New party crew introducion

Heyy folks!

Something new is cooking in Helsinki and it is called Full Circle. And what I've heard of their plans, it sounds like rave culture is coming to full circle. They promise to bring the good old rave feeling back to the scene and urge us think outside the box. Sounds promising? Yes it does!

And the people behind Full Circle ain't newcomers so they know their stuff. People like Waily and Dj Neon are behind it with rest of the crew,Elina Mikkola and Johanna Jo Jo Voutilainen, who are familiar faces in the party circles. So everybody is lifelong raver. Why new organization? They told me because events have gone concise and I gotta agree with that. In the old days you could hear all sorts of music at raves, these days it is more club oriented catering to one or two genres at each event. Full Circle has promised to bring the old style back and blend genres on each night. And people do miss that and also miss the feeling united at raves. Okay, that feeling happens at hardcore parties abroad, but over here in Finland we are missing it.

The whole idea started cooking in the 90's festival (somehow quite fitting) and they soon gathered like-minded people together. Aim is to bring old ravers together again after too long sabbatical leave and hopefully younger generation will also find their events.

Why would this be different you ask. Well, they do promise to bring all genres under one roof and bring old rave feeling back. Also they will bring back visual side and that sounds good. Vjs are standard at clubs of all sizes, but decorations aren't anymore. Hopefully they will fulfill their promise. With people like these onboard, most likely they will. Think outside the box!

BlutEngel interview

Hi all,

hope you are well. This is probably the biggest interview I've done so far. I cofess to be BlutEngel fan (as well as Solar Fake fan and other people I've interviewed), so I was surprised when Chris Pohl granted me this interview. At this point, I want to say THANK YOU all whom I'd have the honor of interviewing!! And thank you for reading :) Here we go;:

What inspired you to be an artist?

Hmm, I´m not sure... I started to listen to this kind of gothic / electro music... It was in 1990... I liked this style and I wanted to make my own music in this direction... But it was just an Hobby....At this point I never thought that I would be an artist....

How did BlutEngel get started? 

In fact it was just a change of name... I had a project called "Seelenkrank" and I had to end it because of some legally problems with my label... SO the only way to keep the project was to change the name. I used this fact to change the music a little as well.. More gothic, more dark and less s7M like... 



When you created BlutEngel, did you have clear vision what it would be like musically and visually?

Kind of.... The former project was settled in the s/m scene and very limited in style and music... With BE I wanted to make everything a little... hmmm, more romantic, vampire like..... I never wanted to go on stage with this project but when I had an offer it was clear that I had to present a good show! I wanted to combine the mood of the songs with some visuals like fire, girls, blood... That´s what I do since 16 years :-)


Where does the inspiration to songs come for you? 

I really don´t know... It comes when I don´t need it^^ Sometimes when I lay in my bathtube I have kind of a vison .... Some text fragments.... Sometimes when I sit in my studio and play a little with sounds a single sound could give me the kick.... It´s so involuntarily...

How restricting is the BlutEngel image or is it just the opposite when writing music? Just wondering since you have so carefully created image.

Well I don´t have any restrictions... At the beginning.. well, ok... I wanted to be a big gothic band... But my taste changes and my way of production changes... SO I only and ever do what I like in the moment I do it! That means I am not looking for a special dark image anymore... I am dressed in black, I like the scene but I don´t look like a gothic and I don´t create gothic music just to please the crowd.... It´s dark but sometimes it´s pop... That´s what I like. Feeling free and do music I like!



Which comes first: music or lyrics?

It´s always different... Mostly the music comes first but sometimes the lyrics.... It changed a little because in the past the was always the music first....

And since we are talking of music, you released a beautiful song, Complete, and have new album coming out called Leitbild. Tell us bit of this album, what can we expect?

Well.... Expect a monster of an album^^ Very different styles... No restrictions.... Some songs sound a little like depeche mode, some like sisters of mercy... But in whole it´s BE.... I didn´t use always typical scene sounds... I used some acoustic guitars.... I tried to do more with my voice.... When you listen to one single song you can´t get any idea of the rest... That´s what I like!

How important you feel it is to release album on physical release and in several formats? Some artist only release digital albums, but I prefer physical releases.

I am old and oldfashioned^^ I like cds and we seel a lot of cds because of the booklets, the artwork.... Most of my fans like physical releases. Especially boxes with lots of goodies....


You are also on tour this spring and playing one acoustic gig in Berlin. And you also played Gothic Meets Classic concert in 2014. Are these a way for you to challenge yourself in a new way and to presents songs in a new way or how did these happen?

Yoiu´re right! See, I like acoustic instruments but I am not able to play one... So I like to see and hear how my songs work with this kind of instrumentation.... It´s always really hard to sing the acoustic versions because it´s realy reduced and really with this human feeling. But this is a new experience and I like it! Even though I have to do much more rehersals for an acoustic gig^^


As for your shows, they are visual and theatrical and that sets them apart from the rest and it feels,on some songs especially, like you are the narrator and people are acting the song out. Am I interpreting it wrong?

That´s right! Some songs are really good for a show or kind of a story.... Sometimes I call my concerts myself "music theatre".... I like to force the intention of some songs with visual aspects. Videos, girls, fire.... I hate boring electro concerts with fake keyboards... We play live, we have a show, visuals... I want a concert to be an event for the fans....



And to top it all, you are about to release a autobiography. How did this happen?

haha.. Well some german magazines made allready some book ABOUT me.... SO in 2013 I thought it might be time to tell my own story... I tell something about the "real" Chris, about my way into music about my thoughts, fans, parents.... Maybe some people are interested... 





Ok thx to you for some interessting questions! hope you like the answers and hope you like the new album ;-))

There you have it :) 

Dj Neon interview

Hi all!

This time around I got treat for you! I had an honour to do an interview with our local hero, Dj Neon! And here it is. Enjoy!

1. Let's go all the way back to the beginning. How did you discover electronic music?

Dj Neon: First thanxxx very much having me on your blog 😊 it’s a honour! I liked already back in 80’s synthetisizer music (Jean-Michel Jarre) and beginning 90’s I founded from Finland’s radio program : Beat Box, track Westbam : Mayday Anthem and my heart was sold to the electronic music and loving it each day more and more !❤

2. How did you get into djing?

Dj Neon: It is actually funny case, cause we started organisise Säde raves in 1999, cause we wanted to hear hard music (hardtrance, hard nrg etc.) at raves and at that time in Helsinki and also Finland at most parties was played trance, house etc. So in our Säde raves we played that hard music cause here wasn´t so many others to play it. So actually it wasnt plan to be dj, it was mention to get hardmusic to the ravers. We started organisise underground raves and they were succesfull. After few of those other organisisers started to ask play at their parties and thats how djing started. 😛

3. You are member of legendary Säde organisation. How did Säde get started?

Dj Neon: yes, so last answer gave already info about Säde beginning. Our group have had little crew changes in years but main crew has been same all the time : Proteus, me, Dj Triton, Dj Friik, nowdays also is : Dj Inch, Traba, Jone, Juha. There has been also : Dj Ioni, Dj Swiss, Pinkki, Susa.

4. Where was your first gig and what memories you have of it to share with us?

Dj Neon: I had some dj gigs back in 1994, when i was playing at school disco parties etc. Actually first gig was 1999 at our first Säde rave at Kaapelitehdas. I was very nervous and I bought my cd players 1 month before gig, so there wasn´t much time to practise 😛 I really love playing then and and I always will love playing.

5. What would be most memorable gig and why?

Dj Neon: ouuuuu, there has been so much fantastict gigs so it’s very hard pick one 😊 😛Of course memorable gigs was when I have played at same party with my idols, example : closing b2b set with Proteus after Raver’s Nature, same party with Kevin Energy, Scott Brown, Gary D., Trance Generators, Megara vs Dj Lee, Alphazone, Yoji. Also in Pacifique our b2b set with Proteus at one year which almost got really wild 😉Assembly gig at Hartwall Areena was unique, also several club gigs over the years all around Finland (from Helsinki to Rovaniemi), so much awesome memories from those. Also my 40th and Waily’s 30th together birthday bash gig was unique and was so nice to see so many people came and celebrate with us, thank you! ❤ also 31.12.2016 clock 00.00 I started my gig at Hello 2017 party, where i played my first own track: Der Zeitgeist (label Error303, release date 1.2.2017) for first time ever, and my heart melt cause responding was overwhelming, so I cried tears of happiness.

6.Let's look also the scene, since you've been it for a long time. It has changed quite drastically

to more fragmentary than before. How do you see the changes over the decades?

Dj Neon: my first rave was 1992, and from 1994 I have gone raves. Yes there has been changes, back in years people was putting more effort in clothing etc. Also back in days there weren´t any VIP areas, all was in same space as unite. Also before there was clubs and nights where you heared several genres per night, these days here most nights are builded by one or two genres.

7. You are about to release your first track, congratulations! Why now and not sooner is what I

think most of us are thinking?

Dj Neon: Thanxxx very much, it is a biggest thing for me. Actually I have tried to do track for years, first time at 2004. Cause my daily work (mental practical nurse), djing, helping others in music, in life etc,. I havent got much free time, so I have always looking for collab or person who has equiptment. I have tried to do track with several persons, but our taste didnt match up fully.

8. How would you describe it to someone who hasn't heard the preview?

Dj Neon: If you like pure German hardtrance, this is it!😛 Track which has massive kick, reverse bass, stormy energetic melody, and feeling that makes you dance.

9. Will there be more music from you?

Dj Neon: Yes ofcourse!!!!!!!! My next own german hardtrance track is already on process and I must say this is going to massive, cause it has more euphoric melody hook and other surprise 😉 Also plan is to do collab, and then we do freeform 175 bpm track.

10. What are your plans for 2017?

Dj Neon: To do more music, several tracks, hopefully get signed to my fav labels, djing, studying, and launching our new party organisation with Elina Mikkola ja Wille Immonen at 27.2.2017

Infected with sound

Hi and happy Halloween!

I just lost my Infektio (infection) virginity last night and was happy to do so finally! I had no idea what to expect, I just went out of curiosity to this long-running dark club. And I am glad I did. From the first set by Dj VoyVod evening was musical education for me. VoyVod played really strong opening set, which was nicely varied case. Only the tribal rhythm track wasn't to my liking, but hell, that is only one track in the whole set! Set build nicely and VoyVod put on an energetic show on stage. Always happy to see djs who really love the music they play.

Next up Memmaker. This was one the never-heard cases for me, like most of the night. They rocked big time. I just ended up buying their whole discography thanks to that set on next day. That is best recommendation I can come up with. Sonically they are somewhere in the line of industrial, hard nrg and some electro/edm vibes thrown in to spice things up. Those guys also had high energy levels on stage, jumping and raving like lunatics. This alone was worth the ticket price, these 2 hours. Their music is indeed interesting blend of genres and it really works. It felt like genre-blending was the theme of the night and that is only good thing. That keeps things interesting and moving forward.

Emanon played sure-fire set of industrial/ebm grooves and it kicked arse. No bad tunes at all and he kept things moving well. And he built the energy levels perfectly for Zardonic. I really liked his set a lot, so hope to hear him play soon. The set had enough energy to move yer feet without lacking melodies.

Zardonic up next. Zardo-who? This is another case of never-heard to me. I only read some things of what to expect, but that didn't prepare me for this. What do you get when you put metal, drum&bass and a mask in a blender and turn it up to the max? You get Zardonic: Metal meets d&b. That formula shouldn't work at all. but audience went wild with his live. I wasn't sure if I was at heavy metal gig or at d&b rave, but I gotta admit, the mixture of these genres was interesting, eventhough not my cup of tea. It works at club, but wouldn't listen to it at home. He put on energetic performance and the mast was cool.

Last set I hear was by Proteus. This set was something. Total mixture of all sorts of metal guitars ranging from heavy metal to hardcore techno. Literally. This really to balls to pull off and he did it. Always energetic performer and spot-on mixing won the audience over. And to me it was interesting one, since all the trakcs of various genres shared guitars (duh, of course) but also same wild, raw energy. This was perfect ending for my night and I left Gloria smiling and felt like I experienced something unique, new and educational.

Friends like these aka Mesh live at Postbahnhof Club, Berlin

Hi all!

Back home from the trip to berlin and as always, it was fun. I just love that city. So now it is time to tell you guys of Mesh gig at Berlin I attended to.You could say that I'm still looking for a runaway to land from this height.

First up was how am I going to get to the club and find it (it was rather easy). The club itself is bit hidden, but there are good directions to it, just follow the posters and it is easy place to get by public transport luckily. The clun itself is old building with two halls, so the gig was at one and the after party at the other one. Easy as abc and works really well. They did say after party would be next door, but didn't expect it to be this literally. I like these old building that are converted to concert clubs, they have that nice underground feel to them that I like. Only complainment would be place to sit.

Okay let's move on the main thing we're addicted to: music. First up Empathy Test. I saw them live about 6 minths ago when they opened for De/Vision at Lido (finally remembered the name of the club!). This time, the band sounded and worked much much better. Singer's voice seemed to carry better and it felt like he was singing from the heart. Also they developed some stage charisma too during these months. Nice surpirse indeed! Set was short and tight and worked well as opener of the night. Too bad many people missed their show. If you like your music more slow/midtempo and dreamy, this is a band to check out. At your own home I think their music will work even better than at a club.

Aesthetic Perfection is up next. I was really happy to hear that they would be playing at Berlin gig too and was excited of this. What can I say of this band? It was like hurricane took over the stage and came right in yer face and suddenly left the stage and left you feeling like what the heck did I just saw?!?! That is honestly best description I can come up with the band. Almost lost my breath watching them on stage. That positive energy, rawness combined to damn good music is just winning combination.

And what is it with keyboard players that they all are maniacs on stage? Here I witnessed one climbing to the top of the keyboard several times and raving like a lunatic. Singer new excatly how to work the crowd up and he has really good voice too. The whole package is well-thought and works like a charm. Musically they are in the bit harsher end of ebm I think, with partially rough vocals and tight melodies. Perfect music to dance to. First time ever I've witnessed a keyboard with a key standing up after the gig. Hope they got it fixed for the next show... That was like little missile going off on the stage.

And we are at the main event now: Mesh. I gotta first say that bands like these have the BEST crowd possible. Everybody is so friendly and polite, no pushing/walking over or anything like that. You can just relax and enjoy the show. That is quite rare sadly. And crowd really lived and breathed every second of the show. That enthusiasm of the crowd was impossible to resist and made the night even more magical.

The opening animation was just beautiful and electrifed atmospehere. That was superb way to open the set! Other animations suited music really well too and gave that nice extra touch to the songs and performance. This was indeed my first time seeing Mesh live, so I can't compare it to previous shows luckily. Set list was really sweet, latest album played almost completely with older songs dropped in too. Can't complain, it seemed like perfect solution.

Band played a long set, over 2 hours I heard afterwards, but it only seemed like 30 minutes or so. Why is it that gigs always seem to end too soon? And as always it seems with Berlin, there was tehcnical difficulties, but band dealt that with humour like true pros. Same happened with De/Vision about 6 months ago in Berlin. Am I cursed, or is it the city? Oh well, the fixer was called and show went on like nothing had happened. Well, these things happen with technology these days.

Special mentoning goes for Friends Like These backing video. They had fan's pics projected there that were took at gigs I think. That was really nice touch and thank you for fans. 

I had no idea what to expect, but this will be a good gig. So I was told by friends of mine. And right they were! Mesh sounds really good on stage and they have charisma needed to create magical experience for the audience. The band also seemed to be on a good mood on the stage and radiated happiness. You really could see they love what they are doing and that is really important. Oh wow, what to say? A magical night! Had an honour of meeting so nice people from around the world that made it even more special. Will I go see them live again? For sure!

Another Manic Episode

Hi folks!

Now that I somehow managed to recover from the weekend, it is just right time to tell you of it. And it was another manic episode in a good way.

On saturday, I went to see Solar Fake gig at On The Rocks. Arrived really early, but there were already some people at the club. First live act of the night was Ten After Dawn, a local band. This was first time I've seen them live and didn't know what to expect and that's good thing if you ask me. I got only good things to say of this! It was really good way to kick the night off. Band sounded good live. Good melodies, enough boom to make you dance and Teemu's vocals were clear. What more can you hope from a band? Of course the one maniac! And again it was the keyboard player. What is it with these guys? If I do get a chance to see Ten After Dawn live again, will certainly grab it. I recommend this band to all who like their melodies sweet with enough kick to make you dance.

Next up Solar Fake. I had high expectations for this gig and they were fulfilled. And maybe bit even more. Time really flew by with both of these live sets and way too soon they were over. And yes, here we have another keyboard maniac. I kept thinking to myself how sore his neck is after that show and how on earth he manage not to tip keyboard over. I guess that is something you call professionalism.

Here we have a blend of charismatic band members together with really sweet melodies that create magic. Sven has a good voice and charisma and Andre is a ball of energy. On stage they perfectly complete eachother and create magic. All it takes is those two guys to put on a show. Will definetly goto another gig. As said, melodies together with charisma and energy is winning combination. The place did get nicely crowded when SF started and it was good to see this kind of music does pull crowd over here in the land of all things guitar and metal. Only thing I missed was the Editor's cover Papillon, but that's only a small thing. And that is if I gotta find something negative of the evening. Otherwise setlist was to my liking. Perhaps too since it was first time I saw them live. But still, oh what a night!

I am experiencing a writer's block while writing this, so I'm gonna cut this short and prepare for work.

Clubife Hardstyle Icons 1 Noisecontrollers & Day-Mar (aka Darkness vs Light aural battle)

Hi guys!

Long time no see, sorry for that. Been too busy with school and the Club Interface project, but now is the time to look back last night and tell my views of the party. But first I need to get some coffee...

ahhh much better

I saw the Devil in Helsinki rapped Tricky in Christiansands, but this time we saw Queen Of Darkness herself: Day-Mar. She is one of the leading ladies of the whole hardcore scene and rightfully so. Tehcnically she is really good and also true to her sound. And I like her own music too. I knew she might go bit hard for my liking, but gotta admit I was wrong. Or my taste has evolved again.

Sadly I missed the first set, but was there on the beginning of the epic dj battle. When you put up a b2b2b2b2b2b set, Proteus / Sasha F / Djane J7 / Waily / Neon / Galrav, it raises eyebrow at least, Worst case scenario was similar to Swedish Chef's cooking, but I was totally wrong. This set really ROCKED! All individuals have their distinctive sound and this got them a bit out of their comfort zone I think, eventhough they did not compromise that much. None of them had time to build as they would on individual sets, but they still kept the structure of the set working well together.

When you put german hard trance, euproric hardstyle, rawstyle, hard dance and bit of hardcore in the blender, this set is what comes out. Flows really well and surprisingly so. Also it shows how close knit all these genres are and how there are similar sounds in them, One of the key element in all of them is the energy level. This was educational, if you ask me, as to show how you can blend genres together in an interesting and ass-kicking way. Well done!

Next up Second Level. I gotta be honest, eventhough I hate saying negative things, but this was a set at the wrong place at the wrong time. But the kids loved it. It was too big change of style in this part on night and still edm doesn't have a place in harder styles parties, especially at prime time. This might've worked as opening of the night, but playing edm in the middle of hard dance and hardstyle set. It was time for me to go sit and take a break. As said, this is only my humble opinion and I don't like edm/big room/electro house at all, it makes me run out of the venue holding my ears, because to my ears it is just commercial crap. But hey, most of the audience kept dancing and that is the main thing.

Noisecontrollers played excatly what you could expect from him. Melodic, euphoric hardstyle and it rocked. Nice melodies always work for me, I'm sucker from them. His selection was spot-on for the time of the night and he really rocked the crowd to the 7th Heaven. Dancefloor was really packed and rocking as it was end of the world as we know it. He also has his constant songs he plays everytime and some might've been heard too many times to some people, but they still suited the set. And Source Code Of Creation is still helluva banger. Also he played tonight, that he played in every set I've heard of him. Still, it's good track.

Next darkness with white dreadlocks lands on the stage. It is time time release the beauty of darkness and fast beats. Day-Mar in da house! I gotta give it to her, she built the set like a true pro. Starting with mainstream melodic hardcore before releasing full assault of hard beats. This really worked well and kept audience dancing. When she moved to more typical sound of her, some people didn't get it. Fair enough, her industrial side is harsh and rough, since it doesn't focus on melody as mainstream does, and this was bit tough for me. But when she moved onto uptempo, yes yes yes! This set really showed who were her fans and they were dedicated bunch. Screaming we want more for long time after she finished, and that I don't remember seeing in this scale before.

Gotta admit she drained at least me out of all energy but I sure was happy she did that :)