Here we interview two of the best up and coming DJs I know!!

14/01/03

Q1. What are your real names?

A1. Charlotte Ward (Haven’t got an embarrassing middle name, fortunately)

       Charmaine Ward (Me neither!)

Q2. When were you born?

A2. Charlotte – 19^th August 1982

       Charmaine – Same here just 15 mins later!

Q3. Why Two’2 Company?

A3. Charlotte – Why not? Urm, couldn’t for the live of us think of separate names so decided on a group name and well wanted a name which kinda fits in with the twin thing without the word ‘Twin’ being anywhere near it.

        Charmaine - I though of it as it goes. We’re not all that good on choosing names; I think we went through every name under the sun. We even got listeners on the pirate station Hyper FM (which we used to guest show on) to call in with suggestions for us, none of which we chose. Basically chose tw’2 Company because it was simple and to the point.

Q4. How long have you been DJing for?

A4. Charlotte – About 4 Years ago now (’99). I was completely hooked after seeing a couple of people mixing on a pair of belt drives in my mate’s flat one weekend and thought I’ve gotta learn to do that - but better!

       Charmaine – Same as, it was through slight persistence from Charlotte to get decks with my initial thought being "don’t be silly we won’t be able to do that". It just goes to show!

Q5. Have you always played back 2 back?

A5. Charlotte - Yeah, don’t ask which one of us is better cos honestly were equal (Everyone always asks that!). It’s a big bonus knowing that if you’re not having a good night then you’ve got someone to fall back on and make up for your mistakes, hopefully, I suppose like most DJ’s who play B2B.

       Charmaine – Yes, It would be a pretty scary thought doing it on my own now. We have always DJ’ed together since learning and now being able to play out it’s a real comfort that there’s someone there to help you out if you get in a pickle, it’s also very encouraging as I get confidence and feed of Charlotte and vice versa.

Q6. What style of music do you play?

A6. Charlotte - Mainly freeform hardcore at the moment but have got a selection all types of hardcore – From all the cheesy classics to your classic breakbeat (Not as much as I would like though!) Also like Hard Trance and have been trying to build up a bit of a collection whenever I’m down the record shop. I find it really influential where producing is concerned.

       Charmaine – To sum up our style I would say it was trance influenced freeform / hardcore. Really into the more trancy style with banging riffs. This is what we have tried to put across in our own tracks. Hard Trance plays a main influence in what we play and produce.

Q7. Is this your favourite type of music?

A7. Charlotte - Hardcore is my real true love. Although I’m pretty open minded when it comes to music – Even Garage has its place in the world, just don’t put it anywhere near Hardcore!

       Charmaine – Yes I would say that freeform hardcore is my favourite style of hardcore. But also like and support all the other styles of hardcore.

Q8. What’s your favourite record of all time?

A8. Charlotte – I was dreading getting asked this question cos I haven’t got a distinct record that sticks out, had loadsa favourites over the year’s like everyone. One’s which springs to mind would be Broken Wings, Infleunce (JAL), Images of you – Quest, Product of Society – DJ Sharkey and most recent Crazy Styles – DJ Energy + Blackout, Let me b your phantasy…..

       Charmaine – This question should be banned from all questionnaires cos it’s just too hard to answer.

Q9. What’s your favourite own record?

A9. Charlotte – That’s a toughie because I haven’t got a favourite cos all the three tracks we’ve made so far are all pretty different to me but the first track we made ‘Dream’ will always be a bit more special because it was the first one we made and set everything off for us in a sense and it was the first time experiencing things like hearing your own track being played in a rave and so on.

       Charmaine – I would say my favourite would have to be ‘Dream’. Although every track we make is a favourite is some way. ‘Dream’ I think has the most meaning to me because it was the first track we produced. We have wanted to produce our own track for a while and really anticipated going into a studio and what we came out with was more than we ever expected. It’s such a versatile tune and kinda different from other Hardcore tracks – You can play it in a hardcore / freeform set or slow it down to hard trance speed and it still sounds wicked!

Q10. Where’s your favourite club/rave of all time?

A10. Charlotte – My favourite rave at the moment is Future Dance. Since the first one (Castle studio crew) I’ve loved every one. The music, production and raver’s are wicked!

         Charmaine – My favourite is also Future dance because it’s the rave I’ve had some of the best nights out at. Also because it came along at a time when hardcore wasn’t going to well, Jonny and Pete had faith and took a risk and gave the ravers what they were looking for - Good on ya FD!

Q11. Where would you like to play?

A11. Charlotte - Having said my favourite rave is Future Dance – You’ve guessed it – Future Dance. That would be pretty cool!

         Charmaine – Same just because the crowd and atmosphere are proper HARDCORE!!

Q12. Where do you see yourself in several years?

A12. Charlotte - Erm, Older lets hope not wiser! Well I could probably guarantee that hardcore music will still feature in my life – Whether I’m a raver or a successful DJ / Producer! All I can say is if the next year is as good for us as 2002 has been then can’t wait for 2003 because having our first three tracks to be signed to Nu Energy Recordings and hearing the likes of Kevin Energy playing them and also having the opportunity to play them out ourselves at Raindance… You can’t really ask for much more in one year! Looking forward to the future and hope to keep producing our own tracks and play them out ourselves wherever possible not forgetting to keep up the raving lifestyle!

        Charmaine – Urm…I would like to see myself still producing, with more involvement using a home studio. Have just got a PC which will help. Would like to set up our own label in time. Producing for Nu Energy is more than enough for now. Also would like to see us have regular playouts, which would be cool. Basically just gonna carry on with producing and DJing and see what opportunities arise. You never know what’s round the next corner!

Q13. What do you think of the scene at the moment?

A13. Charlotte – I think it’s the best it’s ever been for a long time and looks set to get even better. There are so many different styles of hardcore being played / produced at the moment which is making it more likeable to a wider audience of music lover’s, and most of it of good quality from what I hear of it. And I can only see the scene getting better because along side the more established DJ’s there’s a huge amount of up and coming producer’s / DJ’s and promoters keeping the scene moving on and alive and kicking all the time.

         Charmaine – I think the hardcore scene is growing from strength to strength. The music is much more popular and hardcore is getting more publicity which we help even more. Hardcore at the moment has something for every one whether you like your vocally/ happy, breakbeat, dark or trancy. There’s a lot more enthusiasm for the music now, everyone is making own material and creating a style of hardcore they want to hear and play. There’s definitely more opportunity for the up + coming DJ’s and producers now as there is a lot more events starting up trying to push hardcore and do there bit for the scene.

Q14. What was your first ever set at Raindance like?

A14. Charlotte – It was absolutely amazing having the opportunity to play our tracks out and seeing the reaction from the crowd from the decks instead of the dance floor. It was one of the most nerve-racking experiences of my life though; mainly because it was our first ever play-out and at an established rave like Raindance – the pressures on! I admittedly made a few silly mistakes at the start (Dodgee monitor didn’t help) but the majority of raver’s really seemed to enjoy it, which was wicked, and what it’s all about. Definitely an experience I’m not likely to forget!

         Charmaine – Same as Charlotte in saying it’s an experience I’ll probably won’t forget, taking the fact that we had never played out before, so being able to play at the of the best raves around was something quite hard to believe. Although I was really nervous thinking about it, whilst playing I wasn’t and really enjoyed it. The best part of the night would have to be just before our last tune when MC Whizzkid made the crowd make some noise for us – It was wicked seeing all those ravers with there hands up in the air making noise for us…That made the night for us! Then it was topped off with our last tune ‘Dream’ which went down like a storm and was the cherry on the top!

Q15. Are there any DJs or MCs you look up to?

A15. Charlotte – I would say the most influential DJ / Producer over the year would be Kevin Energy simple because amongst a few other’s he’s created a whole new exciting part of the Hardcore scene today – Freeform. I suppose by just producing the kinda sound / music you want to and sticking with whether it’s the ‘Norm’ or not even though it may not be the best selling kinda hardcore at that present time, it’s certainly caught on now though! I also think he’s technically one of the best DJ’s around, and hypes up the crowd a lot too which is good to see in a DJ.   Generally got a lot of respect for all the established DJ’s like SY, Brisk, Hixxy and Scott Brown Etc for not giving up on the scene when it all went a bit quiet and that goes for everyone including MC’s, promoters and not forgetting the raver’s.

         Charmaine – When we first started to listen / mix hardcore, the most influential DJ’s were the ones that used to play on Addiction fm, we were pretty much locked on every weekend and was were we got to listen to most of the new hardcore about, the DJ’s on there were top and really passionate about hardcore which kind of rubbed off on us and got us hooked. A more up to date influence would have to be Kevin Energy. We really got hooked into the Nu. Energy sound which influenced us to produce a similar sound but more trance influenced. In saying that, to have our tracks signed up to Nu Energy is amazing.

Q16.  Do you ever get fed up with playing?

A16. Charlotte – No not at all. There are so much good hardcore being produced now compared to a couple of years ago and all different kinda styles with it, making it pretty hard for the average DJ to get bored. And when I do get bored of mixing the current kind of hardcore, I have a phat mix with all my oldies, which reminds me why I love this kinda music so much and why I got into hardcore music in the first place!

        Charmaine – No not really, if you keep buying records, you never really get fed up of mixing, unless you get fed up of the music. My records would probably be the first thing I’d rescue in a fire….then my dog...oh yeah then charlotte.

Q17.  Have you any other projects on at the moment?

A17.  Charlotte - Yes, 2003 looks pretty exciting for us already! We’ve got three tracks signed to Nu Energy, the first two ‘Dream’ and ‘Parallel Minds’ is an EP and is Nu Energy 029 – It’s out now so check it out! Our most recent track ‘Lost in the beat’ hopefully will be released sometime in 2003 on Nu Energy but haven’t had any release details as yet. As for the Dj’ing side of things just going to see what happens, would definitely like to play out again though.

          Charmaine – Well our Nu Energy EP is out….So go buy!! Our third track should be out later on in the year,  yet again on Nu Energy, Called ‘Lost in the beat’ Check it out…It’s phat! Not anything really planned on the DJ side of things, just seeing how things go, to get booked at Raindance again would be nice, we’ll have to wait and see! But yeah, would like to gain more experience in the DJ side of things. So come Promoters… We’re ready and waiting!

Q18.  Any shouts out to anyone?

A18.  Yeah, big thanks to everyone who’s been really supportive to us, especially Nic @ Onelove + Dan – Your top! Not forgetting Britt + Vik (U nutty pair!), Dominic + bro, Tracey (lady Vex), Phantom + Kerry, MC herbs + all the Total Hypnosis crew, DJ Bluey + Amanda, Sam, Tom, Lurch, Little Rob and all your crew (Where you been!). Shout to all @ wax + Future Dance crew + all @ Nu Energy not forgetting Richard + the Raindance crew. Shout to Gary and all your Essex crew, Rob + Martin, DJ Edge, Dodgee, Ted, Kaine, Gavin + DJ Nemesis, Aaron, Spencer, Aidan, Paulie + all you lot not forgetting my non-raving friends – You don’t know what your missing! Lastly shout to everyone who makes the hardcore scene what it is simply because of the love of the music.

Q19.  Anything you would like to add?

A19.  Charlotte – ‘Work like you don’t need the money – Dance like no one’s watching!’

          Charmaine – Watch this space...

Thanks ever so much to Two'2 Company for your time!

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