Category Archives: Interviews

Where are you from? What is the music scene like there?

I live here in Middletown, New Jersey and have lived here my entire life along with most of my family. As for music scene, there is a lot of pop punk, alternativ,e and other music but absolutely no hard dance scene. It’s very slim pickings in this state!

How did you come up with your DJ name?

My DJ name is my own name. When I first began, I realized the obsession artists seem to have with the letter “Z” and random adjectives, so I strayed far from that! I realized I wanted to just make music under my own name because simply it’s just who I am… literally.

What animal best personifies your music and why?

Hmmm, that’s a hard one! Maybe a grizzly bear? They’re aggressive and from what I hear on documentaries, they hit hard!

What are you trying to convey with your music?

Nothing. I know it sounds crazy, but quite honestly I just enjoy making hard music. Each track is usually a different vibe from the last, and I just try to make stuff I think sounds cool and aggressive, or even different that typical stuff.

Can you describe the feeling you get when you’re on stage?

Even still I get butterflies before some shows, especially when I have a load of new music to play. Testing new tracks always gets me a bit jittery. On stage I usually get a huge rush the second I hit play for the first time, and then from there on out it’s all about going crazy and enjoying myself.

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

It’s hard to pick one specific moment to be honest, because it feels every single moment in my career so far has brought me great happiness and pride. I always tell people of course this is what I love to do, but I never imagined I would be doing/accomplishing some of the stuff I have already in my career.

What are your major influences?

There are so many, but here are three that come to mind immediately…

F. Noize—Been a fan for as long as I could remember, as well as a friend. He’s supported me and my music a ton, and is one of my favorite producers in the game.

Furyan—Probably my favorite producer on the Masters of Hardcore label. Blows me away with every track, and inspires many of my new tracks I’m working on.

Partyraiser—Do I even need to explain why? Absolute legend.

And without question the two legends of American hardcore: Rob GEE and Lenny Dee!

Where do you see yourself a year from now?

This is an interesting question, because where I saw myself a year from now is happening sooner than you realize…so I’ll wait for you guys to see.

Otherwise I just see myself making more music and continuing to push the limits of myself and my tracks and bringing fresh ideas and sounds along the way!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimShoppOfficial
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/timshopp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tim_Shopp
Instagram: http://instagram.com/timshopp

Interviews

Cik Interview

October 10, 2017 3MiloE

Where are you from?

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?

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?

Industrial Strength — “Industrial Strength”

What are your major influences?

Leloo Dallas , Hugh Hefner (RIP), stroopwafels, coffee, food, and Redtube.

www.djcik.com

www.facebook.com/djcik

www.soundcloud.com/cik-2

https://www.mixcloud.com/Cik_Dave/

Affiliations: Industrial Strength/AZHC/Insane/SFU

Interviews

Interview with Nekrokick

October 10, 2017 3MiloE

Where are you from? What is the music scene like in that area?

I was born in Dallas, Texas. I moved to Seattle, Washington in early 2000. Between 2002 and 2010, I performed as a hardcore DJ at dozens of Seattle-area raves, and crowds lost their minds to the 2000’s era darkcore and industrial that I was known for. The Seattle electronic music scene is fairly healthy, currently consisting mostly of EDM, house/tech-house, drum and bass, dubstep, and trap. The current hardcore scene in Seattle is fantastic for the UK/upfront/HHC/freeform styles, but there is not a lot along the lines of Dutch hardcore, terror, industrial, Frenchcore, and the like.

How did you come up with your DJ name?

I spent a lot of time under another name, which was very obscure and cryptic. I decided that it was time for a change, and began brainstorming names by drawing logo concepts. I landed on Nekrokick after sketching/drawing while listening to some industrial hardcore, and I pretty much got stuck looking at it over and over. I think it fits my writing style and overall sound. Nekro: a stylized spelling of Necro meaning death; and then kick: the primary characteristic element, the kick drum, of the music I make.

What animal best personifies your music and why?

Clearly, a vampire bat!

What are you trying to convey with your music?

Mainly, I just want to convey some bass face. I like to deliver deep, heavy kicks, with tough percussive elements, screaming leads, and pounding dance-centric grooves.

Can you describe the feeling you get when you’re on stage?

I get very anxious leading up to the first mix in a set. I have been performing hardcore music on stage since 2002, but I still get butterflies every time. When I see the crowd reacting to the tracks, its a real rush!

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

Signing with the Hard Electronic / Industrial Strength Records family was definitely the most exciting moment in my production career.

What was the first song or album that you remember listening too?

Ever? Well, Beastie Boys’ “License To Ill” was the first album I ever owned. My uncle gave it to me on cassette, and I literally wore that shit out! As for hardcore, believe the first tunes I ever heard were Neophyte’s “Braincracking” and DJ Skinhead’s “Extreme Terror (D.O.A. Mix)”

What are your major influences?

I have always been heavily influenced by my appreciation for several metal sub-genres, like black metal, death metal, deathcore, and such. I also appreciate a lot of the founders of hardcore music like Lenny Dee, Neophyte, Paul Elstak, DJ Promo, Manu Le Malin, Mark Newlands, and Nosferatu. Those people have had a strong influence on my musical tastes. I could name drop hardcore artists who have inspired for days, but I’d always feel like I’m leaving someone out. The jungle of the late 90s up to the current heavy drum and bass—from techstep and hardstep to the brutal skullstep/tear-out/pots-n-pans styles—have also held a special place for me. I’ve also followed a lot of the hard techno out of Europe for many years, even occasionally performing techno in Seattle, rather than my typical hardcore sets.

Where do you see yourself a year from now?

Mainly, sitting on top of several more successful releases, working with more and more artists that I admire, and continuing to push the limits in hard music.

Affiliations: Industrial Strength / Hard Electronic (USA Extreme Is Everything / Toxic Sickness (UK) Insane Agency (FR)

http://soundcloud.com/nekrokick

http://facebook.com/nekrokick

http://nekrokick.com

Interviews

Ron D Core Interview

September 23, 2017 3MiloE

Captured in this film is an interview with Ron D Core, a hero from the underground hardcore scene. Ron is a DJ, and is known for being a pioneer in the early years of electronic music. This interview gives insight into his personal experiences as a DJ and insight into his style of music. You’ll learn how he gained his notoriety, what some of his musical influences are, and some of his accomplishments as an artist and DJ.