Shufflah

Shufflah

Interview with Shufflah, head honcho at Pressure on the Isle Of Wight.

Q1) Thanks for your time, you're busy right now promoting a Pressure event for the end of June right? Can you tell us how you got into djing and promoting?
A) Hi :) I got into Djing after being totally blown away by various sets at Festivals and club nights on the Island and in London, Bristol and Southampton. I felt really at home within dance music / rave culture and really wanted to be a part of it!
I got into promoting in 2015 as there was very few opportunities to play out bass music on the Isle of Wight at that time. Especially outside of the peak season, so it was more out of a want of a gig then anything else. More recently the local scene is a lot more healthy and there's a lot of great promoters on the Island doing really BIG things.

Q2) Have you always lived on the Isle Of Wight and what is it like living there?
A) I've lived here since I was 6 so I've more or less grown up on the Island. It's a beautiful place, there's perhaps not as many opportunities as some other areas but you’re never more then 5 minutes away from a park or a beach, so it's hard not to love it.
It's a small place so you pretty much know everybody and have some connection to every other "Islander" somehow. A scary amount of people come here for one weekend and end up never leaving!

Q3) Who has been your favourite artist to date that you have invited down for Pressure?
A) Far too hard to choose an absolute favorite but Nicky Blackmarket is an obvious shout. I think we've bought him down to the Island at least 5 times now and it always pops off. He's always so happy to meet and chat with everyone after his set as well, I think he's definitely won the Isle of Wight over!
Heist and Aphrodite are also both definite stand outs as well, I listened to their tunes on my MP3 player on the way too High School and later college. "Stalker" was probably the first D&B tune I could identify by name. So bringing them to our event was pretty surreal. Aphrodite set when we booked him for Halloween was mad, he literally covered the whole spectrum of Drum and Bass over an hour and a half.

Q4) Have you always held Pressure events at Bar21 and tell us more about the venue? (Is it the only dnb event etc)
A) We've held Pressure events all over the place over the last 4 years, pubs, clubs, bars, community centers. Anywhere that'll let us hosts some Dnb fun! We had to switch the MCs mics off and turn the system down for an hour at an event we did at a social club because they still had the regulars in for the weekly quiz night. That was actually a wicked night though, lot to be said for community centre drink prices!
Currently our spiritual home is Bar 21 which is a brand new venue in Newport. It's got a great sound system, dance floor and a rooftop smoking terrace. It's only been open for a short while but there's already some great events and bookings in the pipeline.The ethos is on working with local promoters and providing a varied range of dance / club music experiences. It's really exciting being a part of it.

Q5) How long have you been djing now and what is your current set up?
A) I've been DJing for about 5 years, current set up is CDJ 2000's and a DJM850 mixer. Had to beg, steal and borrow to get them but they’re my pride and joy so it was worth it.

Q6) You were winner of the Bestival DJ Competition in 2015? Tell us about that and what it was like playing there.
A) It was a fantastic experience, it was a bit of a baptism of fire as I'd had very little experience at that point. I wasn't expecting a big crowd as I was on quite early but it actually went off! The Bollywood Tent was rammed by the end of my slot, massive shouts to everyone who was already on top form early in the day at Bestival 2015!

Q7) Tell us about your productions and what studio gear you are using.
A) I guess I'd describe my tracks as a kind of foggy, murky Jump Up with some jungle flavours tucked underneath. Cubase is my current DAW, although I am flirting with Ableton a bit as well. I primarily use Massive and Serum for sound design. I also own a few Korg synthesizers and a Kawaii analog synth.

Q8) You have had some good support on BBCSolent / Vectis Radio / Sub FM? Tell us about that and the DJs supporting you.
A) I appeared for a several guest mixes on the Headfunk show on Vectis Radio, that show really supported and pushed local music. From spoken word, too local bands, too local producers, they gave a lot of Isle of Wight artists a platform. I've had two tracks, "U Got Me" and "Afraid of the Dark" played out on Steph Nieuwenhuys show on BBC Solent. Obviously the BBC is an absolute institution, so it was a massive buzz to hear something I produced get a play.

Q9) You have played at On A Mission for NYE and the Garden Party? Those parties are off the hook! You enjoy it?
A) Absolutely loved it! Had gone along as a punter a few times before I made it onto a OAM lineup so felt very privileged to be a part of it. Playing the NYE event was a madness, I was b2b with my good friend Eddie C and we had a really sound group of people out with us. Couldn't have asked for a better start to 2019!

Q10) Tell us about your residencies.
A) I’ve had residencies at Phats Nightclub, Downtown and currently Bar21. They have all been a mad experience and I’ve learned a lot and met fantastic people at each venue. Sadly Phats and Downtown are no longer trading but we put on some very memorable nights.

Q11) Favourite MC?
A) Always liked MC Det’s vibe, also finding it very difficult not to love Inja at the moment. His positivity towards life is pretty infectious.

Q12) What are your dreams and goals for the next 5 years?
A) If I can carry on playing and putting on events and continue meeting all the crazy characters you meet along the way, that would be fantastic.

Q13) What's the plans for the rest of this year?
A) To carry on making noise at Bar21 and too try and get one of my tracks properly released on a label.

Q14) Lastly any shouts and thanks?
A) There's stacks of people! My parents for believing in me and not going on at me to get a "proper job". My incredibly supportive and understanding Mrs and Ive got to shout everyone who was at Phat's nightclub. Although that venue has sadly closed down, I made some lifelong friends at that place.
Also much love to everyone who's ever DJ'd or MC'd at Pressure, everyone’s who’s ever helped us with sound and lights, to all the venues who have hosted us and to everyone who's ever chosen us as their night out.

Thanks for your time and all the best for 2019 and beyond!

Interview by Missrepresent