CIARAN O'NEILL DJ MIX

Here's a mix from local Dj Ciaran O'Neill. Ciaran has played in many clubs over the years, whether spinning big beat in vicos or nu skool breaks in the venue his sets have always had a heavy dose of breakbeats. Check out his latest overing

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Mandy vs. Bookashade – Body Language
Plump DJs – System Addict
Soul of Man ft Ragga Twins – Trouble! (Original mix)
Bass Kleph – Bump Uglies
Robosapiens & Beat the Box – Summer Rolls (ft Chris Fresco)
Dizzie Rascal – Flex (Dave Spoon Reflex)
Baobingo & I.D. present Big Monster
Ft Virus Syndicate – Jump up Get Hype
Dopamine – Flapjack
Splitloop – Frequency Rebel
Madox Ft Cabal & DG – El Magnifico (Elite Force remix)
The Klaxons – It’s not over yet (Blende remix)
30Hz Ft Yolanda – Daddio (Klaus Heavyweight Hill remix)
Coburn – Illegal (Original mix)
Zero – Emit Collect (Rennie Pilgrem Agatha Stomp Mix)
Jon Kennedy – The Wasp (Dynamic Allstars Rollercoaster mix)

CIARAN'S MYSPACE

TECHNO MIX BY NIK MUZKA

Was getting a bit bored of all the minimal about at the moment so thought I would do a mix of some tougher techno from 2002/2003

CLICK HERE

Woody McBride - Slurred Vision
Homerun - Twelve
Hertz - Foray
Bryan Zentz - D Clash (Slam remix)
Bando - Lalnfluencia
Patrik Skoog - 16
Terry Mitchell - Fire (Stanny Frannsen remix)
Cave - Carnival
Adam Beyer+Henrik B - Vocal Image
Redhead - Pulse
Vince Watson - Reshapes (Ben Sims remix)
Chester Beatty - Fatbackstyle
Ignitian Technician - Take It Back
Los Tukilos (Umek+Valentino) - Wet 17
Jay Denham - Peoples
Stigmata - Kronos
Asem Sharma+Axel Bartsch - Creepshow
Monkey IX - People Your Ass Up
Woody McBride - Funky Monkey Vol2

MICHAEL BENNETT DJ MIX

Here's a mix from one of Belfats top house Djs. I've always enjoyed Michaels sets which are never obvious or boring as you can see in this tracklisting. If you like your house mixes a little deeper with more substance then you will thoroughly enjoy this little gem..


Product of Dunraven Vol I
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01. Beach Boys - Our Prayer
02. Dynamics vs Nicole Willis - Feelin' Free
03. Candi Stanton - Evidence
04. The Rebirth - Evil Vibrations
05. Mock & Toof - Digit 2
06. Stars on 45 - Area 45
07. Q Lazarus - Goodbye Horses
08. Paul Simon - Late in the evenin'
09. Wild Rumpus - Musical Blaze Up (Rub n Tug Remix)
10. Tony Sylvester - Pazuzu (Prins Thomas edit)
11. Risco Connection - Stopping Version
12. Chaz Jankel - Glad to know you
13. Creative Use - Bounty Girls
14. Geraldine Hunt - Can't fake the feelin'
15. Rune Lindbaek - Afrika

MIX BY DJ TED

Ted is not only a drummer with local band 'The Jane Bradfords' but also a very competent dj with a fine taste in music as can be heard in this mix.

DJ TED - I AINT NEVER

Cut Chemist - The Audience Is Listening Theme Song
Weathermen - Blood Fire (Feat. Dynamite MC)
Flow Dynamics - Up In The Party
Bamboos - My Baby's Cheating (I Sure Got The Feeling)
Pearly Queen - Quit Jive'in
Breakestra - Keep On Playin'
TM Juke - Arrggh!
Chico Mann - Who You Runnin From (Quantic Remix)
Nickodemus - Giver The Drummer Some (Album Version)
Mombassa - Nairobi
Rubin Steiner - Lo-Fi Nu Jazz 13
Reese & Santonio - The Sound (Smoothe Mix)
M.I.A. - 20 Dollar
Barakas - Kes
Chico Mann - Soul Freedom (Comtrom Remix)
Hollertronix - D.a.n.c.e. Some More
Duke Dumont - When I Hear Mu'Sic
Double Beat - Hot Jazzy Temper
Bonde Do Role - Solta O Frango
Gordon True Rock - Dog Eggs Electric Edit
Mighty Dub Katz - Magic Carpet Ride 07' (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
Dizzee Rascal - U Can't Tell Me Nuffin'
The Universals - New Generation

TED'S MYSPACE
THE JANE BRADFORDS MYSPACE

CLASSIC TRACKS FROM NIK MUZKA

This is a new section to the blog where dj's/producers pick classics or forgotten gems from their record collection and upload them for your listening pleasure.


Click on track names to listen

AUX 88 - PLAY IT LOUD - DIRECT BEAT

Detroit may be well known for techno but it is also home to some of the worlds best electro producers and labels. Tracks on Direct Beat from almost 10 years ago still sound as good today especially from AUX 88.


NEW ORDER - 1963 (LIONROCK REMIX) - LONDON RECS

I first heard this track on a JBDJ tape by Justin Robertson given away free with Select. At this time i loved Justin Robertson's dj sets and seen him in numerous venues around belfast. His Essential mix when he finishes with Massive Attack was also a fav. Obviously I was very happy to find this record for 99p when it came out. BARGAIN!

JOHN McIVER MIX

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN

1. Pan Pot - Ape Shall Never Kill Ape
2. Scott Ferguson - I Cried For You
3. Mark Ho - Take Me Away
4. Minilogue - Orglar A
5. Paul Panzer - Marianneplatz
6. Stefan Tretau - Ellis Perry - (Mikael Stavostrand Mix)
7. Stimming - Funkworm
8. Worthy - Bird Of Prey - (Yankee Zulu Mix)
9. Dennis Karimani - Aether - (Argy Mix)
10. Timmy Stewart - Black Heart
11. Style Of Eye - The Big Kazzoo
12. Plasmik - Pitch It - (Claude Vonstroke Mix)
13. 2 Lone Swordsmen - Shack 54 - (Jet Project Mix)
14. Radio Slave - Bell Clap Dance
15. Humanoid - Stakker

JOHN McIVER INTERVIEW

Give an introduction about yourself.

Hi I’m John Mciver, Belfast based dj and producer. I’m a resident at both Shine and the Stiff Kitten, so I regularly gig at both venues. Production wise, I produce music as The Jet Project with Timmy Stewart, under my own name and my other moniker is Yankee Zulu.



What's your earliest clubbing experience?

My first clubbing experience hmm, the one that springs to mind the most has to be when I went to Hellraiser in the Ulster Hall. I think it was 1993, so I was about 14 years old, I told my Dad I was staying at a friends house, that friend being Neil Barrie ha-ha, we got down to the Ulster Hall and blagged our way in. Everything went smoothly, we raved it up all night and were out partying till the early hours, back to Neil’s and everything was hunky dory, my Dad hadn’t a clue I was probably the youngest raver in town that weekend haha. Then a few weeks later a dance music program was on channel 4 and was doing a feature on Belfast, it featured David Holmes and had clips from Sugarsweet, it also featured the Hellraiser events in the Ulster Hall. I’m sitting glued to the TV and my Dad sitting beside me watching it, and suddenly I realised the clips it was showing you from the Ulster Hall was the night I had been there. Panic kicked in, i remember thinking there’s no way ill get caught red handed like this ha-ha.
Then suddenly the camera switches to a shot of Pablo Gargano burning his record and swoops round to do a crowd shot and there is both myself and Neil dancing are socks off. I got a right slap that night, but it was well worth it...


How did you first get into dj’ing?

I honestly can’t remember not being into dance music, when all my mates were into football and shit, I was into music. I remember torturing my Dad to buy me the Hey you Rock Steady Crew 12" for my birthday, after watching Break Dance the movie well over a hundred times. That record was the first entry to my record collection, I still have it somewhere. But the first piece of vinyl I bought myself, I bought of David Holmes in the Sugarsweet record store above crackers, I remember i saved up my money and trailed my cousin into town with me. I remember walking up them steps, and opening the door and seeing the big black and white logo on the wall. All the records sitting in the shelves and the turntables and headphones for you to listen to the music you picked, I was in my element, my cousin thought he was in his worst nightmare. I couldn’t wait to get over and put a record on one of the decks, thinking back I’m sure Homer and McCready were having a right giggle at the two of us. I only had enough money for one record and it end up being Frankie Knuckles - The Whistle Song I bought. It wasn’t long after this I got my first set of belt drives and that I was hooked on vinyl and dj'ing.


Over the years what has been your most memorable dj'ing gig?

My most memorable gig has to be the first time I played the bar in Shine. I had been passing a lot mix cds around at the time and creating a bit of a buzz for myself. So when I finally got a gig I was well chuffed. Alan played before me and when I came on everyone seemed to move up to the dj box. Simmsy said to me after it, when he was walking out of the bar, he glanced back round and it was like he had threw a lamb to the slaughter, everyone seemed to be slowly moving towards the dj box and ready to pounce on me, ha-ha. Suppose they were checking out the new guy, fortunately I was fully loaded that night with some great tracks and I ended up having a top night, there was a great atmosphere in the place, deffo my most memorable gig.


Who has been your biggest influence?

Timmy Stewart, from the Saturdays I used to spend knocking around Ross's court and venture into Apache, B.L.T and Central Records. He used to let me hear some serious tunes in that place. Then I started going to his and Mark Bell’s Digital Boogie and then Tsunami parties, he definitely switched me on to good house and techno music.



Which dj's do you currently rate?

My favourite djs haven’t changed that much over the years. Andrew Weatherall, Chris Duckenfield and Timmy. All though I think Claude Von Stroke could be added into that group now.



If you could play any club in the world where would it be?

Back To Basics.


I've been hearing some shit hot production work from yourself and the
Jet Project, how did that all start?

Well basically the Jet Project started just from Timmy and me dj'ing together and realising we had very similar tastes in music, we were constantly swapping music with each other and were both music enthusuasts. We chatted about how we would like to go in the studio together, and so we did, and the results have been great, we work really well together and have a right laugh in the studio, if you were to do a fly on the wall documentary of us making a track you would be pissing yourself laughing.. It gets a bit hectic in their with us bouncing ideas about, torchering big Davy Lievense and dancing about like headers when were laying down a track, its great fun. As for my solo project, its going great too, I produce under the moniker Yankee Zulu, and ive signed all the Yankee Zulu stuff up to Labels in San Fran. I have stuff coming out on Katabatic Records, which is owned by Worthy who is part of the Dirty Bird crew, i also have stuff coming out on Utensil Recordings and Om Records, so I’m hoping 2008 is going to be a good year.


How would you describe your sound/music style?

House and techno.


What producers and labels are you playing out in your sets?

Producers that are doing it for me at the minute have to be Claude Von Stroke, Chaim, Argy, Paul Ritch, Style Of Eye, Carl Craig, 3 Channels, there’s loads probably to many to mention. As for labels, I always keep regular tabs on Dirty Bird, Rekids, Leftroom, Poker Flat, and 2020 Vision.


What format do you use for dj'ing and is there anything you would
like to or plan to use in the future?

I currently use cdj's and love using them, the only annoying thing about using c.d's is I’m constantly burning them and writing out track lists for my cd wallet. It seems to be an endless task for me because I buy so many mp3's. I would deffo consider moving to vinyl scratch or whatever and storing my music on my laptop and just using cdjs as usual, once I have the money to do so. As for Abelton i'll never use it, because i cant stand it.


What can we see from yourself in the future?

Well production wise I’ve quite a lot going on, we are just finishing another ep for the Darkroom Dubs as the Jet Project and then we have our album to start in the new year all this in between various remixes we are doing. And as Yankee Zulu, I am currently waiting on a lot of stuff dropping in the New Year. All though my first Yankee Zulu remix is out on Dec 11th threw Utensil Recordings (shameless plug, ha-ha) so keep an eye out for that one. And on the djing front I have forthcoming gigs in Pressure in Glasgow and Sonar next year. So it’s all good.


Can you provide a current top 5?

1. Plasmik - Pitch It - (Claude Von Stroke Mix) - Connaisseur Recordings
2. Style Of Eye - The Big Kazzoo - Dirty Bird
3. Timmy Stewart - Black Heart - Heartbeat Revolutions
4. Worthy - Bird Of Prey - (Yankee Zulu's The Eagle Has Landed Remix) - Utensil Recordings
5. 2 lone Swordsmen - Shack 54 (Jet Project Remix) - Rotters Golf Club

JOHN'S MYSPACE PAGE


Also look out for a mix coming from John soon..

FUNKASAURUS FEATURE

I caught up with Graham from Funkasaurus to find out more about his club night that he runs with dj'ing partner Tim here in Belfast.



What and where is Funkasaurus?

Funkasaurus has existed for three and a half years in the intimate surroundings of the Basement Bar situated next to the City Hall, in Belfast's city centre. It runs every other Saturday night with myself and Tim playing every week alongside regular guests.


How did u and tim meet and decide to dj together?

We actually met when Tim joined the band I was in as our new guitar player but it turned out we were both into DJing and dance music and got on very well from the start. It was a couple of years after that we got together as Funkasaurus after a couple of gigs playing together. We were both into the same stuff and thought DJing together would be first and foremost great craic but maybe also save us some cash as we were both buying the same records so we could txt each other when we bought some tunes so the other would know what not to pick up! I had been playing at various nights on my own for a number of years so was an interesting challenge to be constantly playing back to back.


What is the idea behind funkasaurus?

The idea I spose is just to basically make people dance. Its not about playing the most upfront tunes and educating people in whats good but just playing stuff that we like and we think the punters will like, its a very friendly and up for it crowd with no pretention at all and that¹s what we love about it. Everyone just comes to jump around and get sweaty and we basically provide the soundtrack for that! Musically it's a bit of a mash of funk, house and breaks and a few other bits and pieces. We've never gone out of our way to advertise it as one specific thing and we think that has worked to our advantage. It also means we can play lots of different types of things throughout the night which is great from a DJs point of view as we are into so many different things!


Can u tell me about the funkasaurus production work?

We've been producing stuff for most of our existence as Funkasaurus but in saying that, the early stuff is best avoided tbh! The way we work is basically I do all the technical side of it and Tim works as basically an ideas man. We think it works really well as sometimes I get bogged down in the technology and its great to have a fresh set of ears at every stage who doesn¹t know how its been done, someone who is just reacting to ideas from a punter/DJ point of view.


Who do u rate in the uk breaks scene and any one to watch out for?

To be honest I think its better than ever at the moment, so much new and fresh stuff around, we almost feel spoilt for choice as DJs. Producers such as The Rogue Element, Far Too Loud, Groove Allegiance, Koma & Bones, Jay Stewart, Groove Diggerz and Boabinga & ID to name but a few have been really floating our boat recently. There has been a massive resurgence of funk into the breaks scene recently with loads of labels putting out stuff similar to Fingerlickin's output such as Splank, Beaking Even, Mofo, Dead Famous, iBreaks Funk etc etc. From a DJing point of view the Groove Allegiance show is great as it combines live guitar and decks and has been a real hit both times they've come over for us. Also the recent Boabinga & ID dj sets have been the perfect mash of breaks, 4/4 stuff, grime, garage and loads more, truly inspiring and future thinking stuff!


What about locally, any dj's or producers that have caught your ear?

As promoters we hear so many demo CDs and see loads of new DJs playing, obviously the ones we like the most are the ones we have down to play for us such as Tim Reid and Barnes aka Senor G. Also we've been really impressed by Jonny Boy from the Global Virus crew in Derry who surprised us with his versatility the first time we went up to play for them. Production wise we've liked some of the Alloy Mental stuff, but there does seem to be a certain lack of breaks producers locally, I think we're flying the flag for that one on our own! There's also some great local bands doing the rounds such as And So I Watch You From Afar who I've been really enjoying recently, very powerful and focussed but genuinely decent blokes at the same time.




What has been your highlight while running the funkasaurus night?

That¹s hard to pick, I guess everytime you get someone coming up to you and saying it was their first time there and they really loved it is always great! Hard to pick on specific night but the night we had Move Ya! playing was really good craic and it confirmed with us that you can play a whole night of breaks and it'll work a treat if the crowd are up for it. I think that¹s what I like about our crowd the most is that they aren't there for a specific type of music, just GOOD music! We also love the nights when we get to do full 5hr sets and play the biggest range of stuff we can.


What for you makes a great club night?

I think it has to do with a combination of considerate DJs and punters with the right attitude, nothing ruins a night quicker than DJs playing for themselves or punters with bad attitudes killing the atmosphere on the dancefloor. I think we've been lucky in that respect as we have a great working relationship with the Basement management who understand the kind of people right for their venue as well as right for the music.


Who would be on your dream line up?

That is difficult as we love so many different types of music, I guess there would have to be two rooms, one for DJs and one for live acts. DJs would be maybe Sneak, Plump DJs, Kid Koala, Boabinga & ID. In the live room maybe The National, The Wedding Present and Super Furry Animals.


Whats in the future for funkasaurus?

The future for us is more releases with new stuff coming out on iBreaks Funk in November and an album for them at some point next year. We also have more house based stuff coming out on Bryan Jones Control and Lowend labels in Chicago. Were also in talks to DJ more outside of NI next year with gigs in Bristol, Brighton, London and France in the pipeline. I'm also keen to try and resurrect the live thing we did a while back with a bass player, now that we have a bigger catalogue of our own stuff. And finally we will be continuing to host the radio show on Ibreaks radio every other Friday night for the forseeable future!


Funkasaurus Top 5 Floorfillers

1. Funkasaurus - Jackhammer/Super Funky Hustler (iBreaks Funk)
2. 30hz Feat Yolanda - Daddio (Myles Dyson Remix)
3. Maelstrom - Makossa (West)
4. LCD Soundsystem - Get Innocuous (Soulwax Remix)
5. Far Too Loud - Play It Loud (Funkatech)


FUNKASAURUS MYSPACE
FUNKASAURUS RADIO SHOW @ IBREAKS
FUNKASAURUS 'WORK DIS/THE DIRT' Available here

DJ NEZ MIX

Dj Nez from Grub provides us with an excellent mix of dubstep, techno, electronica and acid rave. Watch out for a feature on Grub coming soon...

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD


The Ace Of Clubs - Whorgan - First Cask
Ceephax Acid Crew - Friend Track - Planet Mu
Richard Devine - V423 - Marguerita
Bam Bam - Wheres your child? - Desire
Gescom - ? - Skam
65d Mavericks - Wire trap - Dust recordings
Ed chamberlaine - Trapeze - Baselogic
Litwinenko - Tripping, roughing, holding - Detroit underground
Jerome Hill - Ready now (Uffish mix) - Dont
Lukes Anger - Love hack - Tiger Bass
Lfo - We are back - Warp
Aphex Twin - Isoprophlex - R&S
Milanese - Double face - Planet Mu
Scan One - Atlas - Combat
Starkey - Bounce - Stark sound
Sarantis ft Warrior Queen - More than money - Senseless
Electromeca - 202 - Deathsucker
Altern 8 - Frequency - Network


DJ NEZ MYSPACE

TIMMY STEWART INTERVIEW

When i decided to start this blog Timmy was one of the first names that came to mind for an interview. Not only has he been involved in the dance music scene for as long as i can remember but was also an early influence and one of the Dj's that inspired me to pick up the turtables. He also hooked me up with some great house and techno records while working in Phuture Groove while introducing me to new artists and labels. So I sent him some questions and here's what he had to say....



1. Tell everyone a bit about yourself and what you do?

I’m Belfast based dj Timmy Stewart, I’ve produced music as The New Aluminists, Future Rhythm Foundation, Bubba & T-Bone, Eastside Movement, Digital Rhythms, Signal
Federation, Soul Patrol and more recently as the Jet Project and under my own name. I’m also one of the residents and promoters of the Digital Boogie, Tsunami and Islandhopper parties.


2. How did u get into djing?

I was always heavily into music as kid first through my Mum’s vast record collection then through the Street Sounds compilations that I used to collect on cassette tape. I was first exposed to acid house and djing by hearing mix tapes and going to Holmer and Iain’s record store above Star to buy music. Then early visits to Tokyo Joes and the Art College reaffirmed what I wanted to do with my life.


3. What’s been your djing highlight over your career?

Getting to play at David Holmes night at the art college was a definite highlight. It was a dream of mine and Glenn’s to play there after going there as punters for so long. It was warming up for Dave Clarke and the place was rammed, we played really well and Holmer went on to offer us more regular work. It genuinely felt like the start of something.


4. How has your sound changed over the years?

I just play the best music that is available to me as a dj. At the minute I’ve been playing a lot more techno, as that’s the stuff exciting me the most these days. From day one I’ve just tried to play good dance music without getting pigeon holed as this or that and I think that’s how you bypass current fads and trends to be honest and that’s still the way I dj. I’m always conscious of my allocated time slot and the size of the venue I’m playing in as certain styles suit certain spaces and sections of a night. House and techno will always be my first loves, but I’m such a music junkie that I tend to collect everything from Funk, Disco and Italo to down tempo stuff as well so I can always surprise people by doing something completely different from time to time.


5. Why and when did u start the label?

I was originally involved in the Product Deluxe label so I learned a fair bit about what was involved with releasing and promoting your own music through that. The Islandhopper label was born out of pure frustration to be honest. We were getting so pissed off with record labels that signed stuff off us and then sat on it for ages. We reckoned we could release music on a regular basis by a range of local artists and have something of our own that was totally homegrown. Unfortunately the decline of vinyl was in full swing when we started our P&D deal so we were literally just breaking even on the initial releases and as we had stopped actually playing records ourselves we decided to carry on down the digital route.


6. Do your productions reflect your dj sets?

Definitely, I’m trying to make a balance between house and techno these days as that’s the way I play so therefore what I want to be predominantly known for. I always make music to play in my own sets in the hope that others will like it too. I also gauge how good a production is by how happy I am to play it out. If I’m not then it’s back to the drawing board.


7. What production from your extensive back catalogue would u rate as your favourite?

Two productions really, one past and one present. The first New Aluminist’s single “Get Down On It” on Paperrecordings I remember being really proud of, as it was a label I had avidly collected stuff on so it felt good to be a part of that collective. More recently the Jet Project remix of The Two Lone Swordsmen’s “Shack 54” as Weatherall has long been someone I’ve admired so just to be asked to do it was a honor but it was even better when he said he loved what we had done with it.


7. Apart from djing you also play live, how does that work?

The live thing was a bit of an experiment really. The Atl guys who asked us to perform a live set based on the Bubba & T-Bone and Islandhopper material they had heard prompted it. I’m a dj first and foremost so the thought of doing a live set had never really appealed to me until Ableton came along. I realised for the first time that I could have a similar feel to playing live that I got from djing. We just loaded all the loops/parts from our productions into Ableton on the laptop and I controlled what came in and out, applied effects etc through an external midi controller while Bubba moved about the parts on screen. I liked the fact that every time we played it was slightly different from the last time and it gave you that freedom that you get from a dj gig. We warmed up for Tiga and I got a real buzz from doing it as it felt fresh and made me nervous in front of a crowd for the first time in ages. It’s def something I’d like to develop for the Jet Project when we release our album next year.


8. What N.I djs or producers do u rate past and present?

When David Holmes played techno he def had a huge influence on me. Even in the way he promoted his nights, his attention to detail with his ideas for flyers, visuals etc really shaped what I went on to do.
I would also like to say that the level of djing in N.I is extremely high.
We have this no nonsense attitude over here where by if your crap somebody won’t be long in telling you so you have to work that wee bit harder. As a result there are a lot of younger djs who are very promising as well as some old faithfulls. But anyone who keeps it fresh by pushing the scene forward and doesn’t play classics all night in order to get a reaction is usually ok with me. Production wise John McIver, Ric McClelland, Aaron Shim, Sinister Industry etc are making some great stuff.


10. Over the year’s u have received worldwide recognition, why have u decided to stay based in Belfast?

I always had vested interests here like regular club nights and gigs which although have helped shaped my djing style and provided some great memories, sometimes I wish I hadn’t been quite as pre occupied on the home front as it would have given me the drive to build on things a bit further a field. I had considered moving away at one point but when I got quite far from home at one stage it made me realise how much I missed this place. I’m more focused on building a rep outside of own country these days as I’ve kind of full filled a lot of my potential here in a way. I’ve thrown myself into my production and it’s amazing how many more people globally are aware of me through a years worth of solid production than through almost 15 years of djing.


11. What artists and labels are you currently playing out?

Current people who constantly impress me are Llorca, Will Saul, Justin Martin, Paul Ritch, Lee Mortimer, Ito, Cobblestone Jazz, and labels like Pokerflat, Ovum, Get Physical and 2020 Vision.


12. Tell me about your night in the Stiff Kitten?

We are two years into our residency now and are really enjoy playing on the Function One system. We play quite a wide range of stuff down in the club from deeper stuff at the start to more jacking music at the end as it keeps the night interesting for us and the people who are there for most of the night. It’s also good being able to continue to bring the cream of the world’s undergrounds djs across to play here. Someone said to me recently that they couldn’t imagine dance music in Belfast without us playing a part, which was nice to hear.


13. You have had some very impressive guests at all your nights in Belfast, who would be on your wish list to have play?

At the min, Gabriel Annada, Paul Ritch, Booka Shade and Gui Boratto are top of the list.


14. What’s upcoming for Timmy Stewart?

A lot more production. I seem to be doing a remix every other week at the min both as part of the Jet Project and with my own stuff. We’re about to start recording an album for Silicone Soul’s Darkroom Dubs imprint as well as upping the anti with releases on the digital labels.
Forthcoming guest dj gigs at Pressure in Glasgow and Neighbourhood in London as well as Sonar next year.


15. Can u do me a top 5 of classic tracks that u have played over the years

These are the ones I always come back to and seem to be getting better and better with age…

1. Dark Energy – Atomic Witchdokta - UR
2. TC1991 – Berry – UCR
3. Basic Channel – Q 1.1 – Basic Channel
4. Tiefschwarz – Acid Soul – Classic Recordings
5. The MD Xpress – Welcome 2Da Club – Nite Stuff


ISLAND HOPPER WEBSITE
TIMMY STEWART MYSPACE
THE JET PROJECT MYSPACE

CHRIS HILL INTERVIEW

I sent Belfast based D+B producer/dj/promoter Dj Chill 10 quick questions and here are his glorious answers.

1. Firstly tell everyone a bit about yourself and your dj'ing history

I started DJing when I was a student at Belfast Art College.... began playing at parties, running wee one-off nights here and there in the Students Union and a few bars and art centres, gallery spaces.... that type of thing.

In 2000 I was lucky enough to win a prize in Knowledge magazine's "Dexterity" worldwide mixing competition. That gave me a great boost, and got my name round enough to get slots at a variety of dnb nights in Belfast, including Judge Dread's "Solid" DnB night, and Calibre and Sage's "Balance" night. I also got great support from local websites like Electrotoxic, Irish Drum and Bass and Serious Bass, getting mixes on their websites.

In February 2003 I started Step DnB with my best mate Playford. It was a load of work but we had a lot of fun too. We were lucky enough to have amazing DJs play at our parties - Shimon (Ram Records), Silver (Accidental Heroes), Mark XTC (Beatz), Red One (Ram Records) and Futurebound (Infrared/Viper). I began to regularly play around Ireland and throughout the UK.

I'm into all types of dnb and have been lucky enough to play at a pretty wide variety of dnb nights. I love to drill tunes out at a straight up "go mad" dancefloor, but I love getting into the deeper stuff too. Everything has it's time and place.


2. what happened with step?

That's a very long story - lol. There were problems with The Menagerie, including them messing up our bookings, resulting in us having to cancel our second birthday. We came to the decision that we could no longer work with the venue. I used the opportunity to take a break from club promotion and start to learn about music production. I have since learned the studio takes over your life - lol.


3. how u finding the local D+B scene?

It's cool.

Belfast's own, Calibre is one of the biggest producers in DnB!

Hago is throwing great parties in Derry.... The Bad Taste Crew are doing cool parties in The Front Page, Belfast.... The Bad Operator is running great stuff in Bangor...

Down south - Resonance... DnB Impact... Reach... Nu Killa Kru... Phase 2... Bassbin.... loads!

Special mention to Beckett and Skeletor for running idnb.com also - killer djs too!

There's a lot of talent and a lot of great parties going off.


4. what local dj's past and present do u rate?

Anyone who doesn't work for Cool FM - lol

The truth is if i started putting a list of great local DJs, the list would never end! The talent here is incredible..... I don't think people here realise how good local djs are.


5. whats your production setup?

My entire studio is software. Cubase SX is my main sequencer..... it's a great for fiddling about with audio. I use a Beringher BCF 2000 for mixing and controlling on the sequencer, and use an Edirol PCR-30 Keyboard controller and an Akai MPC-16 drum pad controller for battering about vstis. My monitors are Alesis M1s (passive ones through an Alesis amp). They're not considered to be the best speakers on the market - you have to work hard to get a mixdown work on them but they are solid and haven't blown up yet.


6. whats the best gig you have ever played?

The Step First Birthday at Menagerie - February 2004. I was amazed how many people came down, and so early on too. Practically from the doors opened, the place was buzzing. By the end of the gig, when Shimon was playing, I thought the roof was going to come down - people were going so nuts. From start to finish, that gig knocked me off my feet - not least because I met my missus there that night!


7. hard question but what's your fav d+b/jungle record ever made?

Christ - there are so many! If I have to pick one it would have to be "Bodyrock" by Andy C & Shimon (Ram Records). It was so innovative, so different to any kind of music that had gone before it, let alone a new style of dnb. Most of all, though, it's a record that was so good that it caught the ears of people right across dance music, and made then listen to drum and bass at a time when a lot of critics were saying it was dead and past it's best. It was phenomenally successful - got to number 28 in the UK charts on vinyl sales alone, albeit for a week - lol.


8. who's your inspiration?

Fuck!!!!
Ram Trilogy, Ed Rush & Optical, Dom & Roland, J Majik, Dillinja, Futurebound, Moving Fusion, John B, Teebee, Calyx, Bad Company, Boymerang, Mampi Swift, Sonic & Silver, Mark XTC, Ganja Kru, Marcus Intalex, ST Files, Calibre, Klute, Doc Scott, Hive, Keaton & Gridlok, Fabio, Grooverider, Matrix, Noisia, Tim Exile, Omni Trio, Blu Mar Ten, LTJ Bukem, Blame, Rob Playford, Anthony Rother, Daft Punk, Adam Freeland, Richie Hawtin, Basement Jaxx, Derrick Carter, Kevin Saunderson, Dr Dre, Brian Eno, Dave Clarke, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Chic, BB King, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Jimmy McGriff, Jackson Pollock, Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, John Cage, Francis Bacon, Paul Cezanne and my Da!

Not to mention, local promoters and DJs who love good music, whatever style it is!


9. what can we expect to see from dj chill in the future e.g forthcomings gigs, productions etc

Check out Shine, QUBSU Belfast on Dec 1st. I'm playing with Goldie. I can't wait for that - sure to be a scorcher! My tunes all very much works in progress, but are getting there - check out some bits on www.myspace.com/djchillcriticalmass


10. can u give me an all time top 5 or a mix, cheers

1. Origin Unknown - "Valley of the Shadows"
2. Ed Rush, Optical and Fierce - "Alien Girl"
3. Moving Fusion "Turbulence"
4. Ganja Kru "Super Sharp Shooter"
5. LTJ Bukem "Music (Peshay Remix)"

(......oh aye, and Andy C and Shimon "Bodyrock", of course)


DJ CHILL MYSPACE

GLITCH MIX BY NIK MUZKA

heres my glitch from 05/11/07 on ATL (bbc radio ulster). The Glitch is a 10 min mash up that runs weekly on ATL. I used all vinyl and sampled them into ableton then looped and chopped them up with a few cuts and scratches.

LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD HERE


Mr Scruff - Get a move on
Cj Bolland - Sugar is sweeter (Monkey Mafia remix)
Dj Rectangle - Battle samples
Howard Blake - Elephant rides again
The East Harlem Rhythm kings - Getting nasty
Danny Breaks - The jellyfish
Primal Scream - Jailbird (Dust Brothers remix)
Cab Calloway - Minnie the moocher
Herbie Hancock - Rockit
Grandmaster Flash - White lines (Cutmaster Swift and Dj Pogo remix)
Dj Shadow - Blood on the motorway live
Annie Lennox - Little bird accapella
Pixies - Monkey gone to heaven
Thomas Bangalter - Turbo
Pixies - Into the white
Adeva - Respect
Adonis - No way back
Da Mighty Dub Katz - Work it work it
313 Bass Mechanics - Pass out accapella
Run DMC - You be illin'
SL2 - Way in my brain
The Shamen - Move any mountain accapella
Dizzee Rascal - Give u more
Mekon - Yes yes y'all (Sinden baile funk remix)
313 Bass Mechanics - Can i get a ride accapella
Donna Summer - Romeo
Bad Company - Nitrous (Dilinja remix)
Metallica - Ride the lightening