inthemix | Features | Steve Hill: Alliance of hard dance giants

The Tidy Boys and their Tidy Trax label have staked their claim as legends in the hard dance scene, and equally, Kiwi Steve Hill and his revered Masif imprint has demonstrated that he’s here to stay. So it makes a lot of sense for the two crews to hook up and make sweet, sweet hard dance love doesn’t it? Or should that be, go head to head… The new double-CD release Masif vs. Tidy sees the two labels indulging in a little touch of competitive creativity, capturing the best moments from each imprint as well as showcasing a number of new tracks that will be hitting the clubs soon. To mark its release, ITM catches up with ‘The King Of Euphoric Hard Dance’ who we otherwise know as Steve Hill!

Your currently on tour for the launch of the Masif compilation album MASIF vs TIDY. How are you keeping fresh while traveling ?

Easy – you can never have enough clean clothes, showers, or sleep! Taking the laptop on tour also helps make sure you’ve got the latest tunes at your disposal so the sets are always upfront.

What is it like to be known as ‘The King Of Euphoric Hard Dance’?

It comes with its supporters and its critics. It was a title Ed Real from Nukleuz (at the time) and Will Patterson from Frantic came up with and it’s sort of stuck with me ever since. It’s a style of music I’m most passionate about, so I’m happy with it.

You have played to a mix of massive crowds and smaller intimate crowds, which do you prefer and why?

I like both. The bigger gigs are awesome because of the amount of people you play to and the atmosphere you can create but there’s nothing like an intimate, up close and personal session with a bunch of up for it clubbers! I’m lucky I get to do both still…

How has the breakthrough in music producing technology affected you? Have you changed the software you use?

I still use Logic on Mac for doing most of my producing (or Cubase if on PC) and attack producing in the same way I did when I started, only now, with the faster processing speeds, better plug ins, and more quality soft synths available the sound has improved over time! Where we used to record on a mixing desk to DAT you now bounce the track as a WAV file etc – things have certainly become easier over time!

Do you have any pre-show rituals that you follow?

I always aim to get to the gig an hour before I play to get a feel for the music the crowd are reacting to, soak up the atmosphere, and work out in my head what I’m going to play. Other than that, a beer is always a good nerve breaker!

What are your feelings on illegal music downloads?

It’s illegal but inevitable. That’s why I don’t promo any of my tunes out. They just end up on download sites before they’re released. It’s a shame really because there are some producers out there who are really struggling because of illegal downloads. It’s really not fair on them especially. The thing is there is a whole generation now of people who think it’s OK to illegally download yet they’d be the first to complain if the music they are downloading stopped being produced because artists weren’t making enough to survive – which is what has been happening. It’s a no win situation on both sides in the end.

Is there an artist you haven’t collaborated with but would like to?

Of course. I’d love to work with some house producers making hard dance and some trance producers making hard trance, but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon! Within hard dance I’d love to make a few tunes with Megara & DJ Lee, Rocco & Bass T, SHOKK and the usual wish list of Scot Project, Derb and BK. I’m quite lucky I’ve actually worked with everyone I’ve ever wanted to bar that list!

What do you think of the current progression in dance music?

It always seems to go in cycles. While one style is in, another is on the wane, and another one is ready to break through – then it all comes back round again. It’s happened with RnB, house, hardcore, trance and hard dance. There have been other genres that have been added to the list over time. They’ll have their day in the sunshine. I think every style has to go through phases, like fashion does, in order to keep reinventing itself. Otherwise it’d just get boring. What I was producing ten years ago to what I’m producing now is totally different even though the BPM is still around the same.

What inspired you to become so heavily involved in the dance music scene?

I’ve always been into music. From a very early age. I couldn’t really see myself doing anything but music. It’s been something I’ve lived and breathed for over 15 years now and my love for it is stronger than when I started. It’s great now to be able to do a variety of different things in the scene – DJing, promoting, producing, managing, touring, consulting and releasing. As time goes by you just get more involved. I love it!

What motivates you?

I’m doing what I love doing. I almost don’t see it as work which is probably why I work the hours I do and have the schedule that I have. I love positive and negative criticism. It constantly fuels me to try to achieve bigger and better things.

What advice would you give to those wanting to make it in the music industry as a DJ/producer?

Do what you love and love what you do. If fame is your primary motivation you’ll be disappointed.

Do you draw or reflect on things in your personal life when producing?

Of course. The mood you’re in when you’re producing really affects the type of tune you end up making. It might be more aggressive or more euphoric depending on your state of mind at the time. I’m writing tunes in my head most of the time so different things that happen in your life inspire various tracks!

The new Masif V Tidy, mixed By Tidy Boys & Steve Hill vs. Technikal is out now through Masif and Stomp.