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TheBeatRanch.com - Interviews - Amber D


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Starting off our November interviews we have Amber D.

Amber D has been in the forefront of the hard dance scene for nearly a decade, and during that time she has won MixMag's Future Hard Dance hero two years in a row (something that no other DJ has done). She has also been one of the only few Hard Dance DJ’s to do an Essential Mix, live on BBC's Radio 1. With her chart topping productions and highly skilled DJ sets, she has toured the globe playing in places like Russia, Bahrain, Dubai, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand to name just a few.

Now with out any further ado, Amber D

Welcome to The Beat Ranch Amber. For those who have been under a rock for the last 7 years or so can you let them know where you are from and what the scene is like out there at the moment?

Well my name is Amber D, and I play Tech-Dance, Hard Trance and Hardstyle. I am also known as Amber D'Amour for my Tech-House / Electro / Fidget sets. I also run a record label and events nights under the name D'Amour Recordings also. The scene is better than is to be expected in a financial downturn, and its good to see that its not stopping people from going out full stop.. Rest assured, the worst is definately over!

You were selected as Mixmag's Future Hard Dance Hero in 2004, no easy feat for anyone. Looking back did you ever think you would have gotten this far?

I actually acheived that accolade in both 2003 and 2004, for which no one else has ever won that award twice. So i am very proud of that! I also got to do an Essential Mix live on Radio One in 2005, which was fantastic.... Looking back, i have achieved quite a bit, but i still want to carry on and try to do more and more. Its never enough! Life is all about experiences, after all...

Did you look up to anyone in the scene when starting out? If so who?

I always loved Armand Van Helden, Grandmaster Flash and Todd Terry was my GOD! Still is...

Being a female DJ in the early rave days was almost never heard of, now a days it seems as though more and more women have come through and made themselves known to the world. Do think the likes of Lisa Lashes, Anne Savage and yourself have made that possible?

I don't see really why it is any different for a female to DJ, than a male. Although I do try to show that I am really more of a producer (with a diploma in Music Technology under my belt, and also i am a classically trained pianist) than just a DJ. Its good that its evened out in the sense that there are nearly as many females as men in the scene these days. Unless you're really talented, you're not going to get anywhere anyway for very long..

You have had the chance to play out all over the world it seems, if you could play anywhere in the world for one night where would it be and why?

I'd love to play in Valley of the Kings in Egypt. That would be amazing.....

Although we would like to imagine all DJs being flawless on the decks all the time, has there ever been a time where things were not going right or some crazy technical problems of sorts?

Maybe back in the early days.... some of the set ups i had to play on in back-rooms, or tiny little clubs were amazingly bad. Sometimes, I even had to rewire the set up myself, to get optimum performance (I did 3 years sound engineering college). I am surprised I've not been electrocuted at some point!

You play out under the guise Amber D'Amour for your electro & house sets. How has that been going?

Really good! the label is doing well.... I am also now doing live Traktor Pro sets with my Allen & Heath 4d, which is fantastic fun! It really opens up possibilities to do what the hell you want with the music you play.

When can people see you play out next as either Amber D. or Amber D'Amour?

For my gig lists please go to www.amberd.co.uk

You have your own custom headphones, who made those and will they ever be for sale on the market?

Yeah I had them made for me by a company on the net called Bling Affair. They are fantastic. They are made with Swarovski crystals all over them and my old logo. They cost a bloody fortune though!

We have heard that you were trained as a classical pianist. Do you think that has helped with your DJing and production?

Without a doubt. Definitely. Although I haven't played on a professional level for nearly 10 years now.... I need to start doing it again as I don't want to loose my discipline.

Your first release was a double EP on Tidy; all four tracks are wicked, and still get played out on radio and events. What have you been working on lately that people can be hyped about?

That wasn't actually my first release, but it was one of them. I was actually the first DJ / Producer on Tidy to have a whole EP dedicated to them. It sold out twice! I was very proud. Lately I have been working on quite a different sound. I really love the tough german trance sound, and tech-dance, and a sprinkling of hardstyle.... so I have been working with producers such as Kidd Kaos, Joe-E, and doing more stuff on my own. I have loads of stuff out at the moment... I have started song writing, and have released a track called Beautiful Illusion. It means a lot to me personally. If you want to listen to any of my latest tracks go to www.myspace.com/djamberdmusic

You have collaborated with the likes of Ben Stevens for your tune "Get On Up" on Fireball Recordings. Who would you like to work with next given the chance?

Yeah, we actually did that track quite some time ago, and I had a great time in the studio with him making it! Other people I would like to work with are people I acutally have in the pipeline; Nick Sentience, Anne Savage and Alex Kidd. I shall be working with these guys in the near future.

When you are not playing out or producing what do you like to do for fun?

love cooking! I cook constantly. If anyone comes round our house, all they do is eat!

Any last words or shout outs?

Just to make sure you join my group on facebook please! Here is the link