Ministry of Sound – FUTURE HERO DJ

For those who do not know you, how would you describe yourself..?

Pretty laid back and chilled out, I am 23 and I live with the best girlfriend in the world in Sunny Surrey. God it’s quite hard to describe myself, my friends would most probably say I can be a bit random, in a good way I must add, just a normal guy loving what I do I guess, if you see me playing, come and say hi!

How did this all begin for you?

Well I entered a DJ competition that was held down the local pub, this was to be my first taste of DJ’n outside the 4 walls of my bedroom, I ended up winning this and it gave me my first little taste of what its like to DJ properly.

I was really into my trance, so most weekends I would be down The Gallery @ Turnmills, it was like a pilgrimage for me and my mate Dave, I would spend ages just watching the DJ’s at work in the booth, trying to see what they was doing, often my mixes would get passed over the booth to the headliners, it was my dream to one day play there and be part of The Gallery and do what they do.

I was looking for my first proper club gig, and was sending mixes out everywhere as you do, at the time I use to play uplifting trance, so I sent a mix to The Gallery, not expecting to hear anything back I decided to follow up with an email…I got a reply and it was from The Gallery’s resident Gavyn Mytchel. Gav asked if I could play house and asked for a Deep House mix, I didn’t have a single deep house record, but there was no way on this earth I was going to pass the chance up, so I got busy mixing house and sent him a mix. Over the course of a month or so he would tell me where I needed to improve and what I needed to change until I got it right, after several house mixes I did get it right and he asked me to come down and play for The Gallery at Turnmills!

To cut a long story short its pretty much progressed slowly from there, played several times under the Turnmills roof and was asked over to Ministry of Sound when it closed its doors. At Ministry I have had the honor of playing in the world famous main room a couple of times, warming up The Box, even handing over to the Faithless legend – Sister Bliss on an outing, that was incredible…

Playing for The Gallery has opened up lots of other doors for me, and I have been lucky enough to have played for many other promoters and venues around London, including a main set in the main room at Pacha, London and a few festivals thrown in for good measure.

So yeah since my first main club appearance in January 2007 I find myself here at 23 being the The Gallery’s Future Hero DJ and a resident for the mighty Electronic Sessions, its hard work but I am enjoying the ride so far and very very thankful for people giving me a chance and for the support from my family and friends!

Do you remember the first gig you played? How did it feel?

Yep, the first proper gig I played was at Turnmills for The Gallery, I was so so excited as it was a place I had always dreamed of playing. As well as being excited I don’t think I had ever been so scared in all my life, I was playing in T2 with Tania Von Pear, Tristan Da Cunha and a few others, these guys were all heavy weights and there I was just starting out, but after a few tracks I got into it and the nerves became excitement again, it was such a buzz, especially getting to hand over to Tania, and I still remember to this day the applause I got from the floor after my set.

Your only young, where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

10 years is such a long time, 10 years ago I was only 13 and would never have thought I would be doing what I am doing now. So I hope I am happy doing what I love, being involved with music somehow and hopefully earning a living as a DJ.

How would you describe your sound?

Blimey, erm, Deep House with odd musical uplifting edge thrown in, with nice deep driving bass lines with an added techy flavor when the time is right.

What did it feel like to win the Ministry of Sound – FUTURE HERO DJ?

I can’t really describe how that felt to be honest. I was actually browsing the Internet and was just checking out The Gallery website and saw they were running an awards show, so I was looking to see who was up for what and the different categories and noticed my name on there as a nominee for Future Hero DJ. I had to look twice!! It was later confirmed I was a nominee and then it was down to The Gallery faithful to decide on the winners.  The results were then announced and I was crowned the winner. …bonkers!! Couldn’t believe The Gallery had nominated me in the first place but to be voted as the actual winner was a huge surprise. Coming from a regular Gallery clubber, to an aspiring DJ, to making my debut for The Gallery, being nominated and winning the Future Hero DJ award all the short space of a couple of years, is mind blowing, a definite career highlight.

You mentioned you have been spending more time producing your own tracks to make an extra personal touch to your sets, how is that coming along?

Rather slowly to be honest! I love the idea of it all, and I went to Point Blank to learn the basics of production, but time is a real killer. When I can, I put my ideas down into Ableton but it takes me a very long time to then go back to them and get something finished. This is my one aim for 2010, get some decent tracks under my wing. I can’t imagine there being a bigger buzz than playing your own track as a DJ and seeing people respond to it on the floor.

When it comes to technology and music, do you believe it’s only getting easier for anyone to be able to DJ? And if so, what do you think that would mean to the future of dance music and its artists?

Yeah definitely, everyone and there dog is a ‘DJ’ nowadays, technology has meant that virtually anyone can pick up a couple of tracks and mix them, however just because people can mix doesn’t necessarily mean they can DJ, and I think that is one thing that gets proven over time and is what is keeping things alive. Its making it a lot harder for bedroom DJs to get noticed, there’s a lot more choice out there for promoters, so you really need to be on top of things. I think the Future is Bright though, its keeping everyone on there toes knowing that there’s countless others out there, which means everyone is trying to push things and better themselves, not getting complacent and trying new things out. At the end of the day its making the scene a lot stronger, and is only going to make the future a lot brighter for all of us in some way.

What technology/equipment do you enjoy using in your sets?

In my sets I only mix with CD’s, I have introduced the Korg Kaossilator a few times when I have played out, its basically a mini synth, set out like a Koass pad, this adds an added depth and a bit of excitement, always fun to have a play around with, can get some funky sounds out that thing!! I also like to use the Pioneer EFX machines, can do some wicked things with that, and next year I hope to add a sampler to my DJ set up, to give everything a more hands on live feel.

Away from the actual sets I have a Pacemaker, very handy for listening to new material, and means I can often have a mix at lunchtimes when I am at work, very cool!

2009 is coming to an end, what has been your highlight of your year?

I have had a fantastic year, lots of really good gigs, some surprising ones, some I have headlined, and we launched our own night FreshEra. But the highlights for me have come at both ends of the year, the beginning being named as The Gallery’s Future Hero and the end, just recently in fact being named as the new Resident for Electronic Sessions, another quality promotion that I am excited to be working more closely with in 2010.

OK, now time for the quick fire round:

CDJ’s or Turntables? CDJ’S

Best Venue? Turnmills (R.I.P)

Best Crowd? Friday nights – The Gallery @ Ministry of Sound, cant beat them. Saturday nights -  Electronic Sessions, friendliest crowd ever!

Most treasured possession? Blackberry can’t live without it now!

McDonalds or Burger king? McDonalds chips with Burger King burgers, that would be heaven!

What super-power would you most like to have, and why? Not so much a super power but I would love Bernard’s watch!! (remember that program??) You get to stop time and do what you like with no one ever noticing!

Your phrase of the day? Errrrgghh no!

And finally, what advice would you give to any young and upcoming DJs?

Don’t give up and keep knocking on those doors, eventually if you work hard enough one of them will open and you will get your chance. Don’t pass up any gigs, take everything that comes your way, no matter how big or small the gig might be, you never know who may be watching and where it may lead. Practice Practice Practice and don’t sit back, nothing will come to you, you have to go out and grab it!

While I am here I would just like to say a big thanks to my family and all my friends for the support they give me and a Huge thanks to everyone that comes out to my gigs to see me play! And Joe for all the work you do for me, obviously a thank you to The Gallery and finally Electronic Sessions for the new residency

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