Telephone receivers and the DIY origins of northern soul DJs
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(Credits: Far Out / Universal Music)
Solderingandsoul-spinning:TelephonereceiversandtheDIYoriginsofDJingMyfirstexperienceofDJingwasbeingaskedtocontroltheiPodonfamilycarjourneys,andIdon’tknowwhetheritwasthethrillofsharingmusicormychildhoodlustforpower,buttheexperiencealwaysstuckwithme.Cuttothepresentday,whenhalfofmywageisspentamassingobscureandforgottennorthernsoulsinglestosharewithdancefloorsacrossWestYorkshire,andperformingDJsetsisstillprettythrillingforme.What’smore,thatjourneytobecomeaDJhasprovidedmewithanextensiveeducationinthevibranthistoryofDJculture.
NorthernsoulistherootofsomuchofmodernDJanddancemusicculture.Backintheearly1970s,swathesofyoungpeopleacrossthenorthofEnglandwerebecominginfatuatedwithobscureandforgottensoulrecordsfromtheothersideoftheAtlantic.Theseyoungsoulobsessiveswouldpackdancefloorsallnight,withtheaidoftalcumpowderandamphetamines,dancingtoaplethoraofunknownsoulsingles.Itwasthisscenethatlaidthefoundationsfor
