Blaze DJ presents the third guest edition of Ministry of Breaks on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, promoter, DJ agency and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Blaze DJ is a British DJ and producer from Walthamstow in London’s East End. His career and background are closely connected to underground music culture and the art of DJing.
The 10,000-hour rule suggests that roughly 10,000 hours of focused practice are needed to attain expertise in a particular field. For Blaze DJ, reaching that point represented the end of an apprenticeship, developing an almost telepathic connection with his turntables, selections and audience.
Blaze DJ credits his broad exposure to musical styles and genres during childhood to his parents and siblings. Jazz, funk, disco, New Romantics and 1980s synth-pop informed him before he discovered his musical identity through the cassette House Sounds of Chicago Volume 1 at school in 1987.
Music became a deep passion for Blaze DJ, shaping his evenings, career path and wider life. He began DJing at 15, progressing from a pub in Edmonton to regular bookings in Birmingham and Faliraki, where he often played to crowds of up to 2,000 people.
If there is a task a DJ can perform, Blaze DJ has probably already mastered it. As someone shaped by the Acid House era, he considers himself fortunate to have witnessed the UK electronic music scene develop from its beginnings.
More than three decades later, he brings the same passion and vigour associated with the early 1990s parties to his performances. House music has consistently been central to his work.
Drawing on artists from the past and present, Blaze DJ has brought his inspirations together to form a distinctive sound. His style combines classic house with breakbeat rhythms, acid and techno.
Blaze DJ also made an impact through his work in DJ shops. He was the first retailer in the country to combine DJing and production equipment in one store, changing retail provision for the electronic music community.
In 2005, Blaze DJ stepped away from performing, although he stayed active in music as an audio-visual designer and consultant working to improve sound systems in leading clubs internationally. After a 15-year hiatus, his enthusiasm returned and he resumed DJing with fresh determination.
By 2021, despite the challenges of the preceding year, he had secured monthly radio slots with Ibiza Club News, Underground Kollektiv and Scientific Sound Asia. With unreleased music and a forthcoming label, he intended to return to club line-ups across the country.
The programme first aired on Friday 2 July 2021. Its tracklist moves through breakbeat material, house records, drum and bass and electro alongside Blaze DJ’s own productions.
Blaze DJ’s Ministry of Breaks episode 3 opens with Epic & Bass’s 1993 on Zeta Records and Bombo Rosa’s Rocinha on Punks, establishing the programme’s Breaks focus. Lexxi Vonne’s Fluffy Tones on Ritual Salvation Records then leads into The Darrow Chem Syndicate’s Tervetuloa, remixed by Hankook & Destroyers for Nipponeer Records.
The Darrow Chem Syndicate feature again through the Huda Hudia and Dj30a remix of Girls Breakout on Nothing But and Kid Panel’s remix of Bounce Of Thunder on Nipponeer Records. Their Nipponeer releases My Daddy “Suga”, remixed by Bad Legs, and Jaxx Freaks, remixed by Hankook & Perfect Kombo, sit alongside Eztereo’s Your Soul on Zeta Records.
Blaze DJ’s own Disco Breakin is followed by Yo Speed’s Dominator on Distorsion Records and Firestar Soundsystem’s First Rave on Elektroshok Records. The Darrow Chem Syndicate’s Spank In A Rocker, in Perfect Kombo’s Nipponeer Records remix, gives way to Shawn Christopher’s Don't Loose The Magic in Bobby Blano’s re-edit, a Progressive House selection on Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
Stanton Warriors’ Blue on Punks and Yankee’s Can't We See on Distorsion Records return the programme to its breaks-led foundation. Ondamike and DJ Dilect’s More Security on Ravesta Records, Baymont Bross’s Wise & Smart on Distorsion Records and Hankook with FM-3’s Welcome To London on Elektroshok Records frame La Roux’s Bulletproof, a Pop release on Polydor Records.
Rasco’s Formant Bass on Elektroshok Records precedes Ronnie Pacitti and James iD’s Find Your Way on Stress Records, bringing House Music into the later stretch. Ultra Nate’s Free on Strictly Rhythm follows before Blame’s Music Takes You on Moving Shadow introduces Drum and Bass.
Anthony Rother’s Destroy Him My Robots on Elektrolux brings a Dance - Electro edge before The Darrow Chem Syndicate return with The Return Of The Living Bomb on Nipponeer Records. Portal’s Keep It Coming closes the selection, leaving the programme rooted in the club-focused energy established at the start.
Blaze DJ episode 3
Barbarella's Bang Bang - Learn To Unlearn (Lexxi Vonne)
Epic & Bass - 1993 (Original Mix)
Renyard & Blaze DJ - Waiting 4 U
Bombo Rosa - Rocinha (Original Mix)
Lexxi Vonne - Fluffy Tones
DJ Quest Feat. Odissi - Break Me (Suga7 Remake)
Jeff Alsford - Home (Blaze DJ Rework)
Kariya - Let Me Love You For Tonight (Adam Vyt Remix)
The Darrow Chem Syndicate - Tervetuloa (Hankook & Destroyers Remix)
The Darrow Chem Syndicate - Girls Breakout (Huda Hudia & Dj30a Remix)
The Darrow Chem Syndicate - Bounce Of Thunder (Kid Panel Remix)
The Darrow Chem Syndicate - My Daddy “Suga” (Bad Legs Remix)
The Darrow Chem Syndicate - Jaxx Freaks (Hankook & Perfect Kombo Remix)
Eztereo - Your Soul (Original Mix)
Blaze DJ - Disco Breakin
Yo Speed - Dominator (Original Mix)
Firestar Soundsystem - First Rave (Original Mix)
The Darrow Chem Syndicate - Spank In A Rocker (Perfect Kombo Remix)
Shawn Christopher - Don't Loose The Magic (Bobby Blano's Re-edit Mix)
Anthony Acid - Sweat Feat. Ruby (Ads Dirty Monkey Remix)
Stanton Warriors - Blue (Original Mix)
DJ 20hz - Shape Shifta
Yankee - Can't We See
Ondamike, DJ Dilect - More Security
Delbeat - Hit The Dancefloor
Baymont Bross - Wise & Smart
New Order - Confusion (Blade Soundtrack)
Hankook, FM3 - Welcome To London
La Roux - Bulletproof
Rasco - Formant Bass
Ronnie Pacitti, James iD - Find Your Way
Ultra Nate - Free
Firestar Soundsystem - Fave Rave
Blame - Music Takes You
Baymont Bross, Sekket Chadow - Pumuky
Anthony Rother - Destroy Him My Robots
Sub Focus - Tune Back (Yankee Bootleg Remix)
Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (Rave Yard Mix 2017)
The Darrow Chem Syndicate - The Return Of The Living Bomb
Portal - Keep It Coming
Listen on Mixcloud here.