RED - Wisdom to the Wise

RED - a techno set from the UK with some serious underground credentials to the virtual world, previous regular residency at The Drome in Second Life.

Between them, Japhy, Jim Bull (RIP) and Marley Cole have organised and played at numerous techno clubs around the UK and graced the decks alongside the likes of Derrick May, Green Velvet and Subhead. They are no strangers to Second Life either – last year they organised a mixed reality party which took place simultaneously at a RED club night in Hastings and The Drome in Second Life.

Olaf Quintessa got in touch with the RED crew to find out what brought them together, how they got interested in Second Life and what they have coming up for RED in Hastings and at The Drome.

How did you guys get together?

Marley Cole (MC): I've known Jim for many years. We originally come from Portsmouth and used to buy records from Covert Records in Brighton where Japhy used to work. Japhy then moved to Hastings about a year before me and Jim came down here from London. We all shared a love of techno and thought Hastings was seriously lacking in good underground beats so we got together to set up RED.

Japhy (JT): Techno brought us together. There certainly aren't many people in Hastings as into it as we are.

When did you start doing your RED club nights?

MC: We've been doing nights on and off for over 10 years now in various places. Jim and Marley ran the Campbell Works and Strain parties in London, Yama in Portsmouth and now RED here.

JT: We’ve put on and played various parties in Brighton over the last 10/12 years, collectively with other techno lovers. Eventually culminating in RED in Hastings once Marley, Jim and myself got our heads together.

Tell us a bit more about your RED club night.

MC: The RED club night is 100% underground house and techno with some great guests in an intimate but cool venue. Our regular monthly RED night kicks off again in April and will run through the whole summer. We are looking to get the likes of Luke Slater, Inigo Kennedy, Steve Bicknell, Oliver Ho, Eddie Richards, Carl Cox down. I'm sure we'll do the beach party and festival thing too.

Any memorable nights you can mention?

MC: Our first party at the Crypt in Hastings with Billy Nasty was a real classic – it was in the crypt of an old church, so it’s proper underground! For me, Inigo Kennedy was my favorite RED night. When we were doing Campbell Works, Subhead live and Steve Glencross from Sativae Records were both amazing.

JT: Eddie Richards and the Hastings launch with Billy Nasty were my faves. Best vibes.

What got you interested in Second Life?

MC: I saw it on the news a few years ago and immediately saw its potential as a musical oulet - something a bit more interactive than internet radio. The first thing I went to in SL was Kevin Saunderson DJ'ing in the Detroit Life Sim with a screen showing the live video feed from the RL club in Detroit. Very impressive.

What do you think about doing music events through SL?

MC: Hugely enjoyable, I like the fact that people can be listening from all parts and timezones of the world.

JT: You get a different kind of response to RL events. I think the interaction with people on a global scale is important for the music. Any additional feedback is good feedback, especially when it's from across the globe.

Do you play differently to a SL crowd compared to a RL crowd?

MC: Definitely yes. I like the harder / darker side of techno which can be difficult to play in a small place like Hastings. SL gives me the opportunity to play exactly what I want and this is what makes it so enjoyable for me. SL also gives me the freedom to do alternative sets, play older stuff, showcases of artists etc.

JT: SL definitely gives the opportunity to play those tracks you would never dream of playing in the Hastings venues. It gives me the chance to lay down electro, more obscure beats and tricky and challenging electronics not suitable for a commercial audience.

Have you done any other internet broadcasting?

MC: Yep, I used to do a weekly radio show on an internet radio station and we've all done a few spots on pirate stations in London.

JT: I’ve also done various internet radio over the years and guest appearances on local radios in Brighton.

What do you think would improve the whole music/djing/techno thing in SL?

MC: I guess the video streaming side could be a little easier, especially if you're on a mac.

JT: iPhone App to get it going wherever you are.

Have you explored SL much?

MC: Not a great deal. The Drome of course. I did spend a fair bit of time in the Detroit Life sim and Alpha Box some years ago mainly listening to DJs. Unfortunately, though, the tidal wave of incredibly dull minimal techno put me right off SL for a while.

JT: Only really The Drome. And the Detroit Life sim; that was my first experience of SL.

What was it like doing your mixed reality events and playing to a party in RL and SL at the same time?

MC: Great laugh. Kinda weird playing to a RL crowd in front of the decks and having a virtual crowd on a screen behind us, but it looked very impressive. The reactions we got at the time were completely mixed: astonishment / bewilderment / confusion / appreciation / suspicion / paranoia.

Was it tricky to organise, technically?

MC: A little yeah, it involved running a 50 metre ethernet cable from a restaurant above the club, through the bar and the kitchen and down 2 flights of stairs. We used a ridiculous amount of gaffer tape and the chef got right moody about the wire being in his kitchen but apart from that, once it was all set up, it ran without a hitch.

Any more plans for mixed reality parties?

MC: Yes definitely. Watch this space!

What are your plans for the weekly shows at The Drome?

MC: Just to keep pumping out the quality underground techno. Last week I played a set consisting entirely of Inigo Kennedy releases and this week I cheekily re-created one of my all time favorite mixes - Dave Clarke's Radio 1 Essential Mix from 1994 - so I'm going to continue on that theme and showcase various artists each week. Next week - DJ Rush.

JT: Hopefully changing styles week by week within our genre and pushing the music we love whether it be old or new. I plan a pure electro set in the near future.

Last question - Why did you choose the name RED?

MC: We had decided to put on a night in Hastings and we were sat in the pub trying to think of a name. We were writing potential candidates on a 12" sleeve. In the end I think we chose RED as a nod to Dave Clarkes Red 1, 2 & 3. Either that or because it's easy to spell. Probably the Dave Clarke reason though.

Linkage:

http://www.red313.co.uk

http://www.thedrome.net

Marley Cole Feb 2010 chart

1. Go Hiyama - Residual Set - Audio Assault

2. Takaaki Itoh / Go Hiyama / Kyoudai Itsumo / Asagaoaudio -

Bloodshed EP - Audio Assault

3. Ritzi Lee - Communications EP - Underground Liberation

4. Carlos Rios - Police State - Underground Liberation

5. Inigo Kennedy - Onwards & Wrongwards - Token

6. Mick Harris, Antonym & Regis - Radical Simple Practise - Downwards

7. Casual Violence - Why So Few? - Aftertaste

8. Jeff Mills - The Drummer - Purpose Maker