The Return Of The Sneaky Interview

It's been a while since the last SS interview (thinking of questions is hard, ok). The last one was with Tom from Run Riot, spookily enough. Since we last spoke he has been a busy boy. There's been remixes on Skint, Ape Music, and Sound of Habib.There's his remix of Double 99s ' RIP Grooove' which spent a month on the DJ Download House Chart, getting airplay on Kiss FM, as one of the Breaks tracks of the year. Throw in some live performances and running a label of his own, We Are Live Records, and I'm suprised the lad can raise the energy to answer questions at all.

SS - What do you listen to, day to day? Are you listening to radio, I-Pod, is the music that you hear influencing you?

Run Riot - I do most of my listening on Soundcloud these days as there’s loads of exciting new music on there. I don’t listen to very much radio and I’ve never owned an iPod. I’m far more concerned about finding new music for my label and making my own instead. Occasionally I will hear something that influences what I do in some way but these are more often from the big players!

SS - What would you say is your most important piece of kit?

Run Riot - It’s got to be Cubase. It’s what I use to lay my tracks down. All the rest of my gear is pretty dispensable. Although I do love my Korg EMX – so DIRTY!

SS - I used to be a rock kid and didn't find it much of a jump from RATM, Queens of The Stone Age, et al to the more driving electro, breaks I'm into now. Can you see similarities between rock and dance (I see that your influences include Muse and QOTSA).

Run Riot - Definitely! There’s power and energy in both. They’re obviously pretty different musically but connect with people on the same level and are equally important to music. A LOT of my influences are rock bands. I usually take musical influences from rock and production ideas from dance.

SS - Will Justice ever make another record? (serious doubts in the Squeaky Sneaker Camp)

Run Riot - Let’s hope so!!

SS - What have you got planned for 2010?

Run Riot - Lots of live shows - I’ll be hitting the festivals again this summer, which I can’t wait for! Remixes - I’ve got some BIG name interest that I’m pretty excited about at the moment.

I’ll also be working on a couple of original EPs. I feel like I’m getting better all the time. Hopefully my output throughout 2010 will show this ;)

SS - How are things going with We Are Live? What's happening on that front this year?

Run Riot - Things are going great with the label. My latest release, ‘Take My Hand’, has just been released on it and it has had some great reviews. I’ve recently signed some quality artists and can’t wait to get their stuff out there. The label will release multi-genre electronic music, not just Breaks - basically anything I think is cool!

SS - What are your biggest tracks at the moment?

Run Riot - Plaza De Funk - Push n Pull
Audiohazard - First Contact (Karton Remix)
Far Too Loud - Bass Association
Loving Access Denied’s output at the moment too

SS - Roy Keane - the best man for the job?

Run Riot - Ha, nice research! Yeah, I think so... We’ve had a bit of a shit season so far considering we were one of the favourites to go up at the start. We’ve had far too many draws but there are signs that we are starting to perform now - fingers crossed for a surge up the table!

SS - In a similar vein, Ipswich Town have been bought up by a Middle Eastern business man and amazingly they've come to you to discuss signings. Who's on the dream list?

Run Riot - Cech, Tevez, Drogba, Terry, Rooney, Lampard, Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Giggs ...I’m sure they wouldn’t be too expensive!!

SS - Can you make a cocktail?

Run Riot - Nope, but I can ask for one


Good lad. Thanks a lot to Tom for subjecting himself to the sort of GMTV interview technique we're famous for and frankly proud of.

You can get the Take My Hand EP here. I highly recommend doing so, 'cause it's aceness. You can also vote for Run Riot in the Breakspoil Awards and you should do that too.

Double 99 - 'Groove RIP (Run Riot Remix)

Run Riot Live (ish)

Sneaky Interview

Tom Young aka Run Riot has negotiated his way through the jasmine and vine strewn hanging baskets to take his place upon the comfy chair.



SS: You've got a steaming Radox bath ready. What's going on the stereo?

TOM: I hardly ever take baths but I reckon I would stick on Leftfield – Rhythm and Stealth.
There are some great atmospheric, chilled tracks on that album.

SS: The crowds a bit restless, what tune are you going to drop to get their attention?

TOM: If I were a DJ, it’s gotta be Warriors Dance by The Prodigy. BIG track!!

SS: It's your birthday and a very rich relative has told you to book any three acts you want. Who's playing at your house?

TOM: The Prodigy, Queens Of The Stone Age, Muse

SS: What's your first musical memory?

TOM: Hmmm....I used to dance around like an idiot to Michael Jackson when I was really young, that’ll do!

SS: The power's gone out at the club you're playing!!! What talent do you have that could stop the fractious crowd smashing the place up?

TOM: Nothing, I’d join the crowd...rock n roll!!

SS: Someone gives you a cinema for the night. What films are you going to show?

TOM: Lock, Stock..., The Matrix, Fight Club, 300, Anchorman

SS: Beatles or the Stones?

TOM: Neither... a lot of people pretend to like old bands to sound cool. Generally, there is very little music I like before the mid 80’s...of course there are lots of exceptions!

SS: What has Run Riot got coming up?

TOM: I’m playing a few festivals this summer. Headlining a couple which is a great privilege as I haven’t been around for long. A few remixes. I’ve also started work on my next EP planned for a September release with some big name remixes ;)

Thanks to Run Riot for withstanding that grilling. I thought he was going to crack there for a moment, but it was just some allergic reaction to the hanging vines. Kill to find out who those remixes are. The EP Charge is still available on I-Tunes, Amazon, Juno, Rhapsody, DJ Download and E Music

Filthy Beats

Run Riot, aka Tom Young, has only been around since the start of the year, but man is he moving fast. His EP 'Charge' came out on the 25th May, on his own WEARELIVE label. It's packed full of unrelenting bangers, dirty as you like. The sort of tunes that make me to do a weird punchy dance, that has got me into quite a lot of bother in clubs in the past. It's totally involuntary, but try telling that to the big fella next to me, whose kidneys I just whacked.

Anyway, 'Charge' has been picking up some good reviews from DJs and in the press. Mixmag said -

'Mixing house with breaks, samples with synths, all 4 tracks are varied in style but a consistent theme remains throughout, they are gritty and tough!'

Which is probably better than I could put it.

Charge is available to buy on Amazon MP3, I-Tunes, Juno Download, Rhapsody, DJ Download and EMusic.

Check out his Myspace for previews of the tracks.

Here's a couple of tunes that aren't on the EP, but give you a good taste of what Run Riot is all about. Banging, smash your head up, punch the air kind of stuff, basically

Run Riot - 'Everybody Needs A Bassline'
Run Riot - 'Disco Itch'

We're hoping to get Tom into the comfy chair soon, so stay tuned