Lord of the Trance

The big news this fortnight is that a DJ from Ireland has crashed into the hugely influential DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs for the first time in its 12-year history.

Trance phenomenon John O’Callaghan soared in at number 60 in the poll, having narrowly missed out last year.
Two DJs from Northern Ireland also made the top 100 for the first time: Simon Patterson is at 64 and Greg Downey reached number 82.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have made it into the Top 100,” O’Callaghan tells Hot Press. “After a couple of years of trying things have gathered enough momentum to get me in there, which will have a huge impact on my DJ career and allow me to play in new territories around the world. Massive thanks to everybody who voted for me.”
The results were announced last month in London, and the DJ at the summit for the second year in a row was Dutch trance legend Armin van Buuren. O’Callaghan recently signed to van Buuren’s record label Armada, which will release the Irish DJ’s second album early in 2009.
The Navan native began grabbing attention internationally in 2004 when he signed to Discover Records, and he has since had a hand in more than 100 tunes and remixes including the acclaimed 2007 anthem ‘Big Sky’.
More than a quarter of a million clubbers worldwide voted in the 12th annual DJ Magazine poll. It’s the most widely influential chart in the dance music industry.
The full top 10 is 1. Armin van Buuren, 2. Tiësto, 3. Paul van Dyk, 4. Above & Beyond, 5. David Guetta, 6. Ferry Corsten, 7. Sasha, 8. Markus Schulz, 9. John Digweed and 10. Infected Mushroom.
2fm DJ Mr Spring has been the subject of much praise again for the latest in his Not For series of EPs. No less a pen than that of Kris Needs of DMC Update wrote that his Not For Hire EP was “in many ways the closest thing you’ll hear to the original acid house spirit all year.”
Aspiring trance producer Neal Scarborough has just signed his ‘Panama’ single to the Dutch label Fraction. It’s a superb fusion of NRG and old skool techno stabs with a monster breakdown. It comes armed with a Paul Webster remix, which is very respectful to the original.
Scarborough has more releases in the pipeline: a deal with Conspiracy for another new single is currently being inked. Webster, incidentally, is currently working on an artist album for release next summer.
The latest download release from midlands DJ Johnny Pluse’s Bulabeats stamp is out this fortnight from Juno. Dublin’s DJ Obese is behind ‘Dubtown’ and ‘Wicked Situation’, two ragga-tinged slabs of energetic drum ’n’ bass.
Tech-trance whiz Bryan Kearney’s new single on Discover, ‘You Will Never Be Forgotten’, is a tribute to his late pal Barry Connell, the Scottish DJ who died tragically earlier this year from an acute strain of meningitis.
Donegal duo Timmy & Tommy were recently guests on DJ Preach’s radio show. Hard house don Karl Davis has started a weekly show on RTÉ’s digital station Pulse, which will be officially launched next month. The station will not be going nationwide, however.
Incidentally, Davis – who headlines at Hi Oktane’s first birthday in Leeds on November 21 – has signed his ‘Electric Bee’ buzz tune to UK label Deprivation.
Aspiring Longford producer and DJ Gary Maguire sees his first two creations hit the shops simultaneously this fortnight. His remix of Matt Hardwick’ s first effort on his own label Kill The Lights is one – it’s called ‘Supernal (Last Man Standing Remix)’ – and the other is a collaboration with John Askew called ‘Thumb It In’ for the Discover founder’s album Z List Uber Star.
The sixth outing from Al Keegan’s Aciitone Digital label comprises three tech-house workouts from Dublin-based Matador. ‘Takeda’, ‘Pukku’ and ‘Trip’ display enough creativity between them to merit a ‘worth keeping an eye on’ tag.
New from Barry Dempsey’s on-form house imprint Modem Music is Argentinean DJ/producer Totem Pole’s ‘Snout’, a subtle blend of dark edgy, funky house with techno overtones. A Stereo K remix is also included.
French funkster Dimitri From Paris plays Tripod on November 28. Former 2fm DJ Conor G and the Acii Disco crew will be in support. Tickets are €20.
Congratulations to Dublin club Stereotonic, which celebrates its fifth birthday this fortnight (November 8) at its new home, Twisted Pepper, which in turn hosts its official launch party from November 13 to 15. Guests lined up over the three nights include Zeitgeist live and DJs Fabio, Equinox and Barry Redsetta.
And finally, the country’s first ever live-in DJ weekender takes place this weekend (over November 7 and 8) at Trabolgan Holiday Centre in County Cork. Those not part of the 1,100 capacity crowd will miss out on some very special late-night attractions that Beats & Pieces shall report on in full next issue. The headline DJ is, fittingly, John O’Callaghan. It should be some homecoming party… THE BEAT GOES ON!