Known as Scott McIlroy to his mother, Doc Scott has been busting out big
breakbeat anthems since 1991. After having been brought up on a diet of
Grandmaster Flash and Bladerunner young Scott discovered techno in
the mid-'80s, and began producing when the UK rave scene
was in full swing.

Since his early days producing breakbeat hardcore, he's produced pioneering classics
for the likes of Reinforced and Metalheadz, established one of the most respected labels
in the game (31 Records) and has become one of the first DnB DJs to play
America, Brazil, Japan and New Zealand in '96/'97.

We had a few words with this bonafide legend ahead of his Midnight Set for Essence of Chi
at Moondance's 3000-capacity rave-up at SeOne London this New Year's Ever....



What attracted you to the jungle / drum and bass sound in the first place?
The fact that is was a product of the UK rave scene, which I was involved in. Drum ‘n’ bass
was the natural direction for me to move into at that time.
It’s the bastard child of techno, my first love.

Your anthem 'Here Come the Drumz' represented a seminal moment in DnB
- Knowledge magazine named it as one of the top ten most important tunes ever.
Do you still enjoy hearing it?
Enjoy maybe is the wrong word. I am still amazed how it sounds and wonder what on earth I was
doing in 1992 making such a tune :) Plus its very flattering to have people say things
about it like that.

What do you think of the state of the DnB scene today? How has it changed?
Would you say that these changes are positive?
It’s definitely better than it was a few years ago - the percentage of tracks I like now is far far higher
than say 3 years ago. Then I wanted to top myself when I listened to my post/MP3s etc .., lol. But
right now some of the music being made is absolutely amazing! There are 2 scenes going on within
drum ‘n’ bass and both are healthy so that can’t be bad?

You’re playing the midnight set for Essence of Chi in their room
at Moondance NYE at SeOne. What was your best NYE experience?
Probably playing in Australia for the Millennium in 1999/2000 and realising that the world wasn’t
going to end! Then phoning everyone back home and telling them not to worry about that stupid
Y2K bug! That and playing at Raindance in 1992 I think, and being introduced as a 'veteran DJ'.
I was only 21!

Whose sets are you looking forward to hearing at Moondance?
Unfortunately I have to dash to Birmingham after my set
but I always enjoy listening to Marcus Intalex…

Have you already decided what tune you'll be dropping as the first of the New Year?
Not yet, probably something old, but not a 'classic', I'll dig something up that will be fitting ... :)

What do you have planned for 2008? (Releases, collaborations, life changing plans?!
A 31 Records album, 'Kingz Of the Rollerz' the album! Going in the studio with Marcus, Jonny L
and Goldie, and to work harder on some new beats. I can be a bit lazy in the studio.

What other genres of music do you listen to? Any musical genre you can't stand?!
I listen to absolutely everything, apart from pop music. I can stand pop music
it makes me feel violent!

Is there any other genre of music that you feel has the same energy as DnB as when
it was in the formative mid ‘90s?
Dubstep. I played with Mala [Digital Mystikz] in tokyo this year and he was amazing.

What do you think of other music styles that have also grown up in London
e.g. Grime, UK Garage, dubstep?
See above!

Do you listen to the music you play in your sets when you're not working?
Yes, I put all the new stuff I get on my iPod and listen to it on way to gigs, on flights etc ...
I’m a professional DJ don’t you know ;) lol

And just for fun - what's your favourite food?! Quorn!


Check out full details of Moondance NYE by clicking here....

Written by Farrah Kiyani for Evolution99 // www.evolution99.co.uk

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