO, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS TIME?
TWILITE - Probably our ability to turn around venues. Every venue we have used has had serious odds stacked against us and everytime time we have managed to pull it off! We also believe in freedom of expression & freedom to dance ... not a clicky moody fashion parade .... no bullshit at our events... we have been firmly keeping it real for years.. We were also one
of the only promoters not to turn their backs on the Hardcore scene in 98.
BAZZY B - Q4 - WHAT INSPIRED YOU INTO FORMING A KRU?
TWILITE- That was really just the way the scene was evolving. Far too much work for me to do so I had to get more people invloved. By running our own events, we had a brilliant insight in to how the industry worked and how shit most of the services to promoters were. introducing Paradox Promotions.
BAZZY B - Q5 - WHICH HAS BEEN THE BEST NIGHT YOU GUYS HAVE LAID ON, AND WHO ATTENDED?
TWILITE- All our nights have been wicked and its hard to pick one. But probably to me personally, it was the Dalston event @ the 4 Aces, East London back in 1998. This was organised by Jade (Little-Miss-Mental), Retro Joe (of now Internet famous USH.net), Sean (The-Rave-Slave who is now my Business partner), & of course myself. This was to be the last night
before the club was to be demolished. The night was buzzing with ravers new & old and we felt the magic was back with 3 mad arenas playing the underground sounds of Old Skool, Happy Hardcore & Jungle Drum & Bass with a mixture of established DJ/MC's & new up & coming talent.
BAZZY B - Q6 -
WHO HAVE YOU LOOKED UP TO IN THE SCENE, AND WHO IS DOING IT FOR YOU AT
THE
MOMENT?
TWILITE - We look up to anyone who has the courage to run a party! Seriously, running a party is the hardest thing to do, and is a complete head fuck. As for leaders of the rave scene..Raindance without a doubt run the best parties. Proper original rave atomsfear and the Drome is also a wicked venue - raw as fuck. DJs, you only have to look as far as the
originals.. Nicky Blackmarket, Ray Keith (local boy) and of course our
homeboy Phaze-One.
BAZZY B - Q7 - TELL US A BIT ABOUT PARADOX PROMOTIONS.
TWILITE - Paradox Promotions is a nu-breed of promotions company. We
know
and understand the rave scene and can offer promoters exactly what they
need
to put on a wicked party. Our tech man Jim can accomplish some crazy
shit
with new technology allowing us to offer stuff to promoters that they
would
never be able to accomplish within their own team.
JIM: Yeah, E-Flyers, SMS, WAP, loadsa new technology coming out and
we're
on top of all it.
TWILITE: Combined with our dedication to what we are doing - promoters
recognise our skills, that's why we have clients like Raindance, World
Dance, Helter Skelter, Slammin Vinyl, Best of British... Our client
list is
like a Whos Who of the rave scene.....
BAZZY B - Q8 - ARE YOU GUYS GONNA START PRODUCING ANYTIME SOON?
TWILITE - Yeah, we are already on the case.. Studio time aint a
problem..
Just finding the time to use it is! Its hard to switch off from 24/7
workloads and try and become creative.
JIM: We've got some big ideas, but we feel we need a better platform
to
launch it before doing it.
BAZZY B - Q9 - YOU HAVE SET UP A WEBSITE, WHICH BASICALLY IS EVERYTHING THAT A WEBSITE
SHOULD BE, WHO'S IDEA WAS IT? WHO MAINTAINS IT? AND WHAT DOES IT OFFER
BASSHEADZ ON THE NET?
TWILITE - I noticed the rise of the web a few years back and I got
straight
on the case. Jim was just getting in to that kind of thing so we
hooked up
and tried to create something about us.
JIM: I basically run and maintain the websites and any tech projects.
I
try and get the best of other web sites and put it together on to ours.
We
have news, a brilliant events section, dj charts, profiles, features,
mobile
stuff, forums, funny shit, all sorts. Again its just finding the time
to
update it.busy busy busy. The site is now a good few years old and is
well
past due for a major overhaul...coming soon!! At the moment, we offer
a
pioneering new service to promoters and clubbers called E-Flyers - you
can
sign up and get more info @ http://www.paradoxpromotions.co.uk -
basically
getting sent interactive flyers to your PCs Inbox. As for Bassheadz,
we
hope you like what you see already, but we are always willing to listen
to
what people want - so if you have any suggestions get in contact.
BAZZY B - Q10 - WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR EPIDEMIK?
TWILITE - Mmmm...I see the mist clearing.. Its your aunt Mildred.Whats
that
you say..... sorry that was my crystall ball shit..Epidemik in the
future?
Hopefully, Big things. We have a lot going on and have our fingers in
lots
of pies! We have a big old skool and hard house event planned for
October,
studio time booked and waiting, and promoters knocking on our doors
wanting
our business. Our resident Kru, DJ Phaze-One and MC Lurch are getting
bookings everywhere which is all good.. Now all we need is the cure for
having no fucking sleep or money!!
BAZZY B - CHEERS FOR THE INTERVIEW LADS, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
TWILITE: Yeh we wanna kick some shouts out to : SEAN & CLAIR, JIM, BAD MAN MAD 'MENTAL' MICK, PHAZE-ONE &
LURCH,
DJ STEVIE-C, PARADOX SECURITY CREW, CLIVE, DJ RELEASE & MC HOLDTIGHT,
NICKY
BLACK MARKET & RAY KEITH, RICHARD & THE RAINDANCE CREW, JAMIE (DJ
SHADES),
DUNCAN 'KNOW WHAT I MEAN' SPONG AND HIS AMAZING LIGHT SHOW, & EVERYONE
WHO
WE HAVE FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORGETTING ... the legends .... R.I.P ..... MC
RUFF, MC STEVIE-HYPER-D, MURRAY BEESTON, DJ RE:AL, DJ TONY-DE-VIT, DJ
KEMISTRY, MC KENDO, OSCARS CLACTON, 4ACES DALSTON, PALACE SOUTHEND.
For more info on Epidemik or Paradox Promotions, check out their websites:
http://www.epidemik.freeserve.co.uk
http://www.paradoxpromotions.co.uk
