What’s in the DJ’s box: Simon Baker

What’s in the DJ’s box: Simon Baker

15 August, 2008 | 6.31AM

• Written by: Ben Raven
• Filed under: Music News: dj box, simon baker

Ever since scoring a huge club hit with Cocoon Recordings favourite ‘Plastik’, Simon Baker has been a DJ in demand.

To find out why we sneak you backstage for a peek in his record box.

He might seem like a fly-in to dance music’s top calibre of DJs thanks to a brace of big club tracks last year.

But Simon Baker is no wet-nosed recent arrival.

As a DJ he’s been playing clubs around his native Leeds in the North of England for years.

And his label Infant Records is on its fifteenth release.

With a hard drive full of new tackle ready to go, it’s not likely he’s going to be going anywhere else anytime soon.

A collaboration he’s done with Jamie Jones is currently stoking fires in promo land, and he has new releases due on Leftroom, recently revived R&S Records, and his own Infant Records label soon.

He’s also remixing Radio Slave’s instant classic ‘Bell Clap Dance’ and playing taste-making clubs like Frankfurt’s incendiary Robert Johnson in October.

Favourite set opener?

I don’t really have one. I start with something different every time, but I’ll always start deeper and build the set from there - deep, but never boring.

Secret weapon only you have a copy of?

It was the Todd Terje remix of my track ‘ Plastik’ until very recently. 

It’s the total bollocks!

It’s so hard these days to have an exclusive with all the file sharing that goes on, but I would have to say ‘Kaskazi’ a track by Jamie Jones and myself is probably my biggest secret weapon at the moment.

It goes off.

It’s coming out on Get Physical’s new digital label Get Digital and some limited white labels will also be doing the rounds.

Trippiest record?

Probably Luke Solomon’s remix on Rebirth ( UND ‘Fox In The Box (Luke Solomon Remix)’ ). It spun my head out when I listened to it first time, in a good way!

Killer vocal track?

SIS ‘Standing,’ [a forthcoming single from SIS feature a r ’n’ b style vocal sample].

The way he’s worked the vocals is amazing. Its very clever and works perfectly.

Bassline weapon?

Well, I will say my track ‘Plastik’, it still works very nicely when I play it.

I know it’s kinda been and gone, but I think I am allowed to drop it now and again!

Also Down Seq (coming out soon on Leftroom Limited).

I’ve been playing this for about a year but it’s still a favourite of mine. 

When the bass kicks in after the crazy break, it goes off.

Sounds great on a good quality sound system!!

The record that will never leave your box as long as you live?

I’ve got a few.

I play Josh Wink ‘Freak’ quite a bit.

Mainly for the ‘Freak’ acapella, but the original still sounds ace.

Also, Metro Area ‘Muira’ is another.  Classic!

The track you always get asked to play that you don’t mind playing?

I usually get asked for one of my own.

I don’t get asked for anything else on a regular basis. 

‘Confused’, ‘Plastik’, and my new Cocoon release ‘U’ are generally the ones at the moment.

Oldie that everyone else has probably forgotten?

I’ve started playing Todd Terry‘s ‘Back to the Beat’ again. 

It’s never forgotten though, and one of my favourites from yesteryear.

Also Jaydee’s ‘Plastik Dreams’, one of my all time favourite records. Killer!

I heard on the grapevine Audion will be remixing this classic on the relaunched R&S label very soon. 

It’s a label close to my heart which I also have a release with soon.

Get out of jail card?

At the moment I would have to say Jamie’s and my new track. 

Also, another winner for me is ‘Sexvibe’ on Area Remote and also Salt City Orchestra’s classic ‘The Book (Matt Playford’s Rewrite The Book mix).’

A quality break down that gets the club jumping.

Your “one more tune” end of night finisher?

Jamie Lloyd ‘May I (Quarion Remix)’. Love it!

Total hands in the air tackle! Can you tell I’m an old raver?!

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