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DanceAway 
Handle: DanceAway
Real Name: Paul Hesford
Lived in: United Kingdom
Ex.Handles: Dance Away
Was a member of: Over The Top (OTT)

Modules: 4  online
Interview: Read!
Pictures: 1  online

Interview


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            TLb.  ,dMP'          all rite, now you get the chance to read
             TML.dMMP            some facts about some of the major amiga
          ,nmm`XXMPX              musicians. read about their history in 
       ,#MP'~~XNXYNXTb.          the scene and their plans in future.yes, 
     ,d~'     dNNP `YNTb.       that's meant to be read while listening to  
    ,~       ,NN'     `YNb   their modules. read 'em over and over and over..
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    Handle: Danceaway

    Group: OTT

    Date of birth: 11.01.1973


  • 1-How did your interest for computers start? Which year was that?

  • Well I got a Spectrum for christmas of 1984 along with Jetset willy and Manic Miner "great games".
    A year later I received the mighty Commodore 64 and I was hooked from then on.


  • 2-What machines did you previously have? What did you do with them?

  • I still have my Spectrum, LOL its in brand new condition and I also have a Commodore 64.
    I owned an Amiga 500, then went onto an Amiga 1200. unfortantly I do not have the Amiga's now.


  • 3-For what specific reason did you end up making music rather than gfx, coding?

  • When I received my Commodore 64 on Christmas day of 1985 I also got 3 games with it, I started to load Rambo
    and was blown away with the music as the game was loading in. - then I played Miami Vice and again the music was just
    fantastic, something I was not used to on the Spectrum.
    Anyway from then on I started messing around with some music program, I think it was called Rockmonitor 3.


  • 4-Which composing programs have you been using? Which one in particular?

  • I now use Reason 3.0 on the PC, and Acid Pro + lots of different samples etc.
    Back on the Amiga I used Protracker 2.0


  • 5-With which module did you feel you had reached your goal?

  • Oh gosh that's hard as I cannot remember them all, well I think my World mix 2 was a good track as I used samples
    that I sampled into Protracker from various tracks and then added my own synth's and effects.
    People back then thought it was a great track.
    I did some other tracks which I can't remember there names but I worked really hard on pitchbending the notes
    and tried to make the songs sound like they had more than 4 tracks running.


  • 6-Is there a tune you would like not to remember? For what reason?

  • I was asked to do a jolly christmas tune for a demo, I did it and well I thought afterwards it was totally crap !! LOL
    I can't remember the demo name !!! LOL


  • 7-In your opinion, what's the value of a music in a demo, game?

  • If the music is done right then it can make the demo or game standout.
    Look at what people like Rob Hubbard and Martin Galway did, some of the games was totally crap but they sold
    bucket loads because the music in them was great.


  • 8-At present, are you still composing? For professional or leisure purposes?

  • I am still composing but only for leisure !!! if you would like to have a listen to what I do now then click on this link
    http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?songs=429984&T=9254
    I am also doing Commodore 64 remixes and I will be releasing a few this year on remix.kwed.org


  • 9-What do you think of today's pieces of music such as mpeg,wave,midi,etc...?

  • Today's music as come along way since the days of Protrackers etc.
    The music in the demo's are great and for the games they use big studio's and orchestra's on the big games.


  • 10-Could you tell us some of your all times favourite tunes?

  • Sadly I can't remember the demo's for the music I used to love listening to, I might find them on your site know.
    Oh one musician I just remembered who did some great tracks is Laxity !!!.


  • 11-Are you planning to make an audio cd with some of your music remastered?

  • Not of my old Amiga stuff if thats what your asking ?.
    But I have done an original dance CD which was used for the Back in Time Live event in Manchester 2005.
    Back in Time is a music concert where famous Commodore 64 musician's like Ben Daglish - Rob Hubbard - Madfiddler "T.D.K on the Amiga"
    plus a load of other musicians play C64 game music live "and its amazing".
    Some of the tracks off this album is on my page, the link on question 8 takes you to them.


  • 12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

  • I love all kinds of music from, Rock - n Roll - 60's "Beatles" - 70's disco - load of 80's "Duran Duran" - the 90's.
    Dance music - ambient music - Accoustic tracks !!!


  • 13-What does/did the amiga/c64 scene give you?

  • The Amiga was fantastic for demo's and the good old Protracker !!! LOL had some fantastic memories.
    But I must say that I was and still am hooked on the C64.
    Like the amiga there is still a big following on the scene, but I just love the tracks from people like Rob Hubbard -Martin Galway - Jeroen Tel - etc, and to see these tracks
    played live is a great feeling and experience.
    Though since I have found your web-site I will now be downloading bucket loads of these tracks from hear and no doubt it will bring back more memories.


  • 14-Are you still active in the scene these days?

  • Well yes and know !!
    Last year I was asked to do a remix of the Parallax music for the C64 by a friend who was doing the remake of the game.
    I did all the music and sound fx but the game as never made it to release !!!.
    I have helped out with the Back in Time Live in Manchester last year.


  • 15-Anyone to greet? Anything left to say? Feel free...

  • Greetz go out to all you Amiga fans who are still into the scene today !!! keep it alive.
    All I can say is thanks for tracking me down and for doing this interview.




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    please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2006 by crown of cryptoburners
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