Hixxy

Hixxy, or DJ Hixxy, (real name Ian Hicks, born 1975) is a British disc jockey and electronic music producer known for his innovative work in the UK happy hardcore scene, co-founding the Raver Baby record label, and the Bonkers compilation album series.

Career Hixxy began performing as a disc jockey at age 15 under the mentorship of DJ Ramos, and quickly became known on the English rave circuit.

Hixxy came to prominence in 1995 when he and DJ Sharkey released their track "Toy Town", which is considered "a classic of the genre, a riot of scruffy breaks and sugar-sweet vocals that signalled a schism in rave history when it was released". Being considered pivotal in the hardcore scene, "Toy Town" led to React Music releasing the first of the Bonkers compilations in 1996, with Hixxy and Sharkey mixing. The Bonkers series stretched to 19 volumes, with Hixxy as a regular contributor, and while critical reception was varied, the series was credited as the "dawning of a new era" in the UK rave music scene.

By the early 2000s Hixxy's sound had evolved, releasing tracks that adopted the more mainstream trance sound but with hardcore-inspired beats per minute. That same year John Peel, a BBC Radio 1 DJ who was a supporter of the hardcore scene, invited Hixxy to do a mix on his show. The mix was subsequently released on CD by React Music under the title Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show. The following year Hixxy partnered with Darren Styles to follow up the Bonkers series by initiating another popular compilation mix series called Clubland X-Treme Hardcore, which fellow artist MC Storm claimed to be "another massive turning point for hardcore". As of 2023 Hixxy continues to perform live, often with fellow hardcore innovators such as DJ Dougal at events including the Bang Face Weekender in Southport.

Discography Selected singles Title Artist Release date Peak chart positions Certifications UK Dance "Toy Town" Hixxy, Sharkey "Lullaby" Hixxy, Heatwave 35 "Get into Love" / "Whistle" Hixxy, Sunset Regime 17

Selected mix albums Title Mixed by Release date Peak chart positions Certifications UK Comp Bonkers Hixxy, Sharkey 25 UK: Silver Bonkers 2: Now We're Totally Bonkers Hixxy, Sharkey 10 Bonkers 3: A Journey into Madness Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal 31 UK: Gold Bonkers 4: World Frenzy Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal 8 UK: Silver Bonkers 12: The Dirty Dozen Hixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown, Breeze & Styles 7 Hardcore Til I Die Hixxy, Darren Styles, Breeze 2004 UK: Gold Bonkers: Hixxy Mix as Heard on the John Peel Show Hixxy 2004 Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 2 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 1 UK: Gold Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 3 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 11 UK: Gold Best of Bonkers Hixxy & Re-Con, Sharkey & Druid, Scott Brown 9 Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 4 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 7 UK: Gold Clubland X-Treme Hardcore 5 Darren Styles, Breeze, Hixxy 15 UK: Silver Bonkers: The Original Hardcore Sharkey, Chris Unknown, Hixxy 8