NEON

The Chemical element with the symbol NE, Love her already!

Fortunately for me it was around 18 degrees at six in the afternoon on a balmy evening after a long sunny day in Newcastle, when I got the chance to catch up with the lovely Neon Hitch for a quick chat about life, guys, friends and the imminent release of her new album. Neon at the time was sunning herself somewhere in Miami where it was only one pm. Were it not for the day we had had on this side of the pond this could have all, been a very different story, but for once I wasn’t suffering the summertime blues.

Neon comes to the phone bright and breezy and from the moment we started to chat she was funny and painfully honest and from the word go it was like a catching up with an old friend.

Q. Sooo Neon lets get all of the obvious questions out of the way, I am actually going to be cliché enough to ask you about your name. I can see why it would be a great name for an artist and it’s a copywriters dream. Neon Shines brightest, Hitch your wagon to a star etc. etc.

A. (giggles) Actually, believe it or not, that’s my real name, my dad was a lighting technician, with a sense of humor so I really am called Neon, and believe it or not I have tried to copyright it. Can you believe you can’t copyright your own name? (We didn’t)

Q. Ok then, we’ve agreed the names very Hollywood, how did you first end up in the States?

A. It’s a long story, but believe it or not I was actually homeless when the record label The Beats ceased to be and then just at the right moment, up pops Benny Blanco who flew me to New York to work with him. It’s been 8 years now I cant believe it!

Q. How would you describe your musical style and who have you been influenced by?

A. My music style changes with every record I make and I have been influenced by so many styles of music I wouldn’t know where to start. Pop, electro pop, dance-pop, electronic rock, pop rap. In fact I’ve just recently had a lot of fun doing collaboration on a couple of tracks with a DJ called Borgeous. Also, I just made a track in one hour for a TV program, the deal was that they basically said there’s a piano, you have one hour, go away, come back and impress us! I thought “F*****g Hell!

I’m not that great on the piano.” As it turns out, I must be pretty good under pressure because that particular track ‘Please’ will be the first release on my new album.

Q. It much be great fun working with your G.B.F Archie (Partner at Alexander McQueen) for so many years, bet you have loads of tales to tell about your time with him?

A. Oh my God! Yes! I love Archie! He was my upstairs neighbour at the time when I lived in Brighton. It was really funny, every night there was either him screaming at his boyfriend upstairs or me screaming at my boyfriend downstairs, then we’d spend hours drinking and slagging off men in general. I miss that, Archie’s hilarious and a really great guy.

Q. NE Love has heard on the grapevine that we might soon have the pleasure of your company in the UK?

A. Yes, we are lining up a tour of the UK to promote the new album and the North East is definitely on our radar, we’ve heard you guys know how to party.

NE Love is really looking forward to meeting the young lady in question and showing her exactly how we party, in the meantime watch out for her brand new album ‘Anarchy’ available July 22nd l

;) Wanna see something naughty? Youtube Neon Hitch ‘F**k U Betta’

Few artists have experienced the meteoric rise to stardom as UK born DJ and producer Denney has done. With a rich musical heritage that has been the result of years of relentless hard work, Denney’s first breakthrough was in 2012 which came in the form of his smash hit ‘Ultraviolet’ which was famously signed by Jamie Jones’ Hot Creations imprint.

Fast forward to 2016 and the North-Eastern star has racked up an impressive abundance of accolades with his musical output spreading across dance music’s most revered imprints such as VIVa Music, Crosstown Rebels and Ministry Of Sound. An artist whose passion is firmly at the forefront of every project that he embarks on, we sat down to chat with him ahead of his forthcoming performance in Newcastle alongside one of dance music’s undisputed greats, Fatboy Slim.

You first supported Fatboy Slim 12 years ago on his album tour. Tell us about that gig. How did you prepare? What was the crowd like?

I did indeed; I won a competition on Galaxy radio and supported him on his Palookeville album tour. I remember being so nervous as it was the biggest gig I had done to date at that time. I was on vinyl then so made sure I had all bases covered music wise with 2 big bags full of records. I remember the crowd were amazing and so up for it, Norman always pulls a party crowd.

You’ve played in Newcastle several times before. Is there anything that stands out about the local crowd?

I love playing Newcastle and I love Geordies generally, they are without doubt the friendliest people in the UK. The crowd is always bang up for it and I always leave Newcastle buzzing from the gigs.

What has been your most memorable gig to date so far and why?

I got to play Elrow in Barcelona this year which was incredible, I played peak time on the terrace and has so much fun. I won’t be forgetting that gig in a hurry believe me.

You’ve had some big releases recently on the likes of Crosstown

Rebels, Pokerflat and 20/20 Vision. Can you tell us about your upcoming releases?

I have an upcoming EP on Heidi’s ‘Jackathon Jams’ Label, another new track will be forthcoming on Global Undergrounds 20th Anniversary CD and am currently working on a collaboration EP with Skream, Steve Lawler and Groove Armada.

What’s your favourite track of the year so far and why?

I love ‘Dogma 1’ by Michael Mayer and Kolsch, it’s such a great melodic record. If you weren’t making music, what career path do you think you would have taken?

The only other interest I have other than music is cooking so maybe a chef…I’m not good at being told what do though so that might not work thinking about it haha.

Which artist would you most like to collaborate with and why?

I would love to do something with Danny Tenaglia, he is one of my favourite DJ’s and has a vast musical knowledge. I reckon I could learn a lot from him which I love to do in the studio.

If you could create your own main stage at festival, which three headliners would you have play? (Any artist/act past or present)

It would have to be Prince, Miles Davis and John Lennon. I think that line up would sell some tickets!

What’s the biggest piece of advice that you can give to up and coming DJ’s/producers?

Stick to your guns and don’t try and cater your sound for certain labels, this will give you your individuality and in turn will make you stand out to the labels and get you signed.

We’re not here to bang on about Pete’s problems, his relationships or addictions. In fact, the point of this particular article is to celebrate this multi talented Geordie. Yes! Peter is a northerner of whom we all should be very proud.

From the days of The Libertines in the late ‘90s to the release of their debut album Up the Bracket there has always been something beautiful if not hypnotic about his persona. On the day that Oasis’ released Be Here Now some film was taken of Pete, a clip that later appeared on YouTube, of an 18 year old Doherty who, while meant to be filling in graves, was sitting on gravestones reading and writing. It would be interesting to know now exactly what it was he was reading, it could’ve been anything from Byron to Edgar Allen Poe. There has always been a certain melancholy in his behavior. If you’d ever seen The Libertines live, you will have noticed the love/hate relationship between himself and Carl Barât. The two bounced off each other making these performances electric in the song Can’t Stand Me Now, being a classic example. In 2010 The Libertines reformed for appearances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. They performed on 27 August at Leeds Festival and on 28 August at Reading Festival. The festival appearances were preluded by two gigs at the HMV Forum on 24 and 25 August. In November 2014 the band signed a record deal with Virgin EMI Records, and released their third album, Anthems for Doomed Youth on September 11, 2015.

Soon after The Libertines, Pete formed Babyshambles and in April and May 2005, Babyshambles spent several weeks in a recording studio in Wales working on their debut album with Mick Jones of the Clash, who had also worked with Doherty on the production of the

Libertines’ albums. The album, entitled Down in Albion, was released on 14 November 2005. It reached the Top 10 on the UK Albums Chart. The first single from the album, “Fuck Forever”, had been released on 15 August, reaching number four on the UK singles chart. The second single, “Albion”, was released on 28 November and reached number eight in the UK singles chart. In February 2006, Babyshambles won the Naomi Award for Worst Live Act, and were nominated for several NME awards. The band performed “Albion” at the NME Awards show, and Doherty won the “Sexiest Man” award. Just in case you’re reading this Pete, that doesn’t surprise me in the slightest! Xx

Which leads us to Pete at Riverside in Newcastle earlier this year, a friend told me that she’d passed him outside of Flip, it’s a good thing it wasn’t me cause I wouldn’t be held responsible for my actions. The brand new Pete, the good boy, showed up that evening on time, more sober and together than ever and charmed us with new solo material as well as some Babyshambles and Libertines classics. The Whole World Is Our Playground, which came out as part of Record Store Day last month, went down well, and the respectful crowd hushed to listen attentively to Flags Of The Old Regime, which was dedicated to the late Amy Winehouse, whom we of course adore and miss terribly.

In the end Babyshambles song Albion received a huge sing-along and massive cheers as Pete changed the lyrics to reference Sunderland, Gateshead, and Newcastle. To which some of the crowd sang back “Peter is a Geordie!”

Pete Doherty, musician, comedian, party animal, a man were proud to call a northerner, watch this space…l