Mr Masif
I’ve DJ’d in over 50 cities around the world, recorded close on 200 productions and I’m the owner of Masif Recordings, Y2K, VW Recordings and S-Trax. I am Steve Hill.
You sit on both sides of the fence in terms of being both a DJ and record label owner - do you prefer one over the other?
I love both. I make tunes to play in my sets so both go hand in hand. I couldn't choose one over the other really. There's nothing like making a track and seeing the crowd go off when you drop it. I love the business side of the music industry as well and being a control freak it's great to be overseeing all aspects of everything I do.
You've mixed one of the three discs on the new 'Wild Energy - Gold Edition' release; how does this remix showcase your current tastes in hard dance?
I've always had a crossover side to the hard dance I play. Lots of riffs and vocals, very uplifting. While most of my mixes are more underground, I still love playing big tunes and this ‘Wild Energy’ mix reflects that; 100 percent guaranteed floorfillers from my record box from the past year.
When you table the sales of all your productions, you've sold over half a million copies. Do you ever sit back and contemplate the success you have achieved?
Right now I'm in the UK finishing my next artist album, ‘HTML’ (stands for Hard Trance is My Life). It's 100 tracks over five CDs. There's no time really to sit and reflect what is the past as the present is so busy and I have to plan the future constantly.
That said, what's next for Steve Hill?
Lots of touring, producing and running the Masif empire. I've got to get this artist album finished which has been two years in the making... then I'll tour it worldwide. I've got 12 countries locked in to play at in 2010 so it's going to increase the Frequent Flyer points I've amassed!
Ed Real nicknamed you the 'King of Euphoric Hard Dance'; as someone at the forefront of the scene, how do you see the dance music industry evolving over the next five years?
I think the scene is already going through a huge evolution. Digital has killed vinyl. Facebook and MySpace have killed the traditional 'flyer’. Festivals are killing the superclubs. It's exciting times; you either change with the scene or the scene will change you, you've no choice. So don't fight it, embrace it and enjoy it!
'Wild Energy - Gold Edition' is out now through Central Station Records.
