fullonline: Hi Shanegobi, where are you from, where do you live and when you started DJing?

Shanegobi: I'm originally from South Africa, but I've been living in London, UK for the last 7 years. I started DJing as professionally about 6 years ago.

fullonline: Can you keep a comfortable lifestyle working only as psychedelic trance label manager and DJ or a second job is needed?

Shanegobi: It's not easy to survive or live comfortably in psy trance, you really have to be on top of your game, and be able to play a minimum of 3 gig's a month, but once you can achieve this, then life is all about the party

fullonline: You compiled and released a lot of albums through Alchemy Records, why you choose that name to the label and what are your goals as a psytrance label? How do you choose the music you will release?

Shanegobi: A few years before I started Alchemy Records, I read a book by the Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho, entitled The Alchemist. I really loved the story and started developing an interest in the science of Alchemy. The practice of an alchemist was the transformation of base metal, turned to gold or silver, but in alchemy records we use it as a metaphor for a transmutation though music. Our goals have always been to release high quality, original music and this is the bases of compiling all our releases.

fullonline: In your opinion what Alchemy Records releases had more impact on the psytrance scene? Which are you favorite albums by your label?

Shanegobi: Our first release Electrum, was the most talked about release today. This was because no one really knew anything about the label as it was our first release, but the compilation had a very unique sound and good production, Electrum got a lot of good feedback and really good sales for a first release, so Alchemy Records got off to flying start. Since then we have had many really good albums that have sold very well, especially our artist albums, which all have a style and sound of there own. I think this is what people really seem to enjoy about Alchemy Records, our style is always unique.

fullonline: What artists are signed under Alchemy records? What kind of support Alchemy Records give to these artists?

Shanegobi: Well, all of the about and more. We are very careful about which artist we sign to the label, no matter how good the music is. Most important thing is that we could work together for more than 2 albums and enjoy working together. When we do sign an artist to Alchemy Records we start working with the artist in everyway to guide them in the right direction, promote them to our network of parties and give them the space and support to develop their sound. We do complete artist management, from bookings to selling and licensing music. We employ a booking manager in the label to ensure our artists are always busy. All our artist and DJs are very important to us, and we look after them as you would look after your family. The Alchemy artist at the moment, are, Dark Soho, Rinkadink, Broken Toy & Freakulizer... And we have a few new artist coming onboard soon.

fullonline: Tell us about Alchemy's DJ compilation series "Wild Life". What are the concept behind them? What should we expect from the third Compilation of this series: Wild Life 3 � Surfing on Soundwaves?

Shanegobi: Wild Life is an Alchemy Label DJ series, always featuring a different alchemy DJ, and also reflecting the different taste and style of our label djs'. The concept behind the Wild Life releases came about in 2003, it's an alchemy release to feature the "Alchemy Wild Life", our artist and dj's. It's also a metaphors for the mad life we live as traveling DJ's and producers, crazy party's, crazy people... Pretty wild.

Wild Life 3 � Surfing on Soundwaves is compiled by South African DJ Starspine, his long been a respected DJ in the South African trance scene and one of the original alchemy DJ. The compilation features some real morning delights, with tracks from Rinakadink, Broken Toy, Freakulizer, Pop Stream, Alleby, Protoculture, Noga, Triptych and Orbital Vision from Brazil.

fullonline: Besides Wild Life 3, what are the next Alchemy Records releases?

Shanegobi: We just released the exciting Freakulizer debut album, The Awakening Process The Awakening Process, and next year we launching our sub label "Alchemy Breaks" which will be concentrating on releasing Nu School and Electro Break Beat, first release will be 8ball, a side project of Shakta. We also have a new compilation release for February, featuring Intelebeam, Orion, Dark Soho, Broken Toy, Freakulizer, and more.

fullonline: You were chosen as the best psytrance DJ by the users of the Isratrance forum. How is your work as DJ? You use to play music from which artists? What is more important in your opinion: the technique or the music selection? What about interaction with the crowd?

Shanegobi: Well, my dj career has been moving from strength to strength. In the past, I always felt that I was never really playing as good as I knew I could, but lately I've been spending a lot more time listening to music, and experimenting with new mixing tricks, this has really taken my dj sets to a new level, and im really loving it. I think it's very important to have good technique, but even more important to know your music very well. With regards to crowd interaction, this is one of the corner stones for a good dj set, when I'm playing to a good dance floor and I have good interaction with the crowd, then I'm playing a good set, without fail.

fullonline: You're not only a brilliant DJ, but also have two projects: Whiplash with Rinkadink and Groundzero with Dark Soho? What led you to these collaborations? What are the differences between these projects' styles? Should we expect more tracks or maybe an album from these projects?

Shanegobi: Well, both project's started as a couple of friends getting together in the studio and knocking out a few tunes for our dj sets, it was never really suppose to be more than this, as I had a pretty busy DJ schedule and Rinkadink and Dark Soho are both pretty busy with there own artist gigs. As time went by I started working more on the Groundzero project, which is me and Rizo, of Dark Soho, and we started getting request for Groundzero Live Act shows and offers for albums, so now we thinking and started working on an album, but its gonna be a while before we see any release date for this. With regards to the Whiplash project, we gonna be making a few tracks on our next Brazilian tour, perfect way to kill some time

fullonline: Tell us about the psychedelic trance scene in your homeland south Africa.

Shanegobi: South African psy trance parties are very much like Brazil, we have many different promoters with different style parties, covering the wide spectrum of trance. Over the last five years parties starting becoming a bit more main stream in SA, and not quite as psychedelic as before, but there are still some good festivals and underground parties in great natural locations.

fullonline: Tell us about your homepage: You think it's a good way to contact the fans and artists? What interesting info and stuff can Alchemy fans find inside the site?

Shanegobi: The Alchemy homepage was designed by a Brazilian web designer, and is quite unique in style. The site is a never ending project with constant updates and loads of new exciting features still to be introduced. We have tried to build the website to give our fans and supporters everything they require and more... go and check it out

www.alchemyrecords.co.uk

fullonline: What labels are releasing good music in your opinion these days?

Shanegobi: I enjoy a lot of different labels, but some of the labels I play and listen to most are, Neurobiotics, Nano Records, Exposure Productions and Turbo Trance Records.

fullonline: Alchemy Records is innovating in some aspects, for example the Rinkadink Video clip I downloaded for free from your site when I bought the second Rinkadink album, Pirate Signal. Talk about these kind of experiences.

Shanegobi: Yeah, the Rinkadink video clip, was little intro video for people to get the Rinkadink Live experience, and it was a very successful project as we have over 3000 downloads on the video. We also had an m-peg video with the second Dark Soho album - Combustion, which was also a live video of the Dark Soho experience, and great for the fans. We have a few more innovative ideas for future projects, but for now that top secret.

fullonline: What are the online stores selling psytrance music that you trust?

Shanegobi: We don't really deal directly with online store, but I think all the stores are pretty trustworthy.

fullonline: What do you think about people sharing music through mp3 instead of buying it?

Shanegobi: In psy trance, mp3 trading is a part of life, we can't seem to get away from. As a label manager and artist I'm in the frontline of feeling the effects of this, and due to the illegal mp3 trade, artist are getting paid minimal fees for selling their tracks. The advance money paid to artist has to be in-line with actual sales, and with the mp3 trade growing and cd sales dropping, its becoming harder and harder for most artist and labels to survive off their hard earned work.

fullonline: Share your experience and tell us what makes a good party. You think decoration is important is more important than the line up?

Shanegobi: Well, I think a good party is always a combination of many things, decor, music, location, and most importantly, the people. I think in some way, putting on a party is an art form, and some people do it better than others. As Alchemy Records we do 3 label parties a year in London, and we start with a concept and then find the artist, decor and video to fit the concept, it's a lot of hard work but it's always a different experience and always enjoyably.

fullonline: What do you think people should do to make a better scene? Any visions about the future?

Shanegobi: More innovation, less imitation

fullonline: What is your favorite psychoactive molecule?

Shanegobi: mmm, yeah, I quite enjoy drugs. My favorite probably being caffeine, and whatever else I can get my hands on at parties

fullonline: Any last comment, message and/or promotional link?

Shanegobi: Enjoy: www.alchemyrecords.co.uk

fullonline: Thank you!
Respect!