The man formerly known as Bushwacka talks us through the records that shaped his life, from Shakin Stevens to his own Michael Jackson bootleg.
What’s the first record you ever bought?
It was called ‘This Ole House’ by Shakin Stevens on 7-inch and my first album was by Adam and the Ants on cassette! I was only about eight years old I think. I still have the 7-inch, but the cassette is long gone.
The first time you remember hearing electronic music?
When I heard Afrika Bambaata’s ‘Planet Rock’ at age 11 that changed my life instantly. That and Depeche Mode. Wow. Also my cousin was into electronic music long before I knew anything about it. I remember going to his house and him showing me an Apple computer – it was a IIe with a green-screen monitor and one of the first ever sampling programs – and showing me what happened when I spoke into the microphone and then could play it across the keyboard. I was fascinated. He also had a Juno-6 keyboard and from that day on all I wanted to do was sell my drum kit and get a synth. My first synth was a Sequential Circuits Pro-One. I wish I never sold it now.
Your favourite ever record?
Hard question. Could be ‘Ain’t Nobody’ by Chaka Khan, could be Night Writers – ‘Let The Music Use You’. I always have problems when it comes to favourite record questions and top tens. I hit a memory blank. I was brought up on The Beatles, Supertramp, Paul Simon and a lot of jazz. Some of my favourite tunes are purely based on nostalgia. But to be honest I don’t actually have a favourite tune.
The guaranteed floor-filler?
‘Billie Jean’, the bootleg – still today. It’s the bassline – it works every time, everywhere… Total winner. I say the bootleg not because I made it, but because the musical style I play works with this version the best. It’s eight minutes of edited loops and added lines before the actual vocals kick in. Actually, I played it this weekend. It still works!
The best chillout record?
A Man Called Adam – ‘Barefoot In The Head (Acoustic Version)’. I always loved this tune, but the acoustic version has something magical for me – it’s melancholy, but it fills me with joy and takes me to magical places. Also with my Ibiza connection it has a lot of meaning to me.