What is your most used piece of kit and why?
The Virus TI is my most used piece of kit as its so flexible and you get some really natural anologue sounds.Also you can manipulate them in any way you wish to get the exact sound your looking for.Once youve got used to the Software Suite plug in, it takes a while.

What is your golden rule of producing?
Work from the bottom to the top.Get your low end right first and this gives you a good solid platform to build your mix on.Think of it like a building, you need a firm foundation.Its the low end that makes people dance.If the bottom end is the heart, then the rest of the track is the personality, you either like it or you dont but it still gets the blood pumping round the system.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from all kinds of music, especially hard dance as i like the grimyness of it and the agggression.Vocaly im a big Oasis fan and i think this is obvious with a few of my tunes, especially Touch The Sun.

Settle the debate for us. Hardware or software?
Software, i dont like clutter!!

What do you use to create your lead sounds? What processing do you apply to them?  A standard commerce lead and layer a grizzly lead behind it.In hardcore nowadays a fluffy skiddy riff just isnt enough, you need that dirty metallic sound.I normally add a bit of compression and high mid eq also shelving off the low end to help the kick and bass breathe.

How can you break the scene if you don't DJ?
Its diffucult nowadays to do it without djing as ravers like to see you up there and you dont really get noticed without it, especially with so many people producing hardcore these days.Also only with an hour to play most of the time alot of DJ''s like to play their own tunes as there making so many. I think if they made sets an hour and a half / two hours long it would give dj's the chance to play new music.I think an hours very restricitive.This is why Hard Dance works well for new music as generally they play longer sets.

If you could only pick one, would you rather produce or DJ (or MC)?
Produce

What do you think is in store for hardcore?
I think its exciting times, the music just keeps moving forward at such a rate which has to be a good thing.Also since 2000 its kept up with technology unlike the mid 90's so its up there with the rest on a production level.The future is definately bright.

Have you got any eq'in tips?
Choose the right sound first and you wont need hardly any eq!

Have any mixdown tips?
As i said earlier work from the bottom to the top .Also a good mix is useless without a good track.

Do you master your own tracks?
Yes

How important is it to take interest in young talent within the genre and nurturing them? Do you enjoy it?
Yeah i love it, i remember when me and Darren were starting out just waiting for someone to give us the chance.If your making a good strong track then im always intersted and want to push it on UK Dance. Im now offering Studio hire aswell and Engineering call outs to help producers get there track to a good professional state, also learning alot along the way.I think we established producers have a responsibilty to the scene and i think it all helps with the bigger picture.

Any up and coming talent you would recommend?
I think Exalt is very good along with Barley who is making some good tunes.Also a guy called Jonny G came over at the weekend to hire the studio, hes got a good strong track and is full of enthusiasm.

Do you prefer working alone or doing collabs?
I like both in there own way, you learn from others but you also need to calve out your own sound.I think it worked for me producing on my own for 3 years as i developed my own sound.Now im doing more collabs and have much more to offer.

Do you prefer doing collabs with top producers only, or do you like to stretch out to fresh new talent? If so what type of style are you looking for?
Well with new talent it has to be a very unique artist to bring something different to the table.Either techinically or musically, its nothing specific just something that really grabs you and stands out from the rest.

What dose ya name mean and how did you come about picking it?
This is a common question.My real name is James Broomfield. Ritmen is the dutch word for 'Rythm' .I really didnt want to use my own name so i literally got a translator on-line and typed in words to see what came out.The first one that came up was english to dutch.Thats it really.

Whats the best bit of advice you can give to an up and coming producer?
Whats the biggest track you have wrote to date?
The best advice i can give is to enjoy it and be patient.Every piece of critisism is a step forward if you take it in the right way and are willing to learn, if you want it bad enough.My biggest track has to be Touch The Sun which is coming out on Junkbox this month and appeared on the last Clubland Extreme album.

How many tunes have you had signed and released and what is your fav track?pfffffff....god theres a few since 1993 i cant think of the exact amount.My favourite track i think is 'You Are The One', as this was the only track i made and wrote just for me.

Whats it like to own a lable and what do you look for when your signing tracks?
Its cool cos you have complete control over your music.Im looking for anything unique sounding.Mix downs arent important as that can be sorted.Just a bangin track that makes me smile and gets the tingle down the spine.



What is the stupidest thing you have done at a rave?
hmmm.. i cant think of anything specific.Ah I went raving after getting injured playing football.It was at Oscars in Clacton in 1994 and Styles had to virtually carry me out of the club to a taxi.It was agony and i thank Darren for his assistance :)

Do you still enjoy a good stomp or is it play the set, fuck off home?
I still love it and try to get out when i can.Its tough when your djing as the longer you stay the longer it turns into a night out and you spend all your set fee.I need to keep a roof over my head lol

Aside from hardcore what other music do you enjoy?
Everything apart from Urban music of any kind.

What was your first ever rave to dj at?
This was at Oscars in Clacton on Sea in 1995

Do you have a full or part job or is hardcore your main income?
Producing, DJ'ing and Remixing is my full time job.Im very lucky.