Hixxy

Hixxy, or DJ Hixxy, (real name Ian Hicks, born 1975) is a British disc jockey and electronic music producer known for his innovative work in the UK happy hardcore scene, co-founding the Raver Baby record label, and the Bonkers compilation album series.

Hixxy
Birth nameIan Hicks[1]
Born (1975-08-03) August 3, 1975[2]
OriginPortsmouth[3]
GenresHappy hardcore, Rave
Occupation(s)Record producer, Disc Jockey
Websitehttps://www.activetalentagency.com/roster/hixxy/

Career

Hixxy began performing as a disc jockey at age 15 under the mentorship of DJ Ramos, and quickly became known on the English rave circuit.[4]

Hixxy came to prominence in 1995 when he and DJ Sharkey released their track "Toytown", which is considered "a classic of the genre, a riot of scruffy breaks and sugar-sweet vocals that signalled a schism in rave history when it was released".[5][6] Being considered pivotal in the hardcore scene, "Toytown" led to React Music releasing the first of the Bonkers compilations in 1996, with Hixxy and Sharkey mixing. The Bonkers series stretched to 19 volumes, with Hixxy as a regular contributor, and while critical reception was varied, the series was credited as the "dawning of a new era" in the UK rave music scene.[7][8]

By the early 2000s Hixxy's sound had evolved, releasing tracks that adopted the more mainstream trance sound but with hardcore-inspired beats per minute.[6] In 2004 Hixxy founded Hardcore Till I Die, a business for his musical events, through his record label Raver Baby.[9] That same year John Peel, a BBC Radio 1 DJ who was a supporter of the hardcore scene, invited Hixxy to do a mix on his show.[10][11] The mix was subsequently released on CD by React Music under the title Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show.[12] The following year Hixxy partnered with Darren Styles to follow up the Bonkers series by initiating another popular compilation mix series called Clubland X-Treme Hardcore, which fellow artist MC Storm claimed to be "another massive turning point for hardcore".[8][9]

Hixxy has a prolific touring and performance record, both nationally in the UK and internationally with shows in the United States and Australia.[13][14] As of 2023 Hixxy continues to perform live, often with fellow hardcore innovators such as DJ Dougal at events including the Bang Face Weekender in Southport.[15][5][16]

Discography

Selected singles

TitleArtistRelease datePeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
Dance
ToytownHixxy, Sharkey1995 (1995)[5]24[17]

Selected mix albums

TitleMixed byRelease datePeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
Comp
BonkersHixxy, Sharkey1996 (1996)25[18]
Bonkers 2: Now We're Totally BonkersHixxy, Sharkey1997 (1997)10[20]
Bonkers 3: A Journey into MadnessHixxy, Sharkey, Dougal1997 (1997)31
Bonkers 4: World FrenzyHixxy, Sharkey, Dougal18 June 1998 (1998-06-18)8[22]
Bonkers 12: The Dirty DozenHixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown, Breeze & StylesApril 2004 (2004-04)7[24]
Hardcore Til I DieHixxy, Darren Styles, Breeze2004
Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel ShowHixxy2004[12]
Clubland X-Treme HardcoreDarren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy2 May 2005 (2005-05-02)1
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 2Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy6 February 2006 (2006-02-06)1
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 3Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy11 December 2006 (2006-12-11)11
Best of BonkersHixxy & Re-Con, Sharkey & Druid, Scott Brown15 January 2007 (2007-01-15)9[29]
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 4Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)7
Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 5Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy8 December 2008 (2008-12-08)15
Bonkers: The Original HardcoreSharkey, Chris Unknown, Hixxy11 May 2009 (2009-05-11)8[32]

See also

References
  1. "Hixxy". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  2. Birchmeier, Jason. "Hixxy". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. "Hixxy Biography". Active Talent Agency. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. Shapiro, Peter (1999). Drum 'n' Bass The Rough Guide. Rough Guide. p. 88. ISBN 9781858284330.
  5. Ravens, Chai (11 March 2020). "Happy hardcore will never die: the life of rave's most juvenile subculture". Dazed and Confused. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  6. S, Ian (19 August 2021). "Gone to a Rave #35: High on a Happy Vibe – The Rise and Fall of Hardcore". The Ransom Note. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. Roberts, Joe (10 March 2019). "Happy hardcore will never die: An ode to the Bonkers series". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  8. Edwards, Amber (11 June 2022). "DJ Hixxy set to perform at Plymouth's DEPO". Plymouth Herald. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. Hodgson, Jaimie (20 July 2021). "'Why Don't We All Go Bonkers?' – The Rise and Fall of Happy Hardcore". Vice. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  10. Mugan, Chris (7 December 2002). "His station's saving grace". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  11. "John Peel Tracklistings: 17/3/2004". BBC. 17 March 2004. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  12. "Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show". MusicBrainz. 2004. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  13. "Get Ready For HTiD USA 2018 with This Hardcore Playlist!". EDM Identity. 4 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  14. "Hixxy Past Events". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  15. Jolley, Ben (6 December 2019). "Bang Face Weekender locks Perc, Sherelle, Hixxy & Dougal Bonkers reunion, more in second wave". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  16. "Hixxy Tour Dates". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  17. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 24 September 1995 - 30 September 1995". Official Charts. 1995.
  18. "Official Compilations Chart Top 100 18 May 1997 - 24 May 1997". Official Charts. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  19. "Resist Various Artists Bonkers - Mixed By Hixxy & Sharkey". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  20. "Official Compilations Chart Top 100 18 May 1997 - 24 May 1997". Official Charts. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  21. "Resist Various Artists Bonkers 3". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  22. "Official Compilations Chart Top 100 24 May 1998 - 30 May 1998". Official Charts. 24 May 1998. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  23. "React Various Artists Bonkers 4 - World Frenzy". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  24. "Official Compilations Chart Top 100 18 April 2004 - 24 April 2004". Official Charts. 18 April 2004. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  25. "Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Hardcore Til I Die". BPI. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  26. "Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  27. "Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 2". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  28. "Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 3". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  29. "Official Compilations Chart Top 100 21 January 2007 - 27 January 2007". Official Charts. 21 January 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  30. "Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 4". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  31. "Aatw/Umtv Various Artists Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 5". BPI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  32. "Official Compilations Chart Top 100 17 May 2009 - 23 May 2009". Official Charts. 17 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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