Influences – Simon Baker

This gets played a lot at friends after parties, even though everyone knows this now, I am still a happy man if it comes on. I guess it’s like a very cleverly planned out DJ mix, as it takes you on a journey, and a great journey it is. Pretty much in the same vein as another classic E2-E4 by Manuel Göttsching. 45-33 is an amazing piece of electronic music my eyes.

A good friend of mine enlightened me to this classical composer, Steve Reich. Since then I have been pretty enthralled by his work. Mainly “Different Trains” It’s a classical piece of music that kind of sounds like a techno record to me without a kick drum, a lot of this music was composed in the 70’s and 80’s which was very far ahead of its time using sampling techniques which was unheard of in classical music.

I think this must have been my first experience of disco music. When I was a kid my dad had this proper old school record player. Black glass lid and tan wood surround. He played this and it was disco of the real 70’s pop variety. With that classic disco tom tom beat and vocoder vocals hooked me in. Looking back it’s pretty camp disco stuff, but I didn’t really know that as a kid and I still love those drums today.

I guess this takes me back to my old break dancing days. Classic 808 drum beats with a super hooky bass line. You couldn’t help but dance to this (or body pop if you’re pissed, and think you still can!). I occasionally I will still drop it in my set. It was definitely one of those tracks that paved the way for my career in house and techno music.

Kate Bush has been a huge influence on me, more over recent years when I have been able to properly appreciate just how extreme her talent is. Writing and producing everything herself. It just blows me away every time i hear her productions just how much of a musical genius she actually is. I missed out on tickets for her up and coming tour so if anyone wants to sell me one, you know what to do…

Classic! Takes me back to the days of the Orbit in Morely near Leeds. A legendary club I used to frequent a LOT. Sweat used to drip from the cielings like it was raining. It was the proper rave days where we would meet up in car parks afterwards absolutely spannered dancing round our cars wearing wooly hats Kevin and Perry style! The good old days!

When I first started djing, I dj’d hip hop, then I moved onto Drum and Bass. Roni Size put out an album that was like nothing else at the time. I was a big LTJ Buckem fan but this was something else. I can remember the cassette in my car, it didn’t leave my stereo for months. The bass line still sticks in my head to this day. “Dum Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum”…. you know what I mean.

Junior Boys Own, I was brought up on this label! Was one of the best around. This was one of my faves and still is to this day. Super classic house music with tons of feeling and emotion. Brings back loads of memories this one. Another good reason I do what I do now.