When you first started-out DJing in 1985 you were playing hip hop, what inspired you to
make the change to a more Rave/Old Skool style?

I think the first real house record I ever heard was Marshall Jefferson’s “Move Your Body and it was so different it really caught my attention. Then there was Steve “Silk” Hurley’s
“Jack Your Body” and so on and I was hooked. As the rave scene evolved out of house I
evolved with it and by 1988 ended up as a house/rave DJ.

Having played gigs all over the world including the USA and Australia, how would you rate
the dance scene in the South-West?

I always love playing in Cornwall (apart from the 5 hour drive to get there from Essex)
and I’ve played over the years in Newquay, Redruth, Penzance and now Truro. The scene has always been healthy as far as I’m concerned and it’s always been good fun!


With over 17 years of professional DJing under you belt are there any records in particular
which stand out or hold special memories for you?

“On A Ragga Tip” obviously. Also hardcore tunes like “Take Me Away” and “Breaking Free”.and also lots of house and trance tunes like “Everyday” by Agnelli & Nelson and many others that bring back memories of Ibiza.

How do feel about the increased use of CDs in DJing and do you use CDs yourself?

Yes, I have been using CDs over the past couple of years, infact more often now than ever.
I’ve re-edited a lot of my Old Skool tunes on CD to add a twist and to make them different
to everyone else’s. I still don’t think you get the same buzz as vinyl though. The sound
is usually better but you can do a lot more with vinyl and I do enjoy flying through my
box at high speed sometimes and you just can’t do that in the same way with CDs!

Your "Slip Back In Time" tour launches at Tranz@ction, where is off to after that?

Under the Slip Back In Time banner I’ve got a massive party in Glasgow on the 20th March
with M8 magazine, a big party at Club M in Newmarket incorporating an album launch for the latest Beats24-7 release “Battle Of The DJ’s Match 2” on the 27th March, an all-nighter in Blackpool on the 2nd May, an all-nighter every last Friday of the month at The Kube in Wakefield and many more one off events in-between including Maidstone, London, Coventry and Portsmouth.

The Slip Back In Time launch party sees yourself playing along side, Vinyl Groover, DJ Slam,and MC Freestyle, who else can we see you playing with during the tour?

I’m hoping to bring DJ Sy & MC Storm with me to L2 in May but for all the other events DJs
will include: Hixxy, Scott Brown, Brisk, Ratpack, DJ Lime, Force & Styles, Ramos & Supreme, Vibes, DJ Demand, AJ Gibson, Dougal, Squirrel, Barry J, Stu Allen and many more to be added!!

After the tour concludes are we likely to see any new releases from SL2/Slipmatt?

The “Slip Back In Time” tour is an ongoing night which I aim to spread around the country
to the best venues and areas possible, L2 in Truro being the ideal venue in Cornwall. The
concept behind my night is predominantly Old Skool/Hardcore DJs doing their stuff but also
mixing in classic Hard House, Trance and whatever gives the punters that party buzz.

An Old Skool party but not just an Old Skool rave. The idea came from my residency in
Ibiza where Slip Back In Time will be running again all through the summer at Playa2 in
San Antonio with myself and The Ratpack. As for releases, I’m working on a couple of new
Old Skool style tracks and I have a follow up to the “Space” tune ready for release in
the next couple of months called “Our Future”.

And finally what is your view on Tranz@ction?

I always enjoy myself and everyone involved seems really friendly and out to have a good
time.

WORDS: BADDERS