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Features
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Jordan X — Northern Ireland’s youngest, fastest-rising star
Reported by DJ GRH
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Submitted 26-10-05 19:26
It’s a bit of a sweeping generalisation of some within the dance music sector that “the sooner you learn to DJ, the more prolific you become.” Whilst this train of thought has much scope to be ripped apart and torn to shreds, you’ve got to admit that anyone who sits comfortably at the forefront of his ‘local’ scene at the age of 15, with Fergie as best buddy and the likes of Dave Pearce singing your praises to god knows how many millions, you’ve got to be onto a good thing! Oh, add to that being ranked in the top 2 in the Radio 1 national DJ finals, appearances on the likes of Galaxy 105 and production with hard dance heavyweight Paul Maddox into the equation as well and you’re wondering if this kid stepped straight out of nappies and straight in front of the 1210s!
Jordan X: Northern Ireland’s 15 year old super-gun under the spotlight...
Rumour has it you’re only 15? Is this true?
Haha, Yeah That’s true… I hear I look 12 though. What do you make of that?!
So if you’re only 15 now, when did you actually get your decks and start DJing as it were?
I’ve been into dance music from a very young age. I remember the old anthems from the Gatecrasher days [Yes! Really] I was about 8–9 I think they always seemed to be played at youth clubs and things… ‘Diving Faces’, ‘Beachball’ and all that! –
I got my decks when I was 12, a pair of plastic belt drives. I’ve built my record collection from then, and my home setup. My first gig was alongside Fergie when I was 13 in Newcastle, England with Radio One, to about 1500 clubbers, which was filmed for a BBC Three Documentary — Super DJs.
The position that you’re in and the success you’ve had so far only usually comes generally after you’ve hit your early 20’s and the like. Do you find your success overwhelming and a bit hard to believe at any point?
Yeah, definitely! It’s pretty unbelievable to look back over the last 3 years and be able to remember my first gig as being a Radio One night in a superclub to 1500 people… my DJ biog is pretty full too, which has to be a good thing. Radio 1 interviews, playing live on BBC1 and playing alongside some of the industry’s top names in some awesome clubs at 15 are things I never even considered when I got into dance.
The impression you’ve made on the scene has certainly seen you to be perceived as extremely versatile. Tell us more about your style.
Put simply, I play tech-influenced music across the board. Energetic music, no matter what slot — that’s the key to my sets. I’m a keen house fan, and during warm-up slots or for house nights I’ll happily play a chunky, techy house set. For hard dance clubs I’ll play a fusion of techno and tech-trance, about 140-145. Personally, I think if a DJ plays a well-structured set, and keeps it tight and exciting he/she doesn’t have to play overly hard music to have a crowd bouncing! I’m hoping in the future the ever-closing gap between music scenes can vanish, and a DJ can play within a sound, as opposed to a genre, and play a variety of BPM. Obviously a well-built set is of top importance, but if we can expand our horizons outside out respective music scenes I think we can really start pushing electronic music forward even more.
Who has influenced your career so far? Do you have any favourite producers/DJs?
Fergie is by far my main influence. He has been a great help to me and I really respect all he’s done. Not many DJs will sacrifice being 8th in the world DJ rankings to totally turnaround their style to push forward new music. DJ-wise I also love Chris Liebing, Sven Vath, Carl Cox, Eddie Halliwell… I love DJs who really show their love for the music they play in their sets. Oh, and James Zabiela. Wow.
Production wise: Ignition Technician, Marcel Woods, Booka Shade, Alex Smoke, Alex Gopher, Chef and a new guy I’m loving called Alex Dias. He’s Brazilian and doesn’t seem to understand much English, but he sends me his stuff online and I absolutely love it!
Fergie’s kind of taken you under his wing a little bit hasn’t he? That must be a great help?
Yeah, as I said, Fergie’s always been a top influence for me. He’s from N.I. too obviously, and he really excelled at such a young age, and has never been afraid to be different. To be honest I’m still quite in awe of him, but we can talk about a lot of things, and it’s great to have someone like him supporting and encouraging me.
Speaking of other Radio 1 DJs, Dave Pearce was recently heard to have been “absolutely blown away” by you. You’re also ranked in the top 2 by their National DJ Search. Again, give us a bit of insight into how you intend to use stuff like this to your advantage.
I played with Dave Pearce in February this year. Dave’s a really nice guy, and I’m actually trying to get in touch with him again! Obviously these sorts of credits help me get noticed, but it’s the personal achievement, which matters most. I was the youngest entrant in the final and the only entrant from outside England who got by the first round so to be ranked in the top 2 is a great confidence boost, especially considering that it is judged by true industry stalwarts. Can’t be bad as that!
How’s it going on the production front? Surely there can’t be anything to report as yet at such a young age can there?
Of course! I love working in the studio. At the moment I’m working with other engineers for my production work. Most notably Tidy’s Paul Maddox. We did ‘My Day’ together which is doing really well on Trackitdown.net at the moment. That one even got a play at Dance Valley 2005 by Jay Pidgeon. I was well chuffed at that! Although I work with other producers, I do have a decent knowledge of Cubase and other production stages, and am hoping to start producing at home properly soon…
I’m experimenting with live sets at the moment with my laptop, a Yamaha keyboard and a CD deck as a sampler. I’m a bit of a technology nerd aren’t I? Eek.
Tell us a little bit about your Northern Irish gigging activity — rumour has it you’ve played at a lot of varied places over there?
Yeah, the scene over here’s much smaller than over on the mainland. That’s to be expected though considering our entire wee country has about the same population as London alone! I’ve played in a good proportion of our clubs over here… Club Matrix who has everyone under the sun play for them, Lost@Precious (Godskitchen’s monthly Irish Residency), Club Tao, The Nerve Centre and the acclaimed Fresh club nights to name a few.
We know you’ve been over here to England after hearing your slot on Riley and Durrant’s Galaxy 105 Nu Breed show. But you’ve travelled about much more than that over here gig-wise. Tell us, if any, some of the cities you’ve visited — and also tell us what you have lined up.
Yeah! I love it over here. You brought me over here in February I think it was, for Galaxy with Riley and Durrant’s Nu Breed in Leeds, which was a great laugh! I’ve also played in cities such as Bournemouth, Newcastle, Coventry, Maidstone and Perth in Scotland since then. I played Elements in Bournemouth to 3000 in June, which is to date my biggest gig, and have also played in the Ikon Chain amongst others over here! Oh and I’ve been to London and Glasgow with BBC 1 too…
How did the gig at ‘Guilt’ come about? Was that the first time you’d played in London?
Oh yeah! That was my London debut, and actually my first time playing off Final Scratch at a club. It absolutely rocked. What a night! It went so well, and the crowd were absolutely going for it from my first tune… oh and I emptied the hard house room too at one point supposedly. (I was playing in the techno/house room). The crowds over here are so fresh, and really understand and enjoy their music. I can’t wait to get back to London!
You seem to have played alongside many bigger DJs? Do you find that quite nerve-wracking? A lot of people have suggested you don’t due to your confidence and stage presence? How important do you feel this is?
I’m confident behind the decks because I truly enjoy my music. If I was on the dance floor I’d be dancing and jumping about so I don’t see why I shouldn’t behind the decks. It’s not intentional; it’s just something I do.
I’ve played alongside the likes of Fergie, Jules, Mauro Picotto, John Kelly and Dave Pearce over the last year, however when I warm up for big DJs I like to keep it as just that. Obviously I know what these DJs play, and like to get the crowd ready for them without trying to outdo them. I play my own stuff but work it around the next DJ. It’s only polite really! I was listed in DJ Mag’s 2004 Top 100 DJs poll as Fergie’s ‘Best Warm-up’ of the year, so I must be doing something right! Oh… well… when I played in Coventry last, JK & Joel from Radio One were hosting the night. They seemed a little freaked out when I sort of bounced into the crowd during my last track! Oops.
Finally, for bookings, we’re told you’re on SoundsGoodMusic which is the main Northern Irish booking agent, alongside Judge Jules, Fergie, Matt Hardwick and others. When I spoke to Marc Dobbin (head of SoundsGoodMusic) he described you as the “fastest rising star in the UK and Ireland.” Is this the best way to book you?
Yes, this is the only way to book me…
SGM have a lot of contacts within the scene, as Marc has worked at most of the country’s top nightclubs over his time in the industry. Ask any DJ who’s played over here over the last 20 years and I’m sure he’ll be mentioned! I’ve played for Marc and his brother Gleave Dobbin (Coast 2 Coast) a few times too so it’s nice to get that sort of feedback from such a successful promoter.
For booking enquiries or more information contact Mark Dobbin at Soundsgoodmusic Entertainments.
info@jordanx.com
www.soundsgoodmusic.net
Thanks to John Maxwell, Anika Vrettos and Dancepics.co.uk for the photos.
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: Cheeky| on 26th Oct 2005 21:00.09
He's gonna go far, fair play :-)
From: akidK on 26th Oct 2005 21:53.44
well done mate, nice to see someone from Northern Ireland getting some notice.....goodluck to ya!!
From: JamieG on 26th Oct 2005 22:54.42
nice of you to use my picture too 
From: JamieG on 26th Oct 2005 23:02.07
great write up jordan, best iv seen yet, keep 'er tite and i shall see you in derry for your big night with marcel woods!!
From: N-Slay on 27th Oct 2005 08:00.44
Nice one Jordan, you did indeed rock Guilt - hopeully it won't be too long before we have you back. I'd better start saving up.... 
From: Gordon Darley on 27th Oct 2005 10:34.46
Ruddy hell, only 15 and doing that well. Seems to have his head screwed on too.
From: Darz on 27th Oct 2005 11:28.10
good read. the lad will go far!! he talks sense, which at the age of 15 i certainly didn't!!
From: djbenji on 27th Oct 2005 15:30.42
top bloke as well!
From: Rachael.M on 27th Oct 2005 20:29.08
I saw him play @ Squelcher/Guilt & he had the room jumpin from the second he started playing. Hope to hear him again soon 
From: bennett on 28th Oct 2005 00:25.41
impressive! best of luck to the little man 
From: Stevi D on 28th Oct 2005 08:36.12
Whats behind Fergie's neck in picture one??????????
From: Stevi D on 28th Oct 2005 09:00.42
No fucking ways!!!! How the hell could this all be possible?
Good effort bro
From: Alex-Dias on 28th Oct 2005 12:21.09
Yesssss
jordan x
o pequeno grande dj 
apenas 15 anos ,tem um futuro belissimo pela frente!
Tenho q te manda a nova música
From: Maria on 28th Oct 2005 12:30.09
........"and a new guy I’m loving called Alex Dias. He’s Brazilian and doesn’t seem to understand much English, but he sends me his stuff online and I absolutely love it!".....I KNOW THIS GUY. He used to send me some wicked stuff that I really love it as well. I've been using some of his audio(loops) at my newsletters. Nice one!!!
From: Jordan X on 29th Oct 2005 10:13.01
Thanks for all the good feedback guys! Much appreciated
If anyone's interested you can catch me soon at Lost @ Precious in Belfast, Nation in Bangor and UK clubculture events nationwide on the mainland...And during the Christmas period my highlight will be a 2 hour set with Marcel Woods at the Nerve Centre in Derry. Again, thanks for the kind words, if interested you can catch up with me at info@jordanx.com
Rock that roll
From: Mental Mich on 30th Oct 2005 12:19.20
Go on son! Good to see someone from auld 'Nam' in the spotlight. Hope i have the chance to see you play sometime, if you're reputation is anything to go by!
From: Triptech on 31st Oct 2005 19:51.40
Cracking good read! Jordan absolutly rocked the show @ Squelcher vs Guilt! He's a legend already!
You can also listen to Jordan play live every Tuesday @ 6>8pm UK time on http://www.newtechpirates.com - Glad to have you on board mate!
From: Matt Smallwood on 1st Nov 2005 20:14.53
Wow, what a little legend! Good work mate and best of luck to ya!
From: seductivediva on 3rd Nov 2005 13:26.57
stevi D is right...what is that? another hand?
From: Jordan X on 3rd Nov 2005 18:55.26
Yeah there was some woman chewing her eyebrow on the other side as far as I know
From: stew on 5th Nov 2005 15:54.02
Caught Jordan X at Guilt - Deep Blue, really impressed and loved the demo i got off him. Well done Jordan, can't wait to see you in London agian soon. Keep up the energy behind the Decks!
From: snowqueen on 5th Nov 2005 20:50.39
well done you..good luck for the future, though dont think you need any luck, just carry on with the good work, must be doing something right
From: DJ Traxxz on 7th Nov 2005 09:52.32
nice one jordan matey keep it up
From: Technikal on 7th Nov 2005 13:10.33
This young 'un makes me feel like an old timer. Good work matey, keep it up!! Top story
From: Jordan X on 13th Nov 2005 18:15.55
Yeah, anyone over 17 should retire. Fact! Hehe. Mr Technikal, since you are impressed, would you like to send me some lovely new music ? hehe. if so, email me, info@jordanx.com
Lots of love ..xx lol
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