Evil Twin

I’ve been a music lover from a young age, initially playing drums as a kid and growing up listening to seminal albums like The Prodigy’s Experience and Soul II Soul’s Club Classics. When I was old enough to go clubbing I visited many of the UK’s best club nights and it wasn’t long before I felt the urge to be a DJ and to share my music collection with as many people as possible. Getting the opportunity to do so is another skill entirely, but over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to play for many prestigious venues and brands around the World. I feel very privileged to make a career out of my passion and work hard to entertain audiences and give people the show they deserve!

I’m also heavily into DJ technology and love the creativity that’s available at your fingertips, however the music will always come first. Uncovering a rare track that you just can’t wait to drop or a new artist with a great catalogue is a musical addiction that will never fade.

Outside of music I love to travel, sample world food and experience different cultures. Some of my favorite places I’ve lived are London, Ibiza, Sydney and of course Los Angeles.

Home Town: Derby, England
Currently Living: Hollywood, Los Angeles
Origin Of Name: My stage name was given to me by my twin brother Howard – he likes to think I’m “the evil one” and it was how he introduced me to people throughout many summers in Ibiza. I think people are able to relate to the concept of having an alter ego too, everyone has an Evil Twin at times, right?
Weapon of Choice: Traktor Pro & NI Controllers – ultimate tools of creativity.
Source of Power: Positivity

What advice would you offer someone thinking about entering the Discovery Project competition?
Be yourself and make music you like and can play in your own DJ sets. Above all make sure it’s unique and interesting.

What’s the biggest misconception about being a DJ?
Perhaps the biggest misconception is that being a DJ is easy and all you need is the sync button and a laptop!. DJing is an art form and the ability to read a crowd and to play the right music at the right time is a skill that takes years to develop. Also to even be considered an artist these days it’s essential to be producing your own music – which is an entirely different skill from DJing.

People may be most surprised to learn that most DJ’s are not overnight successes. They have been practicing their trade and developing their fan base for years. I recall Carl Cox saying in an interview he once played to five people in a pub in South London and absolutely rocked it – I bet he did! The real artists are in it for the love.

What is your ultimate career dream?
My ultimate career dream is to do an Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1. Also to DJ in Space if that’s possible in our lifetime.

Are you impulsive with your work or do you have a sketch in mind before you start?
I always have some concepts for tracks prepared. I get inspired or have ideas at the weirdest times so I’ll always make notes right away to refer back to. For an original piece I will develop the concept and then collect samples that support that idea, then approach it as if I was doing a remix. Imagining you are listening to a track on the dancefloor as you produce it is always very helpful. I also have a well thought out template on Ableton so I can focus on creativity and not so much on setting things up.

For DJ sets I create a new pool of tracks specifically for every performance so the set is tailored to the event. I’ll mix through them and tweak the software settings to make sure everything is ready to go. Preparation is key for a great live performance so I always leave plenty of time to do it.

What’s the most important piece of gear in your studio and why?
Do ears count?! All you really need is a good idea, a laptop and some software.

Do you have a list of people you’d like to collaborate with (from musicians to lighting and visual artists) in the future? Why specifically would you like to collaborate with this person / these people?
I was listening to Bjork the other day and was reminded just how good and unique she is – I’d love to work with her. Also Karin Park’s vocal on Röyksopp’s “What Else is There” is incredible so her too.

What sound or noise do you love?
I love the filtered bass sound you hear when you’re outside of a club or festival – it incites huge amounts of excitement in me!

What gets you excited when you think about the future of electronic music and club culture?
I’m excited to see how deep house will influence a new generation of clubbers and mainstream music in the US.

Do you have a favorite all-time mixed CD or series?
Paul Oakenfold’s “Goa Mix” – truly ground-breaking and inspirational.

Winning Mix:

EDC Las Vegas set:

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