Interview with Technikal ahead of Frantic & Squelcher pres. Hard Dance Showcase@Hidden - 25th April! April 25th sees the mighty Frantic team up with DJ D4rk’s promotion Squelcher to bring you another awesome Hard Dance Showcase and to celebrate Squelcher‘s 4th Birthday! 
Hi Alf! Hope you’re well! So….What’s been going down in the world of Technikal recently?
Hi Nat! Since the clock struck 12 this year I’ve barely had time to sit down! It’s been absolutely hectic recently but it’s just the way I like it. The year started with a very full diary of studio dates and gigs, working on tracks with Amber D, Rob Tissera and also putting together my fifth promo mix for my Australia tour.
Then I headed over down under to do my 2008 Australia tour for six weeks playing Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide. It was a truly awesome trip, and even over there me and Steve Hill were working on new records for Masif, I think we worked on around 8 over there! Since I’ve got back I played Hard Nation and Storm last weekend and done another new record with Amber, whilst also working on the ones me and Steve wrote. And then this interview came along...
What exciting stuff have you got coming up in 2008?
2008 is the year of the official Technikal album. I’m taking some time out to write a 2 disc album of brand new original tracks and collaborations with different artists, and also some of my more classic tracks from the past three years. Who knows, some of them might get some new exciting updated remixes! I’ve also just been made a Frantic resident which is really good news as they are looking to continue their mammoth events and productions.
It’s just a really good time right now, everything seems to be picking up and all the hard work is starting to pay off, but don’t think that means I’m going to be taking my foot off the pedal! I’ll also be playing in Canada, Finland, South Africa and Ibiza this year so it’s not just all in the UK. And keep an eye on Technikal Recordings... our first digital compilation is on the cards now after the first year of releases has gone so well.
What/who were your main musical influences whilst growing up? What made you decide to learn to produce…it’s not exactly the easiest thing to learn AND to be so blimmin’ good at at such a young age?!
Thank you very much! I think a lot of it is dedication and hard work. I’ve lived and breathed hard trance music for the past five years, even when no one wanted to give it the time of day and it had a bit of a dark spell I wanted to stand by it because I hold it so close to my heart. My main influences back in the day came from trance producers such as Ferry Corsten and Nu NRG. Nowadays I take inspiration from pretty much anywhere! Tribal music, electro sounds, big euphoric music, anything that excites me will worm it’s way into my sound somewhere!
What music do you like to listen to in your spare time?
I’m still a big trance head so love putting on older mixes to bring back memories. It was only today that I put on Tiesto’s In Search of Sunrise 3 again, it made me feel like I was walking back from school again haha! I also listen to a lot of psy trance and hardcore whilst I’m chilling out. Anything with loads of energy and blissed out moments seem to float my boat.
Hardcore to chill out to?! I like your style!!! Do you have any favourite DJs?
My favourite DJ in the hard dance scene is still Phil Reynolds, and also Spencer Freeland whenever he does play. They’re legends in their own rights for the direction my sound has taken so I always like to see them play when they are on. Outside of hard dance, I saw Mark Knight play in Australia at the Future Music Festival and was seriously impressed by his groovy electro. Truth is though I don’t see too many other DJs as when I’m not playing I like to spend my weekends outside of clubs!
You’re set to rock the dancefloor at the upcoming Squelcher vs. Frantic HDS on 25th April…what aural delights can we expect from you? Any surprises up your sleeve?
As always, I’m sure there will be some new tracks/remixes or re-edits I’ll have worked on in the week before HDS. I like to keep busy and once I’ve made something new there’s no holding me back debuting it the following weekend!
What has been your favourite club to play at both in the UK and abroad?
There’s lots of clubs that hold sentimental values for me, so it’s hard to narrow it down to just the one. In the UK my favourite club was the Fridge, and it’s a shame that not so many big promotions get in there anymore but I thought as a venue it was perfect. It summed up everything to me about clubbing. I can say the same for Koko. Overseas, my favourite club used to be Gas nightclub in Sydney, but it got shut down in the last year so that’s no longer around. I also love Gallery in Cape Town, them clubbers are quite simply insane... the reception they gave me for my set is never to be forgotton!
How do clubbers abroad differ from those over here in the UK?
By what they wear and how they dance! It’s always very interesting to go to different countries and see how they react to different music. A track that gets a massive reaction in the UK might not get the same reaction and vice versa. It’s important to remember that you have to be fairly versatile to adapt to different clubbers tastes.
You're famed for your biggest anthems; “Global Panic”, “More & More” and “Summassualt”....yet recently your style has changed quite a bit, tell us your thoughts on the Technikal 'sound' right now?
The Technikal sound has changed slightly over the years but it hasn’t been a conscious decision. The important thing that needs to be remembered is that I write so much music, it is my bread and butter in the week and it’s very easy to get stuck in a rut. I think my sound has needed to adapt and change to keep me inspired and excited when writing music. Bringing in different sounds means I have as much fun writing music now as I did back in 2002! The Technikal sound right now is still very much hugely euphoric, energetic, and fun – but I’ve introduced an element of intricacy into my production, where I’ll spend a good amount of time on millisecond fills and micro sounds. Writing hardcore and electro has meant that I’ve started bringing influences from them into my music, evidence here is in the ravey ‘Supersonic’, and the twisted electro vibe of ‘Diskoteka’. I’ve also really noticed the impact big basslines have on my crowds, so I’ve been striving to make my tracks more about the basslines that they used to be.
What was the 1st record you ever bought? Any embarrassing records or albums in your music collection which you care to share?
Haha! Who doesn’t! I think at some point everybody gets suckered into buying some utterly embarrassing tripe. In fact I was sorting through my records to sell earlier and I found a copy of Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha ... and I have no idea where it came from! It must be my girlfriends. I’m being honest here! The first record I actually bought was Safri Duo – Played Alive ... and that’s still one of my favourite records of all time so I think I did OK with that one
What ringtones do you currently have on your phone?
It used to be the theme song from Super Mario Bros in all its 8-bit glory, but now it’s MDA & Spherical’s Timeless intro from their set a year ago. It’s got Phil Collins chopped in with bits of George Michael ... quality!
Having heard I was interviewing you, a certain Mr Whitby had a couple of questions of his own to ask you, so here we go!....
You've made 2 'bouncy' tracks; “Back 2 the Old Skool” and “Higher”....are you coming over to the dark side?!
Never!!! Nice try though monsieur Whitby. ‘Back 2 The Old Skool’ was a little challenge I set myself to write a track with a bouncier type of bassline, and I never thought anything of it until I played it out and people started asking me what it was! ‘Higher’ was done with JK and he was really after something down the Back 2 The Old Skool path so we done that one for him. Bounce is a great genre and full of fun but it’s not something I imagine I’ll be dabbling in too much, not until we do a track someday anyway!
Supersonic seems to draw on Eskimo influences, have you met him? Would you like to do a collaboration?
I’ve never met Eskimo, but I know Nick Sentience is a good friend of his. I’d love to meet him someday. His production over the last year has been truly inspirational and it was his sound that really pushed me, MDA & Spherical to do ‘Supersonic’ so you are correct in saying that! I’d love to do a collaboration with him one day, Eskimo if you’re reading this, you know where I am ?
Quickfire questions…. 1. Peanut Butter or Marmite?
Marmite. Although can I say Bovril?
2. Gold or Silver?
Silver.
3. Chinese or Indian?
Indian.
4. Football or Rugby?
Football.
5. Geoffrey, Zippy, Bungle or George?
Who?! Hahaha!
Oh my god! Alf if you don’t know who these are then you haven’t lived! LOL!
6. Girls or Boys?
Girls.
7. In or Out?
In.
8. Xbox or Wii?
Xbox... everytime!!!
9. Straight to bed or Party all night?
Party all night... then straight to bed!
Thank you for your time Alf! 
