Have been living in Phoenix, Arizona for the last 25 years. These days, the music scene is either super-big EDM festivals or club shows, with the occasional rave.
Cik at Ground Zero 2010How did you come up with your DJ Name?
I used to have a big habit of describing something cool as “sick. There was already a company called Sik Graphics, so I changed the spelling.
What animal best personifies your music and why?
A Liger. Because you’re just jealous I sit at home and talk to babes on the Internet all day.
What are you trying to convey with your music?
About nine out of 10 times, it’s a reaction to life or situations in life. Could be a message I’m trying to get across, could be a straight-up obscure jab at someone. I am trying to communicate my feelings without being verbal.
Can you describe the feeling you get when you’re on stage?
I zone out and get lost in the music.
What moment do you cherish the most so far in your career as a DJ/artist or musician?
Cik
Playing Ground Zero 2010 after Ruffneck and Enzyme X, and before Delta-9. I was this kid from AZ that most haven’t heard of, but I rose to the occasion and played one of the best sets in my career. I was even paid an extra bonus in payment because I did so well.
What was the first song or album that you remember listening too?
This is one of our American artists that hardly needs an introduction. This man has covered ground from the west coast stretching as far as the heart of Gabber home country (Holland), has produced and collaborated alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, and is responsible for the uprising of the Arizona Hardcore Junkies, a local collective of producer/DJs that helped put Arizona on the map as one of THE best states for hardcore techno music. Boys and girls, representing Arizona at this year’s Gabberfest (June 18th-19th, EDC Weekend), please welcome the granddaddy of them all, this is: CIK!
CIK at Nocturnal Wonderland, 2004. Hardcore getting bigger!
How did you decide on your stage name?
Back in the day I had this bad habit as saying “that’s sick” to describe something that was really cool. In those days there was SIK graphics company here in Phoenix, and I believe a SIC company so I trapped it out (Yeah, trappin’ in the 90’s) and I replaced the first letter of the name to make it cooler.
How did you start producing/DJ’ing?
I started DJ’ing because my mentor and sensei, Spitfire, asked me if I wanted to buy his record collection and I did. I then lived with a guy who had Numark TTX tables and I learned how to beat-match. I never dreamed I’d be sitting here 20 years later, looking back on what has been accomplished. I started producing late, as the shift in being a performer became more of a need for learning music production. I am enjoying the journey and have had some really amazing experiences because of it.
How did you get interested in the harder styles?
I went to my second show ever and saw DJ Tact at an event called Lotus (R.I.P Fuzzy Chris) at the Icehouse in Phoenix. The energy of his music and his stage presence honestly made me say, what in the hell is this fast crazy energetic music!? Thanks to Tact, I’ve been hooked on hardcore since 1996.
What changes have you noticed in your local rave/hard dance scene since you started?
Oh man, I have noticed a lot of changes in the local, regional and national scene over the years. There’s a new school wave of hard dance promoters that have the passion and drive to be successful, so we will see what the future holds. Much love to anyone pushing hard dance.
What do you think about the current state of harder styles in America?
Satronica, the White Ape, CIK at Dominator 2015.
I think that if everyone took a step back and said, if we want this music to progress put “personal differences” aside and try to co-exist, it may progress. You may hate the person truthfully, not everyone’s going to get along, but shit we live in a country that is 50 times the size of Holland and are still stuck arguing on Facebook and threatening others over dumb shit. I hope one day we all can stop the dumb stuff and get back to what’s important…the music and the preservation of said music. I also think that support for US artists, old and new, needs to happen. You have legends in your front yard! Lenny Dee, Delta9, Delirium, Satronica, Rob Gee, Fiend and The Horrorist are all legends. There’s probably a dozen people I am missing, but shit all these named have definitely contributed a lot to hard music. Not to mention all of the new skool hardstyle/rawstyle guys who have been doing good shit! #Murica
What are you trying to convey through your music? Are there any themes or ideas that are important to you?
To be honest, most work to date has been reflecting back on certain periods of my life. But, like CAP says I can’t do anymore tracks about “naysayers”. So, my sampling has gotten very deep. Nothing to communicate, more just about learning and progressing and still developing my sound.
Do you have anything special planned for Gabberfest?
I currently have 5 tracks that are unreleased, I will probably play a few of those. Might even drop some #trumptempo.
Anything coming up in the near future for CIK? For Arizona?
AZHCXX: Celebrating 20 years of Arizona Hardcore. September, 9th, 2016
We have this show coming up on 09-09-2016, the AZHC 20 Year anniversary. It would not have been possible without members (current and past) for helping build the brand. Though some are no longer part of the crew, I still would like to thank them for their personal contributions to the Arizona Hardcore Junkies. Most importantly, thank you to all our fans, family and friends for their support they’ve given, through thick and thin. AZHC XX – Celebrating 20 Years of Hardcore is going to be a great night with a stacked lineup!
