Welcome to my first blog post. I'm going to write about all sorts of things on here, mostly music realted obviously but I thought I'd start with a bit of background about why I'm into this music and DJing thing and where it all started for me.
As far back as my earliest memories go, music has been an integral part of my life, shaping my experiences and influencing my emotions. The love affair with music began in the cozy corners of my home, where I would eagerly delve into my mother's cherished collection of records. Each vinyl held a treasure trove of sounds waiting to be discovered, from the infectious rhythms of Reggae to the soulful melodies of Motown and the heartfelt tunes of Lovers Rock. It was in these moments, surrounded by the crackling warmth of the record player, that I first felt the power of music to transport me to different worlds and evoke a myriad of emotions.
However, it was not just within the walls of my home that my passion for music blossomed. My dad's record shop, Aquarius Records, located in Handsworth, became a playground for my burgeoning love for music. On lazy Saturday afternoons, I would eagerly tag along with my dad, immersing myself in the sights and sounds of the bustling shop. The shelves lined with vinyl records of all genres beckoned to me, each album whispering stories of distant lands and untold experiences.
Despite being a mere nuisance and often getting in the way of customers, my time at the shop was a formative period in my musical journey. The vibrant energy of the shop, the eclectic mix of customers, and the endless array of sounds swirling around me ignited a fire within my soul.
And that's where it started for me, they're some of my earliest core memories. I can still smell the chip shop that was next door along with the occasional waft of weed from the bookies a couple of doors down from the shop. I can remember the Hinari stereo my mom bought for Christmas one year, loved that stereo - I'd record myself like I was a radio presenter and spend hours and hours making mix tapes.
Now fast forward to 2024 and my passion for this music shines brighter than ever!
So why all this then?
This blog celebrates the profound impact that music has had on my life, acting as a digital archive of the DJs, artists, and mixes that have inspired me and made me do gun fingers for as far back as I can remember. And the event Be Social aims to highlight, celebrate, and showcase all the excellent and diverse music from some super talented artists. Along with creating a social space to enable anyone to get involved if they want to, breaking the monotony of social media to encourage real-life interactions.
One more reason why I want to start a blog is how I've start to see social media. It's cool for making new friends and reaching more people, but sometimes it feels like a shouting match where you gotta keep posting stuff just to make the algorithm happy. It's tiring, you know? That's why I think I can do better by focusing on creating longer posts on a blog instead of sharing my quick incoherant thoughts. Oh and you can choose to read it or not, which is your choice because you have come here.
Finally some music!
It's been a minute since I've uploaded a podcast as this year has been pretty full on but in recent times I've fired the decks up loads and been hard at work to bring you a new season of mixes by myself and some very special guests.
I need to take a minute to thank everyone that dropped a podcast so far, so big up and thank you for sharing your music with me and everyone else too.
So now, without further ado, here's some music! Mixblog #38 - Cemtex & H2Flo LIVE from BREAK THRU 2024. These recordings are taken from 2 different Break Thru events with LSB & DRS at Hare & Hounds on 1st March and 26th August with LTJ Bukem. Unfortunately, on both occasions, I was unable to record the whole set; however, 2 is better than 1, right? Expect liquid drum and bass, jungle, rollers, classics, and as always, a few exclusives thrown in there too for good measure.
Many thanks to Tom for the hosting each and everytime always an absolute pleasure when you host my sets, these 2 were an absolute roll out.
Full tracklist included below
Hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading! See you in the next one.
Safe
Love love love ❤️