Hixxy Explained

Hixxy
Birth Name:Ian Hicks[1]
Birth Date: 3 August 1975[2]
Origin:Portsmouth[3]
Genre:Happy hardcore, Rave
Occupation:Record producer, Disc Jockey

Hixxy, or DJ Hixxy, (real name Ian Hicks, born 1975) is a British disc jockey and electronic music producer known for his innovative work in the UK happy hardcore scene, co-founding the Raver Baby record label, and the Bonkers compilation album series.

Career

Hixxy began performing as a disc jockey at age 15 under the mentorship of DJ Ramos, and quickly became known on the English rave circuit.[4]

Hixxy came to prominence in 1995 when he and DJ Sharkey released their track "Toy Town", which is considered "a classic of the genre, a riot of scruffy breaks and sugar-sweet vocals that signalled a schism in rave history when it was released".[5] Being considered pivotal in the hardcore scene, "Toy Town" led to React Music releasing the first of the Bonkers compilations in 1996, with Hixxy and Sharkey mixing. The Bonkers series stretched to 19 volumes, with Hixxy as a regular contributor, and while critical reception was varied, the series was credited as the "dawning of a new era" in the UK rave music scene.[6] [7]

By the early 2000s Hixxy's sound had evolved, releasing tracks that adopted the more mainstream trance sound but with hardcore-inspired beats per minute.[5] In 2004 Hixxy founded Hardcore Till I Die, a business for his musical events, through his record label Raver Baby.[8] That same year John Peel, a BBC Radio 1 DJ who was a supporter of the hardcore scene, invited Hixxy to do a mix on his show.[9] [10] The mix was subsequently released on CD by React Music under the title Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show.[11] The following year Hixxy partnered with Darren Styles to follow up the Bonkers series by initiating another popular compilation mix series called Clubland X-Treme Hardcore, which fellow artist MC Storm claimed to be "another massive turning point for hardcore".[7] [8]

Hixxy has a prolific touring and performance record, both nationally in the UK and internationally with shows in the United States and Australia.[12] [13] As of 2023 Hixxy continues to perform live, often with fellow hardcore innovators such as DJ Dougal at events including the Bang Face Weekender in Southport.[14] [15] [16]

Discography

Selected singles

Title Artist Release date Peak chart positions !Certifications
UK
Dance

Toy Town 24[17]

Selected mix albums

Title Mixed by Release date Peak chart positions !Certifications
UK
Comp

Bonkers 25[18]
Hixxy, Sharkey 10[20]
31
Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal 8[22]
7[24]
Hardcore Til I Die Hixxy, Darren Styles, Breeze 2004
Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show Hixxy 2004
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 1
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 2 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 1
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 3 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 11
Best of Bonkers Hixxy & Re-Con, Sharkey & Druid, Scott Brown 9[29]
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 4 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 7
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 5 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 15
Sharkey, Chris Unknown, Hixxy 8[32]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hixxy . . 1 February 2023 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201715/https://ra.co/dj/hixxy . live .
  2. Web site: Birchmeier . Jason . Hixxy . . 21 February 2023 . 21 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221195008/https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/hixxy/257858714 . live .
  3. Web site: Hixxy Biography . Active Talent Agency . 1 February 2023 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201716/https://www.activetalentagency.com/roster/hixxy/ . live .
  4. Book: Shapiro . Peter . Drum 'n' Bass The Rough Guide . 1999 . . 9781858284330 . 88 .
  5. Web site: S . Ian . Gone to a Rave #35: High on a Happy Vibe – The Rise and Fall of Hardcore . The Ransom Note . 19 August 2021 . 2 February 2023 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202083610/https://www.theransomnote.com/music/playlists/gone-to-a-rave-35-high-on-a-happy-vibe-the-rise-and-fall-of-hardcore/ . live .
  6. Web site: Roberts . Joe . Happy hardcore will never die: An ode to the Bonkers series . . 1 February 2023 . 10 March 2019 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201713/https://djmag.com/content/happy-hardcore-will-never-die-ode-bonkers-series . live .
  7. Web site: Edwards . Amber . DJ Hixxy set to perform at Plymouth's DEPO . . 2 February 2023 . 11 June 2022 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202143404/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/dj-hixxy-set-perform-plymouths-7191649 . live .
  8. Web site: Hodgson . Jaimie . 'Why Don't We All Go Bonkers?' – The Rise and Fall of Happy Hardcore . . 1 February 2023 . 20 July 2021 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201712/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzy5z/happy-hardcore-history-trivia-slipmatt-dougal-hixxy-sharkey . live .
  9. Web site: Mugan . Chris . His station's saving grace . . 2 February 2023 . 7 December 2002 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202084223/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/dec/07/artsfeatures.popandrock1 . live .
  10. Web site: John Peel Tracklistings: 17/3/2004 . . 1 February 2023 . 17 March 2004 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201712/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/tracklistings/peel_archive_shtml.shtml?20040317 . live .
  11. Web site: Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show . . 2 February 2023 . 2004 . 25 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325010357/https://musicbrainz.org/release/1b395152-cc59-4952-a0a9-d4f96917d18f . live .
  12. Web site: Get Ready For HTiD USA 2018 with This Hardcore Playlist! . EDM Identity . 2 February 2023 . 4 February 2018 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202122807/https://edmidentity.com/2018/02/04/htid-usa-2018-playlist/ . live .
  13. Web site: Hixxy Past Events . . 2 February 2023 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202120313/https://ra.co/dj/hixxy/past-events . live .
  14. Web site: Jolley . Ben . Bang Face Weekender locks Perc, Sherelle, Hixxy & Dougal Bonkers reunion, more in second wave . . 1 February 2023 . 6 December 2019 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201713/https://djmag.com/news/bang-face-weekender-locks-perc-sherelle-hixxy-dougal-bonkers-reunion-more-second-wave . live .
  15. News: Ravens . Chai . Happy hardcore will never die: the life of rave's most juvenile subculture . . 1 February 2023 . 11 March 2020 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201224709/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48312/1/happy-hardcore-bang-face-weekender-history . live .
  16. Web site: Hixxy Tour Dates . . 2 February 2023 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202120308/https://ra.co/dj/hixxy/tour-dates . live .
  17. Web site: Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 24 September 1995 - 30 September 1995 . . 1995.
  18. Web site: Official Compilations Chart Top 100 18 May 1997 - 24 May 1997 . . 25 March 2023.
  19. Web site: Resist Various Artists Bonkers - Mixed By Hixxy & Sharkey . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305180511/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11152-1509-2 . live .
  20. Web site: Official Compilations Chart Top 100 18 May 1997 - 24 May 1997 . . 25 March 2023.
  21. Web site: Resist Various Artists Bonkers 3 . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305180509/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/993-1509-2 . live .
  22. Web site: Official Compilations Chart Top 100 24 May 1998 - 30 May 1998 . . 24 May 1998 . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305142510/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/19980524/7503/ . live .
  23. Web site: React Various Artists Bonkers 4 - World Frenzy . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305180514/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11153-1509-2 . live .
  24. Web site: Official Compilations Chart Top 100 18 April 2004 - 24 April 2004 . . 18 April 2004 . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305142500/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/20040418/7503/ . live .
  25. Web site: Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Hardcore Til I Die . . 7 March 2023 . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307204326/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/12352-1509-2 . live .
  26. Web site: Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305195241/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11427-1509-2 . live .
  27. Web site: Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 2 . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305211335/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11428-1509-2 . live .
  28. Web site: Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 3 . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305211240/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11429-1509-2 . live .
  29. Web site: Official Compilations Chart Top 100 21 January 2007 - 27 January 2007. Official Charts. 21 January 2007. 6 March 2023. 5 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230305142506/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/20070121/7503/. live.
  30. Web site: Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 4 . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305195248/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11430-1509-2 . live .
  31. Web site: Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 5 . . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305195247/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11431-1509-2 . live .
  32. Web site: Official Compilations Chart Top 100 17 May 2009 - 23 May 2009 . . 17 May 2009 . 6 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305142501/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/20090517/7503/ . live .