Hi guys! Hope you're all good and welcome to my second column for The Wrap Up. It's been as crazily hectic as ever over the last four weeks, so I’ve got loads to update you on. I'll start by giving you my rundown of the 10 hottest plates out there at the minute – these are all great tracks that the crowds have been going mad for when I've been playing them out, so be sure to check them out...
1. Benga – 'Yellow'
2. Skream – 'Profuse'
3. Artwork – 'Fire In The Ghetto'
4. Wretch 32 Feat Etta Bond – 'Forgiveness' (Hatcha & Lost Remix)
5. Distance Vs Cyrus – 'Titan'
6. Surge – Leech'
7. Lost Vs Sadam – '5 A Day'
8. Cest Man – 'Gurkah'
9. Tunnidge – 'Brixton Bass'
10. Taiki & Nu Light – 'Dirty'
This month has seen me take in a lot of Europe with various sets. The start of the month saw me play at the Amsterdam 'Wheel and Deal' party, which was a blinding night. I played with Cyrus, Distance, Youngsta, Seven, LX1 and Cuts – the place was packed out and there were great vibes until 6am. As well as Amsterdam, I've also been to France this month, and played at the 'Twisted Pepper' third birthday party in Dublin, Ireland, with the legendary DJ Samio – which was a really good night. I was also in Madrid for the Red Bull Music Conference a couple of days ago. They were all great crowds and it's always amazing to see how many different European cities embrace dubstep in their own way.
My sponsorship from Jagermeister was waiting for me when I got back through the door from Madrid; they're helping out on the Sin City tour next year so have sent me through some hoodies, t-shirts and stickers. Madrid was quite a different vibe to playing a night. There were lots of interviews, filming, radio and magazine work that had to be done, and then a party in the evening where I did my set with Greg Wilson. I had Austria at the weekend just gone and then it's off on the Sin City US tour for a few weeks in December. I've got 16 gigs in a little over two weeks and will be hitting up Denver, Miami, Houston, Austin, Detroit, Toronto, New York, Portland, Vegas and LA!
HATCHA'S DUBSTEP CHRONICLES (NOVEMBER)
I've toured the US religiously over the last 6 years, they have wicked clubs and it’s always a sell-out show! Now that I'm working with N-Type, who also tours the US, it made sense to do a Sin City one together. Our agent in the States tied it up and as soon as he began putting out feeders, the dates got flooded up. It's great that there's such a high demand for dubstep out in the States and I'm really looking forward to playing there again. I got news that my visa actually got accepted today, which is peak because I wasn't sure it would at one point! I never really get any downtime when playing abroad in Europe, it's all business: fly there, play and then fly back and the US will be a similar sort of vibe.
Sometimes, if I don't have anything for a few days after playing somewhere nice like Florence, Rome or Paris, I'll take the missus and stop over for a few days. I get back off the US tour on December 20 and then I'm actually going to be doing the honourable thing and getting married three days later. I can't wait, to be honest, but I don't think she knows what she's getting herself into (laughs). Artwork, Plastician and Skream are sorting my stag do, and I just know all three are gonna stitch me up! They're proper wind-ups and will definitely take the piss. The honeymoon will have to wait a little while, though, as I'm playing Fabric on December 27 for the ‘Playaz Xmas Special’ event and then I'm up and down the country on New Year’s Eve for a few gigs.
I've also recently collaborated with Point Blank, a music college in London, on a competition for DJs and producers where the winner gets a one-on-one lesson from myself, which will be cool. I’ve been getting a great response from the Tuesday night/Wednesday morning crowd on Kiss, Soap Dodgers came through the other night to lend skills and catch jokes in the studio, as you know I always like to keep it fun and fresh for the listeners. Anyway, I best be off to get everything ready for the States, have a great Christmas and an insane New Year’s Eve night. I'll be back in January to update you on my adventures.
Catch you next month!
DJ Hatcha was speaking to James Walsh (@JW_DittoMusic)
Online editing: Joseph 'JP' Patterson (@Jpizzledizzle)
