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Features
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| Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! | | Goa based party animal and artist extraordinaire Nirmal talks punk concerts, metal sculptures, flying and rippin' it up on a High Tide! | | DJ Wired talks to us about the Rise of the Hope and parties, ahead of his upcoming set at Tribal Village on 14th January 2022! |
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Ohm - 3 years old and none the wiser?
Reported by Latex Zebra
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Submitted 22-11-04 12:35
Ohm is one of those rare parties, fuelled purely by a mass of enthusiasm on behalf of the promoters, though I use that term in the loosest possible sense, and word of mouth on behalf of the clubbers who attend.
Coming up to their third birthday, I took time out of promoter Ben Gilman’s busy schedule to get an insight into the mind of Ohm as a promotion. Please check your brains at the door and please do not read any further if you expect anything in the way of normal answers.
How did Ohm come about…
A few years ago I was visited in a dream by Ed, god of biscuits, who told me I should start a club night. Naturally I was a little thrown by this, but assumed that eating half a packet of hobnobs earlier in the day had put me in touch with divinity and I was, like, some kind of chosen guy or something.
In the dream he sent me a vision of the people I’d need to find in order to start the night (Steve Hitch and Louis Millichamp), and told me to go on a long and elaborate vision quest to find them and convince them to join my holy purpose. This lead to a long and weird couple of years of trekking across inhospitable terrains (sometimes on a small pony) and consuming weird psychedelics with strange ethnic people while milking the whole vision quest thing as far as possible. Eventually I decided I’d better call it a day as the expenses bill was already looking pretty hefty. Thankfully I knew them both already so I could just ring them up, which made life a lot easier.
…and who are the main players behind the scenes?
The main players  I suppose that’d be me, Markus Buhmann, Steve Hitch, Louis Millichamp and Sharon B, but I could probably be smarmy as well and say something like “It’s about all of you people, it’s the clubbers and our regulars that make us what we are”. That would be pretty smarmy though, so I think I’ll stick with taking all of the credit for just a few of us, or maybe even mostly for me
Not that there is much behind the scenes stuff which goes on. I tend to mindlessly spew most Ohm related stuff onto the Ohm threads or any other poor suckers threads as an alternative to doing anything properly or writing anything interesting, which for some reason seems to work okay so far.
What about your music policy?
Hmm, we did start out aiming for uplifting bouncy house and trance, but we’ve branched out a bit since then. Basically no UK hard house / hard trance, and as far as possible, nothing everyone else is doing. Weird is positively encouraged as well, all of those tunes where the DJ wimps out of playing them because they aren’t sure people will like them we want people to play as far as possible.
Who are your current Residents and have you had any others?
Our current residents are myself, Steve Hitch, Markus Buhmann and Sharon B, which seems to work really well. We all have different styles that go well together, and our residents give us a solid and flexible framework to slot guests into. We used to have Dom Pardey on the team as well, but he’s trying the whole “real life” thing at the moment, which makes him a braver man than I am 
What guests have you had in the past and any names we can know for the future?
Who have been your favourites? And any guests you’d like to come and play for you?
In spite of our small size and lack of funding, we’ve had some of my all time favourite names (the ones we could blag for cheap or more usually for free). My favourite DJ to date has been Amethyst who has been far and away the most inspirational DJ and producer in the whole of trance for me. We’ve also had Dave Holmes (aka Steve Morley, DJ Alici etc), Jon The Dentist, Carl Nicholson and a whole host of the finest London DJs, my favourites of which have been Latex Zebra, Daegal Brain, Karl Alexander, Matt Dahl, Iain Coleman, Marc Antoine, Ke and The Preacher.
I can’t really think of anyone we’ve not had that I’m itching to have play though We’ve got to get a couple of the other Vinyl Zoo boys down, but other than that I’m happy with the endlessly talented people we’ve had already. We are always on the lookout for new people though, especially if they play stuff that isn’t UK hard trance or hard house.
Which venues have you held Ohm at?
We began at Belushi’s in our first incarnation years ago (1999 or 2000 I think) for three parties, then failed to sort our sh*t out and ended up homeless for about a year and a half until we discovered St Christopher’s. We’ve basically been there since, except for a few abortive (and expensive) months where we foolishly tried to move to the Fringe.
Why the move from venue to venue?
St Christopher’s unfortunately doesn’t give its managers the credit they deserve, so there’s a fairly high staff turnover. We ended up moving to the Fringe after the reins were handed to a guy named Alp who really didn’t get the club scene at all, nor did he get the realities of running a pub in Bermondsey. He hoped to start using the downstairs room for comedy nights and karaoke and strange and weird things like that (which I hear are quite popular with “norms”). We thought it’d probably be a good idea to get the hell out of there and try something new, but hadn’t quite appreciated how much effort was involved in running a proper party. You have to do all kinds of weird stuff, like letting people know where you are and convincing them that your party is worth going to That was kind of beyond us so we returned to where we are which is I think where we really belong.
Plans for the Birthday party?
We thought we’d really put in an extra special effort because of the occasion. Maybe change a couple of the lightbulbs or something, you know, really go to town J
We will have a top notch line up, with most of our favourite guests – Carl Nicholson, The Preacher, King of Sketch and of course yourself Mr Zebra. Other than that we’ll probably do what we normally do, possibly with some free stuff if we sort our sh*t out or possibly with a vague and insincere apology if we don’t (the latter is, from past experience, vastly more likely).
OK, these questions have been far too serious and your answers far too strange, let’s try a change of tack.
So partying in a corridor, better or worse than partying in a venue with coffins and Dentist chairs?
Oh the corridor certainly, although the chill out room at the Fringe was fantastic. Our current venue is great though, it seems to work even when not that busy, which takes the pressure off enormously. Plus all the overtly sadistic stuff gave people too much warning and put them on edge, and then some of them get away and the ones that don’t escape never taste as nice 
As someone who nearly rendered himself unconscious at your party (without alcohol, I hasten to add), what is the tallest you can be without sustaining head injuries at your current venue?
It’s possible to avoid head injuries however tall you are. Given that we are extremely considerate sadists who are always ready to help out I’d like to think that everyone can get concussion if they really want it, we don’t want to discriminate against short people.
What is the most important trait for a promoter to have?
A thick skin so that you don’t take it personally if people don’t come.
What is the most important trait for a successful promoter to have?
A total lack of shame in pushing your party on people relentlessly.
What do you think of flyering as a promotional tool?
It doesn’t do it for me. I accept that there are people who use it as a means of gathering information and that they’re wonderful people whose lifestyle choices are as valid as any. But it’s my party *stamps foot* so I’m not going to cater to their crazy ideas  If they don’t use harderfaster and don’t know anyone who does then they must be some kind of inbred yokels living in caves, having sex with pigs and rolling around in their own filth and I don’t want that sort down there (at least not unless I’m allowed to join in).
When did you last print flyers for Ohm?
We do flyers monthly, we just don’t hand them out  . Or at least we don’t hand them out to people who we know will know about it anyway. Actually usually we just don’t hand them out, I like there to be some kind of initiative test, if people are just told about it then we’d get any old sorts turning up. And the flyers we do do often don’t have the right information on them, the line ups are often not up to date and for a few months my phone number was wrong (to anyone I gave a flyer to saying “My number’s on there”, I apologise  )
When did you last stand outside a club at 5:37am desperately trying to entice the sweaty masses to come to your party?
I’m not sure that I ever have, it’s not really my thing. Besides, I have enough sweaty masses that come down anyway
What can you tell me about Anti-Promotion, how did this term come about? It sounds like something from Star Trek.
I think the origins can be traced back all the way to the 14th century when there was a schism in the Catholic church and a breakaway group decided that talking about god all the time was rubbish, and that the best way to worship god was just to shut the f*ck up about it and not do anything strenuous. Unfortunately it never really caught on as they couldn’t really be bothered telling anyone about it, but our philosophy is very much like that. Well, if you take out all the religious crap and stick with the not really doing or saying anything you can’t be bothered to do then it is.
In its current incarnation anyway anti promotion relies heavily on a sense of irony as I have over the years spent a fair amount of time talking about how I don’t do any promotion, purely coincidentally in a promotional thread on a website seen by 10000 people who might be interested in the sort of party we are.
What is the secret of your success?
We’re successful  Wow, that is pretty secret, are you sure? 
As sure as I am that I have two feet. Answer the bloody question…
Ok. In so far as we are successful, I think it comes down to “keeping it real” as I believe the youth of today are saying, as well as being really “underground”, which I’m sure Shaun would agree is vital in today’s club scene Also I think people like the house party in a club kind of vibe, and some people I think enjoy the ohm threads and feel a vague sense of guilt if they don’t go down at all.
Most of all though I think we owe our success to bubble wrap.
Where do you see Ohm in 2 years time?
Probably in the same place we’re in now, but with a couple more lightbulbs. or maybe a couple less lightbulbs, who knows, the future is ours for the taking, although I suspect it’ll be ours for the watching and procrastinating about taking, but it’ll be there anyway.
Quick Fire
Free or paying? Free
Hot or Cold? Tepid
Sponge or Stone? Sponge (a really soggy one)
Ben or Benjamin? Ben or Benedict (preferably not Benjamin and never Benjy)
Latex or Zebra? Both
Well that’s that then. Like me, you are probably more confused than when you started and no closer to knowing just what makes Ohm tick.
Your best bet is to join them on the 27th November where all your questions will be answered* and your life will be enriched.
* That does depend of course on which questions you are asking.
Photos sourced by Ben Gilman
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Other Features By Latex Zebra:
From Little Acorns to Mighty Oaks - How Chilled in a Field has grown
Bar 414 unveils a new dimension with Base Mosquito
Brandon Block gets Funky 414 London!
Dissecting Scot Project
The HarderFather speaks! Meet him yourself at the HF vs The Residents Xmas Party
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: Not Marcus on 22nd Nov 2004 12:45.02
 class 
From: Karl Alexander on 22nd Nov 2004 12:57.22
Nice work boys !!
From: B.S.E on 22nd Nov 2004 13:12.23
 Wicked interview just sorry I won't be able to make the party itself 
From: bunny on 22nd Nov 2004 13:43.05
Best interview I've read in a long while.
See you on the 27th!
From: Beth on 22nd Nov 2004 14:18.53
tee hee. excellent work
From: Bella on 22nd Nov 2004 14:24.06
excellent! Looking forward to Saturday!
From: Benedict on 22nd Nov 2004 14:29.50
Add your comments here !
From: Benedict on 22nd Nov 2004 14:31.22
Hmm, I should use the features thing more often, I assumed the add comment button took me to a comment screen for some stupid reason
now I've forgotten what I was originally going to comment The lack of morning caffeine has rendered me totally incapacitated.
From: ~deleted1390 on 22nd Nov 2004 15:13.39
Jolly good fun.
From: anushka007 on 22nd Nov 2004 17:15.15
Nice one boys!!! Congrats on your 3 rd Bday and looking forward to your party on Saturday!!!! Bring on the Ohm madness with the best underground djs and crowd!!!!
From: carl nicholson on 22nd Nov 2004 17:27.28
Top banana!
From: Not Marcus on 22nd Nov 2004 18:16.20
hehehe, we're underground because we're below sea-level.
From: Hitch the Knife on 23rd Nov 2004 09:00.26
From: Sara on 23rd Nov 2004 10:25.24
Great interview! See you on Saturday.
From: icc on 23rd Nov 2004 15:34.16
: wicked interview :
 Happy Booty Ohm !
From: Fi on 23rd Nov 2004 16:00.11
Brilliant! Anti-promotion, indeed.
From: Lizzie Curious on 23rd Nov 2004 16:03.08
A wicked interview. Nice one!
From: Carine on 23rd Nov 2004 16:33.04
Happy Birthday Ohm!!! 3 years and still going strong... Saturday is going to be wild...
From: Tania Mann on 23rd Nov 2004 17:21.16
Great interview. Happy Birthday to OHM! What a great party!
From: shazzabazza on 23rd Nov 2004 22:20.51
Yay OHM  can't wait for the birthday  Been a real joy being part of such a great party - bring on the next 3 years! 
From: Cherry-Berry on 23rd Nov 2004 23:51.55
It goes without saying the enthusiasm and excitement generated by Ohm. I speak from experience when I say we literally stumbled upon it and were never disappointed. Graeme and I miss you all TERRIBLY. The best part used to be knowing that when there was nothing to go to, or if all the tickets were sold out for a main event, you were GUARANTEED an exceptional night with everyone at Ohm. Where you aren't just clubbing with punters, but with friends. Markus, Steve, Ben, Louis, Dom, Carl, Shazza, Ian, everyone who made our last moments in London so very special, we miss you guys and well done! BTW - your license plate in on the wall in my lounge HAHAHAHA 
From: Annabel on 24th Nov 2004 12:53.49
I thought this was going to be a feature about biscuits. What a disapointment. I'm going to have to satiate my baked product fetish else where.
From: Benedict on 25th Nov 2004 09:53.31
Biscuits, dammit I knew there was something else I needed to mention. We'd never have made it through 3 years without biscuits.
And Cheryl I've still been rubbish about sending out cd's I'm afraid
From: Dr DUZZIT on 30th Nov 2004 11:58.07
nutters, wicked review:
From: Jam Gorilla on 30th Nov 2004 14:48.42
Not really confused but I do know the word from somewhere... me merely quite intrigued- well done Dan
From: Winter phoenix on 1st Dec 2004 15:12.07
lol! What ARE you lot on?! wait wait...i think i have it...
From: Benedict on 1st Dec 2004 17:13.08
I wasn't on anything when I wrote it, that's just my natural state of mind
From: Hastingsjon on 2nd Dec 2004 22:48.41
From small oaks great nutters grow ;¬)
From: sunshinemagic on 3rd Dec 2004 21:00.52
isnt it weird when uve never heard of something and then suddently out of nowhere, everyone went to it, theres interviews on the web and u missed it all......hmm...
oh, i like ur state or mind sir benedict (yes ive knighted you!)
From: lix666 on 4th Dec 2004 00:51.51
You're all mad, mad do you hear me......but I like you
From: Ian Edwards on 5th Dec 2004 14:17.11
uuummm! looks like i've been missing out on something here.... might come and check it out...
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