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| This page tells you some information about some of the leading characters on the UKG circuit. |
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| DJ Spoony |
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| Biography Spoony has not only dished up a whole new meaning to the title "DJ" with his vast capability and experience in the art, but has also turned the business upside down with his personality, panache and perfection, making him not just a pretty face behind the decks. He has already left a permanent mark in clubland internationally as a member of The Dreem Teem (with Timmi Magic and Mikee B) and also independently with his residency at Londons "Twice As Nice", the mecca of underground clubbing. Added to this are non-stop bookings at venues all over the UK and Europe including successive summers in Ibiza and Ayia Napa. His busy schedule does not stop him from completing a vast amount of charity work too, especially with children. The media friendly DJ also crosses over into the world of television too where Spoony can be heard as the narrator on Channel 4's music show "Flava" in addition to appearances on LWT's "Club-a-Vision" and "MTV". DJ Spoony's radio and presenting career has also gone from strength to strength since the days of hosting his own show on pirate station "London Underground". He has become both daytime and specialist presenter on "Kiss 100 FM", combining his innovative djing style with his enthusiastic chat with both listeners and celebrities alike such as Will Smith, Spike Lee and Ian Wright to name but a few. The national top 30 hit "Dreem Teem Theme" has lead to working on a multiple of re-mixes from artists including Shola Ama, All Saints, Faith Evans and most recently Neneh Cherry (being released September '99). A must in every UK underground lovers album collection have been "The Dreem Teem in Session Volumes I and II" alongside Spoonys contribution to the "Twice As Nice" compilation, an album so successful that its follow up "Twice As Nice in Ayia Napa" will be released in September '99. This is only a drop in the ocean for what there is to come, with The Dreem Teem's own record label "Tremelo" and "DFL" up and running adding to the strength of their own dj and artist agency, "DJ's For Life" With all these fingers in the big pie of the industry it's no wonder Spoony has received accolades from "Blues and Soul" magazine being nominated for the "Best Radio DJ of '98" and at the prestigious "MOBO awards" as part of The Dreem Teem for "Best Club DJ's of '98". In fact, a month doesn't seem to go by without his name cropping up in features in magazines such as "The Face", "Arena","Elle" and "Company", not forgetting Spoonys own journalistic skills displayed in his column "Ear to the Underground", a regular UK garage music bible in "Touch" magazine in addition to monthly record reviews in "Muzik" magazine. Is there any limit to the man who lends his name to a simple piece of cutlery?(Ask him yourself where he obtained that title!) Well, he's come a long way from playing in his mum's kitchen and with all that talent and charisma under his belt who knows where he may end up. Oh, by the way, the football fanatic Spoony does fancy himself as future manager of his beloved Liverpool FC as well.........you read it here first! |
| The one like the EZ is another true pioneer of the UK garage and this man, in mine and many others opinions is the best DJ about. His skills and tricks on the decks are second to none and his sets always smash it. He started up as many other DJ's on a leading pirate radio station Freek FM. He has recently at last been recognised by Kiss FM who have rewarded him with a prime time Saturday night slot. (7pm till 9pm) He has always been top of the bill at all the capitals leading clubnights and his music is renown for being upfront and he has a hard 2step style. I last heard EZ at Exposure and his set was far by the best. EZ definitely has no problems in getting the crowd moving and will remain the leading DJ about. EZ has taken almost 12 years to get where he is today so it hasn't all come easy. He has won lots of top awards including 'The Club DJ of the Year' award at the Underground Garage Awards in 1998. He has played all over the world including Majorca, Tenerife, Ibiza and Germany. Most notably i saw him out in Napa this year and he was just unreal. His style is definitely unique with his quick mixing and chopping style and many try to imitate this style without success. He also got entered in Kiss 100's Top DJ's of the year at No. 9 in Mixmag Magazine a few months ago. Its not worth listing the venues he's played at because he has played almost everywhere. He can now be found on Kiss 100 FM at his new time of 7pm-9pm every Saturday evening. He has released loads of good compilation albums with the most recent being the Pure Garage series which is now on its fourth volume. Pure Garage has so far attained a gold disc for sales and has peaked at No. 2 in the national compilations chart. |
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| DJ EZ |
| Almost everyone has come across 'da boss' and his trademark dreads sometime in their raving career. He is one of the biggest names in the underground scene and also one of the longest serving. Norris has been around for a long time now progressing through the different eras of music. He sets are second to none and his mixing is unrivaled. In 1992 Norris became resident at �Black & White� parties, held at the Gass club and played throughout Europe. His release 'Liferide' has been an instant hit and is now available to everyone on general release at your local vinyl store. A tune not to be missed. He has recently been a bit quiet but apparently that is because he is working hard on his new record label 'W' records. Currently Norris is a weekly resident for Freedom at Bagley�s (Sat) and monthly resident for Time and Envy (Thurs) and also appears at all the major garage events over the UK. |
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| Norris "Da Boss" Windross |
| Masterstepz, real name Ian Thompson has certainly made himself know on the garage circuit and now plays regularly and many top events. He first started spinning the decks at the age of 11 and played his first professional gig when he was just 16. He moved to Garage in 1995 with his tune "Melody" and the follow up "R U Ready" with Richie Dan which was a national chart success. He also has a close partnership with Londons Choice FM where he currently plays on Mondays and Wednesdays. Stepz has played worldwide with places such as both Ayia Napa and Ibiza and more recently in Germany. He certainly smashed it up when we heard him at Garage Nation in Ayia Napa this year. Stepz recently made the headlines this year after he was stabbed inside a nightclub. After treatment in hospital he made a full recovery and is now back out and about playing at all the biggest venues and clubnights. |
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| Masterstepz |
| Ok, so Wookie might not be know as a DJ as such but had to be mentioned because of the massive influence he is having on the scene at the moment. One of his latest releases is the well known 'Battle' and for me this was my Ayia Napa anthem. He has had other tunes such as Scrappy, and Get enuff and his unique soul garage flavour has hit the UK crowds by storm. The scene is certainly appreciating Wookie. Since the commercial releases of 'Battle' and the critically acclaimed album 'Wookie', the producer has been rewarded with a Best New Artist gong at the Muzik Awards. He's also become a sought after remixer lending his touch to Sia, Angie Stone and most recently; Faithless. Part of Wookie's appeal is his willingness to create vocal and bassline tracks, constantly looking to fuse all the elements of the urban music scene into one collective: "I don't think it's really a split. I still see it as a unity. It's still one thing. There's no point splitting it up into sections. There's different aspects to it but it still should be one". Now co-owner of Soul II Soul with Jazzie B, Wookie is keen to repay his faith in him: "I've been his biggest investment. He was paying me out of his own pocket. I owe a lot of it to him." If last year was anything to by, then the UK's urban music scene looks set to be all about Wookie for some time to come. |
| Wookie |
| This is by no means all of the DJs & MCs from the UKG scene, but these are perhaps some of the best known ones. |