A.Skillz is an English breakbeat

Breakbeat

In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...

, big beat

Big beat

Big beat is a term employed since the mid-1990s by the British music press to describe much of the music by artists such as The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, and Propellerheads typically driven by heavy breakbeats and synthesizer-generated loops and patterns in...

, and dance musician.

He has worked across the UK at FabricLive, Spectrum, Chew The Fat, Supercharged, The Boutique and Sugarbeat as well as gigs around the world at major events, festivals and music industry parties such as The Hit Factory

The Hit Factory

The Hit Factory was a recording studio in New York City famous for its clientele. It was officially closed for business April 1, 2005 whereas other Hit Factory studio locations remained open, such as in Miami, Florida.-History:...

 (New York), WMC (Miami) and Field Day (Sydney).In 2003 A.Skillz released his debut album “TrickaTechnology” alongside Finger Lickin’s very own Krafty Kuts. The album was a nod towards musical influences like De La Soul

De La Soul

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...

, James Brown

James Brown

James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...

 and Jurassic 5

Jurassic 5

Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...

, enlisting artists including Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow

Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...

, Real Elements

Real Elements

The Real Elements is a Malawian hip-hop band that gained notoriety in the 1990s and 2000s. in Malawi. The group consisted of Marvel, Plan B, Stix, and Q. The group holds a special place in the Malawian music industry because it propagated Malawian hip-hop and paved the way for the Malawian hip-hop...

 and Ashley Slater

Ashley Slater

Ashley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961...

.

February 2004 saw A.Skillz and Krafty Kuts team up on the TrickaTechnology Tour with live MC’s from the album playing shows all over the UK. The duo then played at Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury Festival

The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...

, Pacha (Ibiza

Ibiza

Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...

) and a live session for Steve Lamacq

Steve Lamacq

Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...

 on BBC Radio 1.

In October 2004 A.Skillz then embarked on his first solo tour of Australia which saw him play to sell out crowds in all major capital cities, gaining new fans and respect from fellow DJ’s along the way. He followed this by extensive gigs in the UK and a busy studio schedule producing music for Channel 4 (Talk Back), Renault (TV advert) and Sony Playstation (Gran Turismo 4).

A.Skillz kicked off 2005 in January with a mini-mix for Annie Mac

Annie Mac

Annie Mac is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.-Personal life:Annie Mac was born in Dublin,...

 that was later voted best mini-mix of the year by Radio 1 listeners, beating industry heavyweights such as Basement Jaxx

Basement Jaxx

Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...

, Mylo

Mylo

Myles MacInnes , better known by the stage name Mylo, is a Scottish electronic musician and record producer.-Career:...

 and Scratch Perverts

Scratch Perverts

The Scratch Perverts are a collective of turntablist DJs from London, formed in 1996 by Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and DJ Renegade.-Biography:The Scratch Perverts originally consisted of 4 members; Tony Vegas, Renegade, First Rate and Mr Thing. The Scratch Perverts later expanded to an 8-member...

. He followed this with a series of remixes including The Fort Knox Five and a re-rub of his own track Simple Things.
Highlight gigs last year included 10:15 (San Francisco), Snow Bombing (Austria) Mystery Lands Festival (Amsterdam) Homelands (UK), Live 8 After Show Party (London).

Discography

Singles:

A.Skillz – It’s your booty day (Limited Edition 7”) (Vinyl Addiction)

A.Skillz & Krafty Kuts – Tricka Technology (Ed Funk remix) / Roll Over Baby (Fort Knox 5 remix)

Albums:

A.Skillz & Krafty Kuts – Tricka Technology (Finger Lickin)

A.Skillz Remixes:

The Nextmen – Amongst The Madness (DMC)

Black Grass – The Finest Thing (Catskills)

A.Skillz & Krafty Kuts – Check Em (Inertia/Finger Lickin’)

The Fort Knox 5 – Radio Free DC (Fort Knox)

Ed Funk Feat. Real Elements – Put That (Duff Note)

DJ Yoda – Tiptoes (Antidote)

DJ Mix Albums

A.Skillz & Krafty Kuts – Exclusive CD for Boxfresh

A.Skillz – Finger Lickin’ Presents Fresh Traxx

Singles

It's Your Booty-day (2003)

Simple Things / Peaches (2005)

Happiness / Got The Rhythm (2008)