mrspring (IE)
mrspring (tim hannigan) was born 1 Jan 1970 in Dublin, Ireland. He grew up in the seaside town of Bray (Ireland's Brighton) and experienced the evolution of video games, from electro mechanical thru' VR in the town's arcades as a child first hand - a key influence.
Aged 14 became involved in Ireland's "Pirate" radio scene, producing a late-night Rap, Electro and Club music show, and producing exclusive edits, influenced by tapes of DJ Paco of 92KTU in New York and the series of 98.7 KissFM Mastermixes by Shep Pettibone & Tony Humphries. Within a Year He was presenting 'chart' radio shows, and voicing & creating commercials and visual radio, gaining access to professional audio equipment like REVOX tape machines, Technics SL1200 Decks and ALICE (stereo) mixers.
After a short stint in UCD Dublin where He studied Psychology until 1987, He started a recording studio, RADIO ACTIV, with the intent of providing services to newly licensed radio stations after the introduction of broadcasting legislation to Ireland on Jan 1 1988.
The studio pivoted to Music production, thanks to music technology advances, and Tim started making & releasing House music. The first release TELECASTER MAN by CARRIER FREQUENCY is widely acknowledged as Ireland's first Acid and House music release. (Dec '88) This has been remixed from the original multitrack tape, and re-released for 2024.
In 1991 He formed RED RECORDS with Irish Journalist & DJ MARK KAVANAGH, and started importing & distributing Vinyl thanks to contacts made selling RED product. RED RECORDS had Club, Buzz and sales chart success, and became 'almost profitable' at one stage!
After running successful live events in Dublin, RED then partnered with MCD - Ireland's largest live music promoters, and introduced the first large-scale 'Dance' events in Ireland. This led to the introduction of modern multi-day festivals, and the acceptance of DJ culture in Ireland.
In 1995 Tim left RED RECORDS and started 2 labels: DT Records and SPRING RECORDINGS. The 2 most well known Releases on SPRING and DT, VOYAGER and BLAXXTRAXX were licensed to MERCURY RECORDS in the UK, and TOMMY BOY in the USA. He became an in-demand remixer, and worked with acts for EMI/Positiva, WEA, Mercury/Manifesto in the UK, Roadrunner in Belgium and Spain, as well as many indie labels.
As a remixer, Tim has top 10 pop chart placing in the UK & Europe, and multiple Dance Chart placings world wide. He has 2 #1 pop-chart singles in Ireland, including the biggest selling electronic music release of all time in Ireland, in Summer 2000: 'Maniac' with Mark McCabe (fellow presenter at 2fm at the time) and the Xmas #1 in 1991 : 'The Xmas Number 1' with Zig & Zag. Both tracks were re-released, again reaching #1 in the 2010s and 2020s.
He started DJing (under advice from Mercury A&R Paul Dakeyne) in the UK on the night princess Diana died, at Ministry of Sound. He later played at HEAVEN, FREEDOM and PEACH (Camden Palace), including a live St. Patrick's Day ISDN broadcast for RTE from PEACH - the first of it's type. He played at least once a week as a DJ, touring the world, for 15 Years, finally reducing his touring due to long-term health issues in 2008 causing a near-death experience due to failed kidneys.
From 1998 Tim worked as a guest presenter, filling in for DAVE FANNING (Ireland's John Peel) on RTÉ Radio 2 in summer months, but from late 1999 has presented a weekly 'Dance music' show on RTÉ 2fm. He has hosted panel review shows, mix shows and music shows, but chooses to work only on electronic music and archive media projects now.
In 2000, Tim spearheaded the introduction of the LATE NIGHT SESSIONS and “626” on 2FM - the first 12 hour block of electronic & underground music on a national radio station, which has been on the 2fm schedule in some form ever since. He now (2023) controls and schedules 11 hours of “sessions” on 2fm, playing House, Techno, Drum & Bass, EDM, Trance, Alternative and Electronica, and presents a 2 hour music show, and 90 minute Mix video weekly, He also carries out location recording for RTÉ, recording DJ culture and electronic music, and distributing it to national broadcasters all over the EU and beyond as part of the EBU partnership. He is now the longest-serving national radio specialist presenter.
He continues to produce music, collect computer, gaming and music hardware, is a licensed radio experimenter, drives a rear-wheel drive car, and still lives in Bray, by the sea, with his Wife and 3 cats. All of them like Techno & Electro, even his 1 Year old who likes hi-hats.