2015 has ben a good year, I am sitting here thinking back on the last 12 months and several times I have had to smile.
Music wise has seen more productions and remixes with releases on Making Moves with the Blak Beat Niks, A great package from A Deeper Groove with an amazing remix from Craig Smith and another release on Tony Records my remix of Bring That Vibe from Andy Ward and Sofia Rubina. I also completed my first original EP with Jean Honeymoon although that has yet to ne released, still it’s an achievement I am proud of.
DJing wise there have been a few highlights notably my House set at this years Vocal Booth Weekender. The feedback I received was amazing and makes it all worthwhile. My residency at Bump N Hustle continued and finished the year with a bang playing a house set along side Oliver Knight and Groove Assassin.
It’s safe to say after these gigs I still have the passion for DJing and hope to get a few more sets in the coming year. I’m never one to push myself but feel I can bring something to the table. I have a few wonderful friends that come and hear me whenever I play out and they are always full of praise. I have to thank them, as they are the ones that make it worthwhile.
For those that maybe interested it’s been a great year in my personal life too.
I have spent a lot of time with family especially my grand children. Yes I said Grand Children don’t try the math your head will hurt and it’s a long story!
Having no children (by blood) of my own I was never really comfortable with babies but in the last few years I have an incredible bond with Evie (4 years old) and am forging the same now with Rae (1 ½) although they are not my first Grand Children they arrived at a time in my life where I was comfortable enough to be totally involved in there life. I will say it’s a total joy and has helped my bond more with the older two Jaime and Alex.
After a 15 year wait we finally had the holiday we dreamed of, a true once in a lifetime trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. This really was one off the bucket list.We went to Thailand in 2000 and saw a model of Ankor Wat in Bangkok airport. We both said we MUST go and see that. 15 years later we finally took the plunge and set off for a 3-week trip. My wife being in the travel industry planned and booked the entire thing, but said she wanted the schedule to be a surprise so refused to tell me the details. I knew it would include Ankor Wat but other than that I had no clue where we would visit. Needless to say she really did an amazing job. I could write page after page on this but briefly the highlights where a 4 day stay on the exclusive Song Saa island all inclusive in Cambodia, Ankor Wat and 3 days seeing the temples and “lost cities” boat trip including overnight stay around HaLong Bay, few nights at the 5 star luxury Nam Hai including visiting the wonderful town of Hoi An. The memories of this holiday will remain with me for a lifetime so a special thanks to Amanda for sorting the entire journey.
Bit of a long blog this time but always good to put a few thoughts down at this time of year
My end of year thoughts would not be complete without a list of music I enjoyed over the last 12 months, not really in any order but if you don’t know any of them please spend some time and search them out.
1 A Deeper Groove – To The Bone – Craig Smith Remix
2 Butter BPM – Saved My Day – Reelsoul remix
3 LoveBirds & Galiano – Icarus
4 Kraak and Smaak – Drunken Master
5 P IsaAc – Special Lady
6 Diplomats Of Soul feat. Incognito & Vanessa Haynes – Sweet Power – Atjazz Mix
7 Dego & Kaidi – Orbiting Uhura
8 Len Leise – Stars For Jorge
9 RT Sound Factor – 7th Heaven – A Tribute to the Energy Of Frankie Knuckles
10 Harvey Sutherland – Bermuda
11 Dego – The More Things Stay The Same
12 St Germain – Real Blues (Atjazz Astro remix)
13 Art Of Tones – Rainbow Song
14 Manousos – Mental Vibration
15 Tommy Bones – Black Concept
16 Rhemi feat. Hanlei – Fallin’
17 Sheila Ford, Louie Vega, DJ Spen – Why Can’t You See
18 Louie Vega Starring Adeva – I Deserve To Breathe
19 Evan Iff – One
20 Timmy Vegas – Timmy’s Choir (Soulful Mix)
21 Sandy Barber – I Think I’ll Do Some Stepping (On My Own) – Opolopo Mix
22 Rhemi feat. Hanlei – Diamonds
23 Blaze – We Are One (Sean McCabe Vocal Remix)
24 Nick Holder – Sunrise
25 Ricky Reid – Me and the Bear