Para-Beats exclusive new track and mix

Para-Beats – ‘Hear Diss’ (MediaFire)

Para-Beats – ‘Fat! May Mini-mix (MediaFire)’

With a garage past, that includes producing the likes of So Solid, and a string of hip-hop hits for Channel U, Para-Beats cut his teeth as a on the UK urban underground.

Now enthused by the energy of the UK fidget scene, he’s been tearing up clubs like Trouble Vision, who he’ll be joining at The Arches for Chew the Fat! on May 29th.

He dropped us this exclusive new track and mix, and had a chat about the good old days selling records out the back of a van…

Who is Para-Beats and how long have you been DJing for?

Real Name Tony Hawley, age 30 From South London. I have been DJing since I was 15, and producing music since I was 16 (back in the good old Atari ST days).

Is the name a play on Para-Boots? If not, it would make a good name for a remix series.

No, but you’re right, that is a hot name for a remix series! I’m gonna do it, I swear! To answer the question, I’ve always been called Para. The name Para-Beats came about when I was doing my Hip-Hop thing, I was trying to make a ‘Just Blaze’ type of jingle to stamp my productions with. My mate came up with Para-Beats, it sounded hot on the track so I decided to stick with that as my production name.

You’ve got an illustrious career as a producer going back to the hey-day of garage. What’s your fondest memory of those days?

I consider myself lucky, music has given me so many great memories. I’ve spent my entire adult life working in music, so everything significant I’ve ever done has been because of music. From travelling the world DJing in strange foreign lands, to travelling round London in a beat up Ford Escort van trying to sell white label bootlegs to record shops! Its been a very eventful journey to say the least.

But to be more specific about production, I really enjoyed working with Carmen Reece, I love talented singers and she in my opinion is one of the best emerging singers in UK. She is so musically talented and constantly amazed me with her abilities.

Another great memory for me was when I was asked to co-produce a track with Narada Michael Walden (he produced tracks for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin etc). The studio session that day was so crazy, it was like something out of a Micheal Jackson behind the scenes documentary or some shiz, he made us all hold hands in a circle and say prayers to bless the studio session and all sorts, proper funny and unforgettable day for me. To even be asked to work with him was honour though, he is a musical genius!

Other artists that I have really enjoyed working with are Bigz, So Solid, Elisabeth Troy, Realism and Cassius Henry to name a few.

Have you noticed a garage revival recently? I was DJing at a 16 plus rave the other days and as well as dubstep, the kids were going mad for a live set from DJ Luck and MC Neat.

Garage is one of those things that will always go down well in a club. It was so diverse with so many styles to choose from, I defy anyone that says they don’t like at least one garage track. As far as a revival, I have seen a lot of garage events poppin’ up of recent, many of the old promoters seems to be coming back and doing events and pulling in the crowds. Whether or not garage will ever have the impact it did back in the days I don’t know, but its certainly one of those milestones in UK music which will never die.

We also hear that at one point you had five tracks on the Channel U playlist. Given this success, why did you decide to move onto a more fidget/bassline tip? Was it difficult to try and reinvent yourself?

I still make Hip-Hop and RNB as its something I enjoy, but just not as frequent and widespread as I used to. I have my favourite artists that I know I work well with, so I keep that circle pretty tight and do stuff on and off with them when I’m on that vibe.

The reason I have moved more into the Fidget House stuff is that I love to make music and then go and play it in a high energy club atmosphere, it is something I get personal kick from. The Hip-Hop scene lacks this in a way, as it’s a different type of vibe. I really needed this element back in my life again and was really feeling the emerging Fidget scene as it has many parallels to garage with has vast influences from other genres which I love, so I decided to start my campaign!

Reinvention hasn’t been difficult at all really. Of course there will always be certain questions asked of you if you come from another scene and are trying to break into something new, but I believe I have something to valid contribute and people seem to be embracing that, so it can only be a good thing.

I hate to be pigeon-holed, I make all types of music, that’s why I’m feeling this scene. People are more open minded and don’t have a snobby attitude towards what you play, they openly embrace different genres. I have had this type of musical politics for years, its great to finally be able to express myself through music without having to worry if the club promoter is gonna go ape shit if I play something a bit different. Ultimately its about making the punters have a cracking night out, I can do a better job of that if I’m allowed to do my thing without the politics.

A couple of your tracks have been blogged. What else do you have coming up on the production?

I have been very busy recently working on new Para-Beats tracks and remix requests are through the roof at the moment. I have two forthcoming tracks that I’m droppin’ soon (one of which I have given you guys as an exclusive). ‘Hear Diss’ I made because I needed something like this to play in my set, it’s a big twisted bassline roller strictly for the clubs! ‘Conga Nutty’ is a track I’m droppin’ in a couple of weeks. It’s bass heavy Fidget house tune with a Brazilian tribal feel (I’m on that congo vibe at the moment, lol). Also I have a few tasty booties im looking to drop soon, I might use them for the Para-Boots series

Expect to hear a lot more drops from me, varied styles and flavours over the coming months. I got many remixes and originals on the horizon, I’ll keep you guys in the loop.

You’ve played Trouble Vision before and we’ve heard great things about your set at Superfilth too. What can those who haven’t heard you expect from a Para-Beats set?

My set is generally an assembly of tracks from different genres, I find it hard to play one style. Also I’m very fussy about what I play, quality production is essential. At the moment you can expect to hear a fusion of high impact bass heavy Electro, Fidget, Jackin House with some random surprises/classics chucked in for good measure.

My has a heavy ‘Urban’ influence, I tend to lean towards playing tracks that have elements from Hip-Hop, RNB, Soul, Drum and Bass etc, wheather that’s the vocals, bassline, sounds, drums, it could be anything, but this is a definite running theme within my sets.

What are your top three old school garage tunes and current top three tracks.

Garage Top 3

Todd Edwards – ‘End This Hate’. For me, this track really captures essence of old school garage.
Mood II Swing – ‘Do It Your Way’. Essentially not a garage track, but was massive on the garage scene, my favourite bassline of all time hands down.
Tina Moore – ‘Never Gonna Let You Go (Kelly G Bump-n-go Dub)’. Single-handedly gave birth to the entire 2-step genre.

Current Top 3

Mr Miyagi – ‘We Gonna Give You The Lesson’. What a tune! My overall favourite track at the moment.
Shadow Dancer – ‘Be Happy’. Dirty, nasty, scatty! Can’t tell you how much I’m diggin’ this track. Certainly makes me happy.
Jaimie Fanatic & PartySquad – ‘Krush Groove’. My favourite party track at the moment, its got that sing-along appeal without being cheesy.

You can get your hands on another couple of Para-Beats productions over at Noise Porn.