The man formerly known as Bushwacka talks us through the records that shaped his life, from Shakin Stevens to his own Michael Jackson bootleg.

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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.

21st October, 2014

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