Beast interviews...Denis Horvat

DJ and Producer Denis Horvat came to Beast’s attention last year in 2016 with the track ‘Momak’ which was released on Innervisions ‘Secret Weapons 8’ EP. Its deep pulsating vibe played to the rich, dark sounds that Minotaur Sound love to hear and dance to. There are only a few scatterings of Denis’s DJ sets available out there to listen to and each one is utterly sublime to hear – Denis proves that he can produce well and he can also DJ with the same passion and panache that he applies to his music. His music and sets already weave a unique flavor of depth and melodic techno that allow you to recognize Denis immediately from his peers.

Sharing the same bill as the likes of Ame, Dixon and Maceo Plex and signed up to Aeon and Innervisions and with his latest Axle EP release, it was high time that The Beast brought the Danish Dynamite to Bristol for what will be his debut on Saturday May 13^th at Lakota. Beast invited Denis into the epicenter of his labyrinth for a pre party interview to ask him a few questions and get some insight for Saturday night.

Denis Horvat

Beast asked Denis what he usually starts with when preparing for a set. “I listen to a lot of podcasts and DJ sets from other acts - it gives me ideas and inspiration for my DJ sets. I don’t have a special ritual or preparation strategy. I just play the music I like”. As has been mentioned several times in previous Beast interviews this is a strategy that works best for Minotaur Sound nights – it’s critically essential that DJ’s enjoy themselves and play what they like. There is always a risk that a set becomes stale and constrained if a DJ is too rigorous or doesn’t go with the flow or enjoy himself.

To further prove this point Beast asks Denis what makes him decide to play a particular record/track during one of his sets. “First of all I'm adapting my music to the audience. I wouldn't play a techno tune or a peak time track, in the early hours. But I love to play varied!” Beast clasps his hooves with glee – had Denis told him that he is prescriptive or doesn’t read his audience he would have chopped off his head immediately. No time for selfishness where Minotaur Sound is involved.

Denis is always dedicated to his incredibly well equipped studio (Beast has synthesizer envy) and is always posting on social media about his work and his travels. Beast is keen to find out more about how Denis manages a good work/ life balance in between releasing his epically good Axle EP (which Beast and crew have been listening to avidly since it was released in early April). Denis explains “I'm also really happy about the release, even though the tracks are almost 1.5 years old. But the feedback has been amazing. It's a bit tough to balance DJ’ing, studio and private life. For me the key is discipline and self-control, and to get properly rested during the week. It's like a never-ending Jetlag feeling, when you sleep a minimum amount of hours when touring”. Beast’s man crush with Denis peaks even higher - such dedication to his work. To follow Denis at his studio or on his travels, head to his Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/denishorvat/

Beast asks Denis what was his most unusual or memorable set location and Denis tells Beast that the most unusual place he played at was in a chalet in Geneva. A really cosy place up in the alps. Lets find out if Denis can add Lakota to his list of memorable places – the Beast intends to set up temporary labyrinthine court there on Saturday May 13^th.

Denis’s musical offerings garner many enthused comments on Mixcloud and Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/denis-horvat. Beast is curious about track listings and asks Denis how he feels when he sees people desperate for track listings and whether he has any memory of tracks that he’s heard but have never been able to acquire? Denis tells Beast “People are way too curious about track listings/track ID. They should focus more in enjoying the sets, rather than being detectives :) &ME from Keinemusik played a really nice track a few years ago. In pretty much all his sets and podcasts, but I never found the ID. My guess is it's one of his own edits of remixes, which won't be released”. Are you reading this &ME?

Beast is keen to find out any other titbit that Denis would be happy to share with his fans. “Well besides the studio geek that I am, I really enjoy drinking rum and cognac. And I'm a big sneaker collector :) “. You hear that Bristol? Beast informs his minions and Minotaur Sound posse to refrain themselves from throwing their underwear at Denis on Saturday. Perhaps sneakers, rum and cognac will go down a little better ;-)

Join the Beast and his minions as Denis decimates Lakota on Saturday night together with Lee Williams, Kuba Drypher, Ellis Odyssey, Nautz & Toppa and G Rowe – also with Peasoup, Kagun and Orion in the DnB room.

Recommend that you buy your ticket well in advance for this one here: http://hdfst.uk/E36511

See you on Saturday May 13 for an epic and glitter infused night!

Beast interviews Naomi from We Creatures

You can imagine just how excited Beast would be to interview the insanely gorgeous Naomi who heads up her very own Horns, Headresses and Costume Design company aptly titled ‘We Creatures’. Naomi captivated Beast and his minions for last year’s Launch Party – after 3000 years of hibernation, Beasts horns were looking decidedly unhorny – just little nubbins that poked embarrassingly out of his head. Naomi lovingly made a beautiful new pair for him and Beast has been grateful to her ever since. Not only that – to add to Naomi’s incredibly dextrous talents she also performs regularly in her own creations – be it at festivals, art installations or photo shoots. She performs either by herself or in a troupe of other horned up lovelies.

Naomi from We Creatures
Photo credit @Robvoodoo

Beast was keen to catch up with Naomi again before the upcoming party - once again wanting to know what goodies she will be bringing“Hiya again Beast! Our team of fauns will be bringing ALL the fab and sass, glittering any and all party goers and supplying fantastical dress up pieces from your dreams!!” Beast is so excited he does a little victory dance and remembers what it was like at last year’s party – so many Minotaur guests came away with lovely handmade horns which they’d bought from Naomi to remind themselves of the Minotaur Sound launch party – they are perfect for festivals and parties! Beast wants to know why – “We’ve all been obsessed with dressing up from a young age, so we are natural creatures of the clubbing underground” – never has a truer word been said. One of the many reasons why Naomi and her fauns fit right in with the Minotaur crew. Naomi also adds “Personally as a maker, I love making the outlandish and avant garde a reality for people and developing comfortable and fantastical headpieces is something of an obsession at this point! Also I just really, really shamelessly love covering people in glitter!” Beast can’t wait to be one of the many to get glittered up on Saturday.

As much as Beast wishes he could keep Naomi as his personal indulgent secret, he knows he can’t do so. So if you want to check out We Creatures on Instagram take a look here: http://instagram.com/we.creatures and to gaze lovingly at Naomi’s handmade headdresses and horns go here – you will find them hard to resist: http://wecreaturescostume.etsy.com and http://wecreatures.co.uk.

As the interview comes to an end, Naomi and her fauns dance around The Beast, blow a kiss to his fuzzy face and dance out of his labyrinth “See you next Saturday Beast! Can’t wait to party with you in your Lakota den!” – Beast is delighted, it takes much to reduce this huge shaggy, mythical giant into a quivering heap of fuzzy giggles. Only a few more sleeps until Naomi and her fauns are back dancing alongside Minotaur guests and DJ’s Denis Horvat, Lee Williams, Kuba Drypher, Peasoup, Orion, Kagun, Nautz & Toppa, Ellis Odyssey and G Rowe with all the glitter that you could possibly imagine. Lakota will never have seen so many sassy sparkles! Get your tickets here: http://hdfst.uk/E36511

Beast interviews...G Rowe (again)

Back in February 2016 Minotaur Sound resident DJ G Rowe (George) was first on the bill (together with Donewrong) at the Launch Party. Take a look at his original interview here: http://minotaursound.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/g-rowe-minotaur-sound-dj-interview.html

His was a Pied Piper type role to lay down the tracks that would set the precedent for the evening ahead and bring all the Beast creatures out of their hiding places. He did such an amazing job with aplomb and glory that Beast was keen to get him back in for the May party. Beast was keen to find out what he had been up to since the Launch Party of dreams and wonderment. He asks him what other musical delights he has seen in the last year.

G Rowe with Donewrong at Minotaur Sound Launch Party

“The DirtyTalk night in November with DJ Sotofett was the best thing I’ve been to in years. So much goodness all night long!” Beast nods his horned head vigorously, DJ Sotofett is one that he has his eye on at the moment. Beast, ever in pursuit of knowledge wishes to feed his musical wisdom by asking G Rowe for advice as to how to become a DJ. He expects that G Rowe must have had to undergo Herculean feats of dextrous mastery that aimed to place him high on a pedestal in honour and glorification to the musical Gods – “Errrr no…just start? Dive straight in. I think I got a pirate version of Traktor and started pissing around trying to mix and recording my lame attempts, to play to friends. Eventually a friend was good/desperate enough to let me play at their night. Everyone gets desperate” …Beast is silent, a piece of tumbleweed drifts slowly between him and G Rowe, a toll bell rings out across the Minotaur court.

Beast shrugs off the momentary pause and asks George if he has any surprises in store for the May night – “My main surprise is that Neil (Donewrong) isn’t playing, so there will probably be some sort of equipment failure that I won’t know how to fix” – Beast is sad that Donewrong can’t play as he did at the Launch Party but he has other events planned for this year and will be ensuring that he returns to the decks to wow the crowd just as he did with G Rowe at the Launch Party.

Finally Beast wants to know if George has been up to anything else in the last year “I’ve made some flashy light content to put towards the next night (another interview will uncover who the mysterious person is behind the visuals for the May night) and also check out my Instagram for other visuals I’ve been making”. The marvels of being a multi faceted creative – Beast can’t wait to see George’s flashy light thing on Minotaur night – take a look at his Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/georgehenryrowe/

Soak G Rowe in by Techno osmosis at the next Minotaur Sound night in May together with Nautz & Toppa, Lee Williams, Denis Horvat and Kuba Drypher. Get your tickets here: http://hdfst.uk/E36511

Beast interviews...Hula-dancer Amy Darling

Beast is partial to a Performer or 2 – whilst his ancient roots dictate a particular fondness for enslaved performers, he realises that 3000 years have passed and that he can no longer keep them on chains for his viewing pleasure. However, when The Beast’s attention was drawn to the beautiful Amy Darling he got decidedly twitchy. Watch her in action here:

Amy will be bringing the hooping love to Beast’s May 13^th party at The Office, Deep Pit Road, Bristol BS5 7AW and Beast was keen to find out more about what hooping is all about and how she got into it. Whilst hula hooping of sorts has been around in different guises throughout history, it’s only been as early back as the 90’s where colourful displays have started to mesmerise modern day crowds.

Amy tells Beast that she has been hooping for just over a year. She got hoop hooked after one of her circus friends showed her a trick and instantly fell in love.

“I’m self-taught ever since” she tells Beast and goes on to explain how liberated she feels when she dances with her hoop. “I’ve always been a performer and I love to dance, so now when I hula hoop I can fully express myself. It’s a hobby that keeps on giving! Every day I learn a new trick and it feels amazing!”

Amy Darling mesmerises at Stonehenge

Beast is curious to know if others feel as hypnotised as he does when he watches Amy’s hoop twirl. Amy tells him “Hula hooping is quite a rare talent, so when people watch me they become entranced. It’s always such a positive reaction!” – Beast tries his best to snap out of the trance of Amy's colourful hoop twirling around and around and asks her to tell him what is the most unusual place where she has hula hooped. “I’ve hula hooped on top of a mountain in Nepal. All of the locals watched me in awe – I have to say that it was probably one of the best moments in my life!”

It’s at this point that Beast’s eyes reduce to a pinpoint and one of his minions has to rouse him out of his enchantment. It takes much to reduce our great big grizzly beast to this shadow of his former self. Come to the May 13^th party and watch a glittered up Amy twirl and spin her hula in hypnotic techno infused magic. Glitter, UV murals and horntastic muses will also be involved.

The Beast is very happy that Amy Darling will be joining the crew to add to the Techno and DnB magic. We can't wait to see her adding her flourish to what will be one of the top Bristol nights debuting Danish Dynamite Denis Horvat from Innervisions/Aeon and Afterlife.

 Get your tickets here: http://hdfst.uk/E36511

Beast interviews...Ellis Odyssey and Ollie (Nautz & Toppa):

The time has come for Beast to interview two of his newest DJ additions to the Minotaur court. Ellis Odyssey and Ollie (one half of the DJ duo Nautz & Toppa with Tom Whitakker) both of whom will be playing B2B at the Beast’s next May 13^th night. More details and tickets about Beast’s coveted event can be found here: http://hdfst.uk/E36511.

Ellis and Ollie met at college on a music production course, friendship was forged and a DJ alliance was decreed. They have been Dj’ing B2B since and are keen to transmit a sense of euphoria and escape to all those who listen and dance to them – this DJ passion caught Beast’s attention immediately. Ellis and Ollie explain that they have practiced their Dj’ing religiously and have dedicated that same passion throughout whether in a club or in their front room whilst drinking tea.

Ellis Odyssey

Beast is forever intrigued as to what makes someone suddenly want to DJ. Ellis explains that he got into serious DJ’ing when the tax man issued Ellis with a tax rebate and he was able to afford some Pioneer CDJ 1000 mk3’s and a DJM 800 mixer – Beast is surprised that tax rebates even happen. Where Beast comes from tax payments are only made in blood. Both Ollie and Ellis have lovingly collected and produced their only music too. Ellis collects and plays on vinyl as he was brought up hearing the rich sounds that only a vinyl record can transmit. Ollie tells Beast that he dedicates his dj’ing to creating a sense of euphoria and escape with his dance crowd – he’s fascinated by creating an essential musical connection between the DJ and the Crowd and will be re-creating that with Ellis at Minotaur Sound night on May 13^th.

Ollie has played at Apex and Nightowl and supported the likes of Dante, Darius Syrossian and Sidney Charles. Catch him at upcoming Home and Nozstock Festivals this year.

Ollie and Tom (Nautz & Toppa)

Beast is happy – so many wannabe DJ’s come forth, they play for a practice session and end up not connecting with the crowd – this is just plain selfish and Beast ends up chopping off their heads in retaliation. Beast teases out the secret to becoming a DJ – not just any DJ but a DJ that people can look up to and allow them to be lead on a musical journey. Ellis and Ollie explain that they are not in a position to give any advice to those wanting to DJ - but the only thing that they can say is that you must play what moves you, to dance and enjoy – it’s what the crowd will pick up the most. Also to get out there as much as you can, go to parties, meet people and keep collecting and writing music. Beast’s furry chin starts to quiver at Ellis and Ollie’s humility before he catches himself and swiftly returns to his dark Beastly self by downing a tankard of mead and belching loudly.

Ellis Odyssey and Ollie (Nautz and Toppa) will be energising the main Techno Minotaur room playing B2B on May 13th together with Lee Williams, Kuba Drypher, G Rowe and Denis Horvat.

Tune in to Nautz & Toppa SoundCloud’s here: https://soundcloud.com/nautzandtoppa

Beast Interviews...Lee Williams

Listen to Lee William's Minotaur Sound Promo Mix Part 1.

Lee Williams

The Beast receives lots of requests from those wanting to take part in his epic nights of shadowy dancefloor legend. By Minotaur decree, DJ appeals must be accompanied by mythical feats being performed to prove said talents – many an intrepid DJ has succumbed to fingers getting chopped off - such is the wrath of the Beast when demanding musical perfection. The day that Bournemouth DJ Lee Williams came forward to speak to The Beast, goes down in Minotaur Sound history. Lee had already made his mark securing bookings at some of the biggest events in the UK as well as in Europe. Working on the same bill as Sasha, Darren Emerson, Layo & Bushwaka, Dave Angel, Billy Nasty and Nick Muir to mention a few.

He’s appeared at Ministry of Sound, Pascha, Pulse Festival and The Egg as well as runs and headlines his night Terminal in Bournemouth. Masterful at wrapping his crowd in sound to scale heady musical heights and immersing them into the kind of nights that you never want to end. To say that Lee had Beast’s attention is an understatement. Beast was keen to share the DJ love and get Minotaur Sound fans learning about the hottest DJ Jedi in the Minotaur Lair.

Lee tells Beast that he bought his first set of turntables at the age of 13 and that as his Dad was also a DJ, his interest in music goes back as far as he can remember. For years he would collect records and practice on his turntables until one day, when another DJ pulled out of an event at the last minute, a request was made for Lee to make his debut appearance. He took the night by storm and never looked back.

Beast likes Lee’s dynamism – as a seasoned DJ he asks him what makes a good DJ? “I think a good DJ is someone that is original and true to themselves – delivering something exciting and unique to the people they play to. I think it’s very obvious to see if someone has a true love and passion for music. This energy resonates in the work they do in the club or studio – music lovers will see right through you if you’re not true to that.” True that! Beast will be spreading this message far and wide to future DJ’s coming forth.

Lee is inspired by so many artists – Beast can attest to this, the size of Lee’s musical hard drive makes everyone’s eyes water. At the moment Lee is inspired by Tin Man, Daniel Avery, Stephan Bodzin and Third Son. One day very soon he would love to appear on the same bill as Recondite or Ame.

Beast is left in such a cheery mood after interviewing Lee, he asks for another tasty titbit.

Lee tells Beast that stepping in to save the night has happened to him on a few occasions. Most recently when having to play at a gay bar in Cologne where another DJ had cancelled – it meant that, end to end he played for 7 hours, then gathered up his things and flew home. What a musical hero! Beast is so impressed that he wishes he could sacrifice a Virgin in his honor. Luckily the Minotaur Minions were able to stop him in time – mostly due to a lack of Virgins in the immediate area.

Catch Lee lubricating the airwaves and energizing the Beast’s techno court with Denis Horvat, G Rowe, Ellis Odyssey and Nautz & Toppa and Kuba Drypher at the next Minotaur night on May 13^th.
Get your tickets here.

Beast interviews…Kagun and Orion

Beast is at it again – bringing you the DJ juice.

Kagun

This time finding out more about back room DnB DJ’s and Producers Orion and Kagun. Beast headhunted (swords were not involved this time) the musical duo for the upcoming May gig – it’s just impossible not to hoof stomp to their bass riddled beats and Beast had to have them.

Beast just knows that Orion and Kagun are on track for big things - their talent and mutual love for bass can be palpably heard – check out their soundclouds below:


Orion: https://soundcloud.com/ori-tolkovsky

Kagun: https://soundcloud.com/kagundnb

Kagun has performed sets in Northampton, London and Bristol and is influenced by Fre4knc, Break and Amoss.

Orion is part of Bristol based Inkline Collective and Dorset based Nuphunk Collective and has played at numerous events in the South West to include alongside Xtrah – for which he won a much coveted music competition. He tells beast that he loves to mix and produce the whole spectrum of drum and bass and both he and Kagun delights the crew with a promise for B2B surprises and a journey into heavy basslines in May.

Orion

They tell Beast that they met at Bris-Tek whilst dancing at the front for the whole night and quickly realised that their musical talents were best pooled as one - in one of the most exciting DnB mandem duos to hit Bristol and the South West…watch out world. If you want to catch them before the next Minotaur night, head to Inkline at the Doghouse, Bristol this Thursday 23rd March 2017.

Beast asks them, if given the choice of DJ to get stuck on a desert island, who would this be? Orion tells Beast “I’d happily be stuck on a desert island with Calibre! The man is a genius. I look up to him so much because he makes a whole range of musical styles and is the most humble guy”. Kagun likes Calibre but says he would be most happiest stuck with Fre4knc to rinse out the riddims – Beast suddenly wants to get stuck on a desert island with Kagun, Orion, Calibre and Fre4knc but has to satisfy himself that getting stuck with them in the DnB back room dungeon with Peasoup at the upcoming Minotaur Sound Party on May 13^th 2017 will be amazingly rad and will have to suffice…for now.

Minotaur Sound Fam - get your tickets asap to catch Kagun and Orion providing an almighty back room DnB mood changer to the Techno main room with Denis Horvat, Lee Williams, Kuba Drypher, Ellis Odyssey, Nautz & Toppa and G Rowe on May 13th 2017 at The Office, Bristol: Click here for ticket and event details.