James Condon & Jordan Suckley have both been making waves in the hard dance scene as hard working, enthusiastic lads with a passion for music and the talent to match. They both hold residencies at the London night Nu Religion, whose crowd rave about both the boys as stars of the future.
As they prepare to go head to head at Frantic’s 11th Birthday, the Frantic Masquerade, at Koko in August we caught up with them to find out how their careers are going, what else they’ve got lined up over the next few months and – most importantly – what masks they’ll be wearing for Frantic’s Birthday!
So lads, how have things been going for you lately?
Jordan: Hello :)
Well everything has been a bit crazy recently, just got back from playing Judgement Sundays and a few other places in Ibiza which took me a good few days to recover from haha and then the weekend I got back had my main room debut at Polysexual, which was a good way to get over the holiday blues. Still feeling a tad strange after Ibiza though haha
James: Hello! Things have been going really well this year so far. It started with a bang playing Main room for Frantic’s NYE party which was mental! I don’t think I have ever had so much fun in a carpark before! Then there was Hard House Heaven! What can I say…Heaven was one of the first clubs I played in London and to get back in there and rock it again was spot on. Then there was Nu Religion at SEONE which was such a WICKED event!! Playing the residents showcase set with Jordan in that main room on such a massive stage was the best feeling and the ravers were so up for it. So all in all things have been going really well!
Do you both have full time jobs alongside your DJ’ing? What do you do & how do you find time for both?
Jordan: I work at a Bank in the week and then obviously DJ at the weekends. It is very hard sometimes to stay awake on a Monday at work I’m not going to lie haha. Also I work every day during the week and then sometimes I could have up to 4 gigs in a weekend with lots of driving, then back to work on the Monday which isn't good. Very hard work. But got to be done, and I think I have listened to every CD I have ever owned in my life about a million times due to all the driving in my car! So if anyone has any demos make sure you give me a copy as I always like listening to new mixes for my journeys.
James: I would love to say that my full time job is DJ’ing but at the moment I still have a day job. My job title is “Head of Advertising” for Polo Times. Polo Times is a magazine for people who play Polo (Sport played on horseback.) And to be honest I don’t know how I find time to do both, Monday mornings are Pro Plus and Coffee mornings hehehe
I hear you’ve played back to back before at Nu Religion and were called set of the night by a lot of people – what do you think makes you work well together?
Jordan: The Tidy vs. NuReligion night was definitely one of my favourite gigs I have done to date purely because of how up for it everyone was and how busy the main room was when we where on.
And I think our set was received well because we were playing different styles and mixing it up, so the set had a real variety of styles in it, which kept things interesting throughout which is always a good thing in any DJ set.
James: Yeah Nu Religion at SEONE was fantastic! We played an hour and half resident showcase set and the crowd loved it!! I think the reason we work so well together is because we both have so much passion and enthusiasm for the music and really buzz off the crowd. Jordan is a wicked DJ and top guy with a similar style of DJ’ing hence we worked so together so well. I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the decks with him for Frantic 11
What are your styles like and do you have to alter them in order to go b2b?
Jordan: Well last year I played a lot more trance, techno and tech trance at events like the Godskitchen, Gatecrasher tours and Goodgreef, but towards the end of last year and this year I have been playing a lot more hard house, hard trance sets, which is amazing because it means I’m not stuck into one style. I just love to DJ so enjoy playing a range of things really.
When I’m playing a B2B set I tend to just see how the mood is in the club and go from there, also depending on what time am playing. But I think chunky hard house always goes down well as it just keeps people dancing throughout. I just tend to play music which is full of energy to keep people raving :)
James: My style is hard trance/hard house with big rolling basslines and electro grooves. I really like to mix up my styles and Jordan is very similar. When we played at Nu Religion it was almost like a battle set with us really mixing up hard dance sounds which made it really exciting. I don’t think we really had to alter our styles we just play off each other which is the way b2bs should be.
Did you know each other before you played together?
Jordan: We had met at a previous Nu Religion but not properly. Although I knew what style James played as I had seen him play before once or twice.
James: We met through Damian who runs Nu Religion. I was resident DJ for NR and then Damian took on Jordan as the second resident and we played a few of the same events together so got to know each other that way.
Do either of you dabble in production?
Jordan: Yes I have made a few tracks now, mainly tech trance and also a few hard house ones. Nice to make a mixture :-)
I have two tracks which have been out for a few months now called Filthy Creature and Trusty Rusty which both did well in the charts- here is a link if you fancy a listen to them....
Trackitdown Tune
The Trusty Rusty track was named after my old car and was only supposed to be a temporary name. I sent it to a label and then a friend of mine said a few weeks later my new track had been released and it had already gone out haha :-S
Also my collaboration with Mark H from Polysexual is still being mastered but I’ keep you posted and same goes for a remix of a Tidy tune I did with John Saxon- keep your eyes peeled for those hard housers :-)
Jordan's Myspace
James: I have produced 3 tracks so far. They are Electrizum and Condensed Minds which are both on Traffic Records and the third has just been realised and is a remix of Damage Control on Nukleuz. Check out the below link and you can have a listen. Any feedback would be great!
Trackitdown Tune
Who are your heroes of hard dance and what makes you admire them?
Jordan: Well I like loads of DJs but for different reasons. I think Kutski has amazing technical ability and his scratching is unreal, and also think Andy Whitby always brings loads of energy and trickery to a set as well. Nothing worse than watching a DJ just stand there when they play - I like to see them go crazy.
I know Eddie Halliwell doesn’t play hard dance anymore but when he used to play it he would tear the roof off - I admire him for how far he has got in the world without even making a single track, purely on his DJ talents. Legend!!
James: I think Phil Reynolds and BK have to be my heroes of hard dance. I admire Phil because his consistency to deliver flawless sets over the last 11 years is awesome! The guy always rocks and has been on almost every major line up in his time. That has to be something to aspire to. Then BK I admire for his shit hot production and the ability to keep the hard dance scene exciting with his fresh sounds and forward thinking. It’s DJ’s/Producers like this that keep ravers new and old dancing together.
What have you got lined up for the rest of the year?
Jordan: Well I have been lucky enough to be booked to play at the next Tidy Weekender, which has always been a dream of mine. Also playing in Ireland again a few more times which is always amazing; they are all absolutely nuts over there! Playing in Ibiza again in Sept for Tidy vs. Polysexual.
Also got another overseas booking in Finland which I’m sure will be very eventful haha! Got all the usual UK gigs I have which I love playing every weekend and meeting loads of random nutters :)
One I am really looking forward to playing at is the Goodgreef birthday in November because the last one sold out weeks in advance and was absolutely packed. That one will be a gig to remember as well.
This year I think I will also be making a load more tracks so keep your eyes out for those!
James: I have got some exciting things coming up. Im DJ’ing out in Ibiza from the 8th July till the 12th July. I’m playing at a night called Random at Hush in San Antonio. Then I have Twisted Mayhem in Portsmouth on the 15th August then Frantics HDS on the 16th August, and on the 24th August Frantic 11 (of course) plus my debut for Polysexual at AIR. I’m also in the process of working on a new track with Greg Brookman. So all in all some exciting times.
On a scale of 1 to “about to explode”, how excited are you about playing Frantic’s Birthday?
Jordan: Absolutely can not wait it’s a big 10 for me :)
James: I’m so so looking forward to this event that I could expode!! Last yea’rs event was one of the best nights I’ve had at KoKo! I can remember set of the night was Phil Reynolds closing the main room and thinking YES this is what it’s all about!!
Who in your room are you looking forward to seeing play?
Jordan: Really looking forward to seeing Mike Avery vs. Helen G and also Mr Kevsey D but the whole room looks really good to be honest - full of talent & it’s always good to see new DJs!
James: I’m really looking forward to seeing Yoshi from Australia. Its always great to see new DJs.
James I think you’ve been to Koko before haven’t you? What would you say to Jordan about the venue, since he’s somehow managed to not go!
James: I can’t believe you haven’t been to KoKo Jordan!!! The venue is stunning! When you go right to the top and look down on the main stage and the crowd it will leave you covered in goose bumps!! And you have to make sure you get lost in the corridors.
Right, now for the fun stuff. If you had to be a kitchen appliance, what would you be & why?
Jordan: A fridge to keep the beers cold- (nothing worse than a warm Stella at 4 in the morning :-S )
James: I would be an Oven so I could turn the heat up and get things cooking.
Would you fancy the other one if he was a girl?
Jordan: Only if he let me touch his hair :)
James: Only if he stroked my hair with his magic hands lol. How fooking random!
What are you going to wear to the Frantic Masquerade? Any ball dresses in the wardrobe?
Jordan: Am still not sure yet, I may turn up sporting a nice frock though, but we will have to see!
James: I’ve got a lovely basque which I normally keep for VERY special occasions! If you’re really lucky I might slip it on for the night! hehehe
Complete the sentence in less than 10 words: I love hard dance because…
Jordan: Because of all the crazy lunatics I meet.
James: Complete the sentence in less than 10 words: I love hard dance because…
The crowds are the friendliest, most up for it lot!
Favourite word?
Jordan: Savage
James: LOVE IT!!
It is of course Frantic’s Birthday party – what presents are you buying us?
Jordan: Tesco's no frills lemonade and half of a Malt Loaf.
James: Some bourbon biscuits and a red handbag.
And what was your best birthday party?
Jordan: I haven’t had that many good birthday parties the last few years as have always had exams at Uni etc so next year am going to have a mad one- although playing at Ministry of Sound for AWsum vs. Kiddfectious was a good birthday :)
My best birthday prezzy was a big sprouts puzzle from my nan- just a huge picture of a loads of sprouts in a jigsaw- AMAZING!
James: I have had loads of wicked birthday parties. I always love to organise a big party for all my friends. It generally involves a set of decks and a PHAT sound system. LOVE IT!!
Thanks to both of you for taking the time from what sounds like a very busy schedule to chat to us!
These 2 are going places, so make sure you don’t miss their set at Frantic’s 11th Birthday – the Frantic Masquerade – on August Bank Holiday Sunday (24th) at Koko. They’re in the Nu Breed room with Audio Hedz and Yoshi from Frantic Sydney – look out for more info on him coming soon!
Click the logos for the boys’ DSI Groups.
franticuk.net
ticketweb.co.uk