Tag Archives: Dave Delta

Deadly Buda Pre-HE Interview

It’s kind of weird to interview yourself. But, since my job was to interview as many Hard Electronic artists as possible, and a day went by without one, I figured I should fill the gap, as I’m playing the L.A. show. We basically made a list of stock questions for the artist to answer how they wanted. So, I figured this would be easy. Lo and behold, the strangest thing was that I surprised myself with answers to the questions I wrote! So, if you’ve got a few minutes, let’s hang out…

Where are you from? How does your geographic location influence your music?

A Deadly Buda graphic from 1994
A Deadly Buda graphic from 1994, Pittsburgh PA.

I was born in Pittsburgh, PA. There, like most places in the civilized world, the population is force-fed garbage music repeatedly, brainwashing them and compromising their lives. It was there that I decided to fight against the insipid audio enslavers, be they man or otherwise. Eventually forced out of the city, I slowly made my way across the USA and have lived in Los Angeles County for the last 17 years, where I continue to wage my guerrilla campaigns to varying degrees of success.

What’s the story behind your DJ Name?

The original story is that “Buda” was my graffiti tag name, taken from a high school social studies report. I added “Deadly” with my first rave DJ gig in 1991. I wanted my DJ name to sound like a kung-fu movie name, like my DJ heroes growing up, Grandfaster Flash, mainly. But as time went on the meaning changed various times. I read years ago about certain Buddha’s whose job it was too destroy egos in order to set people free from the identity others have forced upon them. I like that idea, so that’s what my name means, now.

Who or what events in your life are responsible for you being the artist you are today?

My neighbor, Phil Schoemer, who first taught me how to DJ, was the biggest influence. I still remember things he taught me today, and still struggle to do them. DJ Controlled Weirdness, who introduced me to so much music in the early 90s and we threw raves together as Hear 2 Go, Christoph Fringeli from Praxis Records after that. I’ve always listened to everything Lenny Dee has to say, because he is more experienced and forward thinking than anyone in the dance music industry, period, and today when I get to work with Rob Gee on videos and stuff, helps me keep my sanity in a world gone mad.

Deadly Buda will be appearing at Hard Electronic September 9, 2017
Deadly Buda will be appearing at Hard Electronic September 9, 2017

What are you trying to convey with your music? What are you trying to communicate? What are you giving to the crowd that listens to you?

Though I try to make my sound dimension-bending and otherworldly, at the core I guess I am just trying to communicate that they aren’t alone… that we see really see these things and enjoy things together. I feel what they feel, too. Ultimately, life is more psychedelic than any drug you will ever take. So, I think when I play “crazy” hardcore I am just really describing life as it is, without a filter, and I want to just geek out with my friends about it and what we’re doing.

What moment do you cherish the most so far in your career as a DJ?

Lenny Dee's Trax from the Darkside album art by Deadly Buda
Lenny Dee’s Trax from the Darkside album art by Deadly Buda

There are some big ones for sure, Even Further ’95, and of course Even Further ’96. Both were some of my greatest sets for big crowds, and of course legendary parties. But the first one that always comes to my mind when asked is Catastrophic New Years in 92-93, in Washington DC. It was my first ever out-of-town gig, and Catastrophic was one of the biggest, if not the biggest rave crew on the East Coast at the time. My friend Dario Kenning gave them a tape and the next thing you know I’m playing ‘til midnight for the biggest, most illegal party I’d ever seen or maybe will ever see in the USA. They were diplomat’s kids, the Baez brothers, and they literally were pulling electricity right off the telephone poles into the warehouse and all the cops were obviously paid off. Ravers surrounded by Secret Service, it was unreal. I was already playing hard at the time, and I’ll never forget when I asked Mike Battaglia (now known as Mike Bee) what I should play, because I thought I might be too hard for them. He laughed and said, “just play hardcore!” and raised his fist and laughed. So I did and it went through the roof!

But for cherishing, I’ll always cherish the first raves I did in Pittsburgh with Controlled Weirdness: Psychotronic Slackrave, the Beehive parties, and after he moved, the Turbo-Zen and Millennium parties, which are stories for another day.

What specifically are you planning to give to the audience at Hard Electronic?

Original Deadly Buda style with new and improved ingredients. Since it’s Hard Electronic, I am going out-of-my-way to break the mainstream rules, really my old style. So, starting at 133 BPM and in a half hour, crank it up to 200+ BPM. I’m going to start banging some new Dave Delta tracks, and end up with some Mr. Madness at the end. Make sure to get there by 10:00 PM though, because that’s when I start. There are so many great DJs playing that if you blink you’ll miss one of us!

What is something you really want to tell the public that we might not have asked about?

The world today is dangerous, and meant to be confusing and overwhelming. It’s easy to get upset and impatient with everything going on. Just when you think you know the answers, another contradictory layer to the madness is revealed and frustrates. In today’s world we cannot rely only on logic or emotion, but must hone our intuition to navigate through the madness. Mistakes will be made by us and others, but if you proceed knowing you are good, and look for and amplify the good in others, be they friend or foe, we can navigate around the dangers and feel immediate satisfaction in our actions. I have to remind myself of this, so maybe others need to hear it too.

Links

Deadly Buda’s Musicoin Profile

DeadlyBuda.com

Deadly Buda Wikipedia

FacebookTwitterInstagram 

 

 

Delta 9 aka Dave Delta pre-HE Interview

Devil Times 9 LogoIt’s about time Delta 9 “graces” the pages of The Hard Data again! You would think that he or his alter-ego “Dave-Delta” would get play here all the time, being that he’s an old school vet still pumping out dope tunes. Well, this error has been corrected and now you get to read the words of wild from the Windy City’s #1 devil of hardcore! Without further delay…

So, ok, we already know you’re from Chicago.

Yes. The windy City creates the Chicago hardcore sound.

What’s the story behind your DJ Name?

Delta 9 equals tetrahydrocannabinol.

Who or what is responsible for you being the artist you are today?

It basically came from the upside-down behaviors of human society. It’s either find an outlet or become a serial killer.

What are you trying to convey with your music?

I’m trying to convey rebellion that becomes more difficult as the industry turns more towards the direction of big business.

Dave Delta LogoWhat moment do you cherish the most so far in your career as a DJ, artist or musician?

All of them. Every event from small to large, every DJ set I play and everyone I speak with throughout the night.

Ok, but what specifically are you planning to give to the audience at Hard Electronic?

A look into of my soul.

What is something you really want to tell the public that we might not have asked about?

That hooker was dead already!

Facebook.com/Deviltimesnine

Delta 9 will be performing September 8, 2017 at Hard Electronic.
Delta 9 will be performing September 8, 2017 at Hard Electronic.

Ooo

Hard Electronic to Crush East and West Coast

Just when you thought Hurricane Harvey was calming down, a torrential downpour of HARD ELECTRONIC is on its way to the USA’s major metropolitan areas, and the East and West Coasts now brace for impact. If you like your beats tough, distorted and relentless, then September 8, 2017 you need to be in Brooklyn, NY and September 9, 2017 you better fly, drive or swim to Los Angeles, CA because shows with this much sonic boom don’t happen very often in the USA. Here are the respective Facebook Event pages:

Hard Electronic NYC
Hard Electronic NYC

NYC: https://www.facebook.com/events/1862873943964846/

LA: https://www.facebook.com/events/438768009838741/

Noize Suppressor hits the coasts Sept. 8 & 9, 2017
Noize Suppressor hits the coasts Sept. 8 & 9, 2017

Headlining both nights is Italy’s number 1 party animal, Noize Suppressor. You might remember him from his knockout performances at Trauma Live, Fresh’s Hardstyle Arena, or EDCLV. Well, he’s back to burn and score a few points for Dogfight Hardcore, so get some comfy sneakers because you’re going to be jumping and pumping. The other headliner is a new face to America, Malke, bringing his brand of Brazilian hard electronic audio skills to raise the East and West Coast’s respective water level of sonic appreciation to tidal wave levels. Another Industrial Strength score for forward-thinking audio dissemination and keeping them, as always, ahead of the future’s curve.

But that’s only the tip of the icebergs heading at breakneck speed to slam into the coasts. The New York show features Delta 9 aka Dave Delta, Lenny Dee, Satronica, Delirium, John Bas, MC Mastachief , Ontal (from Serbia) and Gxnnxr. The Los Angeles chaos will be co-hosted by Rave ‘til Dawn and will put the old and new guard of hardcore techno into a full-on crash collision of the generations as Lenny Dee, Satronica, Demigod, Fiend, Inyoung, Deadly Buda, Sonik and J’Sin are going to party like it’s 1999 and remind everyone why Los Angeles is the decades-long, number one spot for hardcore techno in the USA.

As the week goes on, we will be profiling many of the artists playing at both events at The Hard Data. But to start off, we are going to focus briefly on the main drivers of both parties, Industrial Strength Records and Kontaminated Recordings, and their head honchos, Lenny Dee, Satronica, and DJ Delirium.

Lenny Dee:

Lenny Dee appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8 and 9, 2017
Lenny Dee appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8 and 9, 2017

Producer / DJ / Label Owner Lenny Dee is one of NYC’s earliest techno and house pioneers. He attacked Europe with the then new sound of Techno and in 1991 launched Industrial Strength Records – the first electronic ‘Hardcore’ label in the world that’s included music from Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier, Manu Le Malin, Angerfist, Corrosion of Conformity, Daft Punk, Neophyte, Unexist, DOA, The Sickest Squad, Nasenbluten, The Mover, Mescalinum United, Rob Gee, Deadly Buda, Delta 9, Satronica, Delirium, Demigod, Ron D Core, Inyoung and many more.

Lenny has also written and produced hundreds of tracks on labels such as 4th floor, Warner Bros, Strictly Rhythm, R&S, Music Man, Atlantic Records, Arista, XL Recordings, Gigilo, Rotterdam Records, ID &T and Stay Up Forever.

Lenny was the 1st Hardcore DJ to appear on the ‘DJ Mag – Top 100’ and was previously named Number 1 ‘Hard DJ’ by Mixmag, was twice awarded the accolade of Best Worldwide Techno DJ by the Scottish Dance Music Awards & Frontpage Magazine.

http://www.facebook.com/DjLennyDee

https://twitter.com/DJLennyDee        

Satronica

Satronica appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8 and 9, 2017
Satronica appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8 and 9, 2017

Along with DJ Delirium, Satronica, aka Satroniq, is forging a new sound for the hard electronic masses via Kontaminated Recordings.  He began producing music, playing live and DJ’ing in the mid 90’s as part of the Things to Come Crew in NYC. Soon he found his own style of aggressive and distorted industrial hardcore techno woven with rage-laden vocal elements. This sound found a home, of course, at Industiral Strength Records, most famously with his smash hit “F*ck the System.”

He has performed at some of the largest events in Canada, The United States, South America, and Europe spinning and performing a brutal mix of dark and deranged selections. These events include parties such as Dominator, Q-Base, Masters of Hardcore, Coloursfest, WestFest, Kinetik Festival, PRSPCT XL, and E-Mission.

His tracks have also appeared on many major hardcore and techno compilations from some of the best known and loved labels in the world such as Industrial Strength, Thunderdome, ACArdipane, Neophyte Records, Rotterdam Records, ID&T, Masters of Hardcore and Traxtorm.

His latest collaborations with Noize Suppressor, Unexist, Art of Fighters, and Crypsis show his commitment to the core and constant pursuit of innovation.

http://www.facebook.com/satronica

http://www.discogs.com/artist/satronica

http://www.industrialstrengthrecords.com/artists/satronica.html

http://www.twitter.com/satronica

Delirium

Delirium appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8 and 9, 2017
Delirium appears at Hard Electronic Sept. 8, 2017

Kontaminated co-conspirator is none other than old school vet DJ Delirium. Ever since the early 90’s, DJ Delirium has been a forefront leader in the Hardcore Techno scene.  He has appeared countless times at some of the worlds largest events like Thunderdome, Mysteryland, Defqon.1, Dominator, In Qontrol, Raving Nightmare, Ground Zero, EDC – Vegas, Earthquake and many more.  Delirium has also had tracks featured on some of the worlds most legendary hardcore compilations CD’s including Thunderdome, Always Hardcore, Masters Of Hardcore and Resident E.

To date, DJ Delirium has released over 300 slammin’ tracks with some of the most recognized companies in Hardcore Techno including ID&T, Industrial Strength, Traxtorm, Masters of Hardcore, MegaRave, and many more.  DJ Delirium’s got studio skills and has proven that with his top quality productions. Anyone who’s ever seen DJ Delirium perform knows about his smooth mixing and tight scratching.

https://www.facebook.com/djdelirium/

https://soundcloud.com/djdelirium

http://www.djdelirium.com/

https://twitter.com/djdelirium

https://www.instagram.com/djdelirium/

Ok folks so this is your first warning shot about the big events coming in just days. Save your pennies, get some good night sleep and make sure you have enough quarters for your laundry come Sunday because you are going to sweat!

Label Links:Industrial Strength Logo

http://www.industrialstrengthrecords.com

http://www.youtube.com/IndustrialStrengthNY

Kontaminated Recordings Logo

http://kontaminatedrecordings.com/

https://www.facebook.com/kontaminatedrecordings/

https://soundcloud.com/kontaminated-recordings

https://www.instagram.com/kontaminated/

https://twitter.com/kontaminated

What is Hard Electronic?

“Hard Electronic” is an umbrella musical term that encompasses several electronic dance music genres and sub-genres generated since the early 1990’s from the “rave” subculture of music. In general, the word “hard” refers to a darker, distorted soundscape, and, or, a soundscape which is initially “hard to listen to”, “baroque”, abstract, or complicated.  Examples of EDM subgenres classified within “Hard Electronic” are: hardcore techno, drum and bass, hardstyle, rawstyle, psytrance, jungle, crossbreed, Detroit Techno, acid techno, splittercore, speedcore, intelligent dance music, tekno, hard trance, happy hardcore, trance, hard trap, trap and breakcore, though there are many more.

The term “hard electronic” was coined by Lenny Dee, owner of Industrial Strength Records and a pioneer in hardcore techno, hard techno, and other early rave music. His feeling was that an umbrella term was needed to encompass all the stylistic derivations that emerged from hardcore techno, (for example: gabber, happy hardcore, breakcore, and trance), while simultaneously recognizing the “hardcore” variations predominant in the UK in the early 90’s and their offspring. For example: hardcore breakbeat, jungle, drum and bass, grime, speed garage and dubstep.

In 2015, Industrial Strength Records started a sub-label called “Hard Electronic” featuring music that was in the 128-150 beats-per-minute range, and sounding much like a heavily distorted re-thinking of the techno-trance genres, occasionally punctuated by sound effects reminiscent of early rave music. In essence, it seems that the earliest ideation of the label was to reclaim the lower bpm-ranges previously abandoned by the various hard electronic sub-genres. The label has yet to be widely promoted but its output thus far occupies an interesting space in the overall electronic dance music market.

I'll be playing a hard electronic set at 9 P.M. sharp at Arizr! May 12, 2017 techno edition. For those curious to hear hard electronic on a big system, this is it!
I’ll be playing a hard electronic set at 9 P.M. sharp at Arizr! May 12, 2017 techno edition. For those curious to hear hard electronic on a big system, this is it!

As a DJ that routinely plays hardcore techno and hardstyle, the bpm range in my performances range from about 150-230 bpm. In general, only the young or young-at-heart, literally, can keep up with these speeds. The market is such that I am generally only booked to play these speeds. I don’t really mind, of course, but one thing I believe missing from the current EDM/rave market is the idea of the “build-up.” This may sound strange, as plenty of modern EDM tracks contain “build-ups” and “drops” within their composition. What I mean is a more natural musical build-up through the course of a night. In the glory days of the early rave scene, a rave’s dj line-up was generally programmed so that the music started slow, got faster, reached a peak, and then slowed back down towards the end of the night.

As the various rave sub-genres splintered, they each seemed to occupy definite BPM ranges that were quite tight and unchanging. The problem with this is that the crowd never seems to get properly “warmed up.” The faster hardcore techno suffered the most from this I believe, because in the older paradigm people knew to save their energy for the peak, and a mainstream audience could be comfortably introduced to the faster speeds at the same time.

The music on the “Hard Electronic” label, while only occupying a sliver of the overall soundscape encompassed in the term “hard electronic” brings some valuable tools to the hard electronic DJ’s tool kit. Because the music is slower, it can be more easily embraced by an older audience. It is easier to dance to for any age, really, and could easily be at home in a club playing traditional techno, trance or house music. For the “hardcore” crowd who demands a darker and more abstract soundscape in general, the HE tracks provide a nice warm-up to the night, and expand the sonic palette for artist and dancer alike, while clearly drawing a path to the more extreme music on the horizon, if desired.

At the Trauma One-Year Anniversary party in Los Angeles, I opened a 2 hour set with one hour of tracks from the H.E. label. The crowd reaction was one of extreme curiosity from young and old alike. A few people came up on stage to see the playlist, though one or two hard-heads were taken aback by the slower speeds. Nonetheless, the tracks bridged great as I eventually sped up to about 175 beats-per-minute in the second hour and had the crowd bouncing off the walls. There was a tangible sense of comfort the crowd had that had long been missing from hardcore shows. Basically the idea of “warming the crowd up” seemed to eventually effect a really nice atmosphere for the rest of the night. Granted, the hardcore crowd won’t remember any fireworks from this part of your show necessarily, but you’re laying out a great foundation for the rest of your night. For an older or more mainstream crowd however, some of the H.E. tracks might be considered real “bangers” and bring some fresh sounds to the night whilst still maintaining a club’s overall musical parameters.

So without further ado, here is a mix of Hard Electronic (the label) tracks I spun at ARIZR! a couple months ago. Enjoy!

Also, Friday, May 12, 2017 I’m going to warm up the crowd with a little hard electronic at the Techno Edition of ARIZR! Be There!

https://www.facebook.com/events/103712070171431/

And finally, some of my favorite tracks from Hard Electronic…