Playlist: Music To Cut Hair To with Simon Baker

A trip to the hair salon is rarely just purely functional. When in the right setting, it becomes a shared and social experience. Hairdressers behave like friends and counsellors. The salon is a place for relaxation, self-reflection and a good ol' conversation.

Therefore, there is nothing more annoying than bad music. OK, the stylist can be forgiven if they have as much personality as a wet blanket, so long as the haircut is to a certain standard, but if I hear them banging an EDM number or the latest pop drivel, it’s just unacceptable. Not only is it an interruption of what we believe the salon atmosphere should be but when you are working up to 12 hours on your feet, do you want to be listening to rubbish? No thank you.

Here at the About This Place, a salon headed by the Hair Mistress, Victoria Saunders has perfected that blend. She cuts the hair of half the DJs in London and apparently the reason they keep coming back, aside from a damn fine haircut and our ability to talk bollocks professionally, is the fact the music is spot on – hence being asked by R$N to compile a fortnightly feature for them. Music To Cut Hair To, a selection of some great music played in the salon alongside some appearances from friends…

"Simon Baker. Man of many talents. He’s gone from being a hot young thing (DJ), to moving seamlessly to his next career as a Craniosacral Therapist/ Reflexologist. He still has his hand in producing but has moved to becoming a therapist and treating those with problems as a result of the music industry, it seems like a natural progression. We have both spent many an 'after hours in the wrong kind of right place’. Many, many LOLS have been had and I can’t tell you how proud of him I am. Boy done good.

P.S the playlist is a corker"

1.When were you at your happiest?

When I was working the summer on an island in Croatia called Obonjan, djing and doing my therapy stuff. Bliss! 

2. What’s your greatest fear? 

Dying lonely. That would be pretty shit wouldn’t it?

3. Who do you admire?

Anyone who can inspire me, usually those who step out their comfort zones. 

4. What trait do you deplore in yourself/ other people? 

Me: being Laziness Others: Flakiness

5. What’s your worst habit?

Screens! All of them! 

6. Favourite word? 

Fucksake! 

7. Who would you like to say sorry to?

No one, done nowt wrong! : )

8. Who do you despise?

Mr Blobby

9. Who or what is the love of your life?

The flat I own…love coming home.

10. What would improve your life?

Throwing all my screens out the window could be useful. Then training in facial accupressure to help my tinnitus clients.  Probably need a screen to apply for the course though.

11. Worst job you have ever done? 

For a Saturday job I used to work in a green grocers out the back doing menial shit jobs. After that I worked in a pet shop out back doing more menial shit jobs. Then I became a DJ, natural progression… 

12. What’s your greatest achievement?

Retraining as a therapist few years ago and specialising in tinnitus therapy, just as I was feeling a bit too old and knackered to be Djing in clubs every weekend. Needed to slow down…

13. What keeps you awake at night? 

Used to be the tinnitus but not much these days. Never slept better! Although I do have this really annoying pigeon that sometimes coo’s at 5am on my balcony……..little shit. 

14. How would you like to be remembered?

I guess for just being a pretty sound, averagely fun- dry sarky twat , as well as not bad at making tunes, oh, and maybe for helping people with their health issues as I do now. It’s pretty fulfilling have to say. Quite a few things really! 

15. What lessons has life taught you?

You can turn your life around whenever if you have the bollocks and urge to do so.  Risks and hard work pay off! It’s never too late.

16. What would your super power be? 

Time travel could be a laugh!

17. Favourite smell?

Scampi Fries or Scampi and lemon Nik Naks. MMMm! 

18. Who would play you in a film? 

Simon Baker (him off home and away who nicked my name) I used to get messages from his fans saying stuff like “I saw you in the Mentalist, didn’t realise you were also a DJ!” Idiots!!

19. What song would you like played at your funeral? 

Got a few but Chicago – If you leave me now, –  might be a good tear jerker! Have some of that… 

20. Top tip? 

Breathe from your stomach and not you chest and you’ll feel way more chilled. (Just how we were born to breath – watch a baby)

21.Tell us a secret…

The last music I made in the studio was drum and bass Not really a secret but… 

Also anything exciting you would like to shout about, upcoming gigs, parties etc?

If you’re feeling stressed and want your nervous system rebalancing, or your tinnitus sorting out – hit me up here. Craniosacral therapy can be way better than any rave! Honest! 😉