Ahead of the Residents Takeover on the 18th August and as the Residents will be making more and more apperances over up and coming events at Ministry of Sound, we thought it would be good for each of the guys to send over an exclusive piece of material to help you learn a bit more about them..
In this piece Sheldon talks us through his musical journey...
I guess music has always been a big part of my life - i knew i wanted to be a part of it when i was in secondary school and our GCSE Music teacher bought us a set of Technics 1210's (no joke!) He told us, 'play around on these all day and you'll pass your exams.' This was clearly not the case as he was then released from school after our first year and the decks were taken away......gutted! But looking back he is who i have to thank for kick starting my way in music; all the other kids would MC but my attempt wasn't up to much so i ended up DJ'ing for them all. At the time i was into hip hop and garage so i think these first couple of tracks sum up the start of my journey:
Roll Deep - Remember The Days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcSMpI02gqs
Dizzee rascal - I Luv U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tntRTRkp2GY
I was given an old computer and a copy of Reason so I began to dabble with production. After admiring clips of Kanye in the studio on youtube I remember trying to remake the whole College Dropout album! Hearing 'Through The Wire' for the first time blew me away!
Kanye West - through the Wire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvb-1wjAtk4
After school came Music Tech at A-Level and a step away from urban material although my love for the likes of Kanye & Jay-Z still remained strong. I'll be forever grateful for my Aunt buying me a couple of numark turntables to practise on and i started to buy House vinyl for the first time - a lot of stuff from Data funnily enough!
Axwell - Feel the Vibe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntK26Z43g9g
The summer of 2007 saw my taste being drawn towards more electro sounds and guys like Justice moved my sound in a different direction once more. This was a big track for me and may he rest in peace, much respect to DJ Mehdi, still one of my fav tracks...
Dj Mehdi - Signatune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sbTmLvL7fQ
At 18 i took the biggest leap in my musical journey and moved from Reading to London to put everything i had into my music. I'll always remember my first night out - Toolroom Knights @ Minstry Of Sound - i think it was Mark Knight, Martijn Ten Velden and Funkagenda because it was that i realised this is what want to do. This track shall always be a fav from Mark with Funkagenda on the mix...
Mark Knight - I Like That (Funkagenda's Blissed out Dub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz3Hk4LiBis
Oh and they definitely played this that night...
Albin Myers - Ultra Beat (Myers & Selberg Dub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFGrMXGZB6k
I begun to develop my skills and build contacts whilst studying Audio Engineering at Alchemea college. Some of the people i met there became a big part in helping my career to start moving, these two guys are now known as Third Party and mix engineer Jonas Westling. Both have helped me develop over the years and i am truly grateful. There were many others but Pryda was a big inspiration to me during this time...
Pryda - Melo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ5rQXuoJLM
It was whilst i was working at SARM studios as an Assistant Engineer for two years, that a track i wrote with Third Party 'Release' was signed to steve Angello's Size Records. This was a huge moment for us and i am so happy the guys have gone on to make so many great records...
Third Party - Release
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zhJFwe1SZ0
As i set to work on my solo material i was lucky enough to get an opportunity to remix for Starkillers on Michael Woods' Diffused Music. This evidentially led to me working with Michael and our new single 'Goodbye' Featuring Polina. This was an amazing moment for me and thank you to Michael for making it happen...
Michael Woods & Sheldon - Goodbye feat. Polina
http://www.beatport.com/track/goodbye-original-mix/3649660
I know this is really only the beginning for me but all these various genre's and experiences over the years have been a big part of developing my sound and i'd like to thank Ministry Of Sound and everyone else for giving me such big opportunities already, fingers crossed for the future...
Sheldon x
ps. one more for the road...
Lovebirds - Want You In My Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMk5PGPlkYU