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Remembering Scott Hardkiss

3/26/2013

20 Comments

 
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It is with a heavy heart I write this today, having woke up this morning to find an email from a dear friend in San Francisco informing me of Scott's passing.

Where it not for the music of Scott Hardkiss and is soul brothers, Robbie and Gavin, I may never have moved to San Francisco and I have no doubt my life would be vey different.

Like many young ravers growing up on the East Coat in the early 90's, the music of the Hardkiss Brothers touched me on a profound level. Whenever they came to town, we were there, knowing in our hearts the night would be magical. His early works under the name God Within,  "Rain Cry" and "The Poenix", helped provide the soundtrack to our halcyon days and nights.

Long before the viral power of the internet, there were rumors circulating of this unreleased remix of almost mythical proportions; the Hardkiss Remix of Elton John's "Rocket Man". When I finally heard it played by Scott at a rave held in an abandoned North Carolina church around five in the morning with the sun streaming through the stained glass window's, it truly felt like a religious experience, impossible to really explain unless you were there. Years later, I would find myself in the Hardkiss office in San Francisco holding a copy of the original DAT tape of that remix. But that would happen later.

For me and many I knew, the psychedelic house sounds of the Hardkiss Brothers defined what we knew to be happening on the other side of the country during those years and I longed to be a part of it. We played, studied and cherished those early records as if they were audio dispatches from a different, more beautiful planet. I can honestly say the album, "Delusions of Grandeur", changed my life.

I first met Scott personally at a party he played at the Millennium Center in Greensboro, North Carolina around 1995. I was 18 or 19 years old and found myself upstairs in the artist dressing rooms, face to face with someone I idolized. I remember his kindness as we spoke and his willingness to record a promo spot for my college radio show. After the party ended, I replayed that casette tape the whole way home, listening to the words on it… "Shalom. This is Scott Hardkiss from San Francisco, California and you are listening to Future Listening with Tee Cardaci."

Through that radio show, I forged a relationship with Niven Bonar, the label head at Hardkiss and close friend of the boys. I eagerly awaited the newest promos he would send me from the West Coast and,  when a package arrived one day containing a stack of their newest single, "Acid Funk", I was ecstatic. I brought them out to our Fresh party that week, happily distributing copies to friends, and playing every mix on the record at our party that night. I also looked forward to our conversations where I would report back to him with my feedback and which songs I was charting that week. But mostly I looked forward to these conversations because it was small chance to learn more about what was going on out in San Francisco in those heady days. I'll always remember the one conversation we had in 1996 that ended with an offer to come to San Francisco to intern for their label. Their was no money involved but that hardly mattered. I had been given the opportunity, or at least a good excuse to tell my parents, to move to San Francisco were I hoped to learn from those guys whose music so inspired me. A couple months later I would be on the other side of the country, having a drink with Scott and the boys, celebrating Gavin's bachelor party in Scott's San Francisco loft. It was all so surreal to me.

Although I never had the chance to know Scott as well as I would get to know Robbie,  Gavin and the other Hardkiss family members; Niven, Wade, Charlotte and the band of merry pranksters that staffed their office, his influence on the path my life took after hearing his music was immeasurable and I am forever grateful.

It is with great sadness but eternal love that I send out my deepest condolences today to all in the extended Hardiss and Sunburn family and to all who new Scott or were touched by his music. Let us celebrate the fact that we had him in our lives and let his spirit live on through his music. Rest in peace, mate, and thank you for all the light you helped let into my life.

20 Comments
Spoon
3/26/2013 01:39:03 am

thank you ..

Reply
Rob R.
3/26/2013 01:57:35 am

Wow, didn't know you worked for them, but I remember when you went to SF. Which rave was at the church? Was it in Fayetteville or where?

Reply
tee
3/26/2013 08:21:42 am

hey rob, the party was called Devotion and it was in Wilmington. great memories :) hope you are well, buddy. love from rio xo

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David
3/26/2013 01:42:58 pm

I was there for that party, Emily and I were 6 feet from the door when it reached capacity and they stopped letting people in. Now I'm even more sorry I missed it... RIP Scott.

Rob R.
3/26/2013 11:32:06 pm

This was all I could find on it.... No date, no exact location.
http://ibiblio.org/raves/stories/scenes/pages/devotion-setup.shtml
Really nice tribute Tee, I enjoyed reading it.

Sean Evans
3/26/2013 02:12:56 am

Well-said, Tee...thank you.

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spoon
3/26/2013 02:19:30 am

would love to get a copy of that elton john rmx

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Sinestro link
3/26/2013 02:39:46 am

Great Words here Tee. He truly inspired us all to be better and to strive for what we love. He will DEFINITELY be missed.

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Honest Mike
3/26/2013 03:31:00 am

Nice write up... EPIC • Honest™

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Corrie
3/26/2013 05:18:58 am

Well said Tee! How awesome that he inspired you! As well as someone else said, I didn't realize that u went to intern for them, but def not surprised! And thanks for all u did for Greenville, NC

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tee
3/26/2013 08:24:00 am

thanks for the sweet words in regards to greenville but honestly, it was all my pleasure. they were some amazing times and the Fresh parties will live in my heart forever!

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Mistie Dawn
3/26/2013 11:40:55 am

I love this Tee...I remember crying to not leave that party when Rocket Man started playing. It was a perfect moment. My best friend Gabbie and I snuck off to Charlotte to see Hardkiss and lied to our Mom's that we were at each others houses. Man, I can't believe he died, but I am so glad that reading this was the first I heard the news. Love and great memories.

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marina link
3/26/2013 04:10:29 pm

thank u, this was a beautiful tribute.

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Phil C link
3/27/2013 01:42:57 am

Wow, so many memories. I can think back to when my impressions of SF music were EFX, Digit, etc. and then came Hardkiss. Every song was a complete thought, a masterpiece. Not only was it psychedelic, but it had bump too. I too was at the Millennium Center and had to _HAD_ to have Rocket Man. Finally got it on wax, but turns out to be a recording of it from the radio in the UK and isn't the complete track. :-( Still, it brings back awesome memories. I just hope that his passing will spawn more great music, get people back into that special sauce. Totally unique sound, but so inspirational.

Thanks Scott! You will be missed. :'(

Reply
Phil C link
3/27/2013 01:52:56 am

Oh yeah.. this was on sunburn's site, but I found it on YouTube.com... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JtP4MqCA9Vo Moar of the good.

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Rob R.
3/27/2013 03:41:39 am

Hey Phil!
You can also download it from here:
http://www.modernmusicsf.com/

Nugz link
3/27/2013 02:24:39 am

Awesome story bro!

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Peek
3/28/2013 10:18:23 pm

Beautifully written Tee!! I have been searching for this Remix ever since hearing it in Greensboro that night. Thank you for your thoughts!

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Joe Kopasek
3/29/2013 06:54:43 am

Great story. Thanks for sharing. R.I.P.

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KBG333
5/3/2013 05:33:31 am

got to the "remembered his kindness" part and started balling, he was an amazing musician in our time who's melodies are timelessly playing w/in my heart, ty for such a beautiful tribute to such a kind soul :)

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