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Features
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| Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! | | Goa based party animal and artist extraordinaire Nirmal talks punk concerts, metal sculptures, flying and rippin' it up on a High Tide! | | DJ Wired talks to us about the Rise of the Hope and parties, ahead of his upcoming set at Tribal Village on 14th January 2022! |
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Twisted gets friendly with Friendz head man Wynand Delport
Reported by Trevor McLachlan
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Submitted 31-05-06 19:46
Summer is fast approaching, and for the Friendz crew, that means getting out of the club and taking their loyal band of clubbers down the Thames for two boat parties, which without doubt, sell out every time. The first of their annual boat parties coincides with Friendz’ 3rd Birthday, on Saturday 3 June , which is a great achievement for an event that started out just to get friends together for a bit of a party once a month. They are now at the forefront of day clubbing in London, and with rammed events each month at Turnmills’ T2, the word has finally started spreading about this unique event. The vibe is second to none, and the clubbers go there for one reason — quality, uplifting and energenic trance music.
The Friendz crew go one step further this Saturday: while not being content to party on the Thames for six hours for their Birthday celebrations, they team up with the infamous Twisted events at the famous Fridge to bring you Twisted Friendz. This is another great achievement for Friendz, and a challenge they will relish. I caught up with Friendz main man Wynand Delport, the guy behind three years of storming parties, and someone who has a lot of passion for making sure it’s the clubbers that get the most out of each Friendz event.
Wynard & Soretha
Many people on here may not have ever heard of Friendz before, but with your 3rd Birthday fast approaching, tell us what Friendz is all about?
Friendz is all about a small intimate day party with an electrifying friendly atmosphere generated by a fun loving crowd. The party takes place at Turnmills T2 once a month from September to May, followed by 2 boat parties during the Summer months (June and July).
The regulars at Friendz are there for one thing . . . quality music and quality party time with friends. The music policy is simple: it has to be uplifting
What motivated you to start Friendz way back in 2003?
There were 2 major factors that played a part in establishing Friendz. The first was London and its amazing uplifting vibe back in 2000–2002 and the second was my experience when we lived in Zurich 2001–2002.
My best going out days in London were during the clubbing boom 2000–2002. Based on my own personal experience, the vibe during those days was very friendly and uplifting. The highlight for me of those days was Heat UK at the Rock. We were living in Zurich at the time (2002) but we flew to London for each of the Heat day parties at the Rock (as the venue was called back then). It was a great crowd, very uplifting music but above all it was a great venue (it even had a waterfall!).
Zurich was very different. All the clubs were high quality venues and the music was either progressive or house. Our favourite club was a very small and intimate club that played progressive house/trance. Although it was not uplifting, the place had a very unique feeling of closeness, where most people knew one another.
When we relocated back to London in 2003 after a few months of travelling, I experienced the London scene very different. Everything was more corporate and the vibe was not the same anymore. The scene was not as friendly and it was as if numbers though the door was the one and only priority.
Private house parties were the only thing we really enjoyed. I was in between contracts (work-wise) hence I decided to use the free time to look for a venue. I pictured a party where I could bring the best of both worlds together (London and Zurich). I also had a few dj friends who could help out music-wise, namely Lachlan Doolan and Dirk Laubsher. Except for Lachlan none of us were recognised djs at the time.
The first party was in mid May 2003 at Sahara Nights. The venue had a roof terrace and we were on the terrace from 3pm–8pm and then moved inside from 8pm–12pm, almost like Space in Ibiza. The event was not listed anywhere and was supported mostly by friends and friends of friends. The name “Friendz” was almost a natural choice. We replaced the “s” with a “z” as the idea was copied from a Zurich club.
Friendz residents
With so many day parties falling by the wayside of late, Friendz are just going from strength to strength, what’s your special formula?
The formula for any successful party should be the right people, the right music and a venue of class that brings it all together. Those 3 should click to form a party personality or character.
Friendz was more like a monthly get together to have fun and to have fun in the way we like it. Lucky for us most (like minded) people bought into the concept. Our numbers were good enough word of mouth to keep us going without doing any listings or promotional work
I found that most events these days are there to either make money, or some djs start events to lift their dj profile. Not that there is anything wrong with doing it, I just think it makes life more difficult if those are (or have to be) the objectives.
Being more of a private party gave us the opportunity to really work on what I call a “party personality”. I think some parties have to change forms so drastically to stay alive and hence not giving the party a chance to form or create a unique personality. I’d like to think of personality as something that when you close your eyes you should be able to hear the music and see the people. I’d like to think that people associate the word Friendz with smiling faces in an uplifting happy environment.
I’ve always thought of the Friendz crowd as being the most important part of the formula, not djs or other important people. There is a saying in business terms, “Give the lady what she wants!”
Everyone that goes to Friendz will tell you about it’s unique vibe and lively, up for it crowd. Explain this to those who have never experienced a Friendz event.
I’d like to think of the unique vibe as the personality that came to life, and which took some time to institute. People that have been to Friendz before know what it is all about. People that come to Friendz for the 1st time would hopefully experience it the same way and would buy into that party concept or personality. The formula to create more like-minded people. First timers at Friendz should think “wow that was awesome” when they leave the party
I think the combination of music policy and the “just here to have fun” crowd attitude create an electrifying atmosphere on the dance floor.
The unique vibe is created by a fun loving Friendz crowd, which in turn is fuelled by playing the right music.
I also think one can define the Friendz crowd as more of an older, up for it, fun loving, no nonsense crowd. If a dj would play a few boring tunes in a row, I found that people would walk up to me and complain. It is something I appreciate because if means they take interest and care about Friendz.
On the contrast, if you give them what they want they must be the best crowd in the world to play for. They make the place go off as most people have never experienced it before. It gives me goose bumps reflecting back on it. They are amazing and they are what Friendz is all about.
Friendz crowd
Now, tell us about your music policy and how do you go about selecting your DJ’s for each event.
During my time in Zurich I had exposure to all sorts of different music and the type of vibe it can create on the dance floor. I myself for example love progressive sounds but I know that most of it will not work when playing at Friendz. Entertaining the crowd and creating the right vibe is of utter importance.
I am very “end product” focused when it comes to music and music policy. I don’t think of it as just a certain genre like trance or house or just go for certain artists. I like djs that can entertain a crowd and not try to force down their own taste in music.
I also don’t think it is the best way of defining music by way of genre. Hard trance in the UK is very different compared to hard trance in Europe.
I think one can summarise our music policy as uplifting (not too hard and not cheesy). We do start with more progressive sounds or even house at the beginning of events as that is the time when people arrive and would like to be more sociable on the dance floor.
When I hear/see a dj, I picture how well received he or she would be at a Friendz event. Someone that would blend into the Friendz uplifting atmosphere.
I also think it is very important to interact with the crowd. That is much more important to me than tight or perfect mixing. The Friendz crowd want to be entertained!
Wynard Delport
Who is involved in running Friendz?
We have a great crew, all of which are contributing in a certain way. We all know you of course, our link to the industry as resident of Twisted and Friendz, Courage and Charlie Bradley who must be 2 of the most promising djs out there at the moment, David Brinson a very good well-known house dj who’s taken Friendz to another level by introducing visuals at Friendz, Sarie Olwagen who answers emails and helps out with all the admin work and then my lovely wife Soretha, co-founder of Friendz.
You’re facing a new challenge, teaming up with Twisted on June 3 to bring us Twisted Friendz at the famous Fridge. How are the Friendz team feeling about this, and what are your expectations of the party?
We are very excited about it. 3 June will be a very special event being our 3rd birth day and having a special after party with Twisted adds a lot more flavour to it. We also had to turn down many people because the boat party is completely sold out. I see Twisted Friendz as another chance for them to join in on the 3rd birthday celebrations. I’m sure they’ll make the most of the opportunity. A special thanks to Twisted for inviting us!
With all our residents playing plus our special guest Ian Betts and the rest of the line up including names like Nick Sentience and Lee Osborne we should create another unique uplifting vibe and entertain the Fridge crowd in a way they have never been entertained before.
Photos courtesy of various Friendz including Soretha Delport. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Twisted Friendz
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On:
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Saturday 3rd June 2006
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At:
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The Fridge [map]
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From:
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22:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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£12 standard tickets / £MOTD
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Ticket Info:
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TICKET INFO: £12 standard tickets / £MOTD
www.ticketweb.co.uk 08700 600 100
www.clubtickets.co.uk 08702 462 050
Never Enough Ticket agency – 07813 684 399 or 0208 352 0705
Vince Midlands - 07835626226
Cyberdog Camden – 0207 482 2842
E-List London – www.e-listlondon.com
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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TWISTED FRIENDZ
Never short of drama, this episode in the long running Twisted series returns to our scene for another 8 hour dose of your favourite club outing!
THE ONE TO WATCH!
Season 8, Episode 6
After the drama of moving home at the last minute in May, Hannah and co. get ready for another night out at their favourite haunt – the infamous Twisted. Long time friend of the family, the ever so talented Nick Sentience is spending the night, having not been over since NYE 2005. Nick is joined by a family of buddies who arrive from the Friendz boat party that include Courage, Wynand Delport and Trevor McLachlan. Hot shots Lee Osborne and K.A.R.L have also confirmed, and the surprise of the night comes in the form of label boss Ian Betts, who turns up for a 2 hour session to show off why his record label Six : Thirty is currently on the up and up!
Meanwhile next door….Colin Bennett and his abduction crew are poised to hold their own little party and have invited the hot talents of blond bombshell Danny Gilligan. Together with Matt Williams, Martin Begley, Shelley Hills and Bobby Buckley this little set up is sure to please the hard house fraternity, and harden things right up!
PARENTAL GUIDANCE ADVISED
Info and Concession Guest-list – Hannah@mostwanteduk.com
Contact – 07883 341 662 or 08707 454 940
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: Carine on 31st May 2006 21:41.05
My favourite daytime party these days. Always quality music and the friendliest crowd. If you haven't been yet and like uplifting trance in a nice surrounding, check it out, you won't be disappointed. Well done and Happy Birthday guys !
From: Charlie Rox on 31st May 2006 21:59.47
Fantastic interview which gives u an insight into a truly special and unique vibe and party.I have been going since the start and Friendz never fails to impress, go the 3rd birthday boat party, bring on the love....
From: Charlie Bradley on 1st Jun 2006 10:42.01
GO FRIENDZ!!
Onwards and upwards for a very special party!
The crew, the promoters, the supporters - all of the highest quality creating the perfect mix for a storming trance party. Can't wait for the boat party on the 3rd - Roll on Saturday!!
From: Karl Alexander on 1st Jun 2006 11:53.27
great interview Wynand !!! Superb party 
From: Not Marcus on 1st Jun 2006 12:23.51
What Karl said  Nice one mate 
From: Stevi D on 1st Jun 2006 12:27.33
Nice one Wynard!!! Im glad things are looking up for you guys, *high5* buddy!!
From: K Twin on 1st Jun 2006 13:01.21
Cute!!!
From: D J Ben Alonzi on 1st Jun 2006 13:11.52
All the best with it guys
From: lykkelove on 1st Jun 2006 13:24.54
We (DFS) shared a hotel with the Friendz crew in Ibiza last year and they're all wicked!
Also well done for DJing on the rockiest boatride ever - what a wicked day that was:-)
From: WynandDelport on 1st Jun 2006 22:16.23
Thanks for all the support – much appreciated!!
From: Lozz on 2nd Jun 2006 14:53.17
Best uplifting party in town right now!
From: anushka007 on 2nd Jun 2006 16:39.21
Wicked party, fab vibe, great djs who provide quality music with the most sexy and up4it crowd that I have seen
I just cannot wait for boat party and then TwistedFriendz after... HOW COOL TO BE US!!!!!!
From: NeilMD on 5th Jun 2006 08:28.15
Energy,focus and passion! may you never lose it Wynand!
From: Mike Harris on 7th Jun 2006 03:38.19
Quality party, always a pleasure to play at and a fantastic crowd + super friendly promoters make this the best day party around!
Top stuff lads, keep up the good work!
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