Slipmatt
Encyclopedia
Slipmatt is an English
happy hardcore
(and more recently rave breaks
) producer
and DJ
based in Essex
, England
. He was one half of rave
act SL2
, who had a 1992 UK hit with "On A Ragga Tip".
. The single "Do That Dance", was released in that same year. This was followed by the number 11 UK chart hit "DJs Take Control" / "Way In My Brain". The follow-up single "On a Ragga Tip", reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
in April 1992. As a result of their chart success, the band were propelled into the media spotlight and made appearances on Top of the Pops
and other television shows. SL2's chart success continued with a remix of "Way in My Brain", which made the top twenty in the UK chart.
Amidst the chart success, Slipmatt cemented his name on the Breakbeat hardcore
DJ circuit and was a regular at major Fantazia and Dreamscape events. In 1993, Nelson set up a new project, the SMD series (Slip Matt's Dubs). The first release, SMD#1, sold over 10,000 copies, with a further three installments following in the series. A compilation album
collected these recordings.
1994 saw the release of "Breaking Free" and "Hear Me" on Slipmatt and Lime's own Awesome Records imprint, the former being embraced by Jungle
and Happy Hardcore
DJs alike. The tracks were later remixed by DJ SS
(Formation Records) and DJ Seduction (Impact Records) respectively. By 1995 Slipmatt's DJ sets had veared strongly towards the Happy Hardcore genre and Nelson set up Universal Records to represent this burgeoning style. Releases from Force & Styles (as A Sense of Summer), DJ Sy & Unknown, DJ Demo and others followed. The tracks "Breaking Free" and "Hear Me" were again remixed, this time by Ramos & Supreme.
As Slipmatt, he has compiled and mixed several albums, including United Dance Anthems 1 & 2 and Moondance True Rave Anthems. Slipmatt's remixes include "Crowd Control" by Ramos, Supreme and the Sunset Regime on Hectic Records, "My Own" by Dj Seduction on Impact records and "Take Me Away" by Jimmy J and Crul-t on Kniteforce Recordings.
In 1997, Nelson began presenting his own radio show on Kiss 100
. Nelson has played in the US, Australia, Thailand, and around Europe. He has DJ'd at Ibiza
's Space
, Es Paradise, Eden, Summum, and West End clubs.
In 2003, Slipmatt's track, "Space", peaked at #41 in the UK Singles Chart.
Slipmatt has DJ'd at Fantazia, Raindance
, Moondance, Dreamscape,Hardcore Heaven, Helter Skelter, One Nation, United Dance, World Dance & Slammin Vinyl raves. Breakcore
artist Shitmat
is a clear parody of Slipmatt's name.
, and received a nomination for 'extreme international competition' by Muzik Magazine. He has been voted in the world top 20 DJ Magazine poll, received the title of 'Best Remixer' from the readers of M8, and an award for 'Outstanding Contribution to the Industry' from Kiss 100
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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...
(and more recently rave breaks
Rave Breaks
Rave breaks is a genre aiming to incorporate and combine elements of old skool rave music with modern breaks. The music is largely composed of a simple breakbeat, intense bassline sounds, melodic piano lines, staccato synthesizer riffs, and vocals...
) producer
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...
and DJ
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...
based in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was one half of rave
Rave music
Rave music may either refer the late 1980s genre or any genre of electronic dance music that may be played at an electronic dance party such as a rave. Very rarely, the term is used to refer to less electronic related genres glam, powerpop, psychedelic rock and dub music parties...
act SL2
SL2
SL2 was the name of a hardcore/rave music act in the early 1990s from London, England. They also recorded, remixed or produced under the names Slipmatt & Lime and T.H.C.-Background:...
, who had a 1992 UK hit with "On A Ragga Tip".
History
Nelson began his professional DJ career in 1989 as the resident DJ for Raindance rave event. His first music production was in 1989 where Slipmatt collaborated with DJ Lime forming SL2SL2
SL2 was the name of a hardcore/rave music act in the early 1990s from London, England. They also recorded, remixed or produced under the names Slipmatt & Lime and T.H.C.-Background:...
. The single "Do That Dance", was released in that same year. This was followed by the number 11 UK chart hit "DJs Take Control" / "Way In My Brain". The follow-up single "On a Ragga Tip", reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in April 1992. As a result of their chart success, the band were propelled into the media spotlight and made appearances on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
and other television shows. SL2's chart success continued with a remix of "Way in My Brain", which made the top twenty in the UK chart.
Amidst the chart success, Slipmatt cemented his name on the Breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore is a derivative of the acid house and techno, of the late 1980s and early 1990s, that combines four-to-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats, and is associated with the UK rave scene.-The rave scene:...
DJ circuit and was a regular at major Fantazia and Dreamscape events. In 1993, Nelson set up a new project, the SMD series (Slip Matt's Dubs). The first release, SMD#1, sold over 10,000 copies, with a further three installments following in the series. A compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
collected these recordings.
1994 saw the release of "Breaking Free" and "Hear Me" on Slipmatt and Lime's own Awesome Records imprint, the former being embraced by Jungle
Oldschool jungle
Jungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
and 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...
DJs alike. The tracks were later remixed by DJ SS
DJ SS
DJ SS is an English drum and bass DJ and record producer. SS is short for Scratchenstein, which is a name he used when he was a hip hop scratch DJ, and a part of the hip hop act, The Formation Five, whose name inspired the name of his record label...
(Formation Records) and DJ Seduction (Impact Records) respectively. By 1995 Slipmatt's DJ sets had veared strongly towards the Happy Hardcore genre and Nelson set up Universal Records to represent this burgeoning style. Releases from Force & Styles (as A Sense of Summer), DJ Sy & Unknown, DJ Demo and others followed. The tracks "Breaking Free" and "Hear Me" were again remixed, this time by Ramos & Supreme.
As Slipmatt, he has compiled and mixed several albums, including United Dance Anthems 1 & 2 and Moondance True Rave Anthems. Slipmatt's remixes include "Crowd Control" by Ramos, Supreme and the Sunset Regime on Hectic Records, "My Own" by Dj Seduction on Impact records and "Take Me Away" by Jimmy J and Crul-t on Kniteforce Recordings.
In 1997, Nelson began presenting his own radio show on Kiss 100
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
. Nelson has played in the US, Australia, Thailand, and around Europe. He has DJ'd at 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...
's Space
Space (Ibiza nightclub)
Space is a nightclub on Ibizaowned bi STANCA. It was awarded "Best Global Club" at the International Dance Music Awards in 2005 and again in 2006...
, Es Paradise, Eden, Summum, and West End clubs.
In 2003, Slipmatt's track, "Space", peaked at #41 in the UK Singles Chart.
Slipmatt has DJ'd at Fantazia, Raindance
Raindance (rave)
Raindance are British Rave event organisers. They were one of the best known rave names on the Rave scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s....
, Moondance, Dreamscape,Hardcore Heaven, Helter Skelter, One Nation, United Dance, World Dance & Slammin Vinyl raves. Breakcore
Breakcore
Breakcore is a style of electronic music largely influenced by hardcore techno, drum and bass and Intelligent dance music. Its sound is largely characterized by a high-tempo, well-timed mingling of distorted kick drums , break beats arranged from samples of the Amen break, and audio samples from a...
artist Shitmat
Shitmat
Shitmat is the performing name of Henry Collins, aka Henry Collinz, a breakcore artist from Brighton, England.-Biography:His music, sometimes referred to as "Mashcore", is known for the humorous use of samples atypical of "serious" electronic artists and deliberate use of clichés...
is a clear parody of Slipmatt's name.
Awards
He has been voted 'Best DJ' by both Dream magazine and M8M8 (magazine)
tilllate Magazine is a global dance music, club culture and lifestyle magazine. It was established in 1988.Its demographic is 18- to 25-year-olds, and it includes fashion stories and artist interviews, club or technology reviews, and coverage of current and predicted trends.The magazine has hosted...
, and received a nomination for 'extreme international competition' by Muzik Magazine. He has been voted in the world top 20 DJ Magazine poll, received the title of 'Best Remixer' from the readers of M8, and an award for 'Outstanding Contribution to the Industry' from Kiss 100
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
.
External links
- DJ Slipmatt - DJ profile Fantazia
- Discogs - Discography
- slipmatt.net - Artist home page
- HappyHardcore.com - Extensive discography + DJ performance info