A measure of the Navan native’s achievement is the fact that the only other DJ from the republic to do so – on several occasions – was Annie Mac, who is a BBC Radio employee.
Several Northern Ireland DJs, including Fergie, Agnelli & Nelson and Col Hamilton, have contributed to Essential Mix in its fifteen-year history.
While Belfast’s David Holmes’ celebrated set in June 1997 – a journey from Nancy Wilson to Jimi Hendrix with scratching atop the many musical gems – is credited as redefining the DJ as beat-digger and historian.
It was voted Essential Mix of the Year 1997 and inspired the album David Holmes: Essential Mix 98:01; now a highly-sought collector’s item, like much of the music it featured.
The Essential Mix has more than one million weekly listeners despite its graveyard slot, as it appeals to revellers across Britain travelling home from pubs and clubs.
You can hear John O’Callaghan’s BBC radio mix for a week after it is broadcast on the internet at www.bbc.co.uk/radio1
John’s appearance follows another career milestone for the ‘Big Sky’ producer. He has just released his first mix album Digital Universe for Dutch label Armada, a 22-track set available as a download album on iTunes. The compilation features an incredible NINE Irish productions.
Brendan Gregoriy, best known to Hot Press readers as Chymera, has recently played in Lithuania, Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Russia and Japan. Now living in Barcelona, his recent ‘Ellipsis’ single on Len Faki’s Figure records quickly sold out its initial pressing.
Spanish DJ Luciano has included Chymera’s acclaimed Tishomingo single ‘Arabesque’ on his Fabric 41 album. The beautiful track has previously been licensed to compilations on Renaissance (mixed by Sander Kleinenberg) and Global Underground (mixed by Felix da Housecat).
Next up from the Cork-born maestro is ‘Caprica Burning’, a single due on Frankfurt stamp Connaiseur Superieur at the end of the month. According to Brendan, “it’s a real deep, slowed down summertime jam and comes with a super remix from Dave Ellesmere.”
It’s swiftly followed by ‘Parelo’ on Brandnewvibes, which is armed with remixes from Jody Wisternoff, Kaveh Soroush and Jim Pavloff.
You can catch Chymera in action at Stereotonic in Dublin on August 15, and he’s also playing the closing party at Privilege in Ibiza on September 13.
The debut album from Northern trio The Japanese Popstars, We Just Are (on London’s Gung Ho imprint) has been a huge hit with the critics. Out on July 25, it was hailed as “f**king amazing” by Popjustice, and “the greatest record ever made” by Word magazine. Positive approval also came from IDJ, DJ, The Guardian and BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe and Pete Tong.
Decky and the lads make their debut at top London club Fabric on August 22, and are at Cream at Amnesia in Ibiza on September 11.
Fellow Northerners, Agnelli & Nelson have signed a single ‘Sleeping In Airports’ (about the glamorous life of a DJ, no doubt) to German producer Marcus Schulz’s Cold Harbour label. It includes a remix by Element One.
Dublin trance whiz Paul Webster has been commissioned for remix duties by Paul van Dyk’s Vandit label. Paul’s third single for Armin van Buuren’s Armada stamp, ‘Nailed’/’Cut Off’, is out this fortnight. To mark the launch his new website, paul-webster.com, the ‘Corruption’ ace is giving away a free remix.
Barry Dempsey’s Monad Music unleashes its 29th single this fortnight. ‘Electric Body Music’ from London producer Drop X is a progressive anthem including remixes from Argentine Herman Gutner and Scouser Paul Kieran.
North-west DJ Jason Young has remixed 1999 UK top 20 hit ‘Pumpin’ by Novy vs Eniac for its acclaimed German label Kosmo Records. Available this fortnight from Beatport, Jason’s thumping new remake has been caned by Tocadisco, Robbie Rivera, Mr Sam and Laidback Luke, among many others.
Tomi Chair has remixed ‘July05’ by Headzinc (aka Rob Spectrum and Johnny Moy) for a remix package release on Desy Balmer’s DXR (Dublin Xpress Recordings).
It’s hard to keep up with the output of Balmer’s other hugely prolific imprint, Nice and Nasty, but I am reliably informed that two monster EPs from Detroit hero Terrence Dixon are in the pipeline. ‘The Meter’ drops on July 28 and ‘Tranquility’ follows on August 25.
A third single, comprising of remixes of tracks from both EPs from Dagham & Remlab, Arne Weinberg and Marco Bernardi’s Octogen will follow later.
Nice and Nasty also has work from Heretics of Disko (the pseudonym of Balmer) ready to go.
‘Feelin’ Electrified’ has been remixed by T-Polar (Belfast), Lackluster (Finland), Yukio (Japan) and Soul AD (Dublin).
And finally, belated congratulations to Spin103.8FM presenter John Gibbons, who recently became the first homegrown DJ to score an Irish top 30 hit in four years with his ‘Beautiful Filth’ debut. The last spinner to do the same was Mark McCabe with a reissue of his ‘Maniac 2000’ chart-topper.
McCabe, of course, recently launched RTÉ’s digital dance radio station Pulse on DAB and the Internet; very impressive it is, too… THE BEAT GOES ON!