The Freelance Hellraiser Interview

It has been an eventful few weeks for Roy Kerr, better known as The Freelance Hellraiser. With single You Can Cry All You Want released in June and album 'Waiting for Clearance' preparing to hit the shelves later this month, Roy has a lot on his plate to think about. This is The Freelance Hellraiser's first single release through Ugly Recordings and his first release as a solo artist, having made the move from being the pioneer of homemade party mashups we have grown to know and love over the years. "It's weird, it's kind of a whole new world for me - all this waiting for singles to come out", says Roy, "I'm really nervous," he giggles.

After six long years 'Waiting for Clearance' is finally done, dusted and ready for distribution. The album has been a long time in the making, and Roy felt a real sense of achievement upon completion: "I was completely high as a kite and that lasted for about three days and then the fear set in and then I was just wondering, you know, if people are going to go out and listen to it, basically." A number of shows are lined up over the summer months, including appearances at Global Gathering, The Big Chill and Secret Garden. Our chance to hear the man will be on the 14th, at Blitzkreig Bop at The Arches. "I've played at the Arches a few times now and they like it pretty hard up there so I tend to play quite a tough techno, bleep-core set."

In contrast, Roy is bringing the album to the stage for live performance using computers, synths, a bass player, guitarist, drummer, and Iain Archer and Nigel Bermondsey are joining him on vocals. Their first show at Roy's own club Good Luck Studio! at Sosho in London, at the start of the month is a nervous proposition for Roy, but he has good reason for making the transition: "When I listened back to the album I could just hear it being played live and I'm dying to get it out and maybe, you know, twist it a bit, change it a bit so that it comes across on stage. But I'm really excited about doing it, if a little nervous."

Things are speeding up for the Hellraiser, and to avoid another six year-long wait, he's promptly started work on his follow-up album: this looks like the start of a prolific period, Freelance style.