Artist description DJ Name: Five Alive Real Name: Levi Stoddard Home town: Lethbridge AB Canada Musical Style: Acid Techno Years Spinning: 6 What influences do you contribute to the style of music you choose to play & why? Well I owe a lot of respects to the producers of my records, because for them they didn't have to talk to me or give me time and they let me in on how to make and DJ our style of music. so I am forever greatful to these guys and girls, The Liberators, Rowland the Bastard, Dave the Drummer, Ant, DDR, Geezer......the London massive for acid techno! How did you get into DJ'ing and why?: Well I am by nature a show kind of person I really enjoy being in front of lots people, that was the original idea.....But then the music kind of took over and I didn't care if there were a lot of people I just wanted to play! How did you get into Producing and why?: It got kind of boring playing records for me for a while, I needed a change and a chance to get out of just playing records all the time......I bought my first piece of gear for my studio march 10 1998, it was a Roland TB-303, and that was only the beginning. How would you classify your personal style?: Well I think of it as my mood of the moment......I tend to play the way I feel at the moment. When I don't feel to hot, I play really hard and dark and then it gets me feeling better so I play funkier as the set progresses, and vice versa. What's the best part of being a DJ and Producer? I like live PA and Dj'ing about the same so anytime I play out is usually the best, but there have been some horrible nights out on the town don't get me wrong. Good moments I cant remember are when my first record came out on Smitten XS, I felt like I was on top of the world! What's the worst part of being a DJ and Producer? Well the worst part is definitely trying to make a living out of it! Promoters not paying up, long drives, shoddy set ups, but I get through it all cause I'm not that fussed. What factors contribute to the creation of a "perfect" set?: For me I think that the crowd does it for me, if they're into it I go right off! Good set ups with good monitors and I definitely rock it! Where do you see the Electronic scene going next?: That is an excellent question, I think its up to whoever is involved and who gets involved, creativity has no limits and it all comes down to if you like it there is bound to be someone else that does, don't give up just cause someone else says "that's not right or your doing it wrong" its up to you to determine what you want your art to sound like. to get noticed you must pioneer you sound as a person and don't let anyone change it. What does the music mean to you?: Well to be to the point, Music is my life! I cant go a day where I don't sit down in the studio and at least work on a loop or produce a track. Its taken control of me and I get studio sick if I'm not creative in the days. Final comments: I think that every person that gets into music can make it to the place they want to be, but in no way is it going to be easy, hard work and networking will get you there as long as you don't give up! Werd to the FBI crew and all my mates in London.

Music Style Acid Techno

Musical Influences Geezer, DAVE The Drummer, Rowland The Bastard

Similar Artists Guy McGaffer

Artist History Recording Artist for Smitten, Bionic Orange

Instruments Roland TR-909, TR-707, TR-505, TB-303, Alpha Juno 2, Akai S-5000, Novation Super Bass Station, Mackie 32x8 Bus Studio Mixer

Albums Mind Grinder, Lucid Warrior, Live @ Trilogy, Acid 911, Smitten XSXS6 Sockin / What's The Matter?

Press Reviews Wax Magazine OK.. an awaited review of this record from new talent on Smitten XS wax in the form of Five Alive aka Levi Stoddard from Canada. After finally getting hold of this release courtesy of bangingtunes I can now spurt out a review. New Smitten label XS has ventured into the darkest, most evil, throat-cutting forms of acid techno known to man. Through disturbing, distorted, haunting, twisted, grinding synths, samples and screaming 303s, thick, heavy.. thundering bass lines, pounding kick drums 'n' raging, even tribal percussion we are lucky to survive the so far mindblowing assault of 5 releases on acid vinyl buying lovers everywhere, time to see what the 6th release has to offer, this time from Five Alive aka Levi Stoddard. Smitten XS is definitely a label of Innovation, as it's great to see Steve Smitten giving new talent the world over a chance to have their tunes on his newest label project to date, a fucking wicked project too if you ask me - exchanges of respect, exposure of upcoming producers talents. On to my honest opinionage. A Side) Sockin Logo side, this tune starts off with a hard hypnotic kick drum 'n' toms rhythm to get the floor bouncing. The distinctive jumpin' closed hi-hat increases the pace and you can feel the tune move to another level as the percussion builds taking the tune onward, leaving you wondering what will happen next. We are met by a short break, the pounding stops.. and an eerie, swirling high-pitched synth sound declares that something big is coming. A vocal sample (Levi?) of "you know what I just can't help myself" wickedly brings the pounding mayhem back into it's ongoing journey and we are met by a twisting, funking, hypnotic tb303 bassline that is bound to get you going in no time. This section of the tune now builds, rushing hi-hats..and the cutoff on the 303 line slowly rises.. lifting the energy, and you can imagine travelling at high speed, being tossed and turned as you fly through neverending, multicoloured tunnels deep inside your mind. However, the show ain't over yet as Five Alive has so much more in store... we are met by a second break, the 303 is twisting and turning..ultimate distortion, every passionate 303 loving fiend everywhere knows just what is about to kick off.. time of devastation! another vocal sample is heard in the form of "you know what I just can't help myself, I'm just always givin it to tha kids, just sockin it to em, just sockin it tha right way, and you know what? ...let's sock it together" The track then explodes into a full on onslaught of madness... a second 303 line breeds into existence and it starts screaming at your mind with cutoff on high-rise, the track is in it's climax peak zone and has you gripped in excitement. We are then let slowly back down onto ground level, the 303 calms.. and eerie synth sounds flow nicely over that chunking percussion which started it all off. The same vocal sample in the second break ends the tune. B Side) What's The Matter On the flip we see another 303 fueled tune - much more disturbing and evil than "Sockin" I would say. I love a hard, solid kick drum to give a track full throttle - to cause a rumble 'n' movement in your floor when the vol is on high, and Levi certainly delivers the goods. Clarity and power in the percussion, "what's the matter" is full of it, solid aggression, a building journey that strikes fear into you. An off-beat bass line, sounding rather like a low-noted tom drum booms away at you. The scene is now set for the tb303 to start up, rearing it's beautiful yet evil head the acid, and grinding synth lines keep on building.. the atmosphere is dark... the main break comes, and a series of vocal samples occur, with "what's the matter" the title of the tune itself soley opening the gateway for chaos to ensue. The tune reaches it's peak zone driven by a nasty, distorted 303 line straight out the creative mind of Levi himself... if you haven't got the picture yet then the picture is a room or warehouse full of people jumping up and down going fucking mental. But this is the sound of the underground, and if you love it, and are a part of it, then you shouldn't have to be told. Overall Five Alive knows just how to work the beauty of the 303 acid techno sound, taking a tune to different levels, to create a journey for your mind, is the key to a successful tune. The programming is tight, percussion nice and solid. I can see Levi producing many more cool stompers in the future yet and I can definitely see his big influences being the many names that form the collective that is the London Techno Mafia. There you go, phew.. now if you like the sound of that, then go buy it for your own selfish means and give these artists the well deserved support for getting where they are!

Location Calgary, AB - Canada

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