The beginning of it all!

That's me that is, super crotch headlocking my friend Steph on new years day after a couple of bottles of Whiskey. Proper bo it was!

So anyway, let's get down to it. Why am I doing a blog? Mainly so I have somewhere to type random garbage that may/may not get read by randomers, friends or mortal enemies. I'll also be using it to spout lots of jive about jungle, house and techno that I'm loving. But mainly Jungle. I figure if I have somewhere to write my thoughts about new releases or oldskool stuff I come across, it'll give me more excuse to dig for music.

I try to put out a few mixes in various formats every month. I do a lot of mixes for youtube as I find it's a good way to grab peoples interest and then lead them onto the longer mixes I do. We live in an age of short attention spans at the end of the day!

If you haven't already seen my channel, you can check out my videos and mixes here: www.youtube.com/hypercatjohn

and the longer mixes here:

www.soundcloud.com/srd

SRD is my chosen artist/dj name...Soul Rolls Deep (amazing innit) I suppose I had to choose something because I was forever getting asked if I had a DJ name..so there we go.

So moving onto the DJ thing, I get asked a lot of questions about how long I've been doing it, where I buy my records, how I find them...so I might as well answer that now!

I've been a "DJ" (I'm not a fan of that term but more about that later) since the age of 13. I'm 28 now, but that doesn't mean to say I have been mixing for 15 years. It's always been an on/off thing for me. The last 5 or 6 years have been more consistent though.

I buy most of my records from Eastern Bloc in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. A top guy called Jim is my essential breaks provider, I like to think him and myself are on the same level when it comes to appreciation for a good break, beautiful pads and all those musical elements that make Jungle so special.

I find my breaks and beats in a few different ways, the main one is Eastern Bloc. Jim keeps a nice little bag to one side for me and puts all the little bits he thinks I'll like in there. Otherwise it goes a little something like this (take note kids, Itunes will NEVER be the answer here!):

I'll either have, be told or stumble across a track that I've got a particular passion for. From there I'll investigate the label first, find out what else is on there, see if there's any other artists in particular who shine through. Then I'll investigate the original/newly found artists, see what other labels they're signed to, do the same thing again. Then I'll try and find out if the labels that stand out have sub labels, alternative projects, podcasts...you name it. Before you know it you've got yourself so many new artists and labels you don't know what to do with all the new music. Then there's more! I'll check the artists background, what their personal influences are, their history, what records they buy, try and find live sets either dj or artist related. There is SO many ways to find a billion different new types of music and artists. I've just become so accustomed to my own method that I don't feel I need to venture out of it, it suits me just fine.

Well that was a lot to take in wasn't it?!

My own personal background is extremely varied. I was accustomed to Acid house and the rave scene around 1990, maybe earlier actually. I remember being sat in primary school and a girl called Gemma told me her (18 years old) sister was into rave music. That must of been around 1988!

But anyway, House music was a massive thing for me, being into that pretty much from the end of primary school then going to high school was a treat, all the original and exciting beats where coming out left, right and center and I couldn't get enough.

So then 1995 happened, Jungle was discovered, the break off from hardcore breakbeat had happened and the obvious pioneers where pushing a stripped back, tightened and more intricate sound. To say I was in my element is an understatement!

I've always loved hip-hop too, I've not got a geeky, almost obsessive knowledge about it like I do when it comes to breaks, but I know what I like...artists like De La Soul, Tribe called Quest, Pharcyde...you know the score. If not, check them out...now.

There's a huge amount of band influences floating around in there too, ranging from Led Zep to Joy Division to Oasis...too many to list and I'm getting tired of typing now!

Anyway here's a few links to some mix videos you might like.

Night kids x