Future Pathways supported Chris to develop his skills in DJing. Here, he tells us all about his musical journey.
Chris first got into DJing in 1991 while living in Leeds. He first came across the music scene in 1988 when he took a trip to London. This is where he first listened to Centre Force, a pirate radio station that played 24-hour rave music. During this trip, he went to a warehouse party and this gave him his first proper taste of the acid house scene and rave music.
‘I loved the openness, the vibe, being able to chat to anyone in a non-judgmental environment. For someone who had been through trauma, it was a place where you did not have to explain yourself and you could just be free. It didn’t matter who you were, what you were wearing. Everyone shared everything with complete strangers.’
He later moved to Leeds and started buying records. He got introduced to a friend of a friend who had a slot on the local pirate radio station. Chris started hanging out at the station and at the after-hours blues clubs dotted around Chapeltown. He was then offered his own slot at the radio station and played at most of the blues clubs. He also played a couple of gigs at The Music Factory, one of the most well-known clubs in Leeds, known as the home of B2B Back to Basics.
‘It wasn’t just the music, it was the vibe that was intriguing to me. I got really into the underground side of the scene.’
Chris moved around a lot so ended up selling or losing a lot of his records and gave up DJing. But last year, he decided to get back to it.
By this time, the scene had moved from using vinyl records to digital equipment. So, Chris had to learn to use this new technology. Future Pathways supported Chris to develop his skills and access the tools he needed. Chris’s Support Coordinator at Future Pathways was there to guide him.
‘It has been a massive thing for me that someone is there and takes the time to listen. She gets my story. For me, it’s not just the service, it’s the connection with the person you’re being supported by. To have someone who is open and helpful in guiding you to the services that might help you, that’s the key thing.’
Chris was able to access new tracks to use in his mixes. He also had time at Pirate Studios in Edinburgh. This gave him the chance to practice using club equipment which gave him more confidence.
‘It has been great using the equipment and learning. It has been a great learning curve.’
Making music also boosts Chris’s mental health and wellbeing.
‘DJing has been such a healing thing. I get into my zone. I also love seeing people’s reactions to the music that I play. Having time away from everything takes my mind away from things that are going on around me. It takes you away because you can’t think of that while you’re doing something you have to concentrate on.’
Chris now has a weekly slot on Trax Radio UK. It is the oldest independent dance music station in the UK.
‘You do it from your own room but you are streaming it to the audience. It is a fab thing. It is an indication of how well DJing is going for me. If you weren’t any good, they wouldn’t have you on, especially on a primetime slot like a Friday evening. So that is really big for me, I am really chuffed.’
Chris also plays at St Andrews Brewing at Caird Hall in Dundee.
‘I got asked to do some sets before Christmas and they went down a storm. It was four hours long which was intense. But they loved it. And they’ve booked me now for the next few months.’
Chris also had an exciting trip to Dundee Dance Event in May. It was the largest event in the UK for up-and-coming DJs. This year, Chris had two sets there. He also has more events coming up.
‘I’ve been invited to go down to Stoke and play with legend Daz Wilcot and Awesome 3, who were a huge PA. I also have a gig at Dundee Pride in the dance tent.’
Chris has plans for his future too.
‘I’m a big fan of seeing people dance and seeing people happy. I hope to make contacts with clubs and get my music out there a bit more. It’s definitely getting there.’
