Starting off August's interviews we have none other then one of the hardest working people in the hard house scene.. Nik Denton.. Nik has been DJing and producing for over 10 years with releases on pretty much every major hard house label. When he is not DJing or producing, he is running the imfamous label Toolbox, which has gone on to release over 50 vinyl releases, as well handles the distribution of over 10 other hard house labels. Now with out any further ado...

The Beat Ranch proudly presents, Nik Denton

Welcome to TheBeatRanch.com Nik. Thank you for taking time out of your super busy day to do this interview and mix for us. The word on the street is that you live in Manchester is this true?

Yes. I’m a southern living up North in Manchester… very true!

You are without a doubt one of the hardest working person in the hard house scene today, what has kept you going for as long as you have? Have you ever thought about packing it in?

I’ve been DJing and producing Hard House for ten years and that’s the part that keeps me going. It’s the part I enjoy the most. The office side of my job only really became full time about 3 years ago, so I’m not at the stage where things have gone stale! The business and the labels have gone from strength to strength and that keeps me interested.

Selling vinyl and running a company that has so many elements to it does put a lot of pressure on me at times and Id be telling lies If I said that at times I didn’t feel like packing it in – I think most people have those moments in most jobs. But I love what we do at Toolbox and I’ve been very lucky to have the right people around me to help things move along more easily.

Can you give us a run down of a typical day at the ToolBox HQ?

Everyday is different but most days are spent mainly doing back end stuff like accounts. I get an average of 75 emails a day, and can sometimes get over 100 a day! So I find most of my time is spent doing those which can sometimes be frustrating. But its just a part of the job I guess. All other time is spent on Hard Heart Beats, Toolbox labels, the sites, the promo and doing online orders or helping Ben Stevens with the distribution.

Speaking of Toolbox, the label has gone on to release over 50 pieces of vinyl with the likes of Justin Bourne, Andy Farley, Rodi Style, yourself, the list could go on and on, for those not willing to wait, what can we expect from Toolbox in the coming months?

We’ve enjoyed a very busy schedule over the past 12 months so that we could clear lots of tracks and make room for some new signings, so I have signed quite a few new bits recently and I’m looking fwd to hearing what people think. We’ve just released the Trauma Trax double disc album and it’s sold extremely well as we managed to get this into HMV. Next up is another double disc album called TOOLKIT ONE and this will be a mixed and an unmixed disc. The album is presented by P.A.S and includes 5 new productions by the boys and 5 other brand new tracks by other producers. The DJ mix is then available on disc two as singles.

Next on vinyl (TB055) is the most recent track I’ve signed, “Drunk & High” by Butcher Boy & Defective Audio. I needed something to go out with “We’re all one” by myself & Steve Gillen, so it’s going straight out.

Following this is the Toolbox artist EP, this includes 3 new tracks from our new signings Lucy Fur, Tim Stokes and P.A.S

TB057 to TB059 are 3 track extended player discs. James Nardi, Kris O’Rourke and Rockin Russ providing the goods!

TOOLKIT TWO will also hopefully be out by the end of the year and one of our other new signings will be behind this album.

Lots to look fwd to.

I don't think many will argue when I say, you have really kept vinyl alive over the years, not just releasing hard house, but over 50 other label's material as well. What do you say to people who think digital is taking over?

I don’t think so. There has been a real obvious move/shift towards digital in part, but I have to say that from where I am standing there are still lots of people who want to buy and play vinyl. Vinyl will be around for a good while yet I reckon!

To add even more work to your list, you have started a new night called Coalition with Kate Hammond, how’s that been going and when is the next one?

Well at this stage we have only had two events and thankfully both have been a great success. The whole idea is to put on a night that doesn’t try to be anything more than it tries to be, which is just a good night out for people who like hard house.. and with the best line ups of course. We are very lucky to work with some of the best Hard House Djs on the planet as part of our weekly roles in the industry, so we are able to put on really strong line ups and for it to feel more like a social than a massive huge club night out. Its very unique.

Our next event is actually part of a clubbing event called Uni Challenge in Manchester and we are hosting out own room with Andy Farley, Karim, Tim Shaw, Ross Homson and myself behind the decks. After that I think we are planning an event towards the end of September.

What has been your most memorable DJing experience in the past ten years?

Being asked to play at Trade… my all life time ambition done and dusted. Trade isn’t on that often anymore, so it’s such a buzz when it is on and when I get to play. I’m next playing at the end of August and can’t wait. Its one of the only clubs I can really play everything that’s true to my taste in music and you can’t get better than that!

How about your worst? Any major mess ups, dumb requests, or tech problems?

Lots… all the time. Im quite a dopey sod at time… I could never get on with vinyl as I always knock the needle, so I moved to CDs almost from the word go… I guess apart from messing up with deck needles it’s just the usual stuff. I often play the wrong track cause Ive pushed the CD on too far or something…

You have had releases on labels such as Toolbox (obliviously), Twisted Filth, 12 Inch Thumpers, Vicious Circle and Tidy, just to name a few, do you produce all your own material or do you use an engineer?

Yes, Ive always used an engineer. I did learn Cubase when I first started Toolbox but I just lost interest. I was so used to going in with Paul King and him doing the controls that that was natural to me. Unless I gave up the business I don’t think I’ll find time to learn any time soon either. I would get so frustrated if I knew I could do it but couldn’t find the time. I currently use Dave Owens, Paul Maddox and Jon BW occasionally. I like to keep it fresh and interesting. I also go in and out of phases of wanting to do either hard house or house. I love that because it also keeps things really interesting!

Do you have any advice for up & coming producers that want to get their name out there?

Do what you do and one day someone will get what you are doing. I think it’s important to stay true to yourself. Also try and spend time thinking about your ideas and where you want to go with things. A bit of time in preparation can save a lot of time in messing around and also in studio fees if you are using an engineer! Although I cant speak, I can sometimes be totally unorganised.

With Electro & Breaks doing so well now, there seems to be other genres that are using it's sounds to gain more interest or to change things up a bit. Do you think Hard House will start incorporate other genre's into it's sound?

I think it already has in certain ways. A lot more harder music is incorporating electro influences.. like how it did with trance and techno a few years ago. I think music naturally evolves and keeps the best bits and introduces new and fresh ideas.

So what can we expect to hear from you in the coming months. Anything new?

Quite a bit actually! My new remix of Guyver’s “Just one more time” with Paul King has just come out. Then next up it’s my new track with Steve Gillen on Toolbox. There’s also a track on Twisted filth with Rikrom called “Brahma”, which I absolutely love. I’ve just finished a new track for Tidy called “Phorever People” which is for their Inspirations project. And I’ve also just finished my first solo project for Toolbox since “keep rockin on”. It’s called “Derby Krunch” and will be part of a double A side release, which believe it not will be my first double A on Toolbox ever. There’s also remixes in the pipe line for Kung fu wax and Andy Farley’s Cubed label.

Any last words

Check out my myspace for everything else. I try to keep it updated with charts and track samples etc. And thanks very much for having me at the Ranch!

Related Sites

Nik Denton's MySpace

Buy Nik's tracks on vinyl at BangingTunes.com

Buy Nik's tracks on digital at TrackItDown.net

Click here for Nik Denton's Exclusive Mix
Click here for tracklisting.

Past Interviews