Starting off our 2009 interviews we have the man formally known as "Firefox", Tom Urwin.

Tom began goin to raves early on, mainly listening to acid styles of electronic music. About a year or two after however he got his first real taste of the harder side of hard house and NRG, listening to such artists as Grady G, Narc & Kam-Pain. Since then Tom has had several digital and vinyl releases including the likes of Nosebleed Records, Toolbox Music, Oktane Records, Spin Hard and of course The Beat Ranch Digital. In 2008, Tom along with Rico set up one of the first CD hard house labels, Severe Impact.

Now with out any further ado.. Tom Urwin

I will start from the beginning, what got you into hard house? Did you listen to any other genres before hard house?

When I was about 14, growing up in south west Ireland I was into rock and metal and had been getting into playing the guitar... Basically I started jamming with a guy called Jay from school. His dad was massive party head and we often used to see him come back on a Sunday morning and hear all about these mountain parties etc! We eventually persuaded him to let us go to one, and that's where it all started really! I shortly after started playing the decks, although they (and myself) were still playing old acidy tracks from the nineties more so than hard house, so it wasn't until a bit later that I got into hard house and NRG through another friend of mine (Ancient Baby) who had started picking up some vinyls online. I still love all the old tracks though and they will always have a place in my heart from the memories they bring me!

You have changed your name from Firefox to your true name Tom Urwin. What made you decide to do that?

Ha I've been asked this an awful lot since making the change! It's something I had been thinking about for quite a while and there's a few reasons behind it. The main was that I felt I had progressed enough with music to a standard above some of my older stuff and didn't want people to discover me through some of my crappy early tracks. There's also the fact that my style has changed a hell of a lot in the last year, and I really don't think I fit the Firefox sound that people seem to associate it with any more. Oh and there's three other producers using the name Firefox, including some cheesy house artist you will probably have heard on the radio (Sex Shooter, urrggg) and also it's one of Roni Size's drum and bass guises!

Your label Severe Impact has had some stellar releases so far, what do you have in store for people in 09?

Thanks a lot, I'm glad you're liking them! We haven't got any specific tracks lined up just yet, as we want to concentrate and getting our local event off the ground shortly, but I can tell you we have some very special remixers and producers in store for number three, along with some more work from ourselves.

With vinyl fading out, your label has gone the CD single route, which many have seem to followed suit, do you think that CD singles are the way forward?

I would like to think so. It's taking a while to prove popular, and I'm still having doubts myself if I'm honest, but we're definitely gonna persevere for the time being. I think though the more labels that go down the same route, the better each will do. So long as the quality of the tracks and artists involved is kept to a high standard then its a definate - as many have said there is no cost implication associated with digital downloads and this has created a massive influx of some lower grade tracks (some of which I am guilty for, I know!) which will generally be avoided with CD or vinyl.

I heard you use to produce with FL Studio, is that true? If so what do you use to produce with now?

I used it for the first 4 and a bit years in fact! It helped get me to the stage I'm at now I guess, but looking back at it now I wish I had started on the likes of Logic, which I am using now, from the start or at least earlier on.

Why Logic over other programs?

The main advantage is the overall sound quality. Out of every software I have tried I personally can instantly hear the difference with Logic. Also the useability - its so nice to use. Everything is... well... logical! In terms of value for money as well I don't think any other software provides so much for the cost (samples, synths etc). Hands down - Logic.

Whats your fav VST or plug-in that you couldn't live without?

Hmm.. since getting Logic I have to say the ES2 synth that is included is one of my favourites at the moment! You can make some amazing lead sounds from it, although having recently got Sylenth its a tough toss up between the two! FX wise I think I would be a bit lost without CamelSpace at this stage!

Whats been your favorite track to produce and why?

Ooh, hard question! I'm not sure if I can answer that... I guess any of my recent tracks such as Psyordfish or Raw to the Point because I feel I am starting to develop the sound I have been after for such a long time. But saying that, if you asked me at any point in the last 5 years I would probably say the most recent track that I had made!

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

Now here's the thing - I really haven't done much work with any of the bigger producers in the scene, but this year I would like to change that. So far I have done a track each with Alex Calver and Dom Sweeten, but I would really like to do a track with Paul Maddox, Mik Cree, James Nardi and Rodi Style to name but a few! I'm sure there's more! I did have a collab due with Grady at one point, however due to my lack of using FL and G being a bit quiet as of late I'm not sure this will happen now... but who knows!

On the DJing front, what has been your favorite venue to play at and why?

Well it was only very recently, but NYE just gone, me and Rico played a back to back set in Tipperary in Ireland for a night called AudioHeadz. It was superb - the biggest crowd I have played to (around the 700 mark) and everyone was really going for it! We played over midnight too, so got to stop the music with a quick count down and we banged back in with Bad Ass by BK. Hope to re-live that one!

Which producers/djs are in your cd wallet at the moment. Who should we look out for in 2009?

Right now the hard house producers really doing it for me right now are Defective Audio, Manik, Opeum, HiFreak1c, Valex, Karl Davis, Steve Maynard and Tim Stokes! The list is endless but these guys. The producers and DJs to look out for in 2009 would have to be Rico, Ewan Jones and also Weazal, all of whom are progressing really quickly in terms of producing, and neither of whom will let you down when it comes to mixing! I would love to see Perez back behind the decks as he is a really good DJ, but sadly he's been a bit lame of late and not mixed much recently haha. Also sad to see Andy K pack in the producing and would like to see him back in action!

Meeting you at Tidy Weekender 15 was a blast. You showed us Canadian's how you party and did not dissapoint ahaha. What has been your favorite event of 2008 and which do you look forward to in 2009?

Another hard one haha, I've had such an amazing year for me in terms of clubbing that it's really hard to answer! I have to say Tidy was amazing as usual, I don't know if I've ever had such a funny weekend in my life! Also Hi Oktane around the time of my birthday in July as wicked, shall definitely be making it up there again soon. Other than that I shall just take them as they come, as I always do!

For you what makes an event a success? The deco, the music, the people?

A fair share of it all - although atmosphere is most important I think. I've been to a fair few nights with music I might not normally listen to, but the right atmosphere and crowd has usually given me a good night! The best ones though are where you have it all - the right music, atmosphere, venue and people.

When you are not at an event or behind the computer screen what do you do for fun?

Well being a single 20 year old male who works in IT, that doesn't leave much in or outside of work hahaha! My main priority in the coming months is to go snowboarding again, something I love but haven't had a chance in a couple of years, so should be going to Austria shortly... Other than that I do like a good film here and there and gorging on nice food!

Any last words?

Er.. keep it real! No, haha, just to say to everyone in the scene - keep up the good work! I've only really recently joined this amazing culture and the amount of amazing, sound people I have met (producers, DJs and general clubbers) in the last couple of years is superb! Looking forward to working and playing with more of you in the coming months and years!

Severe Impact Website

Buy Severe Impact CDs at BangingTunes

Severe Impact MySpace Page.

Buy Tom Urwin's tracks here on TrackItDown.net

Buy Firefox's tracks here on TrackItDown.net

Click here for Tom Urwin's Exclusive Beat Ranch Mix
Click here for tracklisting.

Past Interviews