Hixxy
Encyclopedia
Hixxy or DJ Hixxy, born Ian Hicks, is a British UK Hardcore
and previously happy hardcore
DJ and musician
from Portsmouth
, England
.
Hixxy is well known for his performances on the Bonkers
compilation series. He also contributes to many Clubland
CDs, including many Clubland X-Treme Hardcore
compilations, and Hardcore Til I Die. He started off his DJ career with the song "Toytown" which was released in 1996, This record was a huge hit in the UK. Some of his most famous songs would include "More & More," "Together Forever," "Sea of Love," and many more. His remix of "Sea of Love" is featured in the popular indie game Techno Kitten Adventure
.
on the 3rd of August 1975. Hixxy's interest in DJing stemmed from an early obsession with US hip hop
and rap. He was also influenced from watching DMC Championship videos. His interest in rave music
developed in the early 1990s, and Hixxy began appearing at events on the south coast part of the UK, along with fellow DJs Ramos, Supreme and Sunset Regime. In 1992, Hicks met DJ Dougal
at a Dreamscape
event, which led to the creation of their own label Essential Platinum. The label was instantly catapulted to the top of the hardcore tree, making them instant heroes within the underground rave scene.
(now an established and successful all-rounder in the industry), he produced the track Toytown (released on his own label Essential Platinum), a massive hit which continues to be played at raves today. In 1996 React Records offered Hixxy an album release that was to start a new era of hardcore. He featured alongside DJ Sharkey and Bonkers - the first in a series of surprisingly successful hardcore compilation albums - was born. Indeed Bonkers
became the best selling series of hardcore music in the UK (as of 2009, now extended to its 18th installment). In 1997, Hixxy secured a spot as a radio DJ on London's Kiss FM
where we became well loved for his jovial style and high-octane selections
By 1999, the hardcore scene had become tired with the absence of earlier creativity, and Hicks became disillusioned, however he made the decision to continue with a scene into which he had invested so much energy, time and money. By 2001, however, the hardcore scene experienced a considerable revival, with an influx of new events, tracks, DJs and labels (including Hixxy's own label Raver Baby). Raver Baby was soon seen as the saviour of a hardcore scene that was otherwise starved of new labels and innovative ideas.
Hixxy has released many tracks under the monikers of Yum-Yi, OMG and Antisocial (along with Sunset Regime).
& Styles
mixes the Clubland X-Treme Hardcore
compilation series; Hixxy's mix being the 3rd CD of each, always noted as the "bonus cd", however it is not named the bonus CD in Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 7
, the latest in the series, which as well as including the usual Hixxy disc, has a fourth disc featuring the 'best hardcore ever'.
Along with many other famous hardcore DJs such as Darren Styles
, Re-Con, and Squad-E, Hixxy performed off the coast of Spain in summer 2010 for the fourth annual "Hardcore Til I Die In The Sun" also known as "HTID In The Sun". HTID In The Sun returned in 2011 for their 5th year. He has also appeared on the Dancemania
series, specifically the Speed
sub-series.
UK hardcore
UK Hardcore is a broad term to describe the evolved sound of Happy Hardcore Rave music which emerged around the end of the 1990s and grew in strength during the 21st century...
and previously happy hardcore
Happy hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as happycore, is a genre of music typified by a very fast tempo , often coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics. Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore techno, which tend to be "darker". It is typically in...
DJ and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Hixxy is well known for his performances on the Bonkers
Bonkers (compilation)
The Bonkers series was one of the leading happy hardcore compilation series in the UK. The first release was in 1996 on record label React , it was available on 2xCD, 2xTC and 4xLP formats...
compilation series. He also contributes to many Clubland
Clubland (brand)
Clubland is a brand created by the UK dance record labels All Around the World and Universal Music TV. Since 2002 Clubland has made many dance compilation albums, including the popular Clubland series, which is currently up to Volume 20...
CDs, including many Clubland X-Treme Hardcore
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore is the first album in the Clubland X-Treme Hardcore series from Clubland which features Hardcore tracks selected by Darren Styles, Breeze, and Hixxy...
compilations, and Hardcore Til I Die. He started off his DJ career with the song "Toytown" which was released in 1996, This record was a huge hit in the UK. Some of his most famous songs would include "More & More," "Together Forever," "Sea of Love," and many more. His remix of "Sea of Love" is featured in the popular indie game Techno Kitten Adventure
Techno Kitten Adventure
Techno Kitten Adventure is a Side-scrolling video game developed by creative design studio Elite Gudz and 21st Street Games for the iOS App Store and Xbox Live indie games market. In the game, players control a flying kitten that must avoid obstacles and distractions timed to techno music...
.
Early years
Ian Hicks was born in PortsmouthPortsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
on the 3rd of August 1975. Hixxy's interest in DJing stemmed from an early obsession with US hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and rap. He was also influenced from watching DMC Championship videos. His interest in rave music
Rave music
Rave music may either refer the late 1980s genre or any genre of electronic dance music that may be played at an electronic dance party such as a rave. Very rarely, the term is used to refer to less electronic related genres glam, powerpop, psychedelic rock and dub music parties...
developed in the early 1990s, and Hixxy began appearing at events on the south coast part of the UK, along with fellow DJs Ramos, Supreme and Sunset Regime. In 1992, Hicks met DJ Dougal
DJ Dougal
DJ Dougal is a British UK Hardcore and happy hardcore artist and DJ.He first became involved with the dance music scene at the age of 15, while setting up sound systems for some of the first acid house parties, as part of work experience assignment to a music shop.His style is a mix of euphoric...
at a Dreamscape
Dreamscape
Dreamscape may refer to:In music:* "Dreamscape", a 2006 song by 009 Sound System, a project by Alexander Perls*Dreamscape, a 1995 Jamaaladeen Tacuma album* Dreamscape, a 2009 album by Gil Mantera's Party Dream...
event, which led to the creation of their own label Essential Platinum. The label was instantly catapulted to the top of the hardcore tree, making them instant heroes within the underground rave scene.
Career breakthrough
Hixxy's first production break came in 1994 with a collaboration with Sunset Regime, a tune called People's Party. Then in 1995 with the then MC SharkeyDJ Sharkey
Sharkey is a British record producer, disc jockey, and rapper. Sharkey co-created a style of hardcore techno known as freeform or freeform hardcore.-Career:...
(now an established and successful all-rounder in the industry), he produced the track Toytown (released on his own label Essential Platinum), a massive hit which continues to be played at raves today. In 1996 React Records offered Hixxy an album release that was to start a new era of hardcore. He featured alongside DJ Sharkey and Bonkers - the first in a series of surprisingly successful hardcore compilation albums - was born. Indeed Bonkers
Bonkers (compilation)
The Bonkers series was one of the leading happy hardcore compilation series in the UK. The first release was in 1996 on record label React , it was available on 2xCD, 2xTC and 4xLP formats...
became the best selling series of hardcore music in the UK (as of 2009, now extended to its 18th installment). In 1997, Hixxy secured a spot as a radio DJ on London's Kiss FM
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
where we became well loved for his jovial style and high-octane selections
By 1999, the hardcore scene had become tired with the absence of earlier creativity, and Hicks became disillusioned, however he made the decision to continue with a scene into which he had invested so much energy, time and money. By 2001, however, the hardcore scene experienced a considerable revival, with an influx of new events, tracks, DJs and labels (including Hixxy's own label Raver Baby). Raver Baby was soon seen as the saviour of a hardcore scene that was otherwise starved of new labels and innovative ideas.
Hixxy has released many tracks under the monikers of Yum-Yi, OMG and Antisocial (along with Sunset Regime).
Discography
Most of Hixxy's early efforts were released on his and Dougal's own label Essential Platinum. Nowadays the majority of his productions are released on his own record label Raver Baby. He also has close ties with the commercial record company AATW (All Around The World), where he along with BreezeMark Breeze
Mark Breeze, also known as DJ Breeze , is a UK Hardcore producer based in the United Kingdom. He is most known for his songs "Let's Fly" and "Jump A Little Higher", and frequently contributes DJ mixes to hardcore compilation series such as the Clubland X-Treme Hardcore series.He is mostly known in...
& Styles
Darren Styles
Darren James Mew , better known as Darren Styles, is a British record producer, disc jockey and singer-songwriter from Colchester, England. Originally a member of the breakbeat hardcore group DJ Force & The Evolution, Darren found success during the 1990s as one half of Force & Styles...
mixes the Clubland X-Treme Hardcore
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore (compilation)
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore are a series of compilation albums from Clubland released by Universal Music TV, AATW.-Releases:-External links:* - Label website.* - Label website....
compilation series; Hixxy's mix being the 3rd CD of each, always noted as the "bonus cd", however it is not named the bonus CD in Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 7
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 7
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 7 is the seventh album in the Clubland X-Treme Hardcore series from Clubland. Like all the previous albums this is mixed by Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy, however a fourth disc was included this year, titled 'the best hardcore ever', featuring previous hardcore...
, the latest in the series, which as well as including the usual Hixxy disc, has a fourth disc featuring the 'best hardcore ever'.
Along with many other famous hardcore DJs such as Darren Styles
Darren Styles
Darren James Mew , better known as Darren Styles, is a British record producer, disc jockey and singer-songwriter from Colchester, England. Originally a member of the breakbeat hardcore group DJ Force & The Evolution, Darren found success during the 1990s as one half of Force & Styles...
, Re-Con, and Squad-E, Hixxy performed off the coast of Spain in summer 2010 for the fourth annual "Hardcore Til I Die In The Sun" also known as "HTID In The Sun". HTID In The Sun returned in 2011 for their 5th year. He has also appeared on the Dancemania
Dancemania
Dancemania is a series of remix compilation albums by i-DANCE. The series deals primarily with dance music, especially eurodance. Despite its tracks have been made by various musicians from all over the world mainly from the European continent, the albums have been released exclusively in Japan.The...
series, specifically the Speed
Dancemania Speed
Dancemania Speed is a sub-series of Toshiba EMI's Dancemania compilation series. This series features faster, further remixed versions of recordings from previously released Dancemania albums or faster remixed covers of various famous songs...
sub-series.