Hard House Revolution chats with Paul Maddox (August 21, 2007)
reported by Rahul NRG

At the tender age of 16, most of us would be partying hard, skipping classes, begging our parents to throw the best “sweet 16” birthday on the block and have the utmost fun with our lives (including getting grounded!). Well, so would have been the case with this young and talented DJ and producer. Yet unlike many, he had taken the right turn of life and began persuading his passion for music.

Started off as a bedroom DJ, Paul was budding with talent like nobody’s business. His track writing ability and production skills have been an exhibition this world was yet to see. It was just a matter of time when he was quickly recognized by the well known TIDY TRAX and was signed immediately. The rest was history. With 5 years of faithful service to the masses in the UK, Paul has played across the country at many prominent venues such as TIDY WEEKENDER, POLYSEXUAL, CREAMFIELDS, I LOVE VC and in many countries across the world that have had him back again and again!

During the long weekend, more specifically on September 2nd, we will be witnessing one of UK’s finest producers and most respected DJs in the Hard Dance circuit. Please put on your best outfit, bring out those glow-sticks and put your hands together to welcome, the one and only, Paul Maddox!

Welcome back to Canada Paul! Thanks for taking the time to talk to HHR! How are you doing?

Cheers! Yeah, I’m good

Paul for us naïve rave heads, please tell us a bit about where you’re from and when and how you fell in love with the genre you excel in today?

I’m from Sheffield, in the north of England and about 8 years ago (while I was far too young and looked even younger!) I started going out to Hard House clubs. I’d already been messing about with making a few tracks, but as my weekends became dominated by the harder stuff it all started to fall into place.

You were discovered by the infamous TIDY TRAX at the age of 16; how did that come about? Was it something you expected? How excited were you?

I gave a demo CD to the Tidy Boys at a night they were playing at. I didn’t even really expect them to play it, let alone give me a job! Excited would be an enormous understatement.

I don’t know how else to put this but, how on earth do you make such amazing tracks? What’s your secret?

There’s no secret recipe I’m afraid. I just make tracks that I want to make and don’t send them out til I’m happy with them. I scrap more tracks than I release, so I suppose quality control is important!

Ever since then, you’ve been ever so busy behind the decks and your studio producing innumerous tracks and remixes; did you drop out of school or did you continue and graduate? If so, how did you make time to work on two entirely different and distracting spectrums?

I finished 6th form (not sure what you call that over there, I finished aged 17/18) but unsurprisingly didn’t do as well as I would have done had I not spent all my time clubbing and working on tracks!

You are known by many aliases, namely Barely Legal, Spektre, Olive Grooves and Azure for different musical ventures; how did you come about these alter egos and what styles of music do they represent?

Barely Legal: Collaborations with Guyver, usually with tech and psy trance influences. The name was just because when we first worked together we were only in our teens.

Spektre: A tech-house collaboration with Filthy Rich (http://www.myspace.com/spektre1)

Olive Grooves: Funky, retro hardhouse. The name is a tribute to a house I used to share with my mates which became a bit of a regular party venue, it was on a street called Olive Grove Road.

Azure: Trancier material, originally conceived for the “Sunset” bootleg of Cassius’ “Sound of Violence”

In 2005, you started producing under the alias Olive Grooves. As you’ve mentioned earlier, your new guise will take on a load of fresh and funky hard house beats. How did that come around?

I was playing quite a lot of early sets, and was struggling to find new material to play, so it seemed like the logical step to fill the gap myself!

Amongst your long and remarkable list of remixes, some of the most popular remixes made by your sense of style such as Ferry Corsten’s “Rock your body”, N-Trance’s “Set you free” etc. are absolute belters played at many events including BBC’s Radio 1; have you been approached by any commercial artist in today’s pop world to do a remix of their tracks?

Unfortunately not, I’d jump at the chance if they did though.

Who have been your inspirations to get into the hard house circuit?

The DJ’s who really inspired me early on were, Steve Thomas, Andy Farley & Paul Glazby

Are there any producers, DJs or artists you would love to work with?

I’ve been lucky enough to work with most of the people I really admire within the hardhouse scene. I’m always interested to work with good vocalists though.

Do you ever get time to go clubbing with your friends? Do you find time for other activities or are you one of those “all work and no play makes Paul a dull boy”?

Not as often as I’d like, but I still find plenty of opportunities to let my hair down. Thankfully for me the line between work and play is almost invisible!

Paul you’ve played at many prestigious venues across the UK such as TIDY WEEKENDER, POLYSEXUAL, CREAMFIELDS, I LOVE VC, etc. you’ve also played at events in Norway, Japan, New Zealand, America and a few years ago in Montreal, Canada. What do you think of the NRG from these countries and/places compared to the UK?

Its always interesting to see how the scenes are in other countries. In countries with relatively a small hardhouse following people always seem to be bang up for it when international DJs play, which is great. I’ve not been to Canada for a few years now and its always been great in the past, so I’m looking forward to getting over there again.

We’ve been mesmerized by some of the finest DJs and producers from the UK and around the world. And we’re as ever ready for you! What can we expect from you on September 2nd?

I always try an play a good mixture of stuff, from the groovy stuff up to the harder end, obviously with plenty of new tracks fresh out of the studio!

With a surplus quantity of releases on TIDY TRAX, a profusion of remixes on numerous record labels such as NUKLEUZ, VICIOUS CIRCLE, TIDY TRAX, MINISTRY OF SOUND, MOHAWK RECORDS, etc. compilations, DJ mixes and appearances, do you think you may perhaps start your own record label? Has it been on your mind?

I’m nowhere near organised enough to run any kind of business! I prefer to stick to what I’m good at and leave running the labels to people who know what they’re doing.

What does the future hold for Mr. Maddox?

Just keeping plenty of projects on the go, mainly the Hardhouse stuff, Spektre and a dance/indie hybrid thing I’ve got simmering away.

Lastly Paul, we’re going to play a quick round of 10 questions. Ready?! Go!
• Favourite DJ? Danny Howells
• Favourite producer? Hardfloor or BT, could never choose!
• Favourite track of all time? Mory Kante “Yeke Yeke” (Hardfloor Mix)
• Favourite super hero/heroine? Bananaman
• Favourite super villain/villainess? The Baron from Dangermouse
• Favourite food? I love pretty much all food!
• Favourite past time activity? Eating
• Single? Taken? Taken :oD
• Favourite Canadian celebrity? Terrence & Phillip, in fact, anyone except Celine Dion
• Favourite politician? Nelson Mandela

Paul thank you for participating in the 10 questions round and thanks for taking the time for chatting with us. We look forward to your set and your mind blasting tunes on September 2nd! Enjoy your stay in Canada!

Thanks, im sure it’ll be a good un.