Finishing off August's interviews we have Hard As Nails' frontman Sparx. You may reconize the name Sparx from his vinyl label Hard As Nails, or even reconize his face from Hard To Find Records, where you can catch him in the equipment section. Having already released, two shiny slabbs of vinyl, Sparx is about to unleash 15 new tracks in digital format, with the likes of Riggsy , Tom Berry and General Lee just to name a few.. Now without any further ado...

The Beat Ranch proudly presents, Sparx

Welcome to The Beat Ranch, Sparx, this being your first time here, we will start with the usual question, where abouts are you from and what is the scene like out there currently?

Im from Birmingham in the U.K which is where Tony De Vit started all this crazy music....thanks Tony! The scene here has gone from being one thing to another but at the moment its split between cheesey 'donking' tunes to thrapping hard nrg and experimental hard nrg (which is what we mainly produce)

What got you into the hard house scene? Why hard house over other genres such as trance or electro?

Hard House/NRG just has the best most crazy people you could ever wish to meet. Its a great scene and most people get on like family, plus when you go out at the weekend you go out to dance not wave your arms in the air, you go out to let off steam...haha!

What came first for you, Djing or Producing?

Hard to say.....I was always djing in the shadows until now...but I've always had an ear for tunes and some pretty diabolical ideas...both came slowly about the same time I guess just making tunes took off a bit faster...apparently in London theres about one dj per every ten people!!!! I guess thats probably why!

Do you use an engineer for producing, and if so , who?

Ah hah yes Riggsy the man himself...me and Dj Resh both use him but he also taught me how to produce...hence me doing 'Satans Little Helper' mainly by myself...he did help me a LOAD though. The best teacher I assure you and a friend forever. Still a total nutbag though,lol. Also my mate General Lee who I've just made a tune called 'Energy Surge' with....you will be hearing more from him soon on Hard As Nails. Future releases will be made in the Hard As Nails studio solely by me.

Who haven't you worked with that you would like to?

Oh endless list...been trying to sort a collab with Eufex for ages! and also meant to be doing one with Tim Stokes eventually...apart from that - J.Nardi! and Grady G, Trauma.....and anybody who is pretty out there with their own style!

You have had releases on your label Hard As Nails, when can people expect the next Sparx track?

Well I've got two newbies lined up SparX & General Lee 'Energy Surge' which should be on The Beat Ranch Digital early next year....and myself and Riggsys with a total rework of 'Orbital - Satan'...which will be on X-tension as soon as Riggsy gets some time spare! (thats a vinyl one)

Speaking of Hard As Nails, it hasn't seen a release for some time now, when can people expect the next release?

Hard As Nails 3 will be out in the next month - its Resh vs Riggsy 'Kummari' / 'Infasound' the latter being a big favourite of Tim Stokes.....its on vinyl and its electro hard banger! Sorry for the delay guys!!

Why continue to do vinyl when alot of labels are switching to digital?

Because vinyl sounds better? Vinyls a possesion, an mp3 is a file!!!lol! We are actually going digital...but we will still press small batches of vinyl...something to show your kids, lol! Mixing vinyl takes more skill so don't stop buying it, I mean you can look at it!!!frame it! I'll give a beer to ANYBODY that can frame and cherish an mp3!

What is your take on digital labels?

Way too cheap, people need to pay a little extra to keep the scene alive. It should be cheap but not ridiculously we still have to buy equipment!!!! If we cant make it a job and devote every waking moment to it how can people expect good tunes? We would keep going if it bankrupted us coz we love our music but we shouldnt have to.

Rumour has it that you will be touring Austrailia & New Zeland. in a few months, Is this true?

Thats the plan!...We are working on it right now and we are stoked...its not totallly confirmed yet but its looking good and we are planning on touring about 10 clubs and a lot in the U.K also before we go and when we return. The moment we have it officially we will make sure people know!

Who will be joining you in this journey?

Me, Riggsy and Dj Resh, and also the nightclubs participating residents..which may be quite a few!

Besides the tour, when can people see you play out next?

Because of the work heading up to the tour its going to be included in it, the moment we have things sorted (as its a lot of work) we will be organising sets with people nationwide in the U.K....cross fingers will be beginning of November.

Ok now for some random questions, I hope you dont mind..If you could be a grill cheese or a can of Coke, what would you be and why?

Coke because it makes you hyperactive

Whats your favorite take out food?

I hate to say it but english kebabs which as far as most ofus know are made out of passing stray pets and roadkill....lovely

If you could be Tiesto or Guantanamo Bay prisioner for a day who would you be?

Hmm hard one kinda like the orange jump suit...lol nah id be Tiesto but id probably fall asleep with all that trance!!!NOT HARD ENOUGH!!!

Thanks again for taking the time out to do this interview which such short notice, any last words?

Thanks to all my friends, family, my brother russ, mum, dad, Riggsy, DJ Resh, Lucy -Kate...my special girl . and my best mate Chris, all the guys in Australia,everybody at hard to find records, the Renewable NRG crew and EVERYBODY who likes HARD MUSIC not to mention every dj on the Birmingham scene for NRG, and everybody who has supported me and Dj Resh with Hard As Nails, MUCH LOVE without you all I wouldnt be me!!!

And last but not least thanks to the guys at The Beat Ranch. Been a pleasure!

Oh by the way Hard As Nails Digital will be launched in the next month! About 15 new tunes available!! If its too hard you are too old! .xxx

Sparx's MySpace

Buy Sparx's tracks on vinyl at BangingTunes.com

Buy Hard As Nails clothing from Hot DJ Gear

Click here for Sparx's New Mix
Click here for tracklisting.

Past Interviews