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So how did you get the name Square Bear? : When I first started making music I couldn't think of a name for myself so I came up with DJ Stevoid as everyone at the time had DJ in his or her name and my real name is Steve. A friend later told me that the name sounded a little stupid so I shortened it to DJ Void. I stuck with that for a year or two then one of my friends suggested that I drop the DJ part. I didn't fancy just being called Void as it sounded empty and black, so I tried to think of a new name. I was sat in the North Eastern bar one night, trying to think of a new name. I was struggling so I asked my friend Darren "Tommy" Tether for advice. We thought it would be funny if the DJ turned up to play his set with an anorak, big thick glasses and his records in a plastic carrier bag, totally different from the usual DJ characters. That's where the square part came from, I just added bear to make it rhyme. My friends liked it, as did I, so I kept that name.
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What equipment do you use to produce? : When I was learning about music I started with the eJay range of software. As a first step to learning the basics of music, I found it ideal. Today I use fruityloops to write and sequence my tracks. As the next step up from eJay, I can't recommend it enough. I find it a superb package that does just about everything I could need. I love writing tracks with a filtered synth sound, as used in many of today's trance tracks and fruityloops is ideal for that.
I also use Cool Edit Pro to put finishing touches like compression and fade outs to my tracks as I find it easier to do that in Cool Edit than automating volume controls and things in fruityloops. As for hardware, I have a P3 500 computer running Windows 98 and with 64meg of RAM. Not a very good spec I know but it's nearly 4 years old now and still does everything I need. I also have a HP 8200 CD-writer and a cheap microphone.
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What bands/artists influence you? : Some of my favourite artists include Paul Van Dyk, Sash, DJ Sammy, Ian Van Dahl, ATB, Milk Inc. I like anything with a catchy hook and a strong beat. I also like very simple tracks such as "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" by Kylie Minogue. It's a very clean track, just a bassline, melody, drums and a vocal but it sounds great. When I was using eJay products, there was an artist called JD Messiah/Jon Tyers who used to make the most amazing music. The tracks he made must have taken weeks to complete. He had tiny little slices of loops making a whole new sound with eJay, which I had never heard before. I used to download his mix files and my jaw dropped with envy as I heard the most amazing tracks pump out. I think he also moved up to fruityloops, but I don't see any of his work on the net anymore, which is a shame as he definitely had an ear for a good tune.
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What does the future hold for Square Bear? : Well I'd like to be played in all the super clubs in the world, collecting a Grammy and pushing supermodels away with a pointy stick! But I will probably be still here as another trance producer with a brief taste of commercial success.
At the end of the day, I do this for my own pleasure. The day I stop enjoying it is the day I stop producing. If I become famous, great, but I'm really happy to be played on UK radio and in clubs. That's all I would like, just a little taste of fame. I've met some good friends on the net as a result of music and I'm always thankful for that, but a supermodel or two would be nice!
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Do you have an occupation away from producing? : Yes, During the day I work as part of the IT Technical Support for a local council. My job is basically to make sure that all the computers are running smoothly and to help the users with any computer related problems.
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Did you have a Saturday job when you were younger? : Yes, I used to work Saturday mornings at an estate agents. Just photocopying and odd-jobs. Cutting new houses for sale out of the local paper. Things like that.
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Your singer Cami is gorgeous! How did you meet her? : I was extremely lucky with Cami in as far as that she was the one who contacted me. I had some of my tracks hosted on an internet site that she also frequented. One day I got a mail from her asking if I needed a singer. Her timing was perfect as I was indeed looking for a singer at the time and had a song ready (Alone In The Crowd), but no vocalist. After hearing the way she performed it, I knew she would be great for my music and I hope we can make a lot more tracks together. Since writing this, we have made "How Many Times" and "Arctic Dawn" together. Both are available on the music pages.
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How did you get your music signed to a record label? : I had been making demos and sending them away to various record labels/radio stations for about 2 years with no success. So I was all prepared to settle for being another bedroom music producer. I discovered a site on the internet called Tonos which was a showcase for unsigned talent (now sadly defuncted). I had uploaded a few of my tracks there and was fortunate enough to receive an email from Home City Records - London asking me to submit a demo CD to them. The rest, as they say, is history. It didn't happen overnight though. I have been making music since the late nineties and only now received any label interest.
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Would you ever perform in the U.S. if you had a chance?: I would love to come to the U.S. to play and perform. I've made some great friends over there and would love the chance to see them in person instead of email and telephone calls. As dance/trance music is still very much in its infancy, the crowds in the U.S. seem to be more appreciative of the music than U.K. clubbers, who have had dance music thrust at them for several years now. Besides, the break would do me good!
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