So what’s your real name?
Simon…

How did you come up with the name Swan E?
Swan is a name I was given a school. I don’t know why though and the E, I just put that on the end.

So when did you first start DJ’ing?
About 9 years ago, when I was 16. It all started initially with pubs and dance halls in my home town of Luton.

What made you want to become a DJ?
I’ve always loved music and wanted to do something involving music. So, I had a friend who owned a pirate radio station called Tower. He invited me down to the studio and I just took to DJ’ing from there.

What sort of music were you playing originally 9 years ago?
Rare Grooves, a bit of Hip Hop and a bit of soul.

Who were your role models back 9 years ago?
I liked Derek B, Big Daddy Kane and Roy Ayres. Also I used to love going down to Caistor, I saw Innersense when they were first starting out, they were great.

When did you get your first big break on today’s rave scene?
The big break came around 1990 with Weekend World. That night really kicked off my career for me just at the right time.

How many places do you play at on average per week now?
Usually I play at two places on a Friday, two on Saturday and sometimes once on a Thursday or Sunday.

What’s the most events you’ve ever done in one night?
Five. The night started at 6pm and finished noon the next day. On that night I played on the Isle of Wight, Sterns (Worthing), London, Cambridge and one other place that I can’t seem to remember at the moment.

What’s been the most embarrassing moment for you as a DJ?
Well, taking the record off the deck as it’s playing, which I think every DJ has done with two decks. I remember once I dropped a record on top of one that was playing at the time, oh dear.

Which DJ’s out there at the moment do you really rate?
There’s a lot of DJ’s out on the main circuit and they are all a very good standard. The main one I really like is Ellis Dee, but there are many others out there including Kenny Ken, Mickey Finn, DJ SY, Fabio, Carl Cox, Randall, Jumping Jack Frost and loads more – too many to mention.

So as a DJ, why do you think you’ve been successful?
Hard question. I don’t really know except being in the scene from the start helped a lot. Also I’ve got my own style of DJ’ing which seems to shine through (or at least I hope so!) where as a lot of DJ’s have similar styles. I’m just a bit different, perhaps a little weird?

Have your ever played abroad?
Yes, a few places including Rimini in Italy, Magaluf and Tenerife. I enjoy playing for the Spanish. I remember as event I did on New Year’s Eve about 3 years ago in Spain, they were really going for it.

Have you got any plans to go abroad I the near future?
I am looking to go to America, possibly Australia and Greece as well hopefully, I think us UK DJ’s have to go out and pioneer around the world to educate all the others and show them the way.

Do you think there is any country better than UK for raves?
No, there’s no where better than the UK.

Being a DJ for 9 years and being around at the start of the rave scene, how do you think the music has gone?
I don’t think the music has got worse over time, the tempo has just become too fast. We’ve got to slow it down to about 145bpm. At the moment it’s at 150bpm plus, it really does need to come down to about 145bpm.

Who’s fault would you say it was that the music is too fast?
It’s down to the people who make the music and some DJ’s who are playing the music too fast with their own slide speed controls.

So what do you think people should do about it?
Well it’s down to the DJ’s. I myself try to keep the tempo around 145 along with a few others, let’s hope more DJ’s will follow shortly.

What do you think is going to happen to the rave scene in the future?
It’s not dying, far from it. Look at Vision and Fantazia, it’s now all the new generation coming through and the older people are moving on to the garage and progressive house scene.

Do you think the garage scene will become bigger than hardcore?
Well there is a lot of garage coming in to London and apparently the Midlands, but I don’t think it will grow as big as the rave scene.

Do you like any other types of music other than Hard Dance 2?
Yeah, I like a bit of Floyd, The Police, and a bit Rap, Soul, and Groove. I appreciate all types all types of music but hard dance is the one for me.

Have you ever made any records?
Yes, back is the early part of ’92 I made my first record called Ruff Neck Business which was put out on the Ruff Tone label, it’s now been bought by Kickin Records and put on a compilation album. I’m doing a remix of that soon. After Ruff Neck I did Get Funkie and Rhythm Flow (which did quite well). Now this year I’ve got loads to do. I’m currently working on a track with Ellis Dee and also I’m working on my own tracks and a couple of remixes.

We hear you are starting up your own label?
Yes, Undercover Records with the first release coming out in 2 months. Hopefully by the end of the year will be going strong.

What tunes do you think are doing it at the moment?
Mickey Finn has made a great job of Penny Wise. Funkie Junkie Records are putting out some great tracks at the moment, Rhythm Section, Odd Ball, Ellis Dee Projects, Reinforced stuff and Basement Records as well. I think what it is coming down to now, if the DJ’s know what has to be played as they see the crowds reaction to tunes, so the DJ’s will become better producers.

If the Hardcore scene was to die today, what would you do then?
It won’t die, but if it did I think I would go straight into producing a lot more on the type of music that was to come along next. I think every 10 years/decade music, fashion and cults change.

Where’s the best place you’ve ever played at?
There’s been numerous places that were very good including Perception, Fantazia, Dreamscape, Sterns, Amnesia House, Eclipse (Cambridge), but one of the best for me was when I finished Vision. In London AWOL at Paradise must be the best.

Do you ever play set sets?
No never. Some DJ’s are out there trying to play better than the next DJ, but it’s not about that, it’s down to playing to the crowd. I take out about 80-100 records for my set and I adjust what I play to the crowds atmosphere.

With a lot of DJ’s appearing in just one night at an event, do you think an hour is long enough to play your set?
I don’t mind playing for an hour, but anything under an hour is basically a waste of time.

If the DJ on before you played a blindin set, what sort of set would you look to play?
I would take the crowd higher from the word go. You have to build up the crowd and get them going higher and higher, so the next DJ that comes on and has to do the same.

How do you feel about what you’ve achieved in your career so far?
I don’t look at myself and think yeah I’ve made it big time as a DJ. I’ve got where I am because I’ve worked hard. Also to me music is from the heart and I feel if you haven’t got a good heart you can’t be a good musician.

What are your ambitions for the future?
Hopefully my label Undercover Records will get going well and I will just keep DJing as long as possible.

What advice do you have for Up & Coming DJ’s?
Be original and work hard at it. It will come for those who wait. I’m a prime example, I started from nothing, bought my decks and believed I could do it.

Links to Fantazia

DJ Swan E played at the following Fantazia events:

Fantazia One Step Beyond

His set from this event can be purchased here