Behind the decks with DJ Nick Reynolds

SoGlos.com wonders if Cheltenham’s clubbers know just how lucky they are, as Blush’s resident mix master – the seasoned DJ Nick Reynolds – modestly reveals his achievements playing alongside the world's greatest DJs.

What’s your background?
I’m from Surrey originally. I lived in South Africa for a bit and then came to Cheltenham to go to University. I’ve been DJing for 16 years now.

And the name?
It’s my own – I never really felt the need to have a DJ name.

Where do you hold residency?
I’ve been the resident DJ on Saturday nights at Blush for the past 13 years, on Thursday nights at Breeez in Worcester for 10 years and on Friday nights at Walkabout in Newport for 3 years.

What kind of music can clubbers expect to hear you play?
I play everything across the board, but my favourite style is uplifting trance and hardhouse. Upstairs at Blush will be funky house, trance, old skool, R’n’B and hip hop, downstairs is everything.

Do you use a laptop or decks?
Both! I used a system called Traktor Scratch which connects the decks to my laptop. Anything I do with the vinyl or the CD players will control the MP3s on my Mac. I can scratch, loop and remix any track to my heart’s desire. I was never really a vinyl jock – although I could boast a collection of vinyl running into the tens of thousands – and grew up mixing on CDs until I burnt everything to MP3 for the new system. This means I can carry over 35,000 songs with me – all on my Mac and Tracktor system – and saves my back from those heavy bags!

Your hottest tune right now?
Se:Sa’s ‘Like This’, which samples the classic Dee-Lite tune ‘Grove is in the Heart’.

And your all time favourite track?
N-Trance’s ‘Set You Free’, Force & Styles’ ‘Heart of Gold’ and William Orbit’s ‘Adagio for Strings’ – all tunes that guarantee to fill the floor and put a huge smile on your face.

Any other tunes guaranteed to get people on the dance floor?
‘Insomnia’ by Faithless – the original monster mix.

Something you would rather die than have to play?
‘Agadoo’ by Black Lace.

Is being a DJ a great job for attracting the opposite sex?
Hmm, of course!

Any famous weird requests?
Nothing that you can print!

The most bizarre thing you’ve seen in a club?
Compering a wet T-shirt competition in Kavos in 2001 – the three girls in final took things a little too far and it became something you’d be more accustomed to seeing at Manumssion! The crowd didn’t seem to mind too much though.

Career highlights?
Having worked with some of the biggest names in the business – with Judge Jules several times, Dave Pearce, Trevor Nelson, Lisa Lashes, Sonique, Anne Savage, Brandon Block, Alex P, Eddie Halliwell, Tiesto and Paul Van Dyk. I’ve also supported Girls Aloud, Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, The Commitments, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Wheatus – but perhaps the biggest highlight was being on Judge Jule’s Radio 1 show in 2003.

Any career low points?
Walking out of my residency at the Brunel Rooms in Swindon in the late 1990s, due to a fall out with the owner’s son.

Burning ambition?
To work on the radio.

Which club would you play at if you had a choice of anywhere in the world?
Amnesia in Ibiza.

DJ hero or inspiration?
I actually got my inspiration from the best of local DJs up here; Ryan Hughes, S-Tone, Steve Cass, Si Ellis, Duncan Beasley, Steve Aspey and Dickie Butcher. Listening to them and watching them work a crowd has taught me so much.

Advice for aspiring DJs?
It takes a lot of hard work to become a successful DJ, you can’t buy a set of decks and a mixer and expect to be working in a club within a month. Up until a few years ago everybody wanted to be in a band, now everybody wants to be a DJ. I’ve had countless people come up to me and say that they’re a DJ, asking me to let them play. Some couldn’t mix a cake!

And some are too interested in playing the music that they want to hear. You need to play to the crowd, keep them happy and you’ll keep your boss happy. Go to clubs and watch good DJs working, see what they do, what makes them good and how they interact with the crowd.

Favourite nightclub or club night in Gloucestershire?
Blush of course. It’s my second home, I’ve known most of our clientele for years, I get paid to play music and enjoy myself. Besides, only the bricks have been there longer than me!

Catch resident DJ Nick Reynolds every Saturday night at Blush in Cheltenham.

SoGlos.com
29 November 2007