:Hixxy
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Short description|British DJ and producer (born 3 August 1975)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|image= |
| name = Hixxy
| birth_name = Ian Hicks{{cite web |title=Hixxy |url=https://ra.co/dj/hixxy |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=1 February 2023 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201715/https://ra.co/dj/hixxy |url-status=live }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|3 August 1975}}{{cite web |last1=Birchmeier |first1=Jason |title=Hixxy |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/hixxy/257858714 |website=Apple Music |access-date=21 February 2023 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221195008/https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/hixxy/257858714 |url-status=live }}
| image_size =
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| origin = Portsmouth{{cite web |title=Hixxy Biography |url=https://www.activetalentagency.com/roster/hixxy/ |website=Active Talent Agency |access-date=1 February 2023 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201716/https://www.activetalentagency.com/roster/hixxy/ |url-status=live }}
| instrument =
| genre = Happy hardcore, Rave
| occupation = Record producer, Disc Jockey
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| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
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.
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.{{cite book |last1=Shapiro |first1=Peter |title=Drum 'n' Bass The Rough Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Rough Guide |isbn=9781858284330 |page=88 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IxEpAyPvyXoC&dq=%22Hixxy%22&pg=PT56}}
Hixxy came to prominence in 1995 when he and DJ Sharkey released their track "Toy Town", 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".{{cite web |last1=S |first1=Ian |title=Gone to a Rave #35: High on a Happy Vibe – The Rise and Fall of Hardcore |url=https://www.theransomnote.com/music/playlists/gone-to-a-rave-35-high-on-a-happy-vibe-the-rise-and-fall-of-hardcore/ |website=The Ransom Note |date=19 August 2021 |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202083610/https://www.theransomnote.com/music/playlists/gone-to-a-rave-35-high-on-a-happy-vibe-the-rise-and-fall-of-hardcore/ |url-status=live }} Being considered pivotal in the hardcore scene, "Toy Town" 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.{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Joe |title=Happy hardcore will never die: An ode to the Bonkers series |url=https://djmag.com/content/happy-hardcore-will-never-die-ode-bonkers-series |website=DJ Mag |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=10 March 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201713/https://djmag.com/content/happy-hardcore-will-never-die-ode-bonkers-series |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Amber |title=DJ Hixxy set to perform at Plymouth's DEPO |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/dj-hixxy-set-perform-plymouths-7191649 |website=Plymouth Herald |access-date=2 February 2023 |date=11 June 2022 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202143404/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/dj-hixxy-set-perform-plymouths-7191649 |url-status=live }}
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. In 2004 Hixxy founded Hardcore Till I Die, a business for his musical events, through his record label Raver Baby.{{cite web |last1=Hodgson |first1=Jaimie |title='Why Don't We All Go Bonkers?' – The Rise and Fall of Happy Hardcore |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/happy-hardcore-history-trivia-slipmatt-dougal-hixxy-sharkey/ |website=Vice |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201712/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzy5z/happy-hardcore-history-trivia-slipmatt-dougal-hixxy-sharkey |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Mugan |first1=Chris |title=His station's saving grace |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/dec/07/artsfeatures.popandrock1 |website=The Guardian |access-date=2 February 2023 |date=7 December 2002 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202084223/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/dec/07/artsfeatures.popandrock1 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=John Peel Tracklistings: 17/3/2004 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/tracklistings/peel_archive_shtml.shtml?20040317 |website=BBC |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=17 March 2004 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201712/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/tracklistings/peel_archive_shtml.shtml?20040317 |url-status=live }} The mix was subsequently released on CD by React Music under the title Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show.{{cite web |title=Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show |url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/1b395152-cc59-4952-a0a9-d4f96917d18f |website=MusicBrainz |access-date=2 February 2023 |date=2004 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325010357/https://musicbrainz.org/release/1b395152-cc59-4952-a0a9-d4f96917d18f |url-status=live }} 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".
Hixxy has a prolific touring and performance record, both nationally in the UK and internationally with shows in the United States and Australia.{{cite web |title=Get Ready For HTiD USA 2018 with This Hardcore Playlist! |url=https://edmidentity.com/2018/02/04/htid-usa-2018-playlist/ |website=EDM Identity |access-date=2 February 2023 |date=4 February 2018 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202122807/https://edmidentity.com/2018/02/04/htid-usa-2018-playlist/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Hixxy Past Events |url=https://ra.co/dj/hixxy/past-events |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202120313/https://ra.co/dj/hixxy/past-events |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Jolley |first1=Ben |title=Bang Face Weekender locks Perc, Sherelle, Hixxy & Dougal Bonkers reunion, more in second wave |url=https://djmag.com/news/bang-face-weekender-locks-perc-sherelle-hixxy-dougal-bonkers-reunion-more-second-wave |website=DJ Mag |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=6 December 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201713/https://djmag.com/news/bang-face-weekender-locks-perc-sherelle-hixxy-dougal-bonkers-reunion-more-second-wave |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ravens |first1=Chai |title=Happy hardcore will never die: the life of rave's most juvenile subculture |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48312/1/happy-hardcore-bang-face-weekender-history |website=Dazed and Confused |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=11 March 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201224709/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48312/1/happy-hardcore-bang-face-weekender-history |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Hixxy Tour Dates |url=https://ra.co/dj/hixxy/tour-dates |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202120308/https://ra.co/dj/hixxy/tour-dates |url-status=live }}
Discography
Selected singles
Selected mix albums
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist}}
- {{Allmusic}}
{{Authority control|state=collapsed}}
Category:Happy hardcore musicians