MATT LS

Matt L-S

For accomplished London DJ Matt L-S, the dancefloor is much, much more than a square of loud, danceable space.

It is Community. Spirit. Immersion.

It is the essential foundation for soulfully powerful dance music that stirs hearts, minds and bodies, brings people closer together and lifts them from the oft difficult day-to-day.

The dancefloor as catalyst for change isn’t exactly a new concept but in an era of big brand and big business it is forgotten more than you’d think. Matt has been rooted in London’s vibrant underground house music scene for over 30 years now, understanding well how melody, vocal and rhythm can drive priceless experiences when programmed and played with love above all else.

Of late, his profile as DJ and performer has surged further and faster than ever before. From vibin’ sets at revered Brixton club Phonox and Hackney Wick’s cult canal-side hideout No90 to more intimate jams at Shoreditch’s Timber Loft and - beyond borders – a standout performance at Paris’s legendary Djoon ‘experience’, Matt combines a real feel for the groove – across house’s fullest deep and soulful spectrums – with insane crate-digging knowledge. All this, of course, follows expansive performances at major global showcases ADE and Miami’s Winter Music Conference. Having played alongside luminaries including Timmy Regisford, Glenn Underground and Atjazz, Matt’s sets consistently twist and turn, taking followers on a proper journey. It’s taste-making stagecraft borne not only of his considerable years behind the ‘ones and twos’ but his time as renowned promoter and label owner.

Let’s rewind…. Matt’s early break in the 1990s playing foundational gigs in some of the
West End’s best loved bars and clubs also translated to daytime industry roles for DMC and Papa Records. Subsequently, he helped Dean Zepherin launch renowned afro and US house-coded imprint Tribe, breaking new artists and throwing major events with headliners such as Black Coffee. In 2012, Matt launched his own suitably-described label and events company, Makin Moves, alongside close friend and fellow DJ Jamesey. The enterprise has thrived, racking up more than 70 events home and away, over 240 digital releases (including those by Trinidadian Deep, Javonntte, Wipe The Needle and Kai Alce) and some seriously sought after vinyl exclusives. And counting….

More than this, Makin’ Moves has firmly established itself today at the epicentre of contemporary UK house music excellence. Built on Matt and Jamsey’s close network of
soulfully-aligned artists and performers – talent young and old - it has forged a platform for new, transportive sounds and events. These continue to inform Matt’s own rich DJ
excursions, where an A&R-like focus on crowd and track-list delivers real-time flow, feeling and fun in equal, joyful measure. Not forgetting his fabled Thursday bi-monthly radio show for House FM, which embraces a wider selection of soulful styles and ideas, as well as special guest singers and selectors.

Matt Langrish-Smith. Makin Moves in all the right ways.

Jamesey

Jamesey has professionally be playing deep and soulful house for more than twenty years, Jamesey got on the decks at the age of 14. Music and DJ’s run in the family citing his first musical influences from his mother and uncles who were all DJ’s on the radio in the early eighties. He says it was always a great vibe listening to his mother in the mornings playing everything from Soul to rare groove and Jazz classics.

Real success didn’t take long to beckon, getting his break on Housefm.net in 2004. As a resident at the Ditch bar (Shoreditch) with Euphoric House Collective (Randy J & Floyd Patterson), opportunity knocked as Jamesey’s talents saw him showcasing at most of the prolific nights in the underground house scene in London. Bookings saw him play at BBE Records’ parties, Soulogic and Kinki Malinki. Making a name for himself took him worldwide performing sets in Sardinia, Barcelona, New York, Paris , Russia, Georgia and Dubai.

As mentioned above it was in 2008 that Jamesey meet Matt through mutual friends and they started to work and dj together at Papa Records events. Then when Matt went onto start Tribe Records he invited Jamesey to be a resident at their events in London and Paris. More recently Jamesey has played in Miami at the Winter Music Conference in 2013, he’s also a regular visitor to NYC where he has played at Bang The Drum in New Jersey. He also makes regular visits to Japan to play at various clubs across the country with his good friend DJ Uchikawa in Japan.

His unique sets set him apart from the other djs in London so a Makin’ Moves party is the only place to catch him spin!

DJ Beloved

Dwayne G Tennant aka (DJ Beloved) at age 11, was an avid record collector and possessed a full DJ setup. By age 15, he was spinning at some of NJ’s local hotspots such as Visions, La Prairie, Sir Richards, Gregory’s,Club 88 as well as local skating rinks. By age 21 he was playing at Montclair, NJ’s posh Diva Lounge where he held down a eight year residency and was the only DJ at Diva Lounge to showcase the club’s first “House Music All Night” affair to capacity crowds. Since then, he has played at such NJ events and venues as: Key Club, Brokers, Red Parrot, Flava Lounge, Club Sensations, Harlem Club, Club Elevation, Exact Nature , Club Movement, Humble Beginnings and NYC events such as Roots with Kevin Hedge & Louie Vega at Club Cielo, Brooklyn Nights, Langstons, BKNY with Tyrone Francis Libation with Ian Friday,Together In Spirit & more. He has played alongside some of dance music’s legendary DJ’s such as Jihad Muhammad, Naeem Johnson, Jellybean Benitez, DJ Disciple, Carlos Sanchez, Timmy Regisford, Ruben Toro, Marlon D and More. 

Besides his love for DJing, mentored by Bobby Wooten, Ce Ce Rogers, Jihad Muhammad and Kevin Hedge, his first production was for Kenny Bobien”s “The Light” in 2011. Beloved’s production and studio engineering discography includes some of R&B & Dance Music’s elite, Stephanie Cooke, Kenny Bobien, Will Downing, Tamar Braxton, Anwar Robinson, China Blac, Gerideau, Viola Sykes, Steven Grate, Monifah, Syleena Johnson, Amel Larrieux, Miranda Nicole, Dwele, Mike City, Sheree Hicks, Tasha Larae and more. His skills include engineering with the likes of Barbara Tucker and Kimara Lovelace to name a few which has expanded into incredible remixes including a remix for Rune, “Heartbroken” featured on Ian Friday’s LP, and chart topping Miranda Nicole - Dance Like You've Been here remix produced with Reggie Steele of Steele Records. Launching his BPM (Beloved Presents Music) monthly event at Newark, NJ’s Coffee Cave in 2012 garnered rave reviews among the dance music industry. He has worked with DJ Kevin Hedge and Louie Vega’s Roots NYC Live weekly Friday night mix show WBLS-FM 107.5 FM as an Assistant Music Programmer/Producer/Engineer. With music production and remix projects at hand, his work with Roots NYC on WBLS, DJ residencies and guest spots, DJ Beloved is definitely a musical dynamo to be reckon with. 

Beloved’s recent endeavors include a string of new releases with his partner Reginald Steele of Steele Records, Jerry Williams, Mike Bizzel & David Drake on both Quantize Recordings/Unquantize bringing his unique and energetic sound to the world with so much more!