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Ben Watt Darkbeat Featured Artist Mix
Stream off ITM here
http://www.inthemix.com.au/broadban..._Fly_vol3_promo
Half of multi-million selling duo Everything But The Girl and with a career spanning more than twenty years, Ben Watt's route to international DJ-producer status came after EBTG's superb interpretations of electronica in the mid-nineties (Missing, Walking Wounded, Protection with Massive Attack, Temperamental).
Encouraged by DJ-producer Howie B to start spinning he cut his teeth in London in 1995 mixing freestyle sets of jazz, drum n bass and deep house. Guest sets followed at top London nights such as James Lavelle's Dusted, Movement, Fabio's Swerve and Howie B's own westside Sunday parties. US DJ dates followed in 1996-7 for Giant Step in NYC as well as numerous after-hours parties during EBTG's world tour for their acclaimed 'Walking Wounded' album.
In 1998 he established the seminal London deep house Sunday club and compilation series, Lazy Dog, with Jay Hannan. Moving away from EBTG's mainstream eclecticism and effortlessly into club-oriented dance music production, he also turned out an accompanying string of acclaimed dancefloor remixes including 5-star re-rubs for Sade, Sunshine Anderson, Zero 7, Maxwell, Meshell Ndegeocello and Sandy Rivera. Lazy Dog folded at the top after five untouchable years of sell-out shows around the world and compilation sales of 100,000.
Unfailing in his energy and enthusiasm for music, in April 2003 Ben launched his new independent record label and club night, Buzzin' Fly - a new benchmark on the club scene with a cluster of revered underground hits including his own ‘Lone Cat’, 'A Stronger Man' (feat Sananda Maitreya aka Terence Trent D'Arby) and ‘Pop A Cap In Yo’ Ass’ (feat Estelle) and two best-selling Buzzin’ Fly mix CDs. Committed to new talent the label has already unearthed Justin Martin (Breakthrough DJ nominee at House Music Awards 2004 and 2005) and Lyon's groundbreaking Manoo and Francois A. The label won Best Breakthrough Label at the House Music Awards 2004.
From 2002-2005 as part-owner/founder of celebrated new west London nightclubs Neighbourhood and Cherry Jam, he orchestrated the music policy and image of both venues, helping establish their reputation at the forefront of the capital’s club scene. Under his creative direction Cherry Jam's intimate surroundings hosted packed underground club nights as well as rock band The Libertines' debut show, Beth Orton, Rough Nite, art exhibitions from Phil Knott and Sara Shamsavari, and the long-running spoken word night, Book Slam. At Neighbourhood, Watt brought in Groove Armada, the Rough Trade 25th Anniversary, the inaugural prestigious House Music Awards and a string of international DJs to guest at his own in-house nights. After three successful years he resigned in June 2005 from his roles as resident DJ and creative consultant at both venues to concentrate on other projects.
Now a central figure on London's club scene he DJs regularly in the capital as well as all over Europe, Australia and North America with regular sell-out shows in NYC, San Francisco and LA. 2005 saw him extensively on the festival circuit (Good Vibrations, Homelands, Coachella, Lovebox Weekender, Electric Picnic) and he currently fronts Buzzin’ Fly’s two new London residencies – monthly underground Sundays at Plastic People, and quarterly events at The End.
In Sep 2005, Buzzin’ Fly received five nominations in the House Music Awards 2005 – Label Of The Year, Most Innovative Producer (Ben Watt), Best Breakthrough Producer (Justin Martin), Best Breakthrough DJ (Justin Martin), Outstanding A&R (Ben Watt).
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Darkbeat
www.myspace.com/dariusbassiray
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