Page 39 - Zone Magazine Issue 013

You’ve enjoyed a really wonderful year. The gigs have been bountiful and seriously impressive. I recall a back to back set with Christopher Fitzpatrick a.k.a Shugz for the Goodgreef celebrations in the Wright Venue last year absolutely annihilating the smoking terrace with Vini Vici’s ferocious number – ‘The Tribe’. I was completely blown away. You literally bounced off each other. I remember admiring the sheer passion in you and thinking to myself this guy is going to be big. Whether he’s manning the decks himself or teaming up with some of Ireland’s true trance contenders, it doesn’t take away from the fact that you can blatantly see he loves what he’s doing.
This year alone has been phenomenal for you, what has been a significant highlight for you?
Hey Emma, Thanks for the very kind words, a few things stand out for me this year. Transcend in London being one where I got a 3am set time. Meaning I could play a peak time set, considering I'm usually on warm up. I enjoyed playing a set of older trance from the early 2000's era which I grew up with. One of my favorite sets to date. Another highlight was playing The Synk room in Lush for Kearnage at Halloween, where I opted to play a set totally out of my comfort zone. And go with early house music from the 90's mixed with a mix of recent techno. I had a blast playing in that Ice Cream van. Always a great gig in Lush! And not to mention all the Transcend gigs this year. It’s been great to be involved with them
from the start.
Who would you say are your primary influences are and why? Which artist would you say helped pave the way towards a career in music?
For me it was Tiesto from the start. Buying his 1st In Concert DVD had me hooked from there and I started educating myself more and more, therefore introducing me to a lot of the other Black Hole artists, Cor Fijneman, Mark Norman. Also, Bryan Kearney, as a friend and a DJ, getting to know him and see him from the early days until now. What he has achieved and his attitude towards it all.
Talk to me about your Transcend experiences. Being a Transcend resident, you’ve encountered wondrous sets from the worshiped Gods in the Trance World. Who really wowed you? Who would you have on a dream line-up?
This has been a great brand to have been involved in from the very 1st night. Patrick contacted me before he even started and asked me would I like to play for him. Never knowing him or the brand. I decided it was too good an opportunity to turn down. It clicked from the first night. And he has since then made me his resident. Which I'm very humbled about, every night he has produced has grown bigger and bigger. With the amount of work, he puts in behind the scenes. Things are only going to get bigger & better from here. The classics night just past is up there with one of the best. So
much great feedback and Rank 1 did the business on the night. Dream line up for me. Tiesto (Classics of Course), Bryan Kearney, Gouryella, Agnelli & Nelson, Judge Jules & possibly Sander Van Doorn playing a set from his early catalogue of music. Someone out there make it happen.
Name a track that you can’t stop listening to lately?
Funny you should ask that. I've actually had Soul Central - Strings of Life (Martijn Ten Velden & Mark Knight Toolroom Mix) on repeat literally every day since the Space Closing back at the start of October. What a night. What a Tune!
What are your hopes for the months to come? Any plans for production?
I’m actually planning a move to Australia in the next 6 months. So, my sights are set on trying to get a foot in the door over there. Would be great to play out there. My Residency will be coming to an end with Transcend but not before one more big one. Plans are in the pipeline. And it's going to be something totally different.
Connect:
https://twitter.com/ryanmc_guckin
Words By Emma Dilemma
Pic By Michael Docherty
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 39
spotlight interview [ireland]