DJ Mek’s ’80s electro mix is the business

‘The Conor McGregor of deejaying” Johnny Moy – March 2017

“Meks’ the fuckin’ boss” Ian Brown – July 2017

“Without DJ Mek there would be no SoundCrowd” – Mr Spring November 2017

“Best DJ mix I’ve heard this year” – Mark Kavanagh The Star November 2017

DJ Mek’s reputation preceeds him. But he still remains elusive. Not one to do many live appearances these days, the former Irish DMC champion-winning turntablist and Scary Éire producer hasn’t lost his first love of DJing, even if he no longer does a monthly mix for 2fm’s Megamix, which he did from 2000 to 2012.

Case in point, this recent 2FM Masterclass mix of US electro classics from 1982 – 1985, could only be made by a music enthusiast who has a deep record collection and the DJ know-how to create magic.

Mek himself offers some background:

“Hip Hop & electro records were a pain to get in Ireland back then.

Abbey Discs or Beat Records (in the old locations) always got a few goodies but you had to be quick or reserve them.

A dude called Morgan Khan started putting out compilations called Streetsounds Electro and they were a game changer. He sourced some of the best releases from the States and got an amazing DJ called Mastermind Herbie to mix them. I think it gave European kids a different perspective on the whole thing cos he had no problem compiling a 128bpm West Coast Electro tune or a rough 90bpm New York Hip Hop jam.

One album that really sticks out was Jam On Revenge by Newcleus. Paul Byrne brought the first copy home from America and tape copies went around school like wildfire. Never heard anything like it – was like the fucking aliens had landed.

Anyway, had fun making this, takes me back to the days of Tony Krisp on LLCR and Radio Dublin. Would be great to see kids digging that whole sound again and maybe find something we overlooked and work it into their sets”.

And sure he’s still killing it:

Himself and Tu-KI way back:

There aren’t many DJs like this around:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q30YclVdkHY

Tracklist

Soul Sonic Force – Looking for the perfect beat (Tommy Boy 1983)
Hashim – Al Naafiysh (Cutting 1983)
Break Machine – Street dance (Sire 1983)
Newcleus – Wheres the beat (Sunnyview 1984)
Man Parrish – Hip Hop bebop (Importe 1982)
Globe & Whiz Kid – Play that beat mr DJ (Tommy Boy 1983)
Malcolm McLaren – D’ya Like Scratchin (Island 1983)
Man Parrish – Boogie Down Bronx (Sugarscoop 1984)
Dynamix II – Just Give the DJ A Break (Bass Station 1987)
Time Zone – Wildstyle (Celluloid 1983)
Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown – Unity (Tommy Boy 1984)
C.O.D. – The Bottle instrumental (Emergency 1983)
Aleem – Release Yourself (NIA 1984)
Kasso – Key West Jellybean mix (Delirium 1982)
Pressure Drop – Rock The House (Tommy Boy 1983)
Freez – IOU (Streetwise 1983)
DST & Jalaludin Mansur Nuriddin – Mean Machine (Celluloid 1984)
Imperial Brothers – We come to dub (Cutting 1984)
Doug E Fresh – Bonus Lesson 1 (Sound Makers 1984)
Warp 9 – New wave funk (Prism 1982)
Rockers Revenge -Walking On Sunshine (Streetwise 1982)
Warp 9 – Light years away dub (Prism 1983)
Two Sisters & Globe – B boys beware (Sugarscoop 1983)
Rocksteady Crew – Digital Boogie (Virgin records 1984)
Jellybean – The Mexican dub (EMI 1984)
Willesden Dodgers – Reckless (Jive 1986)
Paul Hardcastle – Sound Chaser (Profile 1985)
Harold Faltermeier / Latin Rascals – Axel F (Streetheat 1985)
George Kranz – Din daa daa (4th & Broadway 1983)
Hi Fidelity Three – B-boys breakdance dub (Cutting 1984)
Bobby Broom – Beat Freak (Arista 1984)
Paul Hardcastle – Rain Forest (Profile 1985)
Awesome Foursome – Funky Soul Makossa (Streetwise 1982)
Hashim – Were Rocking The Planet (Cutting 1984)
Xena – On the upside dub (Emergency 1983)
Newcleus – Jam on it (Sunnyview 1984)
Newcleus – Let’s Jam instrumental (Sunnyview 1985)
Paul Hardcastle – Panic (Bluebird 1985)
Pretty Tony – Get Some (Music Specialists 1985)
Willesden Dodgers – Gunsmoke Breakout (Jive 1984)
Tyrone Brunson – The Smurf (Epic 1982)
Section 25 – Looking from a Hilltop (Factory 1984)
Kraftwerk – Home Computer (EMI 1981)
G-Force – Feel The Force (SMI 1983)
Jonzun Crew – Pac Jam (remix) (Tommy Boy 1983)
Kosmic Light Force – Mysterious Waves (Nightbeat 1985)
Dynamic Breakers – Dynamic – dub version (Sunnyview 1984)