One of the trio of stars mixing up the new Ministry of Sound Summer album…
An early start to your career. So growing up in London, what influenced you to get into this career, the sounds on the street, pirate radio – what made you want to become a DJ?
“I loved music from birth and was always listening to Reggae music as a child. I would listen to loads of Reggae sounds from Jamaica and the UK, from Stone Love to David Rodigan. Back then, I was always amazed at the way the DJ’s knew to play the right tracks at the right time especially when they were in a soundclash. My parents both collected vinyl and I knew that one day I would have a massive collection of my own. I didn’t start buying records until the age of 15 when I began buying Jungle Records. I didn’t have decks to mix the tracks but it still felt good to know I had the track. The Jungle era is really what inspired me to be a DJ, there were so many wicked tracks I liked and I used to love the way the DJ’s would mix. I grew up in Hackney, East London, where Jungle was basically created and I lived within walking distance from some of the biggest names in the scene. That was a major inspiration for me and made me believe that I could be a DJ as well.”
What was the first club you ever played at – can you remember the first record you played, how did you go down and did you shit yourself before going on?
“My first booking was S.U.S.S at Harlequins, Ilford High Rd in 1999. Being the youngest on my radio station I was given the first set which was 10-11pm. I can’t remember the first tune I played but it went very well – there were roughly 20 people there as most clubbers as you know don’t usually arrive until around midnight. Even though there weren’t many clubbers, I still shit myself before going on.”
Was getting a slot on Magic 90.2FM your first big break do you think?
“Definitely. Magic 90.2 was one of the biggest Garage stations at that time. I started off doing graveyard shifts and I would still get listeners on their way home from clubbing in the early hours of the morning. It was my first opportunity to be heard and the calls and texts made me realise that there is always someone locked in regardless of the time.”
What are your big tunes in your box right now?
1. Lil Silva – Different
2. Egypt – In The Morning
3. Funky Stepz – Bubbly
4. Swindle ft Nadia Suliman – No More
5. Crazy Cousinz – Inflation
6. May – All Upon Me (Sexy, Sexy)
7. Champion – Motherboard
8. Black Coffee – Turn Me on
9. DJ Gregory – Looke
10. Gracious K – Migraine Skank
Your DJing style is very different from many of your counterparts. How would you describe your style and what you play…
“I always do me, which means dropping big tracks, educating with something new, and making sure the mixing is on point at the same time. I play much faster in the clubs compared to my mix on the CD. Im known for putting a heavy instrumental over a smooth vocal track and letting them blend together. I also like my music to run in a certain order. I usually take it easy at first and then build up to the hype. Once I get to the hype, It wont calm down, and its stays like that until the end of my set. This is something which goes back to me being influenced by Reggae and Dancehall DJ’s as a child. I also drop some new tracks throughout my set if possible to test the waters and see if they have the potential to be a banger.”
So at the time of Magic 90.2FM, you were playing in clubs with the likes of MJ Cole and Tuff Jam spinning house and garage, it was exciting and everywhere you played was rammed. What were the big anthems back then in the mid 90s?
“Wow. So many, here are some…
So More – I Refuse
Nu Birth -Anytime (Tuff Jam Mix)
TJR – Just – Gets Better (Todd Edwards Mix)
New Horizons – Find The Path
Tuff Jam – Feel My Love
Todd Edwards – Saved My Life
Roy Davis Jr ft Peven Everett- Gabrielle
24 Hour Experience – Together
Brasstooth – I Can’t Quite
N n G ft Kallaghan – Right Before My Eyes
Operator & Baffled – Over You
What influence did you think the emergence of 2 Step Garage had on the UK Garage scene when it bustled it’s way in?
“Personally, I think it pushed Garage to another level and it opened the doors for loads of different producers to be involved in the scene. Before 2 Step, a person could say “I listen to House and Garage” because there wasn’t much difference. Once 2 Step had been established, you could tell the difference between House and Garage. It was the 2 Step tracks that pushed Garage to a more commercial level, quite a few 2 Step tunes made it big in the charts.”
Did you enjoy 2 Step though?
“Yes, I really enjoyed 2 step Garage and still love it now. Some people don’t realise it, but it was 2 Step Garage that helped created other genres such as Grime, Dubstep and even some of the UK Funky tracks.”
By 2003, along with your host Ironhead, you were firmly encompassed at YK2 90.6FM – what was the ethos behind the show?
“Catering for those who loved House and Garage was the main objective. We would play old tracks, new tracks, unreleased tracks and everything banging. We had an overwhelming amount of listeners and it the phone line would go crazy…”
Tell us about your side of the MOS mix…
“I have tried to cater for everyone on my mix. I have all styles of UK Funky and I also included tracks not from the UK that have influenced or still get played alongside UK Funky. Kyla ‘Do You Mind’ is the perfect example of a vocal track from the Funky scene whereas Hardhouse Banton’s ‘Sirens’ represents an instrumental club banger from the scene. For those that have been listening for a couple of years or more, I included the Soulful track “Feel” produced by Tracheadz which would massive in 2006. Overall, my mix represents the current ‘Sound of UK Funky’ and gives a little background to the genre as well.
Where did you first hook up with Ironhead – and what’s with his name?
“I first hooked up with Ironhead in 2002 meeting him on Y2K, we started off doing a few shows together and then teamed up properly in 2003. His real name is Lee.”
Best bit of advice anyone has anyone ever given you?
“Aim to be the best at what you do, always.”
What were the clubs you were jumping around to in the early days and also, what were your favourite clubs in the mid 90s you played at such as Pure Silk and Cream of Da Crop?
“I’ve been to more clubs than I can remember! These are some from back in the day; SW1, Scala, Bagleys, Hippodrome, Ministry Of Sound, Sound Republic, Turnmills, The End, Glasshouse, Club E.Q, Club U.N. My favourite club to play in would be Scala, I’ve played there loads of times and have some great memories at that club.”
What is more important to you, the radio shows (you left YK2 and jumped ship to Touch 94.0FM and then Deja Vu 92.3FM with an old friend MC Spidey G before now on Kiss FM) or DJing actually seeing the smiles on the kids faces?
“I see them both as important as each other. My radio show allows me to play what people want to hear, introduce them to new music and show them my style as a DJ. I play at so many different clubs and to completely different crowds sometimes in the space of a week. There’s the House raves where there are mainly over 23’S who are more musical and appreciate deep soulful House. I also play at university events where the crowd is much younger and love the more hype tracks and all the skanks. I enjoy it all, and I find it important to play all styles and its a different experience each time.”
Who is the biggest DJ in the world?
“Jazzy Jeff”
Good answer dude. What is the best record you’ve received in the last seven days?
“Major Notes ft. J Mellody – ‘Friend Of Mine'”
What is your favourite…
Magazine – “RWD”
TV show – “The Real Hustle”
5 people you’d like invite, dead or alive for dinner – “Martin Luther King, Einstein, Mother Theresa, Bob Marley and Tyra Banks.”
Funniest thing that has ever happened to you on the road gigging?
“Getting all the way to the club only to realise that I had left my records at home. I still don’t know how I managed it but luckily I was early and rushed home and back in time.”
Most dangerous place you’ve ever played?
“I played at a massive club in Nottingham, which was all going well until a whole mob came in robbing people.”
What record is your guilty pleasure, a record you love that nobody knows you secretly like?
“Oasis’s ‘Wonderwall”. Never bought it though.”
What was the moment/DJ you stepped onto the decks to take over from a DJ or perhaps warm up for them and thought, wow, this is it?
“I played a set before the legendary Karl ‘Tuff E-Nuff’ Brown in 2003 in the Isle Of Dogs. Even though I was playing before him, I still felt a huge level of responsibility to play a good set that would maybe compliment what he was gonna play.”
Who have been the biggest stars you’ve had on your dancefloor?
“I enjoyed seeing Blu Cantrell getting down…”
And finally, what is your tip for the big summer anthem?
“May – ‘All Upon Me’.”
Peace Dan…
