Over the past few years, James Nardi has been working hard in the studio, with production partners Nick Irwin and Julian Dywer to make their mark and push their individual style on the hard house scene. It has been a long, hard ride but recent releases show it has definatly been worth it, with the tracks being picked up by some of the top record labels at the present time, including Tripoli Trax, Short Circuit & Toolbox. These tracks have also been gaining great support by some of the most prominent DJs in the scene; Paul Glazby, Justin Bourne & Ian M to name but a few. More recently, James’ name has been appearing on flyers up & down the country, and abroad, in a bid to spread the Aftermath & Killer Hurts sounds. These gigs include playing at his own co-promoted event, Insekt, which is rapidly approaching its 1st birthday this month. James is here to give us the lowdown on what he has been up to on his travels and fill us in on the recent developments at Insekt, ahead of the birthday celebrations next weekend.
James Nardi
Hi James. You have recently returned from a 3 week tour of Australia & New Zealand, playing some large events & even local radio stations. Have you ever played abroad before and how was the trip... any amusing stories?
I’ve played abroad before in Cape Town, South Africa and Rimini in Italy, but this trip was my first time down under. The whole tour went really well. I played for Vertigo in Christchurch, NZ, Fevah in Wellington, NZ, Fresh FM Radio and Club Pressure Point in Adelaide, Australia. All the gigs were rammed and the crowds were all so up for it. The Pressure Point gig was probably the highlight as it was so big. There were probably about 1500 people, in an unused warehouse building. Karim was also flown over for this gig & Banga Matt was playing as he now lives in Adelaide.
I’m afraid I can’t really repeat the main of the amusing story of the tour. Let’s just say me and the boys in Wellington had some devastating laughs at the after party. I'd like to thank Merse, Emily, Bella, Mr Ree, Disturbed & Anthony for making my first tour down under one to remember! The return leg for early next year is already being planned.
How does the scene down under compare to the UK? Can you see any major differences between them?
There aren’t really too many differences to be honest. The crowds are probably a bit friendlier and more up for it than in the UK. That’s about it though. Actually, I was asked to sign a number of posters, records & a couple of girls tops which I haven’t done before.
New Zealand tour flyer
On your return we find your promotion Insekt has branched out into the after party scene with Insekt:AM, providing a hard room for the existing F party @ Fire. It is now a couple of weeks since its launch, how has it all been going?
Yeah, it all happened pretty quickly and as I was on the other side of the planet it wasn’t the easiest situation to deal with. We didn’t even have time to get any flyers printed or advertising done for October. It’s been going really well though. Our room has been busy every week and November should see us make the party better known as our flyers, posters & magazine adverts will be in place.
As a result of this, you have had to give up your Twist residency on Sunday mornings. Was it a hard decision to make and do you have a parting message for the Twist faithful?
Yes, I felt stepping down from Twist was the right thing to do, as both venues are within a couple of minutes walk from each other and the music policies are similar. It was a hard decision to make, I was very grateful to Twist for my residency, but at the end of the day it’s business and the promotion I run and believe in has to come first over everything else. It wouldn’t be right for Twist or Insekt if I was involved in both parties. When Twist was at Fire it was untouchable in my opinion and I supported it for a long time. But for I never really enjoyed clubbing or DJing at Factory.
As for a parting message... well it’s a shame things couldn't be kept more civil between the two parties. Apparently I handled the situation in an unprofessional manner, even though I was in Australia on tour and I let Twist know as soon as I knew 100% what was going on. There was not anything else I could have done given the circumstances. I admit I have stirred things online, but only after underhand tactics had been used over the weekend. You can’t please everyone all the time, hey!!
Is this the start of Insekt growing as a brand after a year of storming Saturday night events, or are two parties enough for now?
Insekt is defiantly growing as a brand. We are still doing our Saturday night monthly parties, as well as Insekt:AM weekly on Sunday mornings. We are also about to host an Insekt room for Frantic presents More at SEOne on November 26th, then the following morning Insekt:AM hosts the Official I Love VC Afterparty at Fire.
In December we are teaming up with another of London’s top promotions for a one off night, not to mention some special all-nighters at Fire in conjunction with F and a couple of very special Christmas & New Year parties to be announced soon. All this in less than a year is pretty impressive for a new promotion in my opinion.
James & Nick Irwin
Over the past 18 months you have been one of the busiest producers in the scene, with various tracks & remixes alongside your production partners Nick Irwin & Julian Dwyer. How are you finding the busy workload and do you think you’re keeping up with the demand for fresh new tracks?
Thanks. I’m enjoying the workload to be honest. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t. I still work full time, so making time for the studio is always hard, but you only get out what you put in. I hope the tracks we’re doing are staying fresh. I’m always trying new ideas and incorporating different sounds.
How would you describe the Aftermath & Killer Hurts sounds? Do they each have a different ethos?
Aftermath is the production name that Nick & I have used for the past couple of years & Killer Hurts is Julian & I. The Aftermath tracks are normally hard & funky and a distinctive deep, driving bassline, although we have done a couple of techno based tracks too.
Killer Hurts was set up mainly as a guise for a couple of bootlegs we wanted to do. The success of those bootlegs took us completely by surprise and they have led onto other things. First we were asked by the 99th Floor Elevators if we would remix their Top 40 hit ‘I’ll Be There’ which was then picked up by Toolbox and licensed to the Hard Dance Republic album mixed by Paul Glazby. More recently we were asked to supply a Killer Hurts remix for Vicious Circle as one of the Ten Commandments, but the date the remix had to go off to cut was when I was in Australia so we didn’t have time to get it started. From what I hear Superfast Oz has done a sound effort on the remix.
We understand that you are a big fan of the legendary Trade. Do you think the sound at these events has influenced your production & DJ'ing?
I used to love going to Trade. A group of us used to go every week. I really don’t think any other promotion has come close to being as instrumental within the club scene as Trade. Hearing the likes of Tony De Vit, Pete Wardman, Steve Thomas, Ian M & Malcolm Duffy week in week out has left a lasting impression on me.
A very dashing Jim Nardi
Do you have any exciting new releases or projects coming up?
My forthcoming releases include:
2Slags — 'Restless’ — Tripoli Trax (J.Nardi & J.Dwyer Remix) Restless is an old track by Karim & Fidel which I have been playing out for years. I was thrilled when I was asked to remix it for the legendary Tripoli Trax.
J.Nardi & J.Dwyer — ‘Mad Dogs’ — Flashpoint (inc. Ben Stevens Remix) This track is brutal with a proper eerie break down. Ben has turned in an awesome remix of it.
J.Nardi & J.Dwyer — ‘Deeper’ — Operation9 Operation9 is a new label which has seen recent releases from Sam Townend & Narc.
Aftermath — ‘You Got Me’ — Deprived of Funk Hed Kandi meets hard house from Aftermath. Proper swing your pants stuff.
Julian & I have also done a house remix of ‘I'll Be There’ which clocks in at 130bm and is soon to be released on Toolbox House, not under our own names though.... Watch this space.
What other styles of music are you into? Have you ever tried your hand at producing in these areas?
I’m into all sorts of music at the moment . . . anything from hip hop, RnB, jazz, pop, drum & bass. A bit of everything helps keep the mind fresh. I’ve only really produced house, hard house, techno & one or two old trance numbers.
With the recent influx of new labels to the scene, which ones have impressed you the most and do you have any favourite new producers of whose tracks you have been playing?
There have been quite a few new labels appearing over the past year. Some of them are good, but loads of them aren’t and are just an outlet for peoples own material that they can’t get signed. I’ve recently been playing tracks by Digital Kid, Tim Clewz. Steve Maynard, Sam Townend & Richard Toomz. All of these lads are making some good sounds!!
Where do you hope to take your DJing & producing career in 2006 and where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Well my return leg to Australia & New Zealand is being planned already. This time I’ll be taking in more cities. I’m also in talks with promoters in Canada & America, so hopefully I’ll be heading out there at some point next year too. Back in the UK I’ve already got dates in London, Manchester & Leeds.
I’d like to start producing more house music as well as the hard stuff. I love Deep Dish, Mylo & Dirty Vegas so maybe a few tracks in that vein will appear. And no, I’m not band wagon jumping... I was playing out house music about 6 years ago as well as the hard stuff. As for 5 years time... well I can’t even plan what I’ll be doing in 5 months time lol Who knows??
Crowd at Pressure Point gig, Australia
What has been your favourite gig that you have played since you have begun DJ’ing?
Probably playing for Savage in London Bridge back in 1998. I played the set before Blu Peter who was one of the true NRG/Trance pioneers. That was 7 years ago and I was pretty young at the time.
With Insekt’s first birthday just weeks away, how do think it’s all been going, looking back on the past year? Are you and the guys pleased with what you have achieved so far?
Like I replied to one of the earlier questions. There is no way I thought we would be doing as many parties as we are within the first year. Let’s hope it continues...
The event on Nov 19th sees a b2b special, with production buddies Justin Bourne & Dynamic Intervention playing together for the first time in years, and also yourself teaming up with London favourite Lady Bianca. Have you played together before & what will you have in store for us on the night?
Bianca is a good friend, but we haven’t yet played a back to back set. We’re playing second so we should get the place nicely rockin. I can’t wait to catch Justin & Mik. Both of these guys are responsible for a massive chunk of quality hard house & NRG that’s been rockin dance floors for the past few years. Not to be missed!
Photos courtesy of James Nardi, Queensharona & Vicious Circle Recordings.
£10 concession guest list email full names to: guestlist@insekt.co.uk
Info:
Marc Johnson / 07946 311204 / marc@insekt.co.uk
James Nardi / 07779 634820 / james@insekt.co.uk
George E / 07961 942307 / george@insekt.co.uk
Chris Comben / 07866626838 / chris@insekt.co.uk
More:
This month please join all at Insekt and celebrate our 1st Birthday in the only way you know how.
The past year has seen Insekt grow into the leading monthly party for hard house lovers from all over the country. With the growing success of our Saturday night monthly parties, we have recently started Insekt:AM @ Fire Club, every Sunday morning.
No other promotion has brought you anywhere near the same caliber line ups month after month, after month. We’ve hosted nights in conjunction with Vicious Circle, Short Circuit, Kaktai Records and we are now 1 year old.
For this special night we are honored to have two of the most successful producers & DJs in the country play a very rare Back 2 Back set. Almost every hard house record buyer would be lying if they said they didn’t own any of their classic studio productions, we give you - Justin Bourne & Dynamic Intervention!
3 rooms of music, free exclusive mix cd give aways.
Insekt - "Let the music do the talking.... & the party do the rockin"
From: TheDonon 9th Nov 2005 14:30.13 Nice hat, the king of cool :o)
From: Marc Johnsonon 9th Nov 2005 14:37.44 You wear that hat so well, got many of them?
well done on an amazing year mate,pleased its all coming good for you and glad to be working with you
From: dean peterson 9th Nov 2005 15:36.34 Cool interview matey...but that hat should never see the light of day!
From: TEK-DJ Managementon 9th Nov 2005 15:39.56 Brilliant interview James. Nice hat btw :o)
From: James Nardion 9th Nov 2005 15:49.39 Haha.. for the record it's not my bloody hat. Toomz is gonna get a gentle beating when i get my hands on him.
The hat belongs to Queensharona. I just tried it on for 30 seconds @ Riot a few months ago....
I've got a rather cool picture of Steve Maynard in the same hat...
From: Toomzon 9th Nov 2005 15:54.47 Dont lie Jim... we know you love the hat!
From: dean peterson 9th Nov 2005 16:02.56 Just admit it James, its your fav sunday hat....
From: Jon Danielson 9th Nov 2005 16:49.05 If you didn't like that hat so much James, what's with the pose that you put with it? ;0)
From: George-Eon 9th Nov 2005 17:11.53 Top I/view and gr8 bloke! heeeeeee heeeeeeeee
From: K.A.R.L.on 9th Nov 2005 17:43.08 Top interview James. I predict some quality mornings ahead, and a few golf sale signs outside the front doors.....
From: Hannah Wildon 9th Nov 2005 18:36.56 Nice one J x
From: Steve Maynardon 9th Nov 2005 19:42.12 haha, the hat returns. Nice 1 J
From: Matt Smallwoodon 9th Nov 2005 22:08.34 Nice work Nardster! See you next weekend mate :o)
From: ~deleted5181on 10th Nov 2005 10:03.07 Oi that's my hat!!!
Nice interview James. I love your music! you are so talented and you managed to create your own special sound
From: Steve Gillenon 10th Nov 2005 16:19.00 Well done James. Well deserved
From: sunvisordudeon 10th Nov 2005 22:07.03 All the best luck for now and future. i really enjoy your sets, james - hopefully you'll send me more cd's full support your way as always.
From: Kamoraon 11th Nov 2005 00:28.58 Well done mate heres to the future
From: JayTranzmiton 11th Nov 2005 02:18.05 Good stuff mate.
Had a hunch you'd do well.
All the best
Jay
From: dani don 11th Nov 2005 15:44.04 Nice interview James !!
From: Stopouton 11th Nov 2005 16:22.28 Great interview! The Insekt team certainly know their stuff, bring on more Sunday filth!
From: Little_Sluton 11th Nov 2005 21:42.45 Looking forward to the Birthday. Rock on Insekt!!!
From: RavingMonsteron 11th Nov 2005 22:15.26 REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESPEK!!!!!!
From: James Nardion 14th Nov 2005 19:09.56 Thanks for all the good words guys & gals.
The past year has been pretty eventful & i've enjoyed every minute of it.
Roll on Insekt's 1st Birthday & 2006.
From: El Capitano Peteon 18th Nov 2005 16:52.58 James is probably one of the most talented producers and DJs to hit the scene recently. Well done squire.
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