Phonica mix 124 is a truly special edition from not just one of London’s finest collectors and selectors but one of our long time regulars; Nick The Record.
Not only has Nick been a loyal friend of our shop in the years we have been open, he has also been one of the driving forces behind the London scene for nearly 30 years. Dealing records professionally to some of the biggest DJs in the world over the years as well as running several labels including his most recent outing Natural House – his knowledge in disco and house is impeccable. He has displayed this in his vast deeply thought out sets over the years be it performing the closing set at some of Japan’s best underground festivals or at his long running night Tangent with friend John Gomez, he is the definition of a digger. We had a chat with Nick about the mix and what he has coming up, even if we had to hold his flight to Japan for a couple of minutes!
Hey Nick, thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what the idea behind it was? Can you tell us a bit about how you usually approach recording a mix or a set?
No grand plan for the mix. I buy new House records at Phonica, so when I think of Phonica that’s what I think of. So mostly newer stuff, mostly House.
What are your preferred methods for finding new music—do you still enjoy digging around in dusty crates, or do you prefer to buy online?
In person & online for new music & old. Discogs, Bandcamp, Promo files. Buying entire collections and listening to the stuff I don’t know (record dealer is my day job) & also relistening to things. Sometimes a tune you thought was just okay can pop in a different context.
We usually ask “what are five records you couldn’t live without 👀?”, but what would you say are five records that have shaped your party with John Gomez, Tangent?
I’m about to get on a flight so don’t time to think of five. But see the Tangent comp. There are way more than five on there….
What has been one of your most memorable sets over your career?
There are many, I’ve been lucky. I spent the first couple of summers of the nineties playing at free parties all over the UK. Lots of outdoor parties in Japan. One place we were up a mountain but surrounded by snow capped mountains. A festival I used to do out there called Taicoclub was a special place in the mountains & I played the closing set of the festival for 15 years. More recently, Gjipe at Kala Festival is very special. In a canyon behind the beach.
What do you have up your sleeve for 2024?
It’s been a great summer of gigs. Just heading to Japan now for a mini tour & I’ll play Wonderfruit Festival in Thailand again in December. At home me & John are playing Giant Steps on October 13th & another Tangent at Pickle Factory on October 26th.
Looking forward to it! Thanks Nick!
