Hi Alex, great to have you featured. Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi Little South thanks for asking me along. My name is Alex Speller and i'm a club Dj now living in Porthtowan, Cornwall. My career started in the late 90's, playing club nights and events at venues around South East of England. I fell into the club scene after being asked to cover a night for my older brother who was already a club DJ back in 1997. I was just 15 at the time and dropped in to the deep end. A regular attraction on the South East club scene was 'Devious' on bank holiday Sundays. The club needed a light jock and warm up Dj for the night. I didn't realise at the time but Devious events were some of the biggest nights of the year with huge headline acts. I ended up playing my first club night with Boy George amongst many others. After that night I was hooked. I immersed myself in the peak of the 90's house scene and got myself regular warm up slots at local clubs and played a host of other events across the region. In the early 2000's I went on to hold residencies all over the UK . From weekly club residencies through to monthly and bank holiday events. For many years my DJ career had become a full time job working up to 5 nights week across the UK. I have supported the likes of Seb fontaine, John 00 Fleming, Tidy Boys, Lisa Pin Up, Farley Jack Master Funk, K-Klass, Judge Jules and so many more..
In the early 2000's I helped grow the H&G label holding nights with garage legends Artful Dodger, So Solid Crew, Karl 'tuff enough' Brown and EZ.
I've had the pleasure of working for some of the UK's biggest club nights and so grateful to the industry for the experiences it has given me. From Euphoria tours, Cream events, Mission, Ministry of Sound Tours, Manumission tours, Devious, Preach, Clubland UK the list continues. I put down my headphones in 2010 for personal reasons. I was burnt out mentally with a list of bad habits and fighting hard to be motivated musically. I relocated to Cornwall in 2011 and in 2018 I found music again after 7 years well away from the whole scene. Since then I've just played the gigs I want to play and enjoyed every minute. The gigs I have played here in Cornwall have been amazing. The county has such a vibrant scene and so many great events going on all years round. I feel so lucky to be based in the South West.
The UK is currently on hold due to the coronavirus - what gigs did you have planned?
A few of the events have not been announced yet but one i'm looking forward to is the Cream tour in Falmouth
this October with Tall Paul and K-Klass. The event is at the Princess Pavilion and always have a great friendly vibe - the after parties are mental! The coronavirus has shattered the live music industry here in the UK and across the world. Tens of thousands of people rely on the industry for their income and regularly live pay check to pay check. I hope that the UK's culture will change after months of lock down. We need to support our venues and get out and socialise way more. It's a use it or loose it situation with grave consequences to our freedoms. I think after the changes made to late night bar and venues in the early to mid 2000's, we as a nation lost our want to go out. Discount supermarket booze killed the after work trade for bars and pubs forcing prices up. Technology has taken away the contact part of communication with our friends and families. If we learn anything from this virus it will be to take advantage of our freedoms and become more human. Music in all its forms has always been key to that and we should embrace our pubs, clubs and music venues after the lock down ends.
Describe your typical DJ sound.
I have a passion for electronic music in all it's forms, but you will find me playing most four four styles of music with house at it's base. I find myself trying not to get pigeon-holed with my style of music these days. I play from Nu Disco to Techno and everything in between.
Talk us through your podcast track selection.
My podcast for you guys is a selection of current tracks in my box with a few revamped classics thrown in for good measure. Starting with a touch of Nu Disco and finishing with something more progressive. I've included some recent favourites including Xpansions - 'We like Salsa' - a really floaty number with such a smooth base line. Also a remake of Plastic Dreams by the Cube guys and a real feel good track from Low Steppa & Reigns - 'Wanna Show you'.
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