Welcome to the Holodeck

Interview with Mark Hawkins

• How do you think your set went?
• It was a bit mad in the middle with the fire alarm going off, but I managed to hold it together. Yeah, it was good.
• What did you think of Holodeck on the whole?
• It was a good night for sure, it’s quite mad being in the ice rink.
• What do you think of the British dance scene?
• Is there one? Ha ha ha. Nah, it is getting better, but its really underground. The best nights are small ones like Holodeck. There are loads of similar nights to Holodeck popping up round the country. It’s like the old D.I.Y vibe - which is cool.
• What’s been the best part of your career so far?
• Definitely getting to go to Australia, all expenses paid. Its all been good really, especially the travel.
• What’s been the worst?
• This gig I did in Malta that was a complete non-event. It was fucked up from the start. I arrived at Gatwick and they said I didn’t have a ticket, they eventually gave me one ten minutes before the plane took off. When I got there, my record box was smashed up, the gig didn’t really happen and they refused to pay me. I was stuck in Malta for two days while the elections were going on, so it was mental. There people out drunk in the street setting fireworks off in their hands. I just got to the point where I simple didn’t care!
• What’s you’re favourite club?
• That’s tough. I’ve gotta rack my brain, everything blurs. I’ve done about twenty odd gigs in the last few months.. All depends on how fresh you are, the Tresor in Germany was good, but I wasn’t in the right mood as I’d been touring loads in Poland. I’m glad to be taking some months off right now actually.
• Your idealistic night out?
• Ha ha, I’ll tell you my perfect night out, it’s happening this Saturday. I’m gonna watch the Rollins band playing Black Flag songs. I haven’t been out to punk gig for ages – when you’re on your night off the last place you want to be is a club that’s for sure.
• Plans for the rest of the year?
• I’m on holiday now for a bit, just chilling and moving house and stuff. I’m off to Germany for three dates in September, then Russia in November. So there’s a few things to be chewing on. There’s also a few releases out quite soon including the first proper release on my new label Crime in September / October.
• What was the first record you ever bought?
• It was either a Gary Numan live album or Axel F, I can’t quite remember. I was about 8 or something.
• Who’s your favourite producer?
• That’s a tough one. I like different people for different moods. Si Begg, I love what he’s doing at the moment. Michael Forshaw. Ill Youngman - he’s doing the business. Jamie Lidell’s live set is amazing. He records one or two vocal loops, then free-styles over it. It’s mind blowing, it’s so different to anything else that’s going on right now.
• What’s your favourite sandwich?
• What is my favourite sandwich? I haven’t eaten one in so long. Let me think, salad, humus, mozzarella and some kind of cooked meat, whatever I’m feeling like. Heh heh, yeah, all that in one fuck off sandwich!

interviewed by Larry Nelson for the Holodeck 14.03.03