Starting up this month's interviews we have the notorious Tom Parr Having just signed his newest track "Zip It" to Tripoli Traxx as well having releases on such labels as Nosebleed, Delete The Weak and of course The Beat Ranch Digital, Tom is showing the world what he is made of. When not producing, you can catch him behind the decks at such places as Hi-Oktane and CyberKitten.

The Beat Ranch presents, Tom Parr

Welcome Tom, how are things at the moment for you?

Good thanks! Been working on some new trax with a few new people and my own material. Got some good gigs in the pipeline and am down South ready for the summer!

Where abouts are you living these days, and how is the scene out there?

Am living in Portsmouth, which is right on the South Coast, near the sea! There is quite a diverse scene round here with people into techno, house, hardcore, hardstyle, drum n bass and hard house. A lack of venues friendly to hard house stifles things a bit but I’ve met some wicked people since I moved here and there is plenty of passion for music!

What styles and sounds are taking over the speakers?

I’m loving ghetto punk with a hint of jazz at the minute

What direction do you think hard house is going in?

The right one. Labels like Flashpoint and Tripoli are leading the way, then you’ve got the nu-breed with Adam M’s Oktane outputting some quality trax. From warm up hard house through to hard as nails filth I don’t think the scene has ever been so diverse.

What is your take on vinyl vs digital?

Digital allows people to get their tunes out to the masses more quickly and of course it’s changed the face of the industry and allowed producers to come through the ranks more quickly. I think quality control can be lacking though which is the flip side of the coin. The new label I’m starting with my girlfriend K8-e will be vinyl only for now as we want to keep it special and put something back into the scene.

What came first for you, DJing or production?

I’m a producer first and foremost and a dj second. I never listened to dance cds growing up thinking about how they mixed the tunes, I was always wondering how they put the actual tunes together. Djing is a natural progression from producing for me. Hearing other people playing my tunes out was great but I wanted to be the one doing it!

Your latest tune Zip It, just got signed to the notorious Tripoli Trax, that must have been a great day for you.

Yes! Having a tune signed to Tripoli is wicked. It’s a label with a lot of history and the recent tunes have been quality. Marc and Chris are quite fussy over the quality of tunes they want for the label so it was a great affirmation I’m doing something right!

Can you give us a down of your studio and what is your favorite piece of kit?

I use Fruity Loops to produce on. I my fav bit of kit at the moment would have to be Pro 53 and albino 3.

How do you go about making a track? Do you use a template or is its all fresh from the start?

I don’t have a template no.. I don’t make all my tracks at the same speed either as I like to give my tunes variety and obviously warm up will be a different tempo to the harder trax.

What producers do you think will make a impact in 2008?

Me. Oh and that Adam M isn’t so bad ;) hahaha.

What djs are you listening to most these days?

I get to listen to my wonderful girlfriend K8-e most of the time as we are mixing at home together and sometimes playing out b2b. She is definitely one to watch this year. When we’re travelling to and from gigs or listening to mixes at home it’s pretty much Bourne, Marc Johnson and Adam M that we listen to, sometimes mixes from others that we have downloaded, but unfortunately a lot don’t cut the mustard - the tried and tested ones are the best!

Whats been you most memorable djing experience?

Two so far, playing at Insekt so early in my dj career was immense and it was great to be asked by the boys to go b2b with Chris Comben. Also A&E in Hereford has a really up for it crowd. I played last set back in October last year and they were just going nuts!

Whats been the worst? Any stupid requests or tech problems?

No stupid requests yet… I think playing without a monitor has to be the worst so far but being able to mix in the headphones as well means it didn’t really phase me.

Do you have any gigs coming up?

28th March Hostile @ Club X, Cardiff 5th April Harder @ The Volks, Brighton I’ve also got Resistance, Hi-Oktane and CyberKitten gigs coming up and I’m part of the roster for the Flashpoint Tour so am looking forward to those gigs too. .

If you were not producing and djing, what would you be doing?

I’d have a flat cap and be looking after pigeons – it’s my retirement goal.

Any last words?

Zip It.

Click here for Tom Parr's Exclusive Mix
Click here for tracklisting.

Past Interviews