History

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1981

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Darrel W. Hughes first discovered alternative elektronik music at the age of nine in 1981, when friends introduced him to the music of Fad Gadget, Thomas Dolby, Visage, Ultravox, Kraftwerk, The Human League, John Foxx, Bill Nelson, amongst many others at that time.

Darrel soon wanted to learn more about this type of alternative dark elektronik pop music style. So over the next couple of years found himself searching further into international music scene(s) in the hunt to discover the many new artists and bands that were working in this music genre.

At the same time Darrel got into the elektronik instrument revolution, and became very interested in synthesizers, drum machines, early sampling technology, etc.

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1985

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By 1985, Darrel had discovered a huge number of artists and bands from a very wide international circle; Lucifer's Friend, Fiat Lux, Borghesia, Hard Corps, Depeche Mode, Sisters of Mercy, SPK, Killing Joke, New Order, Cabaret Voltaire, Heaven 17, Fashion, Paul Haig, Matt Johnson, Pete Shelley, 23 Skidoo, Propaganda, Test Dept, to name just a few.

In 1985, Darrel had also started composing his own tracks on a modest midi studio set-up. This was a time when Darrel got into programming analogue and digital synthesizers at quite a depth, as he was exceptional at distinctive sound design.

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1987

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By 1987, Darrel had begun komposing simple instrumental tracks; the set up he had was quite limited due to it only being a hobby at the time. Due to the huge cost of equipment and Darrel only just starting his working life, funds did play a big part in being able to acquire new equipment.

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1990

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Then in December 1990, after going to see Depeche Mode at Birmingham N.E.C. on their World Violation Tour, Darrel decided it was time to get into the music scene at a much deeper level.

On a visit to his local hi-tech equipment store Darrel met a guy called Matt, he later gave a demo of the Roland R8 drum machine and Yamaha SY77, a short Industrial Hardbeat instrumental was komposed in minutes, Darrel found that technology had come of age, at a price that didn’t require you to sell your soul.

Darrel also went to see several other live shows of progressive bands at that time; Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, Cabaret Voltaire, Orbital.

After the Cabaret Voltaire show Darrel met up with Stephen Mallinder for a chat with the living legend.

At this point Darrel became a friend of Matt Culpin, who was also looking to secure a record deal for his own Dark Hardbeat Pop duo Strukcha based in Leicester, England.

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1990 - 1991

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1990 - 1991 Darrel studied all he could about music technology and the music industry in general, reading everything he could get his hands on regarding studio recording, the music business, the legal side of the industry, and the artistic.

From this time Darrel continued to learn every aspect of the music business on an international level.

In 1991 several instrumental tracks komposed by Darrel under the guise of Voltoid were released by Magazine’s on their cover tapes or by label’s such as Mind Scan, Impulse.

As Voltoid, Darrel was komposing Industrial Rave tracks.

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1992

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By January 1992 Darrel decided it was time to create a projekt with vocals and a song strukture, at that point Red Sekta was formed.

Red Sekta had it's debut track Torture - Stripped Mix released on Impulse 2 - Music Magazine's cover tape.

At this point Darrel also began to work as an engineer at Reflex Studio based in Nottingham.

Red Sekta was to become Darrel's main projekt, with a sound that was a fusion hybrid of Industrial, Dark Hard Pop, Futurist, Tekno, EBM.

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1992 - 1993

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July 1992 - April 1993, Darrel spent his time developing his own sound and recording songs-tracks for a debut Red Sekta CD EP on his own label Neurogenik Transmissions.

In July 1993 Red Sekta Light From Darkness CD EP was released on the NT label.

The debut Red Sekta CD EP had radio airplay in over 40 countries, over 300 radio stations broadcasted the tracks from Light From Darkness CD EP.

Over 400 international music magazines in over 50 countries wrote news headlines, features, reviews and interviews regarding Red Sekta.

Other labels from all over the world sent requests for Red Sekta tracks for their upcoming CD compilation albums.

Rather than send compilation tracks out, Darrel decided to start recording songs-tracks for the debut Red Sekta CD album.

With such a huge response Darrel decided it would be too much to make the music and co-ordinate the label, distribution, promotion as well as maintain a full time job at the same time.

Therefore, on the success of the Red Sekta Light From Darkness CD EP, in December 1993, Darrel approached several European record labels with a view to secure a deal.

Many made offers, however Celtic Circle Productions had suggested the best offer and requested tracks for impending CCP label DCD compilations.

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1994

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June 1994 was the first time Darrel jetted out to Germany to meet and sign with Celtic Circle Productions.

Alfred Kaenders, was a great host and made Darrel feel very much at home in Germany.

CCP in October 1994 released the debut 16 track Red Sekta CD album Anodize CD. Anodize featured a Dark Hardbeat remix of Depeche Mode’s Fly On The Windscreen, and a Tekno Pop remix of Fad Gadget’s Love Parasite.

The artwork for Anodize was a kollaboration between Dominik Van Reich of the kult German Satanik, Neo Klassical, Dark EBM band Yelworc.

However, at the time Dominik was just starting his solo project Amgod.

The Celtic Circle Sampler Vol.02 was released in August 1994, it featured the Red Sekta track Dream Demon. The CCP Vol.2 DCD compilation also featured 29 other international artists and bands.

Also for this release Darrel, working under the guise of Surgeon, did a remix of ID.1D6 for Aiboforcen, a Dark Tekno EBM duo from Belgium.

The vocalist Seba Dolimont of Aiboforcen is also the editor of Side-Line music magazine based in Belgium, the bible of the alternative elektronic scenes worldwide.

The remix was recorded in Germany at CCP’s Time Sound Studio.

Later that day Darrel, Seba and Benoit travelled together by car to attend the CCP 4th Nights Of Darkness Festival, bands that performed included; Yelworc, Provoking Noise, Der Prager Handgriff, Paracont, Amgod, Page 12, Dive, Pierrepoint, Plastic Noise Experience.

Before and during the concert Darrel met up with most of the bands for drinks and interesting discussions, furthermore he also got introduced to Suicide Commando, Red Badge of Courage, Fuze Box Machine amongst many others.

At this point CCP asked Darrel if he would co-ordinate the UK division of CCP, due to his experience in marketing and promotion. Darrel had promotion pool contacts of over 600 international music magazines and 400 international radio stations. CCP wanted to utilise this huge promotional database Darrel had built up since 1991.

As Darrel was now also running the A&R office for CCP in the UK, he was directly in talks with the bands and artists; Kabuki, Cut 2023, New Mind, Bio-Tek, Gunhead, Pskotropik, Metra-Tron, Pro Patria, Nex2us, PH-1, Lost.it.com, Enemy Alliance, Zos=Kia, Cyber-Tec Project, Inertia, Second Voice, Neuroactive, Electro Assassin, to name just a few.

Joakim Montelius and Eskil Simonsson of Covenant were also in contact with Darrel when they almost signed to CCP.

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1995

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A second artwork edition of the Red Sekta Anodize CD album was also created by Madesign, the new artwork division of CCP, the 2nd edition was released in May 1995.

Ronan Harris from VNV Nation looking for a new publishing deal possibly with CCP gave Darrel a call just prior to VNV Nation signing to the German label Discordia.

Richard Silverthorn of Mesh was also in direct contact with Darrel.

June 1995, Darrel endured a 4.5 hour train journey to Edinburgh, to spend the day with Scotland's premier elektronik masterminds Finitribe.

Dave, Phil and John were great hosts, Dave and Darrel went to a local pub for a few beers and a good long chat about the Finitribe career, releases.

Then back to the Finiflex Studios to watch some exclusive new Finitribe video promos at that time, Love Above, Brand New.

After spending all day with the guys Darrel caught the train home with almost every release ever made by Finitribe as a thank you gift from the band, including video promos and releases by other artists Finitribe were working with on their own Finiflex Record label.

Invited to a Shining gig in Nottingham at the Rock City venue Darrel got to catch up with ex-vocalist of Strukcha, John Bagguley now teamed up with Julian Beeston (Nitzer ebb) and Steve White (Pig) to form Shining.

Darrel had been in contact with John for a few years and had visited John and Joolz (Julian) at their recording studio and synthesizer company DIN in South London on many occasions.

Also at Din Studios, Darrel met and had a few beers with Marc Almond (Soft Cell), Tony James (The Sisters of Mercy), Neil X (Sigue Sigue Sputnik).

July 1995, Darrel met up with Julian Beeston Ex-Nitzer Ebb member, as Joolz had just started a new band Shining.

Under the guise of Surgeon, Darrel made several remixes for Shining, the tracks were from their debut album Din.

July 1995, Darrel begin's working on a new side projekt: Panzer. With a koncept of fusing EBM with Tekno to create a hybrid that would create Tekno Body Music (TBM).

In August 1995 the Celtic Circle Sampler Vol.03 was released it featured the Red Sekta track Demolition Man (Judge Dredd Hammer Fist Remix).

This track was a remix from the Anodize album. Both mixes actually got a lot of airplay at Planet Hollywood in London.

The CCP Vol.3 DCD compilation also featured 27 other international artists and bands.

Darrel working under the guise of Panzer was also featured on the CCP Vol.3 DCD compilation with the track Malevolent Force (Intensify Mix).

This track was the debut Panzer track from the planned debut Panzer CD album Dark Sentinel.

Autumn 1995 as Surgeon, Darrel also remixed Page 12’s Shizo World taken from their debut CD album The Violence Of Truth. The Surgeon remix was titled Shizo World (Our Time Remix), and was released on the Page 12 Decline CD-EP, and was released by CCP.

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1996

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In August 1996 and Red Sekta attended PopKomm the International Music Convention in Köln, Germany.

Here Darrel met up with many other bands, Absent Minded, Paracont, Sleepwalk, Page 12, Ionic Vision, Axonal Warefare, Cycloon, Aiboforcen, Yelworc, Evil Sermon, Putrefy Factor 7, The Amp, Panic On The Titanic, The Dust Of The Basement, Pierrepoint, Cradle Of Spoil, Dive, The House Of Usher, amongst many others.

Also in August 1996, CCP released their Celtic Circle Sampler Vol. 4 and presented it at PopKomm 1996.

The CCP Vol.4 D-CD compilation featured the CCP anthem Red Sekta track Circle Of Fire (Halloween Remix). And also featured 27 other international artists and bands.

Darrel was working 16 hours a day in the studio recording and running the CCP UK office, his recording time was being replaced with global promotion of Red Sekta, Panzer and Surgeon.

And the UK and USA promotion of all the other artist at CCP and their sub-label Khazad Dum.

Darrel had also started his own promotion company Cybernet Exposure, working with other labels in the global Industrial, EBM, Dark Tekno Pop scenes.

Darrel was promoting a total of 60 artists and bands.

Recording new material was getting harder to fit in to the schedule, due to so many other commitments.

So many things were possible, Darrel tried to do it all, but things started to suffer in the end.

At this point Darrel decided to leave CCP, and just concentrate on his own music and promotion, having studied a lot since 1991, he decided to go it alone again.

The 8 track Red Sekta mini-album Seizure was released in December 1996 by Neurogenik Transmissions.

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1997

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June 1997, Red Sekta Light From Darkness Remix CD EP is released via Neurogenik Transmissions.

October 1997, Red Sekta Zealous Adrenalux Fusions CD album was released on Neurogenik Transmissions, and promoted worldwide via Cybernet Exposure.

The new album was a logical evolution in Red Sekta’s own style of sound formula.

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1998

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14th February 1998, due to Darrel having been introduced to certain young woman, all things musical slowly started to come to a halt.

Neurogenik Transmissions released Red Sekta Strike To The Body CD Single in March 1998.

Followed in August 1998 by the release of Red Sekta Plasma Surge CD Album.

Darrel, still pushing the dark RS sound development further into blackness.

As the next few months passed, Darrel found he could no longer give anything near the time needed to progress with Red Sekta and maintain the close relationship he now found himself in.

By November 1998, Darrel decided to settle down and recoil from the music world, due to being engaged to a woman that wanted a regular life and his 100% attention.

Here musically, there was a nothing more than the darkness of a black void.

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1999

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Until 15th November 1999, when Darrel had found himself again, only after losing himself in a downward spiral of falling for the wrong woman.

After six months of getting back into the worldwide activity of various music genre’s, Darrel was ready for a new beginning.

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2000

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June 2000, Darrel began a new projekt, Krusafix.

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2005

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3rd April 2005 Darrel promises Red Sekta will return.

18th November 2005 Darrel announces his plans to return with Red Sekta.

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2006

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2nd January 2006 www.redsekta.co.uk/ the Official Red Sekta Website is launched.

Between the 9th and 21st of January 2006 Darrel begin's to create a Red Sekta website anthem chant, resulting in nine demo mixes completed.

Push - Dominator Mix, Push - Ultra Body V3 Mix, Push - Neo Hardbeat Mix, all featured to launch the new Official Red Sekta Website.

For further information on Krusafix, please read the Biography section.

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