DJ Flex
Real Name : Harjijt Singh
Age : 26
Location : Birmingham, UK
Residencies : Flex Collections & Sublimed

How long have you been DJing, what got you started, and where do you see yourself going with it from here?
I’ve been DJ’ing for around 5 – 6 years. I started off listening to DJ’s such as DJ EZ, DJ Fonti (Heartless Crew), Norris Da Boss & Nicky Blackmarket. I’ve always wanted to have something to do with the music scene but listening to DJ’s such as the above named inspired me to get into DJ’ing.

Over the last 5 - 6 years:

• I’ve won the ‘Red Bull Mix Down Competition 2004’
• Played warm up sets for acts such as Heartless Crew, Roll Deep & Nasty Crew, Performed atvarious clubs around the UK& Europe.
• Taken MC’s such as TNG (The Next Generation) over to Denmark to promote UK Grime,
• Got my very own promotion night called ‘Flex Collections’
• Got my own radio show on www.midlandsunderground.com
• Produced beats for MC’s such as TNG (The Next Generation) & other MC’s around the Midlands area.

DJ’ing over the last 5 – 6 years I’ve made quite a few contacts within the UK & around Europe. Over the next few months I’ve got a few projects set up on the production side of things. My DJ’ing schedule is getting busy for the summer as I’ve already taken bookings for locations in Denmark, Belgium & Barcelona.

What styles of UK Garage and/or Grime do you prefer and why?
When I’m doing a UK Garage set I play anything from ‘Kele Le Roc – My Love’ to ‘DJ Zinc – 183 Trek’. I was draw to UK Garage back in 1996 when I went to La Cosa Nostra; it was the 2 step beats and the heavy B-lines that got me into UK Garage.

When I play a UK Grime set I prefer to play instrumentals with or without MC’s because I feel the instrumentals alone have a lot of energy in them. UK Grime has been around for about 3 – 4 years & it was Wiley’s tune ‘Eskimo’ that got me hooked onto UK Grime.

Since the release of ‘Eskimo’ there have been many producer that have come with different styles of UK Grime and it just keeps getting better & bigger as time goes on.

Do you play other styles of music as well as UKG/Grime? If so, what?
UK Garage & UK Grime is the main thing that I play. However I also play Drum & Bass. I play tracks such as ‘DJ SS – Lighter’ to Roni’ Size 26 Bass’. I play a bit of R’n’B & Hip Hop on my Radio show & also for one of my residencies at ‘Sublimed’.

Do you produce as well as DJing? If yes, any releases coming that we should look out for? If not yet, do you aspire to in the future or do you prefer to just DJ.
I’ve been producing for about 8 months now. I’ve made beats for various MC’s around the Midlands area and now I’m looking to put a few tracks of my own on an EP. Look out for my UK Grime Remix of ‘Black Rob – Like Whoa’. It’s been sent out as an instrumental to ‘1xtra DJ’s’ and other DJ’s around the world. (If you’re an MC and want to spit on some tracks, get in contact with me at www.myspace.com/djflex1).

What do you bring that's unique to DJing/Production?
As a DJ I have my own unique style of mixing. I like to cut up tracks, beat juggle, and anything else I can think of which makes me stand out from other DJ’s. As a producer I make beats to make your move to and B-Lines that make you sick!

Where do you see the music going?
I see UK Grime going worldwide. You got people from the States all the way over to Japan pushing out sounds from the UK. It’s good to see that people are feeling UK Grime worldwide. I was over in Aarhus (Denmark) in March 06 and not many people had heard of UK Grime, I played a 4 hour set which included a mix of UK Garage to UK Grime; the response we got from UK Grime was unbelievable!

Who do you work with?
I work with a few MC’s from a crew called TNG (The Next Generation) which I’ve taken with me to various clubs around the UK to perform and they have spat on a few beats of mine from time to time. I’m also working with an up & coming MC from the Midlands called MC Tempo. (Watch out for his mixtape). I’m always on the look out to work with other Producers & MC’s. (If you are interested in working together please get in contact with me at www.myspace.com/djflex1).

Check out my Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/djflex1