I N T E R V I E W : M A R K  E G

1. How did you get into Djing and the whole scene that you are now
   involved in.

You know, I've read loads of interviews with myself and I always say the
bloody same thing. Yeah I began messing with electro records at the age of
10 (damn, that was 1982/83 I think) and then did Pirate Radio and various
pubs, but that's a good question - how did I get involved in the whole scene
I'm in now? What scene am I in? I think I'm in the techno/trance and
electronic thing, but other people might say different. I used to be focused
on the rave thing, but now I'm talking influences from all sides. I still
love playing the rave events like Helter Skelter and Slammin Vinyl, but then
I also love the trance clubs I do all over the world and the also the
purist-style techno clubs. I'm still all over the place musically, but
strangely focused at the same time. If you just stick with one style you
can't look left or right.

2.What types of music were you into in the beginning?

I've always been into hard music, I think that's the key to my style. I
first got a taste for hard music when I first heard detroit techno in 84. It
may be soft by most people's standards now, but back then it was the hardest
music I'd ever heard. Model 500, Derrick May, Reese and Santonio all made
great music throughout the eighties. Then I remember the R+S label taking
over my life with artists like Joey Beltram and CJ Bolland. Then along came
Richie Hawtin and blew my head off. Then the Aphex Twin. There's just too
many to mention. When I heard trance in 92 it was so crap I hated it - it
was too predictable and samey, but then I started to get bookings at places
like Helter Skelter, Doncaster Warehouse and loads of other rave places.
M-Zone was the guy who showed me what trance was all about. I still remember
the day that music clicked in my head. I think that's the fun I get from
music actually - understand something that I originally can't understand.
All music is made by someone with love and experience, so there's got to be
something in every style.

3.How has your music progressed over the years?

I just keep in touch with all style of electronic music and try to be
influenced by all over them. Then I follow my heart. The only way you can
progress is by trying to take a direction that you 100% believe in. If I
didn't believe in the music I played, then I certainly wouldn't be able to
go mental to it every weekend whilst I was DJing! hehe... Trance has
progressed so much over the last 10 years. It started with labels like Eye Q
and Harthouse, then loads of different styles came out of it. I went down
one route, other people went don't another. Right now I'll play progressive
when I have to, hard trance when I have to, even proper deep trance if I
can. Techno's done so much over the last twenty years that I can't even
begin to break it down, but right now I'm sort of getting bored of the
Swedish Adam Beyer thing and moving more toward UK produced techno (Glenn
Wilson, Ignition Technition etc etc). Headroom are still my favourite
producers.

4. What do you do in the music industry apart from Djing?

I think to be a DJ in this world, you have to do a million other things. I
write for about a million music magazines, including Wax, M8, Mixer USA and
DJ Mag. Also, I have a studio in Leeds and work really hard in there during
the week. The studio is much tougher than DJing and since I've set it up
with Chrissi, I feel like I've finally got a proper 'job'. Weekends are even
more exilarating after a week cooked up with a bunch of loops and a
computer. Mind you, it's fun playing your stuff out on a sound system and
seeing thousands of people go nuts. Actually our recent Blackout Audio
release (003) has a breakdown on it that got everyone going nuts at the
weekend. Everyone was like 'What the fuck is that???'! he he..  Even though
the studio drives me insane sometimes, it's moments like that why you do it.

5. Do you have any new projects in the pipeline?

Blackout Audio 003 - Mark EG + Chrissi feat Headroom RMX
Blackout Audio 004 - Mark EG + Chrissi feat Glenn Wislon RMX
Blueline Recordings USA - Mark EG + Chrissi - Mad Music Engagement

Then we're working on a new Anxious on Compound at the moment and there's
loads of trance stuff we do that we simply don't put our name to. Sometimes,
we actually put our tracks on my website for feedback before it's released.
Check it out: http://freespace.virgin.net/mark.eg

6. What are your all time favorite tracks from any type of dance music?

That question's way too hard!!!

7. What is the difference between the crowds that you play to at trance
    events compared with those at a techno event?

Trance crowds tend to dress more colourful and go really mad. It's party
music and is deeply emotional but at the same time easy to snap out of and
make conversations with people. Techno is different though. It is all about
putting your head down into the speaker and letting everything get inside. I
can't make proper conversations when techno is playing. So many people
comment there's less 'atmosphere' is techno clubs, but there's actually
more - it's just inside everyone's heads. Techno isn't about light sticks
and hands in the air. It's really dark and aggressive music, but at the same
time it creates a feeling of togetherness like I've never experienced with
any other music. It's a deep music thing as opposed to a party/music thing.
I love both styles but techno is utterly mind blowing in the right club
circumstances.

8. You are seen as a bit of a nutter on stage, is this something to hype
    the crowd or is it just an energy release?

Both. Energy is very important to me when I DJ and if I've got a bunch of
new records that I love, then you can't help but release the energy you've
had stored up for the last 4 days. And of course, because there's a
screaming crowd infront of you, you want to keep them screaming. Making eye
contact and telling them to 'fuckin cum on yer bastards', seems to get
everyone screaming even more. I don't see anyone else doing this, so it's
good to feel unique. I'm not like that at all during the week (I'd never get
anything done!!!), so it's nice to have something in your life that is
actually different to you as a person. Kind of like Jekyll and Hyde.

9. What are your views on the superleage DJ's and the large sums of money
      that they are paid for a couple of hours work.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate ego and greed. But I really hate ego.
Most DJ's have an ego of some sort and sometimes I feel that because I'm in
the 'DJ' boat, I've got to have one too. I wish it wasn't called DJing what
I did, I never got into DJing to make a bunch of money and have an easy
life. But that's what has happened to alot of the Radio One school of DJ's.
They charge a packet, winge about everything and rip a load of innocent
clubbers off. How crap is that? Superleague? Fuckin superwank league. haha..

10. Finally, have you anything to say to anyone reading this?

Believe in yourself. ;=]