silver1

eye - 08.30.01

C'mon, get happy!
Anabolic Frolic brings his happy-hardcore hijinks back to iDance

BY RYAN WATSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCINE LINDER

Anabolic Frolic is never mentioned in the same breath as Paul Oakenfold, Sasha & Digweed or Danny Tenaglia, but you can't argue with the numbers: the five volumes of his DJ mix series for Moonshine have sold a total of 200,000 copies, making it one of the best-selling electronic music series ever in North America; his 1groove.com radio show Happy Hour has been that station's top show since its debut; and his Hullabaloo! raves draw capacity crowds of 3,000 without the use of flyers.

You might wonder how we can be so ignorant to a phenomenon in our own backyard, or you could cry "Conspiracy!" but neither case applies. Anabolic Frolic's story doesn't quite make sense until you factor in that he and his fellow frolickers are stricken with the love that dare not speak its name: happy hardcore. An aptly dubbed brand of electronic music that makes S Club 7 sound like Black Sabbath in comparison, happy hardcore's bubble-gum buoyancy makes it the black licorice of techno -- those who don't like it really loathe it, but those who do like it just can't get enough.

"All weekend at the past WEMF, I was running into kids who had driven 14 to 16 hours to see my set," says Anabolic, a.k.a. Chris Samojlenko. "They have a real connection to me and vice versa because of the emotion the music inspires in them. A lot of kids tell me my music's changed their lives. That's why it's unfair that some people criticize happy hardcore for being too happy, because there's a time and a place for it, and if people are into it, then let them have it rather than cutting them up."

Seven years ago, a happy-hardcore scene on this side of the Atlantic didn't exist. AF almost single-handedly generated one, beginning modestly by importing domestically unavailable vinyl from Britain. This hobby evolved into his own distribution company, Nokturnal Records, and eventually he began touring and spreading the gospel. Soon enough, a call came from Moonshine asking him to compile what became the Happy 2b Hardcore series, perhaps the most impressive sign of AF's accomplishments.

The first Hullabaloo! event followed in summer 1997 and the AF/HH juggernaut was set in motion. It seems the more Anabolic Frolic becomes the "ravers' champion," the more critical acclaim and the respect of his peers eludes him. This used to bother the younger Frolic, but he's now relinquished the idea of being taken seriously and, true to the spirit of his music, concentrates on the bright side.

"It's just one of those things I've given up getting upset about it," he shrugs. "I'm in it for the ravers, and as long as I have their support, I couldn't care less what anyone else has to say. It's nice to get some notice, but it makes my success all the more fulfilling because I'm not the flavour of the month. It's a very grassroots underground support not due to some spin doctor managing to get me placed on a bunch of magazine covers."

Happy hardcore's ostracism has precluded a subsequent circling-of-the-wagons effect at their raves. The hostility of non-believers and the harsh realities of the outside world are shut out at the door, creating an environment where fans are free to revert back to a joyous, childlike state of innocence and naïveté where candy, hugs and bright colours abound. It's a vibe that places the happy-hardcore event as one of the last bastions of rave's original Summer of Love ethos.

"With HH, we embrace the past and love it because raving is fun," Frolic says. "A lot of people don't even like using the word rave -- they say party instead to distance themselves for whatever reason -- but assuming it's something you're into, an HH rave is unparalleled. Obviously, it's not for everybody and I don't pretend it is, but if you're looking for that rave experience, then HH is it."



There's a touch of irony in the fact that Anabolic Frolic, pied piper of a form of music that fervently pushes reality away, is active politically. He's a founding member of the Toronto Dance Safety Committee, where promoters work with city officials to follow set guidelines for raves to operate with the city's approval.

"I'm active because I care about the music, I care about the scene, and I don't want it to go away," says Frolic, iDance's only repeat performer from last year's event. "It needs that exposure to promote the music because it's not going to get it any other way.

"That's why it's important to continue having raves, so genres like happy hardcore survive. That break from the real world only lasts for an eight- or 10-hour party, and once it's over you have to return to a reality where the media and politicians discriminate against certain styles of music just because they don't understand it."


SAFETY DANCE

The banning of raves in city-owned venues sparked last year's inaugural iDance rally. Over 15,000 people mobilized in response to that threat, and the gathering was a definite factor in city council overturning the ban by a vote of 50-4. This year's version, held with the consent of the city, is not just a reminder of the consolidation within the electronic community, but once again is a protest against the crackdown on the right to party.

"This year, the purpose is less obvious, but it doesn't mean it's not there," says iDance 2001's executive director, Will Chang. "Certain events have happened in party scenes across North America that have drawn involvement from American and Canadian civil-liberties organizations. Some police divisions have shut down events based on 'profiling,' which means stereotypes linking a particular type of music with a certain activity are being substituted for probable cause. There was an uproar when authorities were using profiling to target black communities and gay and lesbian communities. We want people to realize the same thing is going on here."

Not just an opportunity to dance and be counted, iDance 2001 features other ways to facilitate the scene's coming together. Participants can get off to a conscientious start by dropping off a can of non-perishable food at the iDonate/Daily Bread Food Bank area at Nathan Phillips Square, where you can also check the iDance fashion show. Pre- and after-parties dot the city where, for a 10-spot, you can help finance the festival by picking up a worthy keepsake in the iDance 2001 CD. Collecting some of the top electronic music producers in the country, the 11 previously unreleased tracks were all donated to the iDance cause for free, and span from drum 'n' bassers Mystical Influence and Freaky Flow to tech-houser Tim Patrick to happy-hardcore head Anabolic Frolic, who checks in with the frenzied "Feels So Right." RW

__________________
silver1

Klubmasta Will

don't forget, there was a picture of a VERY disgruntled silver1 in yesterday's Toronto Star.

hullabaloo is taking over toronto! oh my!

silver1

I found out that my puppy was run over by a car JUST before that picture was taken.

MalGlo

thats such a wikkid pic of chris on the cover...

congrats Chris!!

sorry about the puppy tommy

Dave

NuERA

sorry about the puppy man. is it ok?

MalGlo --> I like your avatar!

__________________
dj.vidman.ca/nuera

bowzer

puppy vs car =
Sorry to hear that Tommy, my friend recently had that happen to him too... poor thing

anabolic frolic

I thought your bike got stolen that day?

Everybodies_Daddy

Some bastard hit your dog, AND stole your bike?

Jeez... find me at iDance... I'll give you one of those manly, comforting hugs... or something.

MCED

__________________
Dirty Little Secrets

Hot + Dirty

NuERA

ya man, me too. and ill give youa buffy sucker!

Vidman

Did anyone scan it? Please post!

__________________
Too bad we can't just backup stuff that's running properly, format Ottawa, and reinstall our government..... this time with Ad-Aware.

silver1

Thanks for reminding me

HEATER

your dog got hit by a car your bike got stolen and you drove away with tiy records and headphones on your car
holy string of shitty luck
did you break a mirror or sumthing?

silver1

Well the dog and bike thing was just a joke but yeah, it's been a really shitty week of bad luck for me

Wyld

I spotted a disgruntled silver1 in Friday's issue of Metro Today -- was likely the same stock photo -- MDK was looking cool in shades too. =>