I started my love affair with Electronic Music when I was 14 years of age. Being too young to attend any raves, clubs, etc....I would rush out and buy live recorded mix cassettes of these (Events such as Vengeance, Hellraiser....) The first sound I heard was Hardcore Techno and Gabba, influenced by my older brother. As years went on, the sound of electronically produced music sucked me in and I could not get enough, so decided to buy myself a set of turntables, buying records week in week out, trying to re-create the sound from my old tapes.
As I got older and was able to attend events and clubs. My first club experience was Lush, in Portrush, in 1998. I was walking into the unknown, and I loved it!! This strengthened my passion for my hobby, changing my style immediately. As the rave generation had come to an end, a new style was Pipelining - Trance. I immediately sold my Hardcore/Gabba records and purchased this new style (Just don't tell anyone! ;-) lol) Lush was a permanent slot in my Saturday night party calendar for years, changing my style to Progressive House, Electro House and even Funky House. It was now that I wanted to do something with my hobby which developed into a skill. I promoted nights in my home town for school social events. These went really well and gave me an understanding of what DJing was really about. I loved every minute of it and wanted to see it in my future!!
In 2000, I moved from my home town of Ballymena to Belfast for University. This is where I discovered Shine! This had a big influence on my life!! A proper underground club with raw and dirty cutting age music I had never heard before - Techno and Tech-House. My first night in Shine is unforgettable and is burnt into the back of my head! This now was my new Saturday night entertainment and to this day, it’s hard to beat!
Techno and Tech-House was my flavour for many a year, but still enjoying Progressive House, Electro House and Breaks. While at University, my DJing slowed down due to lack of time for studying, etc. In 2002, I ventured to the White Isle of Ibiza. Here I got my eyes opened even wider and have been back every year since. This fuelled my passion again and I started to get back into DJing. One of the most influential Clubs I have ever been to is DC10, and this is where I get my style I use today – Dirty Tech House and Tough Driving Minimal Techno!! With the help of Traktor Scratch I can bring this sound to my peers and anybody who wants to get their head rockin!! I can also be partial to some Electro and Deep House when the moment fits!
Clubs regularly visited would also include The End, Fabric, The Arches and the Stiff Kitten. Not only there for a night out but to enjoy and appreciate other artists styles and sound.
My Belfast debut came in 2006 for the Club Night known as Surge, which was hosted in the Edge. I have been guest at a Club Night, Filter, in Ballymena. I have made a few guest appearances for Belfast's newest Club Nite, TWITCH, hosted on Lavery's top bar. Other guest slots would include Vico's, Surge in Ballymena, Drunken Munkey at The Front Page and McHughs.
At the end of March this year, I had a guest mix aired on the Across The Line Dance show on Radio Ulster. This was heard all over the province and streamed on the BBC website to be listened to for a week after.
I am also in the Studio with my production partner Gary Dickenson, as MINIMINDS, creating our own sound! Check out www.myspace.com/minimindsmusic Recently we have been signed to Luke Dzierzek's Label, FLING recordings, with future releases and gigs planned for 2008.
Dicog -
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Stephen Garrett - Last stop Mars [Radioactiva Recods]
Stephen Garrett - Restless [Radioactiva Records]
Miniminds - Miniminds [FLING Recordings]
Miniminds - Out of Nowhere [FLING Recordings]
Luke Dzierzek - Echo (Miniminds Remix) [Data Records]
Ran Shani - We Are One (Miniminds Remix) [FLING Recordings]
For my latest project, I have started to promote and DJ at a new monthly Underground Club Nite in Belfast, called Kaleida, hosted in Renshaws. Check out www.myspace.com/kaleidasounds
FOR MIXES CHECK OUT BLOG
MSN - [email protected]
AIM - djstephengarrett
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