DJ Petruccio Profile

I'm based in East Anglia and run a new label called Divine UK Hardcore. I have had tracks on 4 hardcore albums 3 of which have been in top 10 uk charts.
I've tracks featured on 3 more big hardcore albums forthcoming this year / beginning of next.

some events played at off the top of my head:

HTID, Uproar, HTID in the Sun 07 & 08, Hardcore Heaven, Fruitclub, Whos Hardcore, Energy Rush, Hyperbolic, Future Hardcore, True Hardcore, High Voltage, Xtreme, Monthly Mayhem (resident for 4 years), Hardcore Revolution and many many more one offs and other small / mid sized events.

Many of the top tier DJs have played my material out in their sets, DJ's to include Sharkey, Kevin Energy, Sy, Hixxy, Breeze, Geos and many more.


I hope this helps a bit more and would welcome the opportunity to rock fantazia at some point soon, fantazia is among some of my earliest memories from wayyy back in the day when i first got into our beloved music and industry so it would be an honor to fulfill a dream and play for you. (plus i've seen some of the videos my friends who've dj'd for you recently have taken and to be fair your parties are immense!)
 

Petruccio Interview 2008

So how did it all begin?
I got into music like Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre as a child and progressed onto hardcore around 1990ish when I was introduced to some amazing mix tapes and videos (of Fantazia funny enough). The music back then along with early prodigy stuff etc just blew me away. Instantly hooked I started buying tapes / vinyls / videos / grabbing flyers and covering every square inch of my bedroom in them and just wanted to be old enough to go out raving haha. shortly after I was DJing at illegal parties and small raves locally in 1993.

Where did the name come from?
The name comes from an old record shop called Dance Force Records. they ran a label from their shop locally and one of the tracks "Petruccio" came out 92ish on promo. I was around MC Odyssey's having a jam and his mum came up to say hello n said why don't you use that name its catchy. So I did

What gave you that initial push?
The music, the vibe n atmosphere that is second to none! I can't describe the feeling I get behind them decks rocking crowds whether its a 100 or 2000+ its always great to perform.
Did the Djing, Production, Promoting come 1st? DJing / MCing back in the day... then I took a lil break from it all due to personal commitments n came back 2003/4 I came back playing oldskool and then got back in the swing of the new banging upfront sounds. 2005 see my first production in the studio and its not stopped since then! I've been on some good albums and various record labels and now run my own called Divine UK Hardcore which is now taking off really well.

Who’s throwing the best parties at the moment?
HTID / Uproar / Slammin' Vinyl - Hardcore Heaven on the bigger scale. Hardcore Revolution / Hyperbolic / Future Hardcore have been rocking the East with some mad events on the medium sized scale with full on line ups. And now a lovely welcome back of Fantazia rocking the UK again with some mad large scale events!!!

Which other countries have you played/put parties on?
Spain twice this far for HTID in the Sun. I love playing abroad and experiencing different places so the more the merrier keep them international bookings coming in I say!

What was the first event you ever played at/put on?
To be honest I can not remember the name of it... it was back in 1993 a small illegal event based near Kings Lynn. My first event I attended (legal party wise) I was 15 and got into Hyperbolic and MCed for Dougal which was amazing!

What’s the best event you’ve played at/put on?
HTID or Uproar around 2000 people rocking to your material and set is quite breathtaking I must say. I played at High Voltage in Bedford which is a small night but I could not believe the reactions there, I had Whizz Kid on the Mic for my set and we really did rock it!

What was your first record you bought?
First record hardcore wise, hmmm probably something on XL Recordings or Suburban Bass I think from about 1991/92.

Out of all the tunes you have, which one ‘never fails?’ Mine n Rampant's track called Rhythm that always rocks it and puts a smile on the ravers faces.

What's you favourite tune of all time?
I change my mind on this alot... Krome n Time - The Slammer, Nebula 2 - Anthema, any of the Mike Slammer & Red Alert tracks.

When all the partying is over how do you like to chill out? After party!!! especially with good friends, we all go back somewhere open a few tins of beer n cider and have a right laugh til everyones gone / fallen asleep. During the week I just get in the studio all the time working on various projects.

So how is the scene in your eyes at the moment?
The current scene is rocking, its a new breed of raver compared to yesteryear 90's crews, but there's still original ravers out there having great times too. I'd say its lost a lot of the Peace Love n Unity feeling that we were lucky to have in the 90's but there's still something there and the vibe is electric out there just slightly different from the old skool vibe!

What's is your real name if you use an alias and how old are you?
My real name is Matt and I'm 28.

Where do you live?
Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in East Anglia

What can you remember of playing/being at a Fantazia?
Bouncing round my lounge as a child to Fantazia Videos and mix tapes in my Fantazia long sleeved black Tshirt that was 2 sizes to big haha! unfortunately I have not yet experienced the Fantazia party vibe (hangs head in shame) but will do soon (New Years Eve I think I may well be traveling along with one of your main booked artists)

How big is your vinyl collection?
What do you think of CDJ's? Due to financially bad times I've sold well over half my collection I'd say I'm down to about 500 vinyls or so now. I will say I do miss mixing on vinyl but the clarity and ease of CDs is great, It has helped in the killing vinyl sales off a fair bit but we have to move with the times within reason. I do love scratching with vinyl opposed to cds. So really its mixed reactions to be honest, nostalgia does play a part in it for alot of us. but lugging that heavy vinyl box around is not missed!!!

Funniest thing that ever happened at an event?
Watching a drunken mess known as DJ Rampant on his 30th Birthday at Uproar wandering in the DJ box trying to discuss tracks with Jeff Supreme when Jeff was playing then Sy n Hixxy having to ask him to move aside a short while later, to be fair we did overload him with alcohol but you're only 30 once. All the guys took it in good part and had a laugh about it so no harm done but that night always makes me laugh hahaha.

Other DJs you rate?
Gammer & Squad-e are really doing it for me at the moment. Gammers skills on the decks are not being matched by anyone I've seen playing out in a long time, give him a pair of cdjs 1000's and a DJM Mixer and there is a recipe for a mad set! I've got massive respect for all the top DJs out there old and new but these two are smashing it for me at the moment.

What are your feelings on the MC's?
Work with the music, know when less is more, when to be quiet and when to rock your rhymes and work the crowd up. I think Hardcore MC's are essential and part of the fabric which hardcore has materialised from and love what they do.

What do you do outside of the dance music scene?
Well I visit my friends who're all scene related really so I never get right away from it, when I'm not producing / running label / gigs I like watching TV/Films and just going out with the people close to me and having a great laugh.

What advice would you give to up and coming DJs/Promoters?
Work hard, don't cut corners and do/be the best you can! be honest and don't tread on people on your way up... Respect the veterans who've pathed the way for you. Promoters much the same and don't con your artists, set your budget for your events and make sure you pay your staff / artists the amounts agreed!

When you play is this pre planned set?
I like to get some ideas when I practice mixing up various tracks at home, I really go with the flow and play what I feel necessary to rock the rave to its maximum for the type of set I'm booked to play.

When was the 1st time you visited Ibiza?
Was it to holiday or to play? Not been to Ibiza yet, but lets hope a booking comes in soon and I'll be over there like a shot!

What advice would you give to up and coming Dj's/MC's?
As I said before, Work Hard, don't cut corners and expect to have it all right away, do the best you can, play from the heart and do your best. Don't upset people on your way up, be a genuine decent person with good skills and you should go far with a lot more respect and work.

Anything else you want to say? Any shouts?
Thank you to everyone who has supported me, whether buying a track or dancing to my sets, booking me for a rave, voting for me on the Hardcore Heaven Awards, or just supportive comments, it really all means a lot to me. Massive shouts to my close friends and production partners and to the labels / djs backing me, thanks to you all!

If you could stage a rave anywhere, where would you choose?
Give me a time machine and I'll see you at Fantazia in the early 90's for sure!!!

How do you see the scene 5 years from now?
I see a more diverse rave scene with various genres under one roof like how is was back in the day, more live performances and band like p.a acts too. More live Visual Screens and big festival like events. I see more overseas nights taking off and doing really well and Hardcore being represented on a larger scale across the world.

If you had a time machine what year would you go back to and why?
Haha I just answered that one without reading this question. I'd go back to the Early 90's without a doubt, for the music / atmosphere / events and that belonging feeling (get your MA1 and MA2 bomber jackets on and see you in the field!)

KnightRider or A-team? torn again!
Gotta love Kit what an awesome car, but A-teams just great! Murdoch you Crazy Fool I aint getting on no damn plane! (yeah A-Team for the win)

Any shouts you would like to make?
Odyssey, Mike Modulate, Rampant, Dan Thomas and Sid, big up you guys, nuff respect for all you've done n been there to see me through! Hixxy Seduction Breeze and Rob JPS for giving me some awesome opportunities in the last couple of years. and to everyone who's part of our industry nuff respect!