Tune – Cirez D – In The Reds. I don’t think I will ever be able to work this into a DJ set of mine but then I think that’s why I love it. When Eric announced some new Cirez D tracks at the end of 2015 I was really happy. His earlier tracks under the Cirez D name such Teaser, Re-Match and Knockout really blew my mind when I was really getting into the electronic music!
Album – Roosevelt – Roosevelt [Greco-Roman] I saw Roosevelt open up for Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs a couple of years ago and when his debut album finally came out this year on Greco-Roman it really didn’t disappoint. Check him out live if you can!
Remix – Boxed In – Forget (George Fitzgerald Remix) [Nettwerk] I had heard the original on the radio but when Kevin put me onto the remix from George Fitzgerald I was blown away. George is a wizard I am sure of it!
Label – Suara. Although they have been releasing since 2008 Suara really took over in 2016. The quality and consistency of each releases is remarkable.
Breakthrough label – Do not Sleep. After a massive summer for Darius Syrossian and his Do Not Sleep parties in Ibiza the launch of the label seemed to make perfect sense. All though it was only launched in 2016 it alraedy has the feel of a label that has been around for years. Check out the Max Chapman remix of ‘Buzzing’ by Javi Bora. Dance floor weapon for sure!
Producer – illyus & Barrientos. My favourite producers of 2016 have to be illyus & Barrientos. In a year where dull tech house has taken over these boys have been a shining light of real house music. The sky is the limit for these two.
Festival – Maybe I am getting old but in 2016 I did not attend a single festival. Unless ADE counts? I did play a small festival in the midlands called Junction 13 Festival. It was held on a farm next to the M6. Detlef, Lauren Lo Sung, Denney and Solardo played too and everyone just went for it! Great day.
Music Conference – ADE. It was my first ADE this year and it was ace. It is great to put faces to all the email adresses in your contacts list and even though everyone is out all day and night some, I say loosely, business actually gets done!
Radio Show – B Traits. B Traits’ show on Radio One has had a big year. Her label showcases each week are brilliant and the guests she gets in for the chameleon club mix feature are always on point.
Mainstage DJ – Eats Everything. The sheer passionate and enjoyment is contagious when you see Eats play!
Resident DJ – Tommy Vercetti at Void Birmingham.Tommy Vercetti is a DJ that just has that knack of making you smile, especially when he is in his natural habitat of Void Birmingham. With his release on Do Not Sleep out December 2016 I am expecting big things from him in 2017.
Club – Gashouder, Amsterdam. The best club I visited in 2016 has to be Gashouder in Amsterdam. The size of the place is incredible and the lights, the fireworks, the atmosphere. . . it’s just great.
New Studio Equipment/Software – FL:UX – GEEK alert. 2016 was the year I discovered FL:UX. FL:UX runs in the background and adjusts your computers display to adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day. Really helps with your sleep!
Personal highlight of 2016 – Personal highlight of 2016 Personal higlight of 2016 for me was signing the Hollen record to GU. Hollen is so consistent with his production and when he delivered ‘Mainstream’ & ‘Red Fox’ to us I was over the moon. Pure dancefloor gold!
And finally…
Your ambition for 2017…
My ambitions for 2017 are to carry on where 2016 ends. It’s a privilege to work for GU and to put out only the records we love!