Page 22 - Zone Magazine Issue 017

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R enowned as being one of Ireland’s hardest working producers and artists, he’s earned his place in contention for the top and nothing is going to stop
him.‘You reap what you sow’. Nothing could speak more truth and it’s quite fitting for my wondrous Irish interviewee, Shane Kinsella a.k.a Project 8.
I’m very pleased to present this interview which has quite an endearing legacy about it. Shane takes his work immensely seriously and puts in the time, however long it may take, nothing stands in the way on him striving for the best. An artist to be inspired by and someone for those to look upon setting out on their musical journeys. A real icon. Genuine, dedicated and just a whole-hearted exemplar of sheer creative talent.
He’s clocking up successes and accomplishments like there’s no tomorrow and producing an addictive, hypnotic sound that cannot be matched, with influences and memories of the older style of tech trance. Re-introducing something very special that the older generation of trance followers may appreciatemore,butaswellasthat,he’seducating the present and future generation in what real, raw talent is and that it is entirely dispersed and administered through an artists’ music. Another rising star that Ireland has to offer and we are ever so proud of him.
Can you give us an insight into the world of Project 8. How and when you established the name, your back-round in music and DJ'ing – how you started and early influences?
I established my name Project 8 back in 2010 when I had my first trance release. I was making a lot of house and techno under my alias Shane K but focusing mainly on trance because that’s where my passion lay. How I got the name well I didn’t want it to be a place or a thing, something along the lines of Solarstone and Airwave. In the end I thought the name Project 8 had a nice ring to it and it stuck with me.
My early influences were the Tidy Boys, Scot Project and John O’Callaghan. I listened to a lot of Hard House and Trance when I was younger. I practiced on vinyl in my house and in my friends also.
Youve quite the worthy following on home soil. What in your opinion makes the Irish stand out from the rest?
the rest is simple - it’s the weather! It’s always raining, dark and miserable outside but it’s the perfect ingredient for sitting in the studio and getting your work done!! I’d say it would be very different in a country that has a lot more sunshine. In Ireland that’s a rare thing haha!!
There is also a great trance community in Ireland, it may be small compared to the house and techno scene over here but the fans are very loyal and are always a great crowd to play to!
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your production career to date?
The support I get from fans and the messages I receive from them and producers from all around the world. I always do my best to write back as soon as possible and I love helping others whether it’s producers asking for feedback on their tracks or working with clients via Skype or in the studio working with different genres of music. I believe knowledge should be shared not kept!!
Define dedication in your own words.
Hard work and lot of self-belief, determination and consistency. Waking up every morning and setting goals for yourself, not listening to the nay Sayers - the people that have negativeinfluencesonyoutryingtoachieveyourgoals! Instead, use that as fuel to make you stand up taller than you ever have before. Don’t worry about what other people are doing focus on your end goal and you will achieve it through hard work. It won’t come easy, true success never does!
Who do you believe paved the way for you towards a musical future? Who was/is your definitive trance icon and why?
Tiesto was one of my biggest icons and influences in the trance scene back in the day. I had all of his ‘In Search of Sunrise’ compilations, his albums and ‘Magik’ albums. I even had his concert DVD’s. Back then he couldn’t be touched.
What qualities must a producer acquire/possess to succeed in the music business of today? What remains at the centre of your focus?
100% I am a firm believer that knowledge is power - you could have the best equipment in the world and still make a terrible track. Study, learn and focus. To become a master at something you must practice it every single day - Eat, live and breathe what you are trying to achieve.
In my opinion, the reason why the Irish stand out from
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