Neil Badboy
Hailing from Corby but smashing it now up and down the UK for well over 20 years, Neil has been in our music scene for well over 20 years. From running successful nights to producing, his love of the dnb scene oozes passion and here's an interview of props, and here's why....
Neil thanks for taking time out to chat. We've known each other a long time and i'm always seeing your name on flyers, so tell us what initially got you into jungle back in the day, and why dnb keeps you going.
Hey Aliina, Likewise thank's for your time.
A couple of my good mates were always going Equinox at the legendary Milwaukees near Bedford, and dragged me along in late 1992, Before jungle was really fully born, Then listening to Dj Ratty and Dj Hype Tapes, and My mate Sean having decks gave me a love for the music.
I couldnt picture dnb not being in my life now,i love the music and the rave scene as much as i did at the start.
So it was the days of mix tapes and vinyl for the kids that don't know how old we are! Tell us about some of your first vinyl tracks.
Were both 30, right, hahaha. The first ever Rave vinyl Was "Egyptian Empire - The horn track", whichi purchased before I even had decks as it was a massive anthem at my first raves.
Then When i got my first cheap decks around january 1993 this was my first couple of purchases from 5HQ in Leicester. I still have the same copies today and are a couple of my most prized vinyl. (Rest in Peace Dj Tango)
What was your first gig and what was your first big moment?
In 1994 Me and a load of my friends who were local up and coming Dj`s helped with a charity rave raising money for the chernobyl disaster. We were in the local paper and we all felt like we helped do something good, so that gave me my first taste of djing out, and a moment I remember.
So 1997 you took a break, tell us why and how you got back into it?
Between 1996 and 1999 my eldest children Jordan , Charlie and Courtney were born, I was working in a Warehouse job, and being an actual Dj in the scene was just a pipedream. I had lost most of my vinyl collection in 1995 in a burglary, which made me want to quit the hobby.
I had been slowly bulding back my collection, but around late 97' to 1999, jungle had transitioned to drum and bass, and every time I went vinyl shopping I wasnt feeling a lot of the new music. Me and a load of friends went to an Accelerated Culture event in1999 at the Sanctuary, Milton Keynes, and I was instantly back into mixing and purchased a third technics deck and a load of vinyl, and haven't looked back since.
Playing on pirate radio was the thing back in the day, tell the up and coming artists why.... and which stations you graced.
In the 90`s and 2000`s , Pirate radio, Especially in London, was a Massive thing.There wasn`t social media yet and finding platforms and opportunities to break into the scene was a different ball game than today. Pirate radio gave the lesser known Dj`s a chance to get a following and be heard. My good friend Pete "The Don " (rest in peace bro) Had some serious links in the uk garage scene in 1999, and got me linked with a guy called Mete at a garage station called Entice fm in south london, and i got a 5 - 6pm weekly show on a Tuesday, doing a 4 hr round trip on the train week in and out. I was playing 90 mins of garage and breakbeat, and sneekily slipping in half hr of dnb. I played at a Few of their Club event's on Old Kent Road and had some great experiences and met some top people. I was then picked up by Elite fm and Played on there for a while, I was Mixing under the Name Neil Smallz, and I was scratching on a set one day and The MCs started calling me Neil Badboy Smallz, Which I went under until Jan 2004 when I dropped it to Neil Badboy.
You've won your fair share of DJ competitions, I should know, I was on the panel for the Random Concept Global Energy Weekender alongside Garry, Presha and IC3 where you smashed it hard.
Tell us about the other DJ Competitions you have won.
Wow, where do I actually start. I believe it stands at 11 Dj competition wins, every Comp I entered I won except the last one.
My first win was in 2002 at a club in Digeth Birmingham and that led to my first flyer with my name on (which was a big deal back then). Then I won a DJ comp ran by the legendary Drum and Bass Arena website getting a chance to perform twice at London's super club Ministry Of Sound. I won a few others including Breakup in Northampton in 2003 where i got to perform before Shy Fx.
In 2005 I won the Raveology Next Generation Dj comp and gained a 5 year residency playing on Some massive lineups at some epic Clubs Like Air, The Que Club, Custard Factory, The NEC, which gained me a lot of recognition.
In 2006 I came 3rd as Best Breakthrough Dj at the National DNB Awards.
In 2010 I won the Random concept Global energy weekender Dj competition, in front of judges Garry K, Presha, IC3 and yourself and it was a live crowd, Proper X Factor style as I remember haha. The Win at that one for RC boosted my status massively and the random concept team gave me some wicked opportunities, still to this day, shouts to Garry and Tom.
That was a good memory. We all had a great time. Let's talk about abroad. You're quite well turned to playing in Europe too right?
The Random Concept win got me my proper taste of Djing abroad as I got to play in Germany with Dj Friction and that booking linked me with Dj Redskin and new friends in Hamburg which opened doors.
I've also played in Belgium, Gran Canaria, and the last Dj comp I won was Innovation In The Dam 2016. Through out my journey ive graced the decks for the majority of the main promotions in the UK scene including Dnb Arena, Ministry Of Sound, Raveology, Random Concept, Innovation, Global weekender, Slammin vinyl and Hysteria. Milwaukees, Fantasia, Jungle mania and Pure-x.
Tell us about producing. You love and hate it right?
I totally have a love hate relationship with producing. My first track was a colab made in 2002 and I made a couple more around 2007. I started to take it more seriously in 2010 and later on with Some tuition From Sublimit.
It's really frustrating at times, and time consuming. More so when you are still a novice.
I was always known for breaking through as a Dj, producng didnt interest me, but you have to bring more to the table now, stand out, and having some of your own material to drop that others don't is a different kind of feeling altogether.
I have had quite a few colabs and solo releases, with my first e.p, The Malfunction E.p Nearly ready to drop.
When is the Malfunction EP gonna drop?
5 of the 6 tunes are complete and have been getting tested out the past few months. I'm just trying to find time to finish the last tune as im so busy, i'm looking at March 2020 release.
If you could take only 1 tune on a desert island, what would it be and why?
Bizarre inc - Playing with knives - quadrant mix. Its just a feel good, uplifting happy vibes tune.
Top 3 tracks in your bag right now?
Who have been your most inspirational artists and why?
DJ wise its Andy C, Hype and Hazard. Production, I really rate so many from such opposite ends of the spectrum. People Like Bukem or S.P.Y can take you on a real deep journey, Where as AC13 and the King Of The Rollers gang have me screwfacing lol.
You promote now, Audio Unity with DJ Barbwire. Tell us about the venue and why working with someone closely on events is teamwork, and why you need to get on.
I've known Craig (DJ Barbwire) since around 2006 when he helped me design a flyer for Back2Skool launch party. He has been one of my closest mates ever since. Having someone I trust and can work so well together as a team, is important, we both have different skills and both bring what is needed to the table. Between us we have enough knowledge of the local scene and so many links, I couldn't work with anyone else. We have started working with Ted at the Clubhouse In Corby since Dec 2019.
I'm def feeling the love on that relationship ;p. What's up for the next few events at Audio Unity Corby?
Up next is Barbwires Birthday bash on the 29th Feb, headlining is Random Concept Origins ft Garry K & Presha and Mc Weejii. March we have Audio Unity invites The Ladies of Dnb with yourself, Katalyst, Mc Y-Zer alongside residents and guests. April,I really should not drop the line up yet, but you can have the exclusive.. We are working in april with a local promoter Mass Attack and our line up is STANDARD PROCEDURE , 64 bit,and Total Carnage.
I'm pleased our local scene is poppin' off - I got bare love for Toddlah - that's gonna be big. Everyone seems to working hard together you know. If you could persuade the local Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering, Desborough and Oakham dnb crew to venture to the next few nights, in a paragraph, what would you tell them to encourage them out and get them to check these Corby nights out?
The Corby Dnb scene has grew over the years and is real healthly right now. We aim to bring new exciting headliners to town, and educate the ravers with artists they didn't know they love yet. We also love giving the local up and coming artists their time to shine and a platform
to gain recognition. Our new venue is a Converted Warehouse with 400 Capacity, any ravers or artists who have attended Audio Unity will tell you Corby is where its at right now.
Love the fact you want to support the next generation of new artists big up. Shouts also to your son Jordan who is now also smashing it. Tell us about him, the new generation and Total Carnage.
My son Jordan Had been mixing when he was little during the vinyl days, as music and equipment was always around him. He is also now an up and coming Dj, "J-SMALL" (which is a proud Dad moment) and is making his name known around Northamptonshire. We had been approached a few times in 2019 to perform a father son set and we performed at a few venues. The response was better than we expected. So New for 2020, we have formed a crew called "Total Carnage" with 2 of our friends, who we had also performed with a lot over the years, Mc Deddlee & Mc Flowzy. Our first show is coming in March at Squad Up 1st Birthday at the Roadmender. Shouts to Toddlah & Tnt. One of my Twin daughters, Courtney is Getting DJ Coaching from me now as well and will soon be the new member of the crew.
If I gave you £10,000 what would you do with it and why?
I'd Split between me and myfour children. I would prob have a month off From work and travel.
What's been your proudest moment in your music career?
It's still to come, when me, Jordan and Courtney perform together that will be it. Out of my career so far, I think that moment I won that Random Concept Comp infront of judges, ravers and friends. I was so focussed that I had to win that competition and I brought my best game to the table.
On another tip, have you had any regrets over the years?
Yes but who doesnt, I believe things do happen for a reason. I wish i'd spent even more time with my Mum.
What's your goals for 2020?
To be healthy and happy, get a release on Formation Records and Serial killaz, and to push Total Carnage and Audio Unity.
Big labels. What are your Lifetime goals?
I'd love to Perform at Warning In Cambridge, and also perform Canada and USA. I also look forward to sitting around one day with my grandchildren, reminiscing about the 90s haha.
At the bar, what are you drinking?
Vodka and coke in memory of my mum, Jagerbombs, and I do love cocktails haha.
Steelfest this year. Tell us and the readers about that.
I can't announce acts yet as its still being finalised. Steelfest is in its third year in 2020, and is named after the steelmen and steelworks, Corby was famous for back in the day. It's a family day out with 90s chart groups and well known UK bands playing main stage, alongside other tents covering all styles of music from alternative and up and coming bands, To the Audio Unity dance tent. There is also loads of attractions and fair rides for the kids and plenty of great food vendors. Money Raised goes back into the town and local charities.
If you could collab with any one person, who and why?
Serum, because he is just sick at producing..
All these years, you've fallen in and out of love with the music and the scene but you're loving it right now right?
Music is a massive part of my life, and i will alway love dnb. From the rave till the grave as Evil B says.
Thanks for your time. Happy for you doing so well...... any shouts and thanks?
I have so many shouts and people to big up over the past 20 plus years, that no doubt i'm gonna forget a few.
Jordan, Charlie, Courtney, Beth, My Mum Elizabeth (rest in peace). Tobie & Graham at Serial Killaz, Barbwire, Beardy John, Dj Seane. Sublimit & Phadix for all their help. Jack at Rustek Rig. The Don (rest in peace). Devious, Toddlah, Juiceman, Ellesse, Eggnog, Char & the girls, Ted, Space, Chasey. Garry K & Presha, Redskin. All the labels that send me tunes and the promotions who book me. All the Audio Unity crew, ravers and artists and everyone that support me, and of course, yourself, catch you in a rave soon!
Big up. See you March in Corby and props and respect. Best of wishes for 2020 and beyond.
Neil Badboy:
Interveiw by Missrepresent Feb 2020
