Ten tracks that shaped my 2014

I have selected the ten tracks that changed everything for me this year. They're not all specifically from 2014 but they're the songs that I felt meant something important to me in the year and really developed my musical tastes.

10. Round Table Knights- Calypso
This song is more of an emotional one for me. Every time I play it out, whether it's at an event or in the kitchen at a house party, it gets an incredible reaction. It's a real bouncy tune and I often mash it up with 'Breach- Jack' and it never fails to get people moving. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65HkE_8wSSs

9. Hannah Wants & Chris Lorenzo- Rhymes 
Annie Mac teased us with this track throughout the year and finally in November it got it's release. The Daft Punk sample blends perfectly with rest of the track and the simplicity of the heavy bass when it drops surprises me even now. This one's a real crowd pleaser and a proper fist pumper. When those hats come in I lose it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzKi_fAanGg

8. Skepta Ft. Young Lord - It Ain't Safe
2014 has been a huge year for grime, Boy Better Know and particularly Skepta. After the massive release of 'That's Not Me' UK grime was launched into stardom once more and Skepta has done a great job of making him and his sound popular while still maintaining the dark, 'nike swoosh' covered culture of grime. I still remember the first time I heard this song. I played it over and over for a good hour because it's such a well made song. The instrumental is playful along with Skepta's lyrics but I love how the track is still about being a dealer and the gritty life of the UK grime scene. Skepta found the perfect balance with this one, I cannot wait for his new album. RING RING PUSSY IT'S YOUR MUMMY ON THE PHONE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czLQoG01PFs

7. Len Faki & Roman Poncet- Asua
And now for something entirely different. Techno legends Len Faki and Roman Poncet never disappoint. Near the end of Summer I went through a huge phase of being completely obsessed with techno and I have to say that this tune right here has to be one of the best tracks I purchased during that time. It's raw, fast paced energy courses through the whole song and the repetitive bass the tune has can be played around with when playing it out. I love the build-ups the song has, it completely represents the music I was listening to from about July to October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1wn3H2tL2o

6. Tom Flynn- Mistress Chantelle
This tune represents my musical tastes at the moment. I'm a sucker for any house track with a sample of someone talking over the background and this is perfect. It's sleazy, bouncy and just amazing. The drop is magnificent and the claps get me going every time. What's great about this track is that it's so diverse because it's great for warming up a mix or a live set or at the end of a night when everybody has had a few too many. If you like this track then check out Flynn's other beast of a record: 'Hoochie'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpgowa_LsU

5. Hrdvision- Mr. Loser
As I am typing this I have a huge grin on my face because I have just heard the drop of this track. It's a complete monster of a tune. Hrdvision completely delivered on all levels. I love mixing into this track because when it kicks in it surprises you and feels much like a big, fat house fish has slapped you in the face. (The fish is a Bass) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFEabwWn7Dw

4. Martyn & Four Tet- Glassbeadgames
I've always been a big fan of Martyn and I always heard people raving about Four Tet. I never knew what all the hype was about until I heard this. It's a simply beautiful piece of music and gets me emotional every time it graces my ears. The drums that they've used in this track sound absolutely amazing and I love how the track eases you in with a chilled vibe but then halfway through it changes into more of a party song with some great sounds being introduced. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLsljl5xrt0




3. Jack U ft. Kiesza- Take U There
And at third place we have the incredible Skrillex and Diplo collaboration: 'Jack U'. If you know me then you'll know that I like to say I'm a strictly house and techno man but I do like my fair share of well produced trap music. This track is a weapon of mass destruction. It makes me move in a way no other song has in a long time. One of the main things I love about this record is the percussion sounds that they've incorporated into it. Instead of a snare or a clap they decided to put in a wooden block sound and it's incredibly clever. It grows on you like an addictive rash. I even have a special 'wooden block'  dance for this song. (If you see me around ask me about it)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9slkeFXogU

2. Roman Fluegel - More & More & More 
WORK THAT BODY MOVE THAT BODY MOVE THAT BODY WORK THAT BODY
House and techno veteran Roman Fluegel rightfully takes second place in my top ten tracks. One thing I adore about electronic music is the energy that comes with it. The fact that a song can make people dance in such ridiculous ways and not have a care in the world. That is what this song does to me. I love everything about it, from the old school vocals to the amazing synth that creates an instant and communal shuffle every time it gets played. Give it a listen and you'll want to be hearing more & more & more of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDkERg2lLCY







1. Patrick Topping- Forget

The DJ that is topping (please please pardon the pun) my top ten tracks that shaped me as  DJ and as a fan of electronic music in 2014 HAS to be 'Forget'. It's the simplicity of it, the enticing vocals and of course the bass that had me ruining my ear drums after having on repeat throughout the summer. Patrick Topping has had a big year to say the very least. He broke through as a newcomer DJ in Ibiza and this track has been in the Beatport tech house chart since about May and it's still only at #14 which is absolutely crazy. If you haven't heard this song then where have you been for the last seven months? Nowhere near a dancefloor I assume because it's been dominating them for a long time and I don't see it going anywhere any time soon. I've fallen in love with this song and I think that, regardless of the crazy house records that will get thrown at me in 2015, I will never be able to let it go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdAAVJZXoYM

From speed garage and bassline to jackin' house and techno: the rise of the Birmingham rave scene

In 1992 a nightclub in Sheffield called 'Niche' opened its doors. The music it had to offer was fast paced house and garage. When Steve Baxendale first established the nightclub he had no idea of the culture he was going to create. Nor did he know about the 'bassline' genre his club and weighty crew of resident DJs were going to, almost single-handedly, forge and get a whole nation throwing on Ben Sherman polos and skank the night away. One thing Baxendale, or the rest of Sheffield for that matter, didn't expect was for this culture to spread across the UK, to places like London, Leeds and, more importantly, my hometown: Birmingham.

      It all started when DJs from Niche began stripping back the tracks they played, getting rid of the vocals and turning up the bass. Bassline was born. This fresh, new perspective of the garage sound that the late 90s had to come to love so much attracted ravers from all over the globe, let alone the nation, to get a taste of what it was everyone was going on about. As the UK underground rave scene entered a new millennium the whole experience of going to a club was changing. Drugs were becoming more and more frequent and the fashion was modifying week by week, and it was all thanks to the bassline genre. Around 2005-2007 the genre was at it's peak. Tunes like 'Love Shy' by H20 and 'Heartbroken' by T2 forced their way into the charts and introduced the scene to a new audience. By this time the garage and bassline explosion was already making it's way to other areas of the UK and one of the places that it majorly affected was Birmingham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTsHWzvJWDQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEff5b8btfQ
     
Suddenly DJs in the West Midlands were speeding up the tracks they played out and throwing in a, now growing, selection of speed garage and bassline bangers. Clubs like Platinum became more popular by the weekend due to the rise in ecstasy  and a fresh culture that completely challenged the meaning of 'going out' for brummies across the West Midlands. Digbeth, especially, was the centre of the rave scene at that point in time and it has, to this day, maintained that reputation in the house and garage scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70GM5IoMtvQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpx7IWPda8A

Since the explosion of garage and bassline in Birmingham, Digbeth has risen to be one the greatest clubbing hotspots in the UK. Bassline eventually died down and steadily formed Jackin' House. It holds many similarities to certain aspects of Speed Garage but has a more bouncy vibe to it. This sound will always be heard if you find yourself walking through the Rainbow Warehouse (an iconic club in Birmingham, known for it's endless house music and incredible DJs).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdzFD4-wR84
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcYAEuR0ia4

 Artists like Tom Shorterz, Pete Graham and Cause & Affect have pioneered the Jackin' House scene in the West Midlands and their 2:31 parties (which will be celebrating it's 3rd birthday this Saturday) have proved to be extremely popular and haven't failed to draw huge names from all over the globe. Tech house and Techno is also showing signs of a being a big hit in the Digbeth area with places like Lab 11 and Spotlight focusing on more of a minimal and international sound. The vibes coming out of Birmingham are always evolving and drawing new crowds.
       So, all in all, the nightclub scene in Birmingham hasn't really changed too much from back in the day. People still go out to big warehouses and sweaty basements and lose themselves to 'mandy' and endless repetitive beats. The only thing that's changed is the clothes people wear and the music people listen to. One thing that has never wavered in the Birmingham rave scene is the positive energy everyone has. People go to nightclubs such as Rainbow on a Saturday night and they do it, not for a fight or to get absolutely plastered. They do it because they want to listen to good music and dance until the ridiculously late hours of the next morning. I personally don't have a shred of doubt that this vibe will ever change, even if music and fashion do.

Masters At Work: Boiler Room: London

"Wait...this can't be it." One of us finally declares as we stare, confused, at the huge and luxurious hotel before us. As we edge closer a smart looking bouncer in a suit looks us up and down. This isn't what we expected.
"Boiler Room?" We hear one of them say. We look at each other and nod. The bouncer guides us into 'The Edition' hotel through an elegant pair of glass doors and into the plaza. What we encounter is something from a scene out of 'Casino Royale'. Gold chandeliers hang from the ceiling and fine paintings decorate the walls. Once again, this is definitely not what we expected when me and my brother decided to take a spontaneous trip to see Masters At Work at one of Britain's most popular underground parties.
       We are shown where to go and walk down a set of stairs and into the basement of the hotel. The lights are dimmed and so far I can't hear any music. We look around, puzzled. A single black door at the end of the corridor draws us in.
"Is this it?" I ask as I open it, not sure what to expect. Holy Jesus, we were not prepared. I still don't know how a single door can hide the sound of so much bass.
       We are greeted with incredible house music which instantly causes me and my friends to dance to the bar. The bass is flooding through the intimate venue and sending the crowd into a trance. Louie Vega is on the decks and his concentrated face and infamous trilby hat is bent down and close to the cdj as he mixes. He's going in.
       Once we buy our costly beers the music carries us round the back of lil' Louie as he does his stuff. I already know it's going to be a legendary night. The music he played was mainly 80s and 90s house classics, with the occasional disco banger that would keep everyone singing along to every word with passion. As the night goes on Kenny "Dope"Gonzalez steps up and takes over the party. He maintains the old school house vibes and keeps the people dancing.
       While the house legend slaps out some historical tracks and gets the crowd singing along we venture closer to the decks, our arms in the air as we chant the old school house lyrics that shaped the genre that it is today. This is like something I have only seen only a couple of times in a Boiler Room session before. People are dancing! The crowd are bouncing and the drinks are being passed. Hands are pointing towards the ceiling and the true masters are at work.
       'Lil' Louie Vega Steps up into the DJ area once again and for the rest of the night they go in hard and back to back. Thris Tian, a Boiler Room presenter, DJ and just generally nice guy ends up skanking out next to me. I look at my friends who frown with sheer jealousy.

The night was genuinely one of the most incredible and surreal experiences I've ever had. I feel so priveleged to have been able to watch two house DJs, who are true experts in the genre, do their stuff to a high standard in such an intimate and cool venue. It was truly worth the extremely tiring train journeys up from Banbury. Thank you Boiler Room.

P.S. Watch the video in the links below and look out for the absurdly tall teenager in the 'Saints' t shirt who stands out from the London hipsters and claps furiously at almost every break in the music. That's me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwENwGqTukE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfRJhmC-G1Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-NYNfJxjz8

4 Steps to being the best drum & bass MC

1. Be sure that little of what you're saying is understood

When you're MCing at a rave, who really wants to hear what you have to say? The people there are probably too off their faces to understand you anyway so don't worry about pronouncing your words. Also remember that the speed of what you're saying is more important than your lyrics. What always gets the crowd going is rapping so fast that what you're saying just sounds like a broken, stuttering Giggs mixtape played at 175 bpm. 

2. Ensure that the sound technician understands fully that you want the mic's volume turning up

There's nothing worse than shouting down a mic because nobody can hear you in the rave. If the sound technician doesn't the get the microphone levels right while you're on stage then make sure you give regular reminders to him that he isn't doing his job probably. Obviously he/she's not going to be able to hear you after the five times that you've already said it. I suggest giving them a firm shout at every two minutes throughout the set.

3. When there is a vocal break in the track don't hesitate to talk over it the whole time

Drum & bass is all about grit and fast paced, mental beats. There's nothing worse than all that craziness being interrupted by someone singing. If the DJ decides to create a beautiful moment within the rave and take a break from the violent one leg skank then don't forget to make the audience remember where they are. Talk or spit over the vocals to give a rough edge on the music and to confuse the audience. 

4. Always persistently demand a 'reload' even if the DJ doesn't agree with you

Reloads are a great thing. They show how much the DJ appreciates the track and they go back to the beginning of the song so you can hear it again. When the MC says there should be a reload, there should be a reload. Whether the selector is mixing in the next song or not the MC should always get what he wants and if the DJ doesn't reload it then ensure that you display how angry you are. Also, if the track playing is a song with you featuring in it then make sure it gets a reload, even if the crowd don't appreciate it. That's your song man, the crowd have to like it even if they don't want to, it's the rules.

Who I would pick for my ideal club night and why.

So I was sat on my bed looking down my Facebook wall and reading all the nightclub lineups that some DJs had shared. On each one I started the usual system of picking out individuals and making various approving groans (5 groans= show it to my brother, 10 groans= show it to my friend). As I carried out this typical lazy Sunday morning activity I realized something. If I was asked to host an event at a nightclub with as many rooms as I want and unlimited cash, who would I pick to play and why? Let's have a look at my choices:

Room 1:

Huxley

Huxley is a big inspiration for me. The sounds he uses in his tracks are an incredible mix between techno and jackin' house, providing a great, energetic environment within his sets. A lot of his songs are very dark and mysterious but still have people jumping and bobbing, which is a good sign. One of his tracks that stands out for me has to be 'Long Summer Night'. The simple vocals on this blend so well with the simple, bouncy beat that has become Huxley's signature sound.

https://soundcloud.com/huxley_uk/sets/inkwell-ep-aus-music

Cajmere

The groovier and less robotic alias of the legendary Green Velvet. This guy has been one of my favourite DJ/ producers for a while. All his tracks are made for the club and will even get a crowd of hipsters throwing their backpacks to the side so they can shuffle their way to the floor. Cajmere's collaboration with Gene Farris: 'Mars Bar' is an extremely funky house classic and, although 'Percolater' is a heavy weight tune, this track always gets people who don't usually associate themselves with house music bouncing, I don't know why, it must be the hefty bass that always tries to break my speakers everytime I play it. His sets have so much soul incorporated into them and will make anyone lose their shit. Trust me. Listen to his Boiler Room set from Amsterdam, it's one of my favourites. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU0S0xpWGOw

Dusky b2b Skream

Since Skream transformed his sound from dark and gritty dubstep to the more uplifting sounds of house and disco he has been putting out unstoppable sets. The tracks he plays throughout these sets are often very heavily weighted with bass. This can lead onto why I would have him back to back with the Dusky boys. Their style is fairly similar and the atmosphere they try to create in their sets is hectic, with room shaking bass being the main aspect that gets people up and moving their sweaty bodies until the ridiculously late hours of the next morning. I think this set would work well, let's hope it happens somewhere in the future.

https://soundcloud.com/platform/skream-boiler-room-mix

https://soundcloud.com/factmag/fact-mix-dusky-feb-14

Zed Bias

Zed Bias has had a big influence upon me. Not only in his DJ sets, but also in his tracks and remixes, there is evidence of what he is about. He is one of those DJs who just wants to party. He wants to go to a club and play tunes for an hour or two and get the place nice and lively. He always achieves this. Varying from garage to soulful house and techno, this guy knows how to bring the house party atmosphere to any club and will almost always destroy it. He's been around for a while and has not started to waver as he has been going at all. His early classics such as 'Neighborhood 09' always make a dance floor erupt while new tunes like 'Go Get It' provide the sexy undertones to any club, festival or house party.

https://soundcloud.com/outlookfestival/zed-bias-clearing-31-8-13

Room 2:

Ben Klock 3 Hour Set

If you know who Ben Klock is, you should know by now that this room is going to be the one where techno is played. This guy is a true Berlin soldier and pioneer in the techno scene. His sets make the most minimalist of beats get a crowd jumping and getting their hands high in the air, whether it's in a huge arena or a tiny basement. I put him up as a three hour set because he's one of those DJs who can maintain the same level of mixing skills throughout a set, no matter how sweaty and hyped he gets. The energy in his productions along with his sets is ridiculous. Just listen to this set and try and tell me you don't want to see him live after.

https://soundcloud.com/ben-klock/berghain-10th-aug-2013

Marcell Dettmann b2b Answer Code Request 3 Hour Set

This set would go off, there's no doubt about that. These guys know how to supply the heat and tension in their sets and keep a crowd going for hours, whether it's one or three. Marcell Dettmann's tracks are so simplistic, with each aspect changing ever so slightly and at the same time having big impacts when played in clubs. Answer Code Request is quite similiar to Dettman and his DJing skills are great. His Boiler Room from Berlin is second to none, each tune sets me into a trance each time I listen. 'Linux' by Marcell Dettmann is also a mesmerizing track, the bass plays a key role in the darkness of the song, while still keeping a bounciness to it. One day I will see this song live and it will be incredible. 

https://soundcloud.com/platform/answer-code-request-80min

https://soundcloud.com/modeselektor/marcel-dettmann-linux

Room 3:

DJ EZ w/ Skepta, Wiley & Dizzee Rascal

A UK Garage legend. This guy's mixing style is so unique and his track selection is always on point. He switches between classics from the 90s and early noughties to modern songs that get crowd jumping, whether it's garage, grime or house. When EZ's in the place you know it's going to be reload after reload, people forget what they look like and get skanking and this is a clear sign of a good DJ. One bad thing though, I'm still waiting on the release of his 'Intro 6' (such a great tune). The latest set he did for Boiler Room is one of the greatest sets I've ever heard and seen. Trust me. This guy completely smashed it, check it out. Skepta is also a true king of grime, his flow is unbelievable and it would be great to hear him rapping to garage. Wiley is an original garage MC and I would love to see him going back to back with Skepta and Dizzee to the tunes that were his roots. I don't even need to mention why I would pick Dizzee Rascal, he's one of the greatest MCs in the scene. These four would have the place moving. Skip to 1hr 34mins of this video to see just how EZ brings the energy to his sets. To quote Majestic Man from halfway through this set: "It's not about who's skanking like this and who's skanking like that, it's all about vibes."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OraL6lKoyXE

Matt Jam Lamont b2b Wookie

Like DJ EZ, Matt Jam Lamont and Wookie have been huge names in the UK Garage scene for a while. Lamont supplies the more summery, happy vibes in his sets while Wookie tends to go onto the more mental side of things. This set would appeal to every garage fan, there's no doubt about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2L4vQLddf8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGkd8dt1XdQ

Room 4:

Soul Clap b2b Nick Monaco 6 hour DJ set

The modern disco & R&B legends would provide the chilled vibes in room 4. These guys always represent the Crew Love label to a high standard when they do marathon sets and it would be great to see them do one. A lot of the funky tunes they play always get me bobbing my head and raising my arms. Soul Clap supply the subtle, funky groove while Nick Monaco delivers the hard hitting bass. If you haven't heard these guys make sure you check them out. Nick Monaco's 'Sample Your Soul' is one of my favourite tracks of the year so far.

https://soundcloud.com/nickmonaco/sample-your-soul?in=nickmonaco/sets/sample-your-soul-vega-records

https://soundcloud.com/soulclap/episode-113-thanksgiving-in?in=soulclap/sets/mixes

Room 5:

Oneman

A great DJ. Oneman has such an original style and I would absolutely love to see him live. He ranges from hip-hop to house and grime seamlessly and this is what makes him such an incredible DJ. He is also a strong representative for vinyl DJs across the globe. Whether it's a well known track or a heavy, bass-ridden banger, Oneman's track selection always leaves people having a great time. A big inspiration for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r48tKlt5Ks

Girl Talk

Girl Talk has a ridiculously huge amount of talent. He is such a unique DJ and manages to mix hip-hop with songs you would never associate them with like 70s rock 'n' roll which creates a party like atmosphere rather than having repetitive beats all night long. There is no other DJ that does what he does and for that reason I would feel privileged to see him live. In this set from Coachella 2014 he brings the heat.
https://soundcloud.com/byron-rodriguez-11/sets/girl-talk-coachella-2014

So there you have it. Some of my favourite DJs and why I would pick them. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay tuned to my blog for more stuff like this.

The transition from Spring to Summer, Seventeen year old life and my drastic decision to stop wearing a coat

As the dreary eyes of Winter awake, leaves begin to grow on the trees and the Sun starts to steadily creep out from behind the grey clouds. Spring is here. A time which I can only refer to as the 'countdown to Summer'. I think I can relate to it because, as a 17 year old, I feel that I am just counting down to the day when I turn 18.
       Eighteen is a huge milestone in anyone's life: you can drink, smoke and buy power tools from hardware stores (exciting times). When I am 18 I will be able to fully call myself a man. I should be able to drive and I would have finished my first term of college, although right now I am just a little tree in a forest of adults trying to grow it's first leaves of the year.
       Anyone that is my age and wants to make the best of their life will admit that 17 is an insignificant age. You can try and tell me otherwise all you like but I feel like everything I'm doing is in preparation for the future. I think I just need to accept that I need to save having fun until it is legal for me to do so before my grades turn into dying, rusty brown leaves and get crushed under the feet of my examiners.

Another thing, I recently decided to stop wearing my coat. After that one incredibly sunny Tuesday afternoon I thought it was the right time to man up and venture out of the house without wearing my hibernation cloak that I spent most of my days in throughout the Winter period. It was a bad decision. Since that day I've been spending most of my time rushing between lessons at college and whining about how soul-crushingly cold the weather is. Please, somebody, sort it out.