This week’s mix was put together by long time AMF collaborator and all-round good geezer Tom2Trax. Tom’s come back on the blog to chat about what he’s been up too since we last spoke. He’s also put together a killer 50 minutes of hip-hop, rap, house, and leftfield oddities. It’s a mix definitely made for listening and is the perfect accompaniment to any weekend lazing around the house.
Hi Tom, it’s great to have you back on the blog. You’ve been doing loads of stuff since we last spoke. Can you give us a quick rundown of what you’ve been up too?
Well it’s been just over a year I think since my first AMF mix, and there’s been countless stuff, too much to mention. The highlights have been: launching my ALLTRAX event series, where all genres are blended by high-quality, eclectic DJs from Manchester and beyond; supporting some super talented DJs at venues such as Hidden, Indigo and Off The Square for promoters and brands such as Warped, Hedonism, Jerk It and of course, AMF themselves. Starting my radio residency at Reform was pretty out of control too. Huge thanks to all of the above and more for making the last year basically sick for djing.
You’re now hosting a regular radio show on Reform. How did that come about and what are the best bits about having your own show?
After MCR Live rebranded as a podcast show, it was only natural that I find my way to another station for a regular slot. I’d done a few takeovers through 2019, and the guys at Reform have always been super welcoming, so when a residency was on the cards it was basically a done deal from my point of view.
The best bit is definitely getting to play new music from the wonderful producers of Manchester. That and meeting all the talented people that pass through the studio.
You’ve also recently started a podcast called AllTrax TV (Link below). What made you decide to enter the podcasting game?
The conversations on ALLTRAX TV pretty much just echo the conversations I was having at clubs, bars, and flats with other DJs and musicians. I thought why not stick it online so people can tune in and view it. It also shows what’s interesting about this scene, music will always be the saviour, but the people behind it hold the real nuggets of knowledge. I also found that the people I’ve met through music are just in general pretty interesting and have stuff to say about non-music stuff too, so the podcast welcomes all that kind of insight/detail/nonsense – however you want to categorise it. (Editors note: AMF is in the first episode)
With lockdown putting pretty much all of the UK dance scenes on ice do you think technology is going to play a vital role in keeping scenes across the UK alive? How do you think podcasting & live streaming etc will help dance brands weather this storm?
To be a blunt realist, one of the most important aspects that are gonna ensure that this carries on when all this is over, is money. Along with many other promoters, I’m supporting Save Our Scene, which is raising money for venues, to ensure we can all go back to enjoying music events in the future. We also have to ask what the scene is going to be like after all this, because it doesn’t matter if venues and promoters are roaring to go but we can’t have crowds gathering in the same way as we used to. Noone knows a way out of this yet, and for events with crowds, who knows what will happen.
There’s a lot of promoters doing cool merch and selling music, which seems sensible.
You and I discussed this in more detail on my podcast, but as far as podcasting and live-streaming and all that, I think if it’s genuine, go for it. Nothing will be worse than a huge influx of new content just for the sake of it, to compensate for the lack of events. But if a DJ/brand has a cool idea for lockdown content that they feel is real, then go for it, it will come across to your fans. Stay true to yourself, make sure you do whatever is in your power to have enough money, and don’t follow the crowd for the sake of fitting in.
Can you tell us a bit about the tracks you’ve chosen for your mix?
It’s a proper home listening mix. I’ve wanted to do one of these for a while, especially after banging out loads of high-powered, peak time mixes and sets recently. It’s just me sharing really good music that I love. Everything from hip-hop to breaks and bass-y dubbed out stuff. It’s basically just full of fucking drums, which is all I seem to be drawn to these days!
Finally, what are your plans for the end of quarantine? Have you got any events in the pipeline or more podcasts getting prepped?
Production is a huge focus for me at the moment. I’m actually working on some tracks right now, gaining very valuable feedback from a close circle of trusted heads. Yeah, just smashing production and of course, I have a few more in the ALLTRAX TV series lined up.
