Yahoo News Melé: ‘Early Basement Jaxx has been a massive influence on me’
The track I’ll be opening my next DJ set with
River Ocean ft India Love & Happiness (Dream Sequence)
It’s just a cappella, Rhodes piano and strings for three minutes and then it kicks in, classic Masters at Work-style. It’s the perfect set opener if the DJ before you was going a bit hard.
The track I always play to rescue a dancefloor
Gat Decor: Passion
This is a lot of people’s favourite dance record of all time. The way it’s arranged is perfect. I remember hearing it at 4am in NYC Downlow at Glastonbury this year and it took the roof off.
The track that’s been unfairly slept on this year
Burnski: Circuits
There’s a lot of “tech house” tunes that have all sounded the same this year, but this is proper out-there. Been playing it loads since it came out and always get some funny looks when it drops.
The track I’d play to show off my eclectic tastes
Blaze: Season of Love (Original Afro Mix)
I’ve had this on a lot this summer, especially in Ibiza as it just seems perfectly suited for there, it’s so good. It doesn’t really even have a kick drum but the groove is unreal. If you play it at the right time, it gets a great reaction. And it’s got the most mental sax going all the way through.
The track I’d play at my auntie’s wedding
Mantronix: Got to Have Your Love
Waiting for the day I get asked to play someone’s wedding just so I can play this.
The track I’d play at sunset in Ibiza
Basement Jaxx: Samba Magic
A lot of the early, early Jaxx stuff has been a massive influence on me lately. The music they were doing in the mid- to late-90s on their label Atlantic Jaxx was great; it was like what Masters at Work were doing but in a south London way.
The track I’d play at my funeral
Lonnie Liston Smith: A Garden of Peace
Pretty deep. But it’s one of my favourite pieces of music. It’s depressing but it’s not that depressing. There’d better be some crying, like.
