How was 2017 for you?
Nick Hallam: It was inspiring
Highlights?
Played a lot of live shows with Stereo MCs — feels better than ever. Did some great DJ sets, had a Connected label night at Watergate in Berlin — the first of many to come. Our Connected label went from strength to strength and all of this was fun.
Lowlights?
Has to be Donald Trump and everything associated with that type of politics, putting the world backwards 50 years.
Song of the year?
So many, but as it was on our label and it’s a great record: Drained EP from David Mayer
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To only work with positive like-minded, forward-thinking creative people. Anything else just walk away!
In January we reported that London-based music publicist Sonia Akow, who has worked with countless artists on the underground bass scene, was diagnosed with Leukaemia last November and now urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life. Sonia’s mother died of the same disease a little over a year ago. Two stem cell donor drives have been organized in London, and Sonia is appealing for people aged 16-30 (especially those like Sonia who are of mixed heritage) to spare 20 minutes to register as a donor at one of the events listed below. To join the register (if you are 31-49 and live in the UK you can sign up at http://blood.co.uk; international registries can sign up here) all you need to do is complete a simple application form and provide a saliva sample.
Stem Cell Donor Drive 1
Tuesday 26th Feb 2-8pm
Shepherds Bar – Shepherds Building Charecroft Way, London W14 0da
Stem Cell Donor Drive 2
Saturday 2nd March 11-5pm
The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, Ladbroke Grove, London W11 2ay
DJ Mag’s Carl Loben, DJ Deekline, Terry Hooligan, Biff (Functional) and others are organizing a benefit club night for Sonia called Push Play at The Egg in Kings Cross, London, on Thursday, March 28. The benefit will feature performances by Krafty Kuts, Shut Up & Dance, MJ Cole, Dub Pistols, A-Skillz, Freestylers, Deekline & Ed Solo, Atomic Hooligan, Stereo MCs, Ragga Twins and many more. More names are expected to be announced shortly.
Sonia has been a true champion of underground music — breaks, ragga, drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, electro — over the years. Please help someone from our scene who urgently needs help by going to the stem cell drive or by simply spreading the word.
