4 out of 5

Reviewed by Mannix

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Mannix

The original is nearly seven minutes of serene and slow building house. Rolling rubber drums underpin poised and epic chords. Whirring sounds add a feeling of flight to the airy groove and soft melodies help carry you away.

UK based and highly recommended Third Son transforms 'Time Machine' in a remix that is truly standout. His version is much more driving and dramatic, with spraying synths and chugging drums making for a marching groove that is urgent and essential. Lastly, Hush & Sleep's remix of 'Time Machine' catches the melody and runs with it to a much darker, more paranoid place.

All three cuts here are well crafted for maximum impact on the 'floor and make for another fine release on Incroyable Music, a label to watch out for!

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Mannix

{http://soundcloud.com/incroyable-music/bellville-fabio-montana-time-machine-original-mix-snippet}

Cera is a UK talent who also releases on labels like Lost Records and Alive. Opener 'Erratic Motion' is an old school New York style house cut. Raw and ghetto with churning drums and a wild lead synth that tumbles down from the sky, it is one to make you sweat. 'Vertigo' on the other hand is a bouncy cut with big kicks filled with air, grinding bass and spooky chords that are rave ready. It's one to send floors wild. 'Balaeria' is another slamming and slinky house joint with crisp percussion and loopy bass sucking you right into the vocal flecked groove.

Much loved London pair Leftwing & Kody remix this one into a more to the point and hard hitting, cut up and choppy affair that is perfectly physical for the floor. Every track on that EP is a real winner, try it for yourself!

4.5 out of 5

Reviewed by Mannix

Emerging talent Park & Sons drop a classic cut of piano infused House / Techno, prime for Ibiza! An ode to the legendary Carl Cox, the tracks infectious piano and rolling drums scream for some terrace action! Just like it all happened some 25 years ago. A deeper and darker Dub is added to please the current sound busters, but it is the Original and it's piano hook that does all the trick.

5 out of 5

Reviewed by Mannix

{http://soundcloud.com/parkandsons/sets/uncle-carl}

Electronic legends Booka Shade return with a fresh cut on Hot Since 82's 'Knee Deep In Sound' imprint and they do it with an impressive peaktime roller. 'Neon Gods' is set to be huge over the next few months as we are slowly but surely heading over to another Ibiza season. This one sees a signature sweeping bassline fused with a groove lined 4/4 beats, all topped off with Daudi Matsiko's soothing vocals that make this track really special. Hence there aren't that many Tech tracks with a really good vocal. The Dub Mix however is perfect for that peak time early morning sets and will have its fans as well. Coolio!

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Mannix

{http://soundcloud.com/kneedeepinsound/booka-shade-neon-gods-feat-daudi-matsiko-radio-edit}

4.5 out of 5

Reviewed by Mannix

I've always been a fan of Alec Sun Drae's voice from AM2PM, so its no wonder that I'm drawn into their latest collaboration with Dantiez and KPD. Catchy vocals from the outset, the original mix is an energetic house tune complete with piano hook and lovely chord changes. One of those tracks that just brings a smile to your face.

David Penn's remix is a peak time track with disco flavour and his own piano element added to the rework. Love the way this rolls, very hypnotic intro that slides into the disco breakdown and piano hook.

Completing this package, AM2PM have pulled the hat out of the bag with their remix. Their bassline is HUGE and will appeal to the deep house floors. Pitched vocals sit behind Alec's original vocal hook and the groove on this remix is set for peak time plays. AM2PM have confirmed why I'm a fan with this latest remix.

5 out of 5

Reviewed by Paul Sawyer

{http://soundcloud.com/urbanarecordings/sets/dantiez-saunderson-kpd-am2pm-things-you-do-sc-edits-urbana-104/s-nKgCL}

Interview by Ratha Gud

What happens when a professional musician locks himself up in his studio 24 hours a day for a whole week and invites more than 30 established musicians from various genres to join him and create one unique 30 minute long musical piece? It's what Danish producer, guitarist and songwriter Noah Rosanes set to find out during 1 week in January, as he implemented his unique new experiment for The Ball and The Wall with Music Marathon… 

Listen to 'Unify' here...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7SYLM42W8U

Welcome to DMC World Magazine Noah, what is the best piece of new music you have heard today?

Haha! Well so far I have only heard my new The Ball And The Wall "Thinnest Air "single that i just got back from mastering, so I'll stick to that.

What's the story behind your name 'The Ball And The Wall?

I wanted to start a solo project, but the idea of me sitting alone in my studio didn´t turn me on…It is so much more fun and inspiring to work with other musicians. I need a wall to play against, therefore The Ball and The Wall. I collaborate with a new artist for every The Ball and The Wall song made, so every song has a different vibe. It's important to go with the flow and get a natural sound out of the chemistry between me and the other artists. Sometimes it´s obvious to make dark hard music, but with other artists it feels more right to make beautiful uplifting music.

So hang on a minute, Your new album 'UNIFY' is an incredible 30 minutes of continuous music, but recorded during only 1 week (!), with no less than 30 (!) different musicians by way of a music marathon in your Denmark studio, not an easy thing to orchestrate by anyone's standards!  What was your inspiration behind this mammoth project?

I wanted to take the concept of collaborating to the next level! The idea came to me in a spur of a moment and then I just went for it! It great fun and very inspiring for me and all the musicians involved. It turned out great and the final track 'UNIFY' has so many vibes in it, that really sums up what I'm about.

How did you go about selecting the artists to get on board and who was involved?

I wanted a vast variety of musicians,  so I was looking for that, but also musicians that I had the feeling of being able to create good music from. Some of those involved in the project include Selina Gin (Nelson Can), Thomas Edinger (Saxofon, Lukas Graham), Regina Unnur Olafsdottir (Classical Singer) and Anders Bo (Guitarist, Medina).

Did you have any preconceptions about what you wanted to achieve with style or sound prior to the project, or was it totally impromptu?

I started with nothing, no ideas or anything planned, so it was all about going with the flow and the letting moment take over.

There are a huge cross section of different styles and tempos throughout the piece, how did you go about putting it all together to flow as 1 piece of music and why did you decide to make it so?

It felt natural to me. After being in one vibe for some time your mind wants you to go somewhere else, so one thing led to the next.

You've culled in all sorts of musicians with various unusual instruments and more, tell us about some of the cool sounds you've used.

There was one guy playing a Hurdy Gurdy which is a very old instrument, kinda a blend of a Cello and a Bagpipe! Crazy and he was so good, I looped some of his phrases and soon I had a Hip Hop vibe going on all made from him!

What was the most difficult part of the project?

Sleeping my studio, I had to be there 24/7 for the whole week. At the end I was pretty tired!

What was the funniest moment you had during the recording sessions?

The story behind the title is interesting! Me and vocalist Selina Gin where having a hard time coming up with the right lyrics for a section. After about 10 minutes of treading water and not find the right line I suddenly got a Facebook message from a young guy who had be following Music Marathon online. He sent me a Drop Box link with all his lyrics hoping to inspire! We opened the files and BOOM we saw the line "I Want To Unify".  This line really sums up what the Music Marathon project is all about- bringing musicians together...That's how it ended up called UNIFY"

How was it camping in the studio for a week, what did you eat and what kept you going?

I've got this great food catering company that sponsored me and kept me alive! Thanks

Will there be any singles released from the album?

Yeah!!! 'Thinnest Air' will be released, it´s a part of 'Unify' taken from towards the end. It's the most outgoing segment of the project, so perfect to send out on it's own accord.

You also work a lot with the amazing folk singer Simon Lynge, tell us about some of your upcoming projects with him?

We have a joint project called Astral and I have also produced his solo album which is coming out soon!

You also travel a lot with gigs and writing, what part do you most enjoy about your musical career, writing and recording or playing live on stage?

Being a musician is all about playing and creating music, I love it all!

Tell us a little more about the music scene in Denmark, who is rocking it?

Obviosly Lukas Graham is doing great! That´s cool, in fact it is his Horn section that played on 'Thinnest Air'!

Finally, name one piece of music you cannot live without?

Imagine by John Lennon 

The Ball On The Wall 'Unify' will be released worldwide on April 15th on 10.000 Records

https://www.facebook.com/theballandthewallmusic

Interview by Nicky Trax

Baltimore’s finest and International House headliner DJ Spen joins forces with his mentor and Basement Boys founder Teddy Douglas to set Deep Into Soul alight with their keyboard-charged flying vocal house anthems and bumping underground beats. DJ Spen’s recent releases include ‘Can’t Give You Up’ featuring Michael Robinson and the off-kilter mix on Todd Terry’s ‘Stranger’ on his respected Quantize Records, and sure to be airing his latest Exclusives on the night. From producing Ultra Nate’s breakthrough song, “It’s Over Now’ to Crystal Waters classic chart smash ‘Gypsy Woman (La Dee Dee, La Dee Di)’ to creating ‘Praisin Your Name’ for Anne Nesby, Teddy Douglas continues to wow house music lovers around the world, as well as hosting his legendary Salvation party at the Paradox club in Baltimore, now 14 years strong. After their stellar Southport Weekender 50th appearance, the legendary gospel-orientated house music group, Jasper Street Company make a rare Live appearance in London. With classics such as “A Feeling’, ‘Solid Ground’ and their recent and first track in 10 years, ‘Reach’, tonight promises an incredibly special show full of classic church organ and rhythm guitar riffs creating that ole' foot stompin', good time in the basement feel.

DJ Spen

1.   What’s the best gig you’ve ever played and what made it so special?

Easter Monday 2001. I was in Melbourne in Australia playing a party called Freak-a-Zoid. It was the first daytime party I did in a nightclub and you would  never have known it wasn't 12pm midnight! People were freakin’ and I didn’t want to get off.

2. After all these years DJing and producing how do you still motivate yourself to keep on top of your game? 

It's a part of my God given gift. It's hard, but because I know that I'm supposed to be doing this, it makes it just that much easier for me to do.

3. Who are your favorite producers around at the moment and what makes them stand out to you? 

I've got quite a few favourites right now...Atjazz, Sean McCabe, DJ Romain, Rhemi Music and Mike Dunn just to name a few. They all have a unique quality that belongs to them and they rarely stray far from the roots of what they do.

4. What do you think makes a great DJ and do you think you have those attributes?

I believe at the end of the day a great DJ is a player that’s willing to do what it takes to get the crowd jumpin!!!! End of story. You haven't done your job if this isn’t the case and it doesn't matter if there are 5 or 5000 people on the floor. Guess I'm ok :-)

5. Knowing what you know now what piece of advice would you have given yourself 30 years ago? 

Don't get too comfortable because everything changes!!!

6. Do you still see yourself producing music and DJing in 20 years time?  

Yup....probably until the day I die in some capacity.

Teddy Douglas

1. Who would you say is the biggest inspiration of your career and why? 

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff have to be the biggest inspirations of my career as a producer and as a DJ. As a teenager I loved all The Sound of Philadelphia records, and they still sound amazing today and I play them out when I feel it’s right

2. Who is the best vocalist you’ve ever worked with and what made them so special? 

Believe it or not the vocalist that impressed me the most wasn't a lead singer -  it’s 2 background singers - Cindy Mizelle and Audrey Wheeler. They were one take, professional and great to work with. They did vocals on Crystal Waters second album, ‘Storyteller’. Both are still working in music and Cindy sings for Louie Vega’s label.

3. What’s been your biggest highlight or your career and what has been the biggest low point?

HAHAHA!! OK...The biggest high point was being at the Grammy's sitting behind Luther Vandross and Chaka Khan as we were nominated for Best Dance record for Crystal Water’s 'Gypsy Woman’ smash. The lowest point was selling my million dollar facility( studio) known as Jasper Street as the music business was changing but I’m always going forward.

4. If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out in music what would that be?

Don’t! hahaha! Just kidding! My advice is to never follow trends. Do what you feel is authentic to you and stay the course. Many people said when I was young, ’Son you should go to college and get a real job'...but I stayed with my passion and it’s worked out fine.

5.   If you could choose any artist in the world to work with who would that be?

That would be Patti Labelle...hands down

6.  What can the crowd at Deep Into Soul expect from you on Saturday April 9^th at the Prince Of Wales

Expect tons of good music!!! I like all kinds of music and my set is often laced with Disco, Basement Boys classics, a lil Gospel and some new joints comin this summer from my new album Retro Soul feat Marcell

Basement Boys DJ Spen & Teddy Douglas headline Deep Into Soul’s Baltimore House Special this Saturday April 9th with the Jasper Street Company making a rare UK Live appearance plus DJs Remi Music’s Neil Pierce and Ziggy Funk, Pablo Martinez, David Bailey, DJ Fiddla & Shaun Ashby at the POW, Brixton

All Info www.facebook.com/DeepIntoSoul

Interview by Rath Gud

Natasha Watts, a huge welcome back  to DMCWORLD. Where in the world are you right now?

Hey guys, firstly thank you for having me back and right now there is no place like home, which is just where I am!

What is the best piece of new music you have heard today??

There is some great stuff about at the moment, but currently on my player is Louie Vega 28 Artists, it's blown me away  - there are some amazing tracks on there and the talent is off the hook.

Congrats on your wonderful '2nd Time Around' album, what was the inspiration behind the project?

Last year I went on tour with the amazing Ms Glady's Knight, that tour was such an eye opener for me and I learned so much about where I wanted to go forwards with my music. I love my sound, but with this new album I really wanted to appeal directly to my target audience. I really feel I have achieved that with this album more so than with the first. This time my sound is more polished and sounds more mature, I really am very proud of it and I know my supporters are feeling it too!

How does the new release compare to your debut album and what did you set out to musically achieve this time?

Musically this time is so much more me, I love the fact I have some dance floor fillers alongside ballads. Tracks like Waited For You and Love Who You are right up the Soul street, where Insatiable, the track which features Omar, is credible, groovy and wonderfully produced by Richard Earnshaw.

It's quite a cross pollination of different styles of Soul Music with a lot of different messages and vibes, talk us through some of the songs and their meaning.

I have to start with Love Who You Are, this is such a positive message and written for my son at a time when he was really low and dealing with a relationship problem. Tracks like Waited For You and Hit The Spot just make you want to dance and Lonely, well that’s so totally different for me, its Jazzy and Bluesy with a hint of old time blues.

You have made a stunning duet, 'Insatiable' with the Soul legend Omar, how did that come about and what was he like to work with?

Ask and you shall receive lol. I really have loved him since my school days and I was asked before about who I wanted to duet with and it's always been Omar! I never believed in my wildest dreams he would say yes!  Working with him has given me a new found confidence, he believed in me, which is why he agreed to do the track. We worked very well together and think the end result really speaks for itself .

You have also enlisted the help from some great producer/co-writing mates on the album from Rob Hardt (Cool Million), JD73, David Doyle and as you mentioned, Richard Earnshaw.What did they bring to the table?

Richard is my pal and I just love what he does. He produced the amazing Insatiable and I think he has totally out done himself this time. Dave Doyle and JD73 are wonderful producers, working with both these guys has been fun and knowledgeable, they both brought different skills to the table and I was very happy to learn from them. Rob and I have a great relationship especially when in the studio, he just gets me, I don't even have to say what I want, we both just know. This makes it very easy to make amazing tracks!

Hats off to you, you are by all accounts are very proactive and busy, self managing all aspects of your career, without the help of a big agent or a manager. How do you find time to do all that hustling and what are the perks of an artist being in control of every aspect?

Hahahaha maybe you should ask me about the perks in a few weeks when I am not so stressed! Only joking, to be honest I love it, which is what drives me, I have never been asked by anyone if they can help or manage me, so I just get on with it. I am not even sure how I find the time, really you just do! I have amazing support from my husband and he is now taking on more of the financial side for me as I really only want to wear sparkly dresses and sing!

Musically, what has been the biggest bump in the road for you and what has been your biggest achievement to date?

The biggest hurdle for everyone I think is the bankroll, especially when you don't have a backer, you have to be inventive and creative to get to where you want to be. My biggest achievement has to be performing at The Royal Albert Hall supporting Gladys, that was a bucket list moment for sure! If I am really honest, it's all an achievement from every track that gets released, every gig that's full and every new supporter of my music!

What's your top tip for any budding Soul diva's just starting out?

Be true to who you are, watch out for the snakes and make sure you are surrounded by people you trust!

What part do you most enjoy about your musical career, writing and recording or playing live on stage?

Playing live! That’s my home and I always hate it when a show finishes. I just sung 17 tracks back to back, some even extended remix's for over 6 mins and I still did not want it to end!  Hahahaha!

You are just about to go on an album tour in the UK, where can we see you play?

My next date are Friday 8th April in Manchester, 9th Newcastle, 10th Birmingham, but please visit my web site

http://www.natashawattsmusic.co.uk 

where you can see my schedule and dates.

Who are your musical heroes, classic and current?

I love a lot of the greats - Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Etta James and newer artists like Jill Scott, Ledisi and Maxwell.

UK Soul Divas are quite rare these days, who else is cutting it at the moment?

There a lot of new UK talented singer / songwriters coming through - Debrah Debs, Hanlei and Diana Shaw to name but a few.

You're also well known for dabbling in the housier side of things and there seems to be a lot of big vocal tracks doing the rounds, for example Dawn Tallman & Bob Sinclar's monster hit 'Feel The Vibe' was massive, what are your thoughts on current House Music trends?

I love House music, that was my first passion and some of the vocalists in that particular area are on fire! I don't follow trends, I never have and I simply try to write music that I love. I also tent not to listen to what others call the trend as I don't ever want to seem that I am following it with my own writing.

Finally, what else have you coming up this year for us to look forward to?

I think you should all just watch this space, more music as always and of course more live shows, but there is big news coming soon and if you like you can be the first to know! but not yet ! Lol

Natasha Watts '2nd Time Around' album will be released worldwide on April 15th 2016 on SedSoul

Interview by Dan Prince

Andrew, Dave a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD towers. Where on planet earth are you right now?

Thanks for having us! We are currently in our north London studio, drinking tea, eating biscuits and also working on new material.

The best piece of brand new music you have heard today since crawling out bed?

This was a track by Fat Men At The Disco, which is from their debut EP that we just signed to Drenched Records, it’s a monster!

And what a way to return with house music at it’s very finest! Under your Grandé & Preset guises and via your new Drenched Records label, last week saw the release of your ‘Back To The…EP’ – please talk us through the four tracks…

With this EP, we really wanted to capture our musical journey, going right back to our rave roots, but also encompassing our later influences of House, Garage and the new Future Bass sound that we love too.

Closer To All Your Dreams is our take on Rhythm Quests - Closer To All Your Dreams, with the Mariah Carey vocal sample and the classic Bizzare Inc stab. we reworked giving it a future house vibe with the bassline.

Feel Real Good is our interpretation of the 1991 original Manix - Feel Real Good. This was a giant rave track of it’s time and very influential for us, so we decided to give it our modern twist.

Edge1 is our rework of the 1992 classic, Edge 1 - Compnded. We kept the essential elements of this but totally remodelled to transform it into a modern floorfiller. We gave it our signature bassline as well as the original components being salvaged to keep that authentic rave vibe.

You Dream Of is a slightly purer house take of the 1993 Sunshine Productions - Above The Clouds. This was a Happy Hardcore classic to us, the vocals have been updated and the whole track given a simple but effective House feel, with tough sub bass and garage stabs and pads.

The label was started in late 2015. You two have decades of experience…what was the idea behind the label?

The idea is to take control of our music and the whole process for ourselves. It’s tougher much more now than ever to do this and the industry is a lot different compared to the old days of vinyl and physical product. We wanted to have our own home that was ours and build something really substantial and influential. We also want to have a label that is much more approachable to unsigned artists. There is so much great undiscovered music and talent out there and we appreciate how hard it is for them to get heard, so alongside our own releases we have some great ones from new artists that we want to be heard.

Will there be more artists joining the label in 2016?

Yes! We have some great new artists that we have signed, alongside some big names too! So much in fact we have setup an offshoot to Drenched, which is called DRNCD and this is specifically going to be for new and emerging artists. The first release on DRNCD is out on April 11th by Sam Dungate & Grant Collins and it’s called Jumpin’.

Under your Sol Brothers name you have been ruling Radio 1 of late thanks to your ‘Turn Me Out’ track with the legend Kathy Brown. Talk us through the history and production of the track…Annie Mac LOVES you guys!!!!!!

The track has so much history and is one of the most iconic house tracks of all time and it just seemed the perfect fit to bring it up to date and launch our new label with, We started discussing with Kathy mid 2015 and she was over in England so we hooked up in the studio to record fresh vocals and decided to keep the track as close to the original as possible and it has been extremely well received, we had remixes done by Vanilla Ace, Jason Chance, Dolly Rockers, Sam Dungate and Grandé & Preset too but it seems the original is the one being supported the most. Annie Mac’s support has overwhelmed us and we could not thank her enough! Idris Elba dropped it three times in his recent set at Egg London, which just left us speechless! We are currently in production of a video and it’s looking promising that we will have daytime support on mainstream radio, which we couldn't be more happier about.

What are the 5 big tunes in your boxes this weekend, please give us a few words on each…

Do It Right (Blinkie Remix) by Anne-Marie, we’ve started a number of sets with this recently and it really sets the tone and get’s the crowd going!

Going Out (Grandé & Preset Remix) by Tempo Electric & PKay Ft. Martin Carr. We did this remix for OneFold Records and we’re pretty proud of it! The vocal is sick and one that all crowds remember when we drop it.

Pennies From Heaven (House Of Virus Remix) by Inner City, what can we say about this one?! Absolute classic and the House Of Virus boys have done a banging job of bring it right up to date.

Jumpin’ by Sam Dungate & Grant Collins, we recently signed this to our DRNCD offshoot to launch the label with, it’s an absolute solid tech house banger and we couldn't be happier to have signed it. The reaction in clubs is immense!

Closer To All Your Dreams by Grandé & Preset, this is off our latest EP and it’s one of those iconic old skool tracks that everyone remembers in one way or another. The combination of uplifting vocals and tough bass drops just work and get’s great responses in our sets.

A big date for you next week with your appearance at Egg London. What are your thoughts on the state of clubbing in the UK at the moment, is it in a healthy place?

We think so! London is a little worrying with club closures and housing developments forcing these closures but overall we think it’s in a pretty healthy state. The one thing we get frustrated with is the whole selling tickets to play scenario and it really goes towards cheapening the art. We know the importance of new talent being given opportunity to breakthrough but the whole concept of playing just because you can sell a number of tickets is so wrong and promoters need to wake up and shouldn't have DJs playing based on how many tickets they can sell but on their abilities!

And finally, what is coming out next from you guys?

We’re currently heavily in the studio working on new Sol Brothers material and a number of Grandé & Preset remixes and new material so it really is very full on but we’re loving every minute of it! We’re also working on the release schedule for Drenched, which is looking heavy, but the next release on Drenched is from Sol Brothers called Because I Get, which is a bit of a banger even if we do say so ourselves, so watch our for that one!

http://www.drenchedrecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/drenchedrecords
https://twitter.com/drenchedrecords
https://soundcloud.com/drenchedrecords
https://www.instagram.com/drenchedrecords

I have lived and breathed music since before I was born. My musical heritage started with my mum Blanche who was a jazz and cabaret singer. In the 60s she co-owned ‘The Ebony Club’, the first integrated dance club in Manchester. Legend has it that when she was pregnant with me and my twin her waters broke when she was singing on stage with her band at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Music and sirens run through my veins like A Rhesus Positive.

It wasn’t long before I’d graduated from ‘Up Jumps A Rabbit’ to David Bowie, The Beatles, The Jacksons, TSOP, Roxy Music and a wild mixture of funk, soul, new wave, electro and disco. The first 7” single bought solely for me was ‘Pop Musik’ by M.

I can still remember every lyric now I played it that much. Next I pooled my spends with my twin sister Paula to buy The Crusaders’ ‘Street Life’

and The Police ‘Message In A Bottle’ (import on green vinyl).

I financed my music addiction with an after-school and weekends paper round. Human League, Gary Numan, John Foxx, Spandau and Duran Duran.

Most DJs I know start like this. We are the Indiana Jones’s of our chosen fields. But there is much more to DJing and being a success that depends on exterior forces. No matter how much you know, the how much you do, the how many people you pull in and the who you know will take you that much further. For three years I have been knocking on doors but getting slow-where. To succeed on this island you have to hustle hard and I am missing some essential genes and chromosomes. True, I can hustle better than some, but not as well as most. So when the work offers come in and the receipts are totalled, they don’t place my earnings anywhere near Calvin Harris or the Swedish House Mafia in the Forbes Rich List. Not this year anyway. 

All things considered I am an above average (sic award winning) DJ who, so far, has lived a pretty amazing life. I have happily enjoyed the fruits (and the odd Bounty) of 20 odd years of this character building, life shaping career loosely termed as DJing. On any given day it’s the music that drives me, that blows my core reactor sky high. It’s a weird quirk – and I’m not sure who else feels this, but my temperature goes through the roof when I’m in the mix. It doesn’t matter whether I’m playing nu to deep house across Europe or disco, funk and techno in Ibiza – my biological reaction is the same. Or maybe that’s just a Samantha-strength hot flash.

What started out as a cash-in-hand hobby gave me a much needed release and relief from my ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ marriage and intense graduate studies. Since then it has provided the backdrop and antidote to three relatively high pressure (not JLaw or Beyoncé level…) music industry day jobs. Trowel on a few impressive bouts of burn out, some long-term overseas living in two countries and two extra languages and it’s grown into an internationally recognised career that has been my sole source of income since 1999. Like Peter Pan’s shadow, it has become who I am without me having even noticed.  Now it’s time to pick it apart at the seams and reinforce it so that it fits me better.

Wherever my heart and soul crash into any genre – there you’ll find my sound and my record collection. I like to pour this over ice into a long and strong-sipping set. Like when push came to a great freezer bag heaving shove for the nine hour luxuries of my Ibiza summer.  Two fried hard drives and a flooded storage unit did nothing to deter me from creating nine hour, 75 to 130 bpm odysseys out of a cobbled together collection of CDs from the dry boxes in my I-safe storage unit.

I always put a lot of love, heart, soul and effort into my sets. So you’ll understand my Paddington hard stare when people congratulate me on my set by saying either (as an innocent compliment) that it was good for a girl, or worse that I am wasted.

‘But I haven’t drunk a drop’ I say. They don’t mean mullered though. Not even spannered. Not spangled either. They mean wasted as in unappreciated, as in I should be playing somewhere better that this. Somewhere bigger. Somewhere fuller. Somewhere cooler. Feel that burn. I’m always polite back. I believe in myself and good manners and argue (most times without swearing) that they have it all wrong. I fan them with the flames of my absolute devotion, searing love and passion for music and DJing. Facts, figures, statistics, wherefores, howevers, whatevers, why nots and whys are all my friends. Yet this side of season end, all that has suddenly stopped making sense. I have a fluttery feeling that’s nothing to do with a post Pulpo Gallego Gaviscon shot and everything to do with my pesky gut instincts?

I love my life and my job and I’m truly grateful for all the joy and the lazy (by a 9-5ers accounts) lifestyle that it brings. Yet something about its rhythm has started to frustrate me. It also bothers me that disappointment has tinged the edges of a happily busy season. Doing OK is not an option when you live alone anywhere and especially on this expensive island. My heart says ‘feel the love, keep on keeping on and remember the good you’ve done here’. My head says ‘no regrets, you’ve enjoyed your time here, now take what you’ve learned and build on this elsewhere. Make sure that the people you keep around you, the way you do your job and the choices you’ve made throughout the years are continually helping not hindering your progress. Make sure that all of this has been worthwhile.’ My heart can’t wedge a word in edge-wise. My head always has a lot to bloody say.

Meanwhile, my instinct is shouting ‘man up’. This is a small island. You can only take so many pictures of sunsets and delicious seafood platters and of the same people in the same places at the same parties in the same clubs before you start to see the groundhogs. Logic says it’s not disloyal to want to do something more with your life.

It looks like this is a good time to let the Ibiza me go. So this is when the fun begins. No present like time.

Sterling Void sang ‘and the music plays forever’ and like every seasoned raver that knows the rest of those lyrics, I know ‘it’s gonna be alright’.  

But I love it here. I love living and working in Ibiza. I know that the highs I have experienced are not the sort of rush I will ever match pushing papers at a desk job. 20 years plus spent appearing on stages and in superclubs, playing to hundreds of thousands of people, rushing through the streets of Paris with a police escort and playing to thousands of people in some sublime outdoor venues and being ushered into a club with people screaming your name and security flanking you every night leaves you breathless. It is a proper head trip. So is hearing your jingle and name played daily or weekly on the radio. Receiving awards, being paid to do what you love and not feeling like it’s work at all – these are blessings indeed that are worth more than a ton of Class A’s bought at cost price on Silk Road. Does cashing up before you hang up a barista’s pinny in Costa Coffee come a close second ? Of course not. The memories I have of the last 20 years are nothing short of amazing, and the shared nostalgia runs deep, but no matter what level of player you are, sooner or later you have to make a choice. Something has to give in the bizarre love triangle between you, your life and the music.  

No matter what the vagaries of the economy and political climate have thrown me, I have evolved, persisted and persevered when others like me (who were far more successful than me) have thrown in the towel. But the recurrent nightmare persists. A legion of flesh-eating, retrained zombies beat a grisly path to a 6 star (hi speed wifi mandatory) DJ Rest Home to prey on the weak. They break every window and door down but the stone-deaf DJs inside are oblivious to the groaning and battering and sound of breaking glass. I wake up in a cold sweat and reassure myself with some comforting affirmations.

1. I rise to more challenges than a Great British Bake Off finalist.

2. I bounce back from more knock-outs than Stuart Hall.

3. I rebuild myself, my life and everything surrounding me from ground zero in four cities and three countries

4. I am harder, better, faster.

5. I always replicate excellence.

6. I am a Princess. Or a Kardashian. Child swapped at birth.

It’s time for some tough love. I can feel the sand shifting. The tide of emotions, that ebb and flow of ending and beginning, is rising like the kraken inside me...

Below the thunders of the upper deep;

Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,

His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep

The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee

About his shadowy sides; above him swell

Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;

And far away into the sickly light,

From many a wondrous grot and secret cell

Unnumber'd and enormous polypi

Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green.

There hath he lain for ages, and will lie

Battening upon huge seaworms in his sleep,

Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;

Then once by man and angels to be seen,

In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.

‘The Kraken’ Alfred Tennyson

Tracy said ‘9 months and go out laughing’… how to do? I mean how to do ?

TO BE MOTIVATED NOT MANIPULATED...

I am pregnant with an idea. In the next nine months I will plan my own murder. It’s going to be like a giant game of Cluedo (bags-eye the glorious sunflower yellow, of course). We’re playing on a giant board with music and a rave in each corner plus a few good friends and some pictures of sunsets and poetry and planning. Most of all with planning. Much as I’d rather it was DJ Paulette in the main room with a USB stick, my loaded laptop is far mightier than a 64MB pen drive. The goal is to go out laughing… and to do this with crowd support (or crowd funding).

I’ve never been fifty and I’ve never retired before, so forgive me for not wanting to call this and not knowing how to be or do either. Apparently I don’t look it,  (ie forty eight, whatever that means). I subconsciously don’t ACT it, I certainly don’t feel it and I definitely don’t want the music to stop, which is four quarters of the problem. I don’t know any dj who has so-called retired who has not been exhumed weighing at least ten kilos heavier and with way less hair on top of their heads. Or more if you’re Paul Oakenfold. Admittedly Oakey never went away but either he has Wayne Rooney’s hairdresser’s number or I am Michelle Obama. Every DJ resurrection involves waving one’s legend like Excalibur (or an enormous Nag Champa jostick if you’re Balearic) in one hand and spinning a bag of oldskool house and rave classics with the other. I struggle with this. 

I’m not saying that it will never be attractive to me but the concept of playing a set of big old tunes and back to back classics gives me the willies. Who wants to play all the old hits ? All night ? Back to Back ? Without a break ? To a public with a school reunion mentality but dressed in modern rave attire instead of novelty school skirts, shorts and ties. I dread that awkward moment when my set can be timed by the placement of Voodoo Ray, Gat Decor, Dream Lover, Good Life, Strings Of Life, Big Love, Higher States of Consciousness, Jaguar and Promised Land. Where to next, once the punters start to remark on their Pavlovian regularity (and believe me they will)? I’d rather have my head slammed repeatedly in a Metrolink door than have to play all the hits just for dollar. I’m sure that science has proved (somewhere) that a roomful of monkeys could cobble together a respectable classics set using the new Pioneer CDJ2000s. Somebody just shoot me now. And don’t get me started on people making a career out of re-editing other people’s music. Should you find me hypocriting somewhere, feel free to remind me of this paragraph when you see my name headlining the next ‘back to 1994’ poster you see or when you catch me carrying my Bitcoin billions to the bank.

How can I change tack without going too far off course and keep buzzing about music and clubs? How can I make the sort of change that stretches and inspires me ? One that is legal, decent, conscious, honest, unselfish and generous? Which option or opportunity might provide the stepping stone to the next chapter?  And is it even possible to write my bit part into Manchester’s musical herstory. I don’t know the answer to any of these questions but I feel ready to go boldly and raucously into the dark nights that they are about to bring.   

About those options and opportunities. I have decided to keep a diary. This diary. Maybe it’s not the career booster method that immediately sprung to your mind but don’t knock it. It’s a start. Psychologists recommend writing your feelings out and I have a lot of those.

Inspired by the picture I have in my mind and the cyclone of words flying like butterflies around my head, I sit at my computer poised to write. I am mostly waiting for an Emmaus sized catharsis and revelation. I am trying to squeeze this out like a silent fart in a lift. Then I stop dead like a Basset Hound on the scent of something it can’t quite define or recognise. The screen is still white and I am suffering from divine blindness. A question and answer session ensues. With myself. Out loud (of course). I regularly consult and argue with my inner expert. Should I post it this a blog ? Yes maybe – then my links will make immediate sense to the swipe generation. Do I post it as a vlog? Erm – can’t be arsed making crap hand held / selfie stick clips on my iphone – they look so home made and unprofessional. Plus there’s always something embarrassing on the bathroom floor and out of frame toilet shots aren’t the way I’d like to go viral. Who in their right mind takes a selfie after doing a number 2 before flushing the chain? Home photo sessions and videos indeed. Add some scruffy randomness on the bed or sofa or kitchen work top that you wish you’d moved before you pressed record and send … No. Something has to be left to the imagination – at the outset at least. But if that fails, then there’s always Youtube, Instagram and live streaming.

Try as I might to drag it behind me, this body is heavier than I thought. If I’m going to murder myself (on paper) I need a good plan and a lot of help (not just psychiatric). I am thinking ‘Sex and The City’ with a bit of ‘Shallow Grave’ but all wrapped up in ‘I’ll Be There For You’. It’s got to be a cross platform affair. It’s a sad state of play but most DJs, A&Rs and managers I’ve spoken to don’t happen to list reading as one of their preferred past-times. Unless it’s a flyer. Or a contract. I need to make this so called DJ Life resonate with any and every unannounced eavesdropper outside of this room, this house and this industry. Hmmm…*scratches head*. My premise is solid. No matter how amazing the life, we are mortal. We are not forever young. Not even Madonna and Calvin Harris. OK maybe Madonna.

The words start to flow, then I delete it all. I write some more. Then doubt and insecurity bound up, panting like two daft Collies who keep returning with a stick for me to throw. Now I am freaking out about what people might think. I tell myself that it doesn’t have to be perfect and that there’s room for fine tuning. That it’s better to be honest and brave, to do and say the right (write) thing and write the book I have in my head than to be an ostrich who never sees or changes anything and doesn’t ever do anything different.

Breathe. You know it’s gonna be alright. Everything will turn out just fine.

Focus. Think positively. I open Youtube for inspiration and watch best animal clips before making a bee-line for the freezer. I find and eat a Magnum that has been maturing for so long that it could easily have ripped a hole in the other side of the Titanic. I sit back at my desk suffering from ice-cream brain freeze, then demolish the rest of my half-eaten, in-case-of-emergencies bag of Haribo that’s been sitting on my desk since last night. I stare alternately at my fingers and the screen, glaze over...

...then do practically fuck all* after this, due to the sugar rush and food coma. *Note to self – I can do this doing fuck all thing quite well.

To be continued...

For me, the one that stands out the most is the Bicep remix. These guys are ripping up the dancefloor at the moment everywhere that they go, so it's no wonder that this remix portrays what they are capable of.

Their remix of 'Higher Level' is a break infused cut fashioned for the dancefloor with a penetrating melody, echoing vocals and soaring pads. A track that builds and takes you on a journey, it's definitely a track that draws you in, completely infectious to the end.

5 out of 5

Reviewed by Paul Sawyer

{http://soundcloud.com/feelmybicep/isaac-tichauer-higher-level-1}

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Paulette

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Paulette

{http://soundcloud.com/spinninrecords/daniel-portman-no-good-available-april-11}

5 out of 5

Reviewed by Paulette

{http://soundcloud.com/black-butter-records/sets/bodhi-step-it-back-ep}

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Paulette

4 out of 5

Reviewed by Paulette

{http://soundcloud.com/themagician/the-magician-shy-feat-brayton-bowman}