Q-BASE - Update Oldschool Gangsters & Neophyte Records

Oldschool Gangsters and Neophyte Records share a beautiful office building and are hosting a brutal bunker at Q-BASE together. Oldschool gangster Rob Janssen kicks off the afternoon with a cast-iron line-up, only to pass the baton to his valued neighbor at midnight. Jeroen Streunding's Neophyte Records is sending a musical army at full strength towards Weeze.

OLDSCHOOL GANGSTERS
At the end of the eighties, DJ Rob was the best-known hard DJ in all of Europe. Every weekend, the port city of Rotterdam was shaken to its foundation by his hand, and his famous Parkzicht cassette tapes were flown to all corners of the globe by mail. Without realizing it, the DJ unleashed a revolution in Holland’s dance landscape in the early nineties, marking the advent of a new style and subculture. “When we started Oldschool Gangsters in 2005, there were hardly any oldschool parties in the western part of Holland. Oldschool Gangsters was a new concept for people who choose their own path and do what they want to do. But with a smile. However, we are careful not to overdo Oldschool Gangsters and don’t want to throw a party every week.”

After the glory years of 1991 and 1992, house music officially went black and white and the separation between mellow and hardcore was a fact. As of 2010, Rob says there is no longer a left and right or a then and now, because the new generation is simply reliving the early days of the harder styles. “We bring back the old days’ feeling with the DJs from back then, accompanied by new DJs who are open to new ideas. The fun thing is that the new generation of DJs is actually very much into oldschool and early rave. They know the oldschool atmosphere is great.”

As the number of BPMs rises to 180 in the years following 1992, a bald crowd bounces across dance floors equipped with Nikes and track suits. Rob Janssen grows to be Rotterdam’s master of the harder styles, converting thousands of visitors and countless other artists to the church of stomping beats. “Oldschool Gangsters is not a continuation of Parkzicht, as wonderful and meaningful as that period may have been. Parkzicht was daring and trendsetting by means of its music. For example, back in those days I’d drive to England, Belgium or Germany to buy new records, whereas downloading is the norm these days. But today’s new music is tomorrow’s oldschool.”

Soon, a caravan of gangsters from the ‘old school’ will travel to Germany to bring the pure oldschool feeling to the present. Oldschool Gangsters is synonymous to old-fashioned partying with a modern twist and the volume at eleven. “Q-BASE is really cool because it pushes on where others stop. It has a daring line-up and is very rough. We start off the day with new gangsters like Ricos vs. Alessandro Stasi, then build op towards established heroes such as Luciën Foort, Stanton, Miss Monica and Rob & MC Joe. During the day, things will get rougher and harder, after which Neophyte will take over the night.”

NEOPHYTE RECORDS
Once the clock has beaten twelve times, it is high time to smash a hole into the night. The demolition collective from Schiedam is coming to Q-BASE in their strongest formation for a reason. Neophyte’s Jeroen Streunding is very happy to be able to fill in his own night, after having performed with the Rotterdam dream team of Neophyte Allstars last year. “We closed the mainstage with Neophyte Allstars and that was an easy undertaking after a whole day of hardstyle.

Because of its many bunkers and hangars, Streunding sees Q-BASE as an underground festival that is clearly less polished than most outdoor events. Besides, Airport Weeze’s central location makes it draw visitors from all over Europe. “Q-BASE carries a unique atmosphere. These days I like to perform abroad anyway, because the Dutch crowd is rather spoiled.”

Recently, Neophyte Records has come to stand on its own two feet and partner Midtown is now only responsible for their distribution. After albums by Evil Activities and Tha Playah, it is now time for figurehead Neophyte, who released their latest album in 2006. However, progress on the CD is slow, because of the red tape the label’s independence is bringing along. “The biggest advantage is that we can now decide everything for ourselves. The disappointing part about it is that we don’t get to attract a lot of new names. With Distorted Revelation, we hauled in two great talents and I can only hope young producers will follow their example. Oddly enough, there is a bigger increment of new names in hardstyle, even though it’s relatively easier to break through in the hardcore scene.

Apart from the four members of the Rotterdam dream team – Neophyte, Tha Playah, Panic and Evil Activities – there is a lot to enjoy for the hardcore enthusiast, with performances by Nexes and Kasparov, among others. Neophyte Records now has an own area at Q-BASE, allowing for promotion of artists as well as the label itself. “We are indeed planning to perform as Neophyte Allstars in the bunker as well. We haven’t been too tight on the night’s planning, because I like to do things by feeling. We will let a lot depend on the atmosphere and because of that, we’ll have to improvise a bit as well.”

The Best of Q-BASE
From this Sunday, August 1 at 9PM (GMT +1), The Best of Q-dance will transform into "The Best of Q-BASE".
This week we will start with a broadcast of the Neophyte Records podcast.
Make sure to tune in at Q-dance Radio, this Sunday at 9PM!

Check the website & line-up here and order your ticket for Q-BASE here.