DJ Sharkey
Encyclopedia
Sharkey is a British record producer
, disc jockey
, and rapper. Sharkey co-created a style of hardcore techno
known as freeform or freeform hardcore.
scene in the 1990s. This led both Sharkey and Hixxy to being signed by the UK's leading dance music label, React Music, and the pair released "Bonkers
", the first in a series of albums which has become the best-selling hardcore compilation series of all time. "Revolutions", a release on React, reached 53 in the UK charts, and Sharkey consequently released the album "Hard Life" in 1998.
Sharkey also produced mixes for Bonkers 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17
. Volumes 4 and 5 achieved silver sales status in the UK with Bonkers 3 reaching gold status.
He established a relationship with the up-and-coming DJ Kevin Energy in 1998, and the pair were, with several other DJs, instrumental in the creation of the Freeform
genre of hardcore (a term which was coined by Sharkey himself). This moved the sound away from cheesier sounds of happy hardcore
to a faster, more layered, technically more complex sound. A major keystone of the freeform movement is The Nu Energy Collective, of which Sharkey and Kevin Energy are the best-known faces, and the freeform sound played a lead role in the renaissance of the hardcore sound in the early 2000s.
As well as that, Sharkey also makes time for various projects, most notably, putting a number of unknown but talented musicians through a self devised music technology course some 18 months in length. Periodically, Sharkey announces he is looking for a new studio trainee and then picks the most promising from the applications he receives. The winning applicant is then comprehensively schooled. During that time, his students receive one on one training on every aspect of music technology needed to succeed in the field of Hard Dance music production and engineering.
Sharkey has performed in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
2001 he made his first appearance on the eurodance
compilation Dancemania
series, at Speed 6
, along with Hixxy
.
DJ Sharkey was invited to mix on BBC Radio 1
in 2003, performing John Peel
's Essential Mix (Peel was a noted admirer of hardcore). He also hosted a hardcore special alongside Hixxy some years later, where he admitted to farting in Chris Moyles chair live on air.
In January 2011 Sharkey announced his retirement from Hardcore and Freeform. He will be making one last tour, taking him to various countries around the world and will then retire near September 2011. He is currently training to become a Teacher so he can pass his knowledge and skills onto people to make music in the future.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, and rapper. Sharkey co-created a style of hardcore techno
Hardcore techno
Hardcore techno is a type of electronic music typified by the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples...
known as freeform or freeform hardcore.
Career
Sharkey initially became known as an MC at hardcore rave events in Great Britain in 1993. In 1995, he moved into music production, teaming up with DJ Hixxy to release the track "Toytown", which proved one of the biggest signature tunes of the UK's happy hardcoreHappy hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as happycore, is a genre of music typified by a very fast tempo , often coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics. Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore techno, which tend to be "darker". It is typically in...
scene in the 1990s. This led both Sharkey and Hixxy to being signed by the UK's leading dance music label, React Music, and the pair released "Bonkers
Bonkers (compilation)
The Bonkers series was one of the leading happy hardcore compilation series in the UK. The first release was in 1996 on record label React , it was available on 2xCD, 2xTC and 4xLP formats...
", the first in a series of albums which has become the best-selling hardcore compilation series of all time. "Revolutions", a release on React, reached 53 in the UK charts, and Sharkey consequently released the album "Hard Life" in 1998.
Sharkey also produced mixes for Bonkers 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17
Bonkers 17: Re-Booted
Bonkers 17: Re-Booted is the seventeenth edition of the Bonkers hardcore compilation series Released on a three CD format, Bonkers 17: Re-Booted features six DJs pairing up for three back to back mixes spanning a wide variety of hardcore styles.It is only the second compilation in the series not to...
. Volumes 4 and 5 achieved silver sales status in the UK with Bonkers 3 reaching gold status.
He established a relationship with the up-and-coming DJ Kevin Energy in 1998, and the pair were, with several other DJs, instrumental in the creation of the Freeform
Freeform Hardcore
Freeform Hardcore is a term used to describe a subgenre of Happy Hardcore UK Hardcore. The genre developed gradually as conventional Hardcore slowly became more influenced by trance. The music is generally more instrumental, being known for its 4/4 beat, prominent acid lines, and often rolling bass...
genre of hardcore (a term which was coined by Sharkey himself). This moved the sound away from cheesier sounds of happy hardcore
Happy hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as happycore, is a genre of music typified by a very fast tempo , often coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics. Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore techno, which tend to be "darker". It is typically in...
to a faster, more layered, technically more complex sound. A major keystone of the freeform movement is The Nu Energy Collective, of which Sharkey and Kevin Energy are the best-known faces, and the freeform sound played a lead role in the renaissance of the hardcore sound in the early 2000s.
As well as that, Sharkey also makes time for various projects, most notably, putting a number of unknown but talented musicians through a self devised music technology course some 18 months in length. Periodically, Sharkey announces he is looking for a new studio trainee and then picks the most promising from the applications he receives. The winning applicant is then comprehensively schooled. During that time, his students receive one on one training on every aspect of music technology needed to succeed in the field of Hard Dance music production and engineering.
Sharkey has performed in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
2001 he made his first appearance on the eurodance
Eurodance
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
compilation Dancemania
Dancemania
Dancemania is a series of remix compilation albums by i-DANCE. The series deals primarily with dance music, especially eurodance. Despite its tracks have been made by various musicians from all over the world mainly from the European continent, the albums have been released exclusively in Japan.The...
series, at Speed 6
Dancemania Speed
Dancemania Speed is a sub-series of Toshiba EMI's Dancemania compilation series. This series features faster, further remixed versions of recordings from previously released Dancemania albums or faster remixed covers of various famous songs...
, along with Hixxy
Hixxy
Hixxy or DJ Hixxy, born Ian Hicks, is a British UK Hardcore and previously happy hardcore DJ and musician from Portsmouth, England....
.
DJ Sharkey was invited to mix on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
in 2003, performing John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's Essential Mix (Peel was a noted admirer of hardcore). He also hosted a hardcore special alongside Hixxy some years later, where he admitted to farting in Chris Moyles chair live on air.
In January 2011 Sharkey announced his retirement from Hardcore and Freeform. He will be making one last tour, taking him to various countries around the world and will then retire near September 2011. He is currently training to become a Teacher so he can pass his knowledge and skills onto people to make music in the future.