The following is a recent interview with Andy Holt of Redanka for progressive-sounds.com

PS. Your new EP, Out Of The Dark has been eagerly anticipated ever since one of the tracks got played on Sander Kleinenberg's Essential Mix. Has the club reaction to the material made you happy, and where did the name for the EPoriginate from?

AH. Firstly, 'Out of the Dark' has been mistakenly called an EP by Joel at Whoop. I think he must have been on a bit of a bender the night before he labeled up the promo's because it's actually two mixes of the same track! But I forgive him :) ...My Redanka project has always been my vehicle for trying out things. For that reason, I don't think 'Out of the Dark' will be a great club record as 'experiments' can be hit and miss. To be brutally honest with myself I don't think I got it totally correct although I really like the 'Ghosts in the Mist' version. Hopefully though, people will see it as a good piece of music if not a good club record, and a little bit different to whats currently on offer. Sander loved it as soon as he heard it, so at least there's one person who hears what I hear. I'm not sure if that's a good thing though ' cause he's bonkers :) The title came from me just being totally pissed off with all the dark and boring crap that's been floating around for ages. Mr. C recently said that 'progressive' house is boring and ploddy, and you know what, he's 100% correct, but the term 'progressive' has been hi-jacked. It should mean house music that's moving forward ie: progressing, and I suppose the nearest you get to that these days is 'Tech House' (another pigeon hole). So there you have it...MR C is a prog house DJ!!:-))))))

PS. You've been busy working on other projects with Chris Bourne, such as the follow up to the single Boomerang as Dune and also both collaborating with Satoshi Tomiie as Graffik. Can you tell us a bit more about the tracks you have been working on under these projects?

AH. The Dune track is no where near finished yet (it's barely started!) so I can't comment on that, but the project with Satoshi is going very well. We've done a track called 'A Lesser Man?' which will see the light of day on RIP later this year, and another track we started together, which is untitled and unfinished as yet, will come out on SAW. 'A Lesser Man?' is a brooding (not dark) chunky number with some nice little lines and melodies going off, and is quite uplifting in places.

PS. Aside from the aforementioned projects, you've been working on a new Tarrentella single with Saffron from Republica, with a rumoured album project in the offing. Can we expect a change in direction for the Tarrentella project?

AH. We have started something with the wonderful Saffron but we're not sure what's happening with it yet - we'll make a decision when it's complete. It's in it's embryonic stages at the moment so we don't know if it will be suitable to be a Tarrentella record or not. All being well we will be starting work on an album when we get back from the States in July, and as Chris and myself get bored with ourselves very quickly, I can pretty much guarantee a slight change in direction. A CD of twelve house records would be very tedious on the ears I reckon.......

PS. Can you tell us about any remixes you have been working on, both as Redanka or under the alias of Tarrentella Vs Redanka?

AH. Remix-wise we've been very quiet as of late. The only one we've done is on a track for our label by Situation 2wo. The track is called 'Way2tite' and will be out sometime this year. The label has been our main focus since Xmas because we wanted to be able to enjoy ourselves a little in the summer, going out and DJing etc, and the only way that could happen was to get the rest of the years releases ready by June. We've hit the target (just about), so now we can sleep soundly in our beds for the rest of 2002, safe in the knowledge that the electric won't get cut off while we play FIFA!!!

PS. Your other collaboration with sees you team up with Dave Gardner (as Nerva) and Nigel Dawson (as Osiris).

AH. The projects with Dave and Nigel have been great to do. Nigel and myself have something half-finished that we can hopefully find time to complete. As for the Nerva project with Dave I would really like to do another one, but it's going to be difficult to fit it in this year. Top priority is the Tarrentella album, but when that's complete then it'll be a pleasure to get 'The Addict' back up here. He's a top lad.

PS. Both you and Chris now run RIP Records which has quickly become a label with a highly accoladed series of releases. What can we expect to hear on the label over the next 4-6 months?

AH. We have the rest of the year sorted as far as the label goes, with releases from Soul Mekanik, Graffik, Situation 2wo and Space Manoeuvres to name a few, plus a project with Plastica that we're doing, so it's looking pretty good. All the tracks can stand up on their own as great pieces of music (we think). We're very proud of what we've put out so far and we equally proud of what's coming so look out for the eight circles in a store near you soon folks!!

PS. Alongside the label, you have the Cable Chamber studio which has played a temporary home to some of the best names in the progressive scene. Rumour has it that you now have some interesting tenants who have set up home in the other studios, creating what some people have dubbed "the Midlands Progressive Mafia". Can you tell us who you have in the other studios, and do you tend to bounce demos off each other for feedback and ideas on occasion?

AH. The Cable Chamber does seem to be turning into a bit of a 'Midlands Massive' headquarters!! To start with it was just Chris and myself, then a couple of years ago Danny Spencer and Kelvin Andrews (Soul Mekanik/Sound 5/Sure is Pure) took one of the spare rooms next door. Now we've took over the whole basement and built two more studios and filled them with Andy Moor and the Brothers Grimm aka Mick Parks and Mick Wilson (the latter when he's not out clothes shopping). It's a great vibe down here as you'd expect - never a dull moment, always a laugh - and everyone gets on like the proverbial house on fire. The only time there is ever a crossed word is when someone beats someone else at FIFA 2002! Incidentally, if anyone out there wants to start a FIFA league then we're up for it. Johnny Graham pops in regularly for a cup of tea - we've had Satoshi Tomiie and Danny Tenaglia working here, as well as Cass, Lee Burridge, Saffron, Nigel Dawson and Marty 'Jar Jar Binks' Leama. The place is buzzin' and we're always in and out of each others rooms seeing what's going on. It's like having a second family down here. Thing is, these bastards individually make more mess than my three sons put together!! Chris, being an obsessive cleaner, has heart attacks on a daily basis.............wash yer plates up you messy twats!!!!:)))

PS. Having had a much increased DJ schedule over the past few months, do you have any particular favourite gigs that stand out?

AH. We've been very lucky to be asked to come and play in some fantastic countries and venues around the world, especially as we don't really consider ourselves as DJ's. It's the productions that have enabled us to have the opportunity to do this, and first and foremost that's what we are - producers. But the DJing is a wonderful experience - to be able to play some track you've just finished to a room full of people who are totally up for it is a whole buzz in itself. As far as favourite gigs go then there are a few - Buenos Aires, Pacha in Ibiza, Buzz in DC............ We're coming to the States and Canada in June/July for a tour and then go to Ibiza again in the summer so no doubt there'll be a few more to add to the list after that. I'm off to Poland this weekend for the first time so that should be interesting.