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Drivetime Superstars - Alex & Liz

We popped down to Radio Aire to have a bit of a chat with their new "Drivetime Superstars" Alex and Liz armed with a load of questions penned by our work experience student from a local school, Sam Remmer. Here's what they had to say:

How long have you been a DJ…? Alex "Since the dark ages so when I was 14, back in 1989 so you work out how old I am. So I've been djing for about 10 years - long enough" Liz "I haven't been really, about …well I started about a year ago and I've been here for about a month" Did you always want to be a DJ…? Liz "No not really I started as a journalist a news reader then I got into it at a later date" Alex "I've always wanted to be a DJ since I was about 8. We used to make tapes and sell them at school for about a pound, so it's something I really wanted to do and now I'm doing it"

How did you get into djing…? Liz "I started off working as a journalist for other radio stations and then just started doing presenting as sort of a bit on the side and then started doing it full time" Alex "I used to do mobile disco's with a mate of mine, who was a policeman through the week, so we just started doing it and eventually he let me do it on my own to a hotel of no body and I was still scared. There's lots of different ways to get into it but that's mine"

What was your 1st set of decks…?
Alex "The first set of decks I used were Citronic you could only cange the pitch on them by 3% not really good for mixing or anything but good for just playing out records"

How old were you when you got your 1st set of decks…?
Alex "I've never had my own set of decks were ever I've worked, they've had all the equipment I needed so there was no need in me getting a set at home"

How old were you when you did you first show…?
Liz "I was 24"
Alex "I did my first show when I was 17 for Wear FM in Sunderland - I was really scared"

What's the biggest show that you have done…?
Alex "The Galaxy dance chart that went out over Yorkshire Birmingham, Manchester and there were about 30 million people listening"
Liz "I did my own network shows with Galaxy but this is the biggest thing I've done"

What's the one piece of advice you'd give to any aspiring DJ's…..? Alex "Don't give up" Liz " Never ever take no for an answer, half the people will say no to you but don't let it put you off 'cos you'll get 20 no's before you get a yes, but you will get a yes eventually" What made you move to radio aire…? Liz "A chance to do something we really enjoy and a proper show with both of us doing the same thing. It's a really good station, it's going to grow and grow as well, it's a really good opportunity for both of us" Alex "and a huge pay packet" Do you have any musical influences…? Liz "I just do the presenting so Alex is the one to ask" Alex "Well if you go "back in the day" roots wise; Pink Floyd, Michael Rother (kraftwerk) this mad German slid guitarist mad devo records new order" What's your favourite style of music…? Alex "Currently vocal European trance" Liz "Quite hard trance and hard dance you know anything that sounds good" Christina or Britney….? Liz "Britney" Alex "Britney"

At home do you prefer Vinyl or CD's & why…..?
Alex "I like vinyl but CD's are neater and you can fit more of them in a room and trust me I've got loads of them"
Liz "I don't do vinyl I haven't got a record player or any decks"

What are your favourite bars & clubs in Leeds…..?
Liz "There's loads…. Mojo is my favourite one, The Atrium - club wise Space and Oslo, the smaller ones"
Alex "I would say the Townhouse or Elemental, I like places that you can move about, I like to go to Creation in the VIP area"

What do think it is about Leeds that's caused it to develop a reputation being a great night out….?
Liz "Well over the last 10 years a lot of money has been coming into Leeds, 'cos people are sick of London and Leeds is the 2nd London so a lot of people with a lot of money have moved up to Leeds and its had to cater for them club and bar wise. And 'cos there are so many young people in Leeds and a lot of young workers"
Alex "It's vibrant"

What tune or tunes would you want played at your funeral….?
Alex " I've got a CD already made so I'll tell you now 'cos I can't if I'm dead. It's on the shelf behind the computer and it says earth on it, just earth and its just tunes that I've put together, I want it playing at my funeral I want people dancing on my coffin"
Liz "I don't have any plans for the music at my funeral I'll let my sister decide"

If you could go for a night out with anyone (living or dead) who would it be….?
Liz "Jamie Theakston"
Alex "Douglas Adams (The Hitchikers guide to the galaxy, etc)

If you could put anything in Room 101 what would it be….?
Alex "The internal combustion engine"
Liz "People how eat things at there desks, like hot foods, like people who heat curry in the microwave and eat it at there desks - basically smelly food at their desks"

What's your biggest ambition…?
Alex "To pay loads of people £5 each & get them in the old Wembley stadium and get some big American speaker to announce me then I'd walk on stage blow my head up in front of them"
Liz "I'd like to be happy"

What do you do in your spare time apart from djing…?
Alex "Sleep, drink, eat and sleep"
Liz "Eat, sleep, smoke and go to the gym"

Do you play any musical instruments…?
Alex "None, I did like to play piano - a mate of mine is a prime example of that, if you whistle a tune to him he can play it straight away"
Liz "I used to play clarinet"

How long do you intend to stay in the music industry…?
Liz "Until it gets boring"
Alex "Until they stop paying me"

What are your plans for the future…?
Liz " Doing this for a couple of years to make this show a success"
Alex "I'd like to buy a VW camper van and go touring round Australia, but I need lots of money to do that 'cos I eat, drink and smoke all the time"

What three words best describe you…..?
Liz "Alex is funny, clever & late"
Alex "Liz is quick, snuggle & amusing"

What three words best describe your show…..?
Alex and Liz "Up-beat, entertaining & informative"

Alex & Liz were interviewed by Sam Remmer & Emlyn Hagan

Catch Alex & Liz's show weekdays from 4.00pm on Radio Aire