Tuesday 6pm - 8pm
House, Tech House, Funky House, Techno & EDM
Well it started like so many with the Recorder, Ukulele, Bongo’s & Triangle in primary school. I loved music from an early age and wanted to learn the Saxophone, as I love the sound it makes. But I couldn’t get my mouth into the right position for a reeded instrument, so I was moved to the brass section started learning the French Horn & Baritone Horn. Well that didn’t last long as I wasn’t interested in those instruments. Skip to the age of 8 to 12 and I discovered pirate radios stations playing around London (one of the best things about London back then) playing Happy-Hardcore & Jungle. My sisters would bring back mix-tapes from holidays to the Canary Islands which introduced me to house which made me a vinyl collector & DJ in training from day one.
Uni turned me into a full-blown clubbing enthusiast with weekends at Cream, Gatecrasher & God Kitchen, seeing Paul Oakenfold, Seb Fontaine & Yousef week-in week-out for three years. It was like 10 hours of aerobatics each Saturday night. There was a host of special guest DJs too which included Deep Dish, John Carter, Timo Mass, Fat Boy Slim, Laurent Garnier and many many more! It was truly a special period in life!
Back home in London ‘03, you can find me raving at Turnmills, The End & Fabric weekly and I loved every minute of it!. So, from 2006 to 2012, Myself & DJ Jasper started a playing out under the banner of Deep Dark’n Funky. We played a host of bar & clubs which included Shoreditch, The O2, London’s West End & Brixton. But in 2012, we both hang up the headphones.
So during lock-down I dusted down the 1210’s & CDJs and started spinning again & haven’t stopped since!
It allows me to truly express myself through music. There's something magical about sharing my love of music with others, seeing how it uplifts them and brings joy to their faces. One of the most fulfilling parts is witnessing the reactions of the crowd as they dance and connect with the beats. It's an incredibly rewarding feeling to create a positive and energetic atmosphere through music, and I feel grateful every time I get to do it.
It all depends on the environment, setting, and mood I’m in. If it's a laid-back backyard barbecue, I might kick things off with some feel-good soulful tunes to set a relaxed vibe & build it through the night. On the other hand, if we're at a high-energy party, a catchy melody, build-ups followed by a massive drop to a thumbing baseline does the trick. Overall, the key is to stay tuned to the atmosphere and choose a track that matches the energy and gets everyone in the right spirit!
First gig and the nerves is always memorable but gig experience is meeting Seb Fontaine after a night at Neighbourhood, had a quick chat and I told him I use to see him week in week out at Cream his response “You must be old” we both laughed
I love all sorts of music (I’m a DJ after all) and my influences are vast from classical, Motown, Disco, Rock & Pop, Hip-Hop, UK Garage & D’n’B. But, when it comes to my favourite genre, house music (Soulful, Tech, Big-Room, Funky) definitely takes the top spot - there's just something special about its irresistible vibe that keeps me coming back for more! It’s the groovy beats, funky rhythms, and nostalgic memories. The energy and positivity that radiate from the classic tracks are infectious, creating an electric vibe. There's always a track that suits the mood perfectly. It's like a constant journey of discovery, finding new tunes that make you want to dance and share the joy with others. Plus music is written in 4/4 it works with everything
For vocals is artist like Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson, Michelle Weeks, Barbara Tucker, Jocelyn Brown, Freddie Mercury, Prince, Micheal Jackson (from late 70’s End of the Jackson 5 & Off the Wall era), Whitney Houston (she had such a beautiful voice)
For producers Dennis Ferrer, Frankie Knuckles, Todd Terry, Roger Sanchez, Marshall Jefferson, Sasha & Digweed, Liam Howlett, Darren Emerson & many more… I could go on all night
All depends on the environment & setting. A beautiful vocal can have the same response as a heavy bassline drop
If there's one piece of advice it's this: remember that spinning tracks isn't just about playing songs but rather sharing a piece of your heart through music. Ask yourself, Why I’m I doing this? If it’s to “look cool” it’s the wrong mindset. DJ’ing is a calling that comes from the love of music. Keep that passion burning bright within you, and let it guide you as you mix beats and create unforgettable experiences for people. Just stay true to your love for music, and everything else will fall into place.