DJ NIKKI Beatnik Interview with DJ Sam Young on DJing, new record label Nod Factor & DJ Style...

Today on the blog I am spotlighting a fellow London DJ's talents. DJ Sam Young plays all the main clubs in the West End of London, Boujii's, Bungalow 8 amongst others. He has DJ'd for Elton John and tons of other musicians, events & gigs and is now launching his own record label 'Nod Factor' and making music under his alter- ego Sam Roqwell. Here's what Sam had to say about DJing, making records & style when I caught up with him the other day in Ldn.

NIKKI: Hey Sam, How are you?

SAM: Im great thanks!

NIKKI: The first question a DJ always gets asked is when & how did you first get into DJing?

SAM: I first got into DJing when I was around 14 years old. My older brother made me spend some of xmas money on some rubbish belt drive decks. I then started buying lots of 12''s and LP's and slowly building a collection. It also helped that my Dad had a massive record collection himself and a very eclectic taste in music. So I was always stealing his Marvin Gaye, Tom Tom Club, Albert King and Led Zeppelin LP's.


NIKKI: What was your favourite gig/gigs?

SAM: Back in the day I used to do the Comeplay student night every Thursday at the Bristol Academy. Was a crazy party with 2,500 every week. Great experience. Another would be playing Donatella Versace's personal party at Elton John's house, everyone and there mother was there !

NIKKI: What are your top 3 tunes right now in your DJ bag?

SAM: Here are my top 3 tunes right now...

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)

2. Boris Dlugosch - Bangkok

3. Vanilla Ace - Chillin'

NIKKI: Tell me about Nod Factor your new record label, what is the inspiration behind the label and how did you start it?

SAM: I started Nod Factor because I wanted to put out the music I was making and that of my friends. When I left college I worked at Concept Music for 3 years and eventually ended up signing Kasabian to Sony BMG. So since then and with all the DJing its always been a idea. I'm trying to focus mainly on club music and that of quality.

NIKKI:What type of music are you looking to put out on Nod Factor?

SAM: The first 3 releases are very Tech House, Progressive, and we just did the promo of the Feral Youth EP which is very Fidget Electro. But I'm trying not to be genre specific, so will hopefully put out some cool dubstep, hip hop and electronica.

NIKKI: Tell me about Nod Factor's releases so far..

SAM: Our first release was 'Life Support' and 'Funky P' which was by my alter ego Sam Roqwell and my production partner I Sancho, these were very tech house and progressive tracks, and the second was 'Roqology' and 'Don't Stop', both releases were supported by Kissy Sell Out, Groove Armada, Erick Morillo and Laurent Garnier.Our 3rd release is by The Ferrell Youth, this is a three track EP of fidget electro and electronica. Got some good reactions so far.We have forthcoming stuff coming from Vanilla Ace and XO Man who is managed by Arthur Baker.

NIKKI: So, what is your vision for your new label Nod Factor? Great name by the way..

SAM: I'd like Nod Factor to grow gradually and keep putting out quality releases. Then hopefully start putting on Nod Factor nights at great clubs and taking it around the world. I will also be doing a limted edition clothing line with the logo.

NIKKI: Who would be your dream artist to work with on Nod Factor?

SAM: I'm a big fan of Prince, so maybe get him in to lay down some 80's vibes over new school beats, that would be a dream !

NIKKI: and onto DJ Fashion lol...How would you describe your style?

SAM: I like to dress urban chic when I'm DJing. I'm a big fan of baseball jackets, cool t-shirts and funky shirts.
Not really a brand guy but I love Stussy, Kid Robot, BBC etc.

NIKKI: Are you a Shoes or Sneakers/ Trainers man?

SAM: I probably only own two pairs of shoes ! I have way too many trainers, Nike, Converse, Adidas, Reebok...even the odd cool random brand from the far east. DJing in shoes is a no no, you have to be comfortable !

NIKKI: What are your favourite shops?

SAM: My fave shops in London are Supra on Portobello Road and the old Stussy shop in Covent Garden (may it RIP), its being turned into Kid Robot now, which isn't a bad thing. But nothing against Topshop etc but you'd never catch me in there !

NIKKI: Do you have any style tips?

SAM: Wear what makes you feel good, be your own man. Nothing worse when I'm DJing and see all these guys trying to dress like something off TV. Bands like Jodeci etc back in the day had a great style, Kanye West is probably the best dresser now in music.

NIKKI: Thanks Sam & good luck with Nod Factor!

Red Louboutins..to cheer us up on a rainy Sunday

I cant resist a red shoe- available at Browns for the very reasonable price ;) of £1005 ish

Puffy's new video for Love Come Down

Henroc at Bad Boy records send me this tune and the video link a while ago and I forgot to post it. I like the tune, the beat in the verse is particularly good. The only thing is it is called 'Love Come Down' the same name as one of my very favourite tunes by Evelyn Champagne King, which has been my ringtone for yrs and makes me happy :)
I do like this record though and also the way the video is shot looks quite good, but I guess it should with $$$$$dough that has probably been spent on it- they could have done better with the styling tho, should have teefed Evelyn's look :)...see what you guys think xx
Big Shout to Henroc.
DJ NIKKI Beatnik



The Wonderful Evelyn 'Champagne King'

YUK YUK YUK- Posh's Bunion Onions & Speech Debelle's Debarcle at Take That

Today in the Daily Mail, there are reports of Posh Spice finally having to get the 'Onions' dealt with.

I think we all remember the onion bunions being outed on Mrs Becks feet years ago...now it seems they are so bad that she is going to have the operation to shave the bones and re-set the toes. Which is a big old operation, very painful & takes months to get over. But still she refuses to ditch the heels..I have seen many 'Bunion disasters' poking out of sandals over the years in clubs. I say Ladies- embrace the trainer/ sneaker (US peeps) Posh could do with a new look/ stylist anyway. I think a nice pair of high tops would do her feet a massive favour.
Posh's usual skyscraper heels















Posh- bout' time you got with the programme and got some high tops, you will look younger & fresher girl



















It seems Speeche Debelle has been getting in the bad books of Take That fans :( I feel sorry for her actually. If you dont know, Speech was at the Singstar launch for Take That's new game. James Corden was hosting and said something quite unkind as Speech left the stage. I gather she didnt know the lyrics of the Take That song too well, but who cares?? (400 Take That obsessive fans it seems) If James Corden really did cuss her as she was going off stage, then that's not nice. Here is her version of events...

Wiley's new Video- Take That feat Chew Fu

Here is the new Video from Wiley- called 'Take That'
It's nicely shot, will rock a dance floor and Wiley looks cute in it. Simple tings..
DJ NIKKI Beatnik xx

Check out the Dinky Loops..I really like their music, very refreshing...

I came across the Dinky Loops a little while ago and I loved what I heard. Loved the name & their videos. Dinky Loop's description of themselves is that they 'are committed to writing the simplest music possible, not lightweight, not disposable. just simple'. I kinda love that too :)

I caught up with Dinky Loop & asked them what is behind their music. Check out their Video's too below, I can so imagine their music all over adverts in the near future...
DJ NIKKI Beatnik

NIKKI:Tell me about the Dinky Loops, What kind of band/ producers are you?
DINKY LOOPS: We are two girls, dinky jules, dinky t and one one guy, dinky. we are a band who are absolutely devoted to writing the most perfect, simple and pure melodies possible. that is how and why we started making music.

NIKKI: How did you start making music? What music/ artists are you influenced by?
DINKY LOOPS: We are inspired by all the best melodies rather than bands per se. new order's temptation and ceremony, blondie's union city blue, kraftwerk's answering the beach boys "fun, fun, fun" with "fahr, fahr, fahr," joy division's atmosphere, smashing pumpkins 1979, the trammps sample and how it was used by the game featuring 50 cent and lyrical simplicity like kris kristofferson's "i'd trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday"...

NIKKI: Tell me about the new record 'Born To Stand Out'?
DINKY LOOPS: This record is for all the real heroes that were born to stand out but have remained undiscovered...


NIKKI: Whats the future for The Loops?
DINKY LOOPS: Nobody knows the future, least of all, us...

NIKKI: Thanks Dinky Loops
DINKY LOOPS: love from all the loops xx

DJ NIKKI Beatnik Interview with Kelis...

After covering Kelis' new song yesterday (see previous post below), I did a little interview with her to find out more about her new single Acapella and her forcoming album.

This is K's fifth studio album, due out in the spring of 2010, on will.i.am/Interscope Records since she split with Jive in 07'. In addition to Dave Guetta who has produced Acapella, she is working with Burnz, DJ Ammo, Boys Noize, Diplo and Switch, and Free School.

As anyone who regularly reads my blog or knows me will know- Kelis and I go back a long way. My friend Liz, who I used to do club nights with for years (57, Eve, Funky Buddha), and I met her about 12yrs ago and have all remained friends ever since. We have been through alot of nights out, shopping trips, gigs, outfits and shoes since then, so I wanted to find out what the deal is with her new record..and what we can expect styling wise for the new Album...

NIKKI: The new picture on the iamkelis.com website for Acapella is hot, I love it.
KELIS: Thanks Mamma

NIKKI: What was your inspiration behind Acapella?
KELIS: uuuuum.... I was pregnant while recording the majority of this Album and I couldnt help but think of my new baby and the new life I was about to be living. Being single, being a Mom all factored in to the feeling and lyrics of the Album.

NIKKI: You have an amazing new look and hair for the single shoot..What can we expect to see from the Video for the new single? You are shooting it soon right?
KELIS: I honestly am not sure on what look I will have for the video yet lol



Kelis new style for The Acapella Single







NIKKI: Who is your Favourite Designer at the moment? When we were in LA you got a great Mark Jacobs frog bag & lots of vintage- I know you love Vintage, in London you bought green Balenciaga shoes for your gig (see pic below) & I know you love your Westwood, so what you feeling right now?























KELIS: I dont really have a favourite designer, the same way I dont have a favourite food
NIKKI: I know! You cook & eat everything!! (kelis is a fully qualified chef) and you are so skinny! but you work- out like a soldier...

KELIS: LOL, it just depends on my mood. I have been wearing a lot of different variations on the thigh high boots recently though.
Topshop Suede Thigh High Boots £120 & Black leather Jimmy Choo for H&M

NIKKI: So, any shoe tips or shoes we should know about? (this is our main texting topic over the years BTW)

KELIS: I just got a pair of Silver & Gold Louboutins, you should see them, they are offensive!

NIKKI: Im jealous already, send me pics!

KELIS: I have also been rocking the red Balamin ankle boots.
NIKKI : gggrrrrr I love those damn boots ;)

Some of Kelis' Favourite Pieces


Louboutins heels...

Kelis' Mark Jacobs Frog Bag, it is this quirky style which her fans & fashionista's love

Kelis' Album (as yet untitled) will be out in the Spring of 2010.

“Before you, my whole life was acapella/ Now a symphony is the only song to sing,” KELIS- Acapella

In LA on Hollywood Bolevard

Kelis New Record- Acapella

Had to blog this, new tunage from one of my best mates in the world Kelis.
Acapella- Produced by Dave 'I Get Around' Guetta :)

Here are some pics from our days of hanging out, Liz Mendez, Cassie, Jada, Kelis & Me...funny funny ones. Love you guys.

Lust Haves this week. DJ NIKKI Beatnik: note to self, you do not need more shoes :)

Here are some cute things that I feel might make life seem very bright- even in London wind and rain. Lust Haves this week:

Im a sucker for Sweat pants & have been wearing the American Apparel ones for a few years, Im loving these ones from Deisel though, available at Asos for around £75.

Below- The American Apparel- Jumper Pant, one of my favourites

More AA..It's true to say I own half or most of American Apparel, it's just so damn addicive, annonymous and goes with everything. These lace bodysuits are KILLING it. I want them both and I had to include lots of pics.

My other fixation is Vivienne Westwood shoes, these Napolean boots are not cheap, but are so divine, I had to include them. I have the over the knee versions from last year. They look amazing, but are pretty hard to walk in! These babies retail at £480 and are available at Urban Outfitters.

If you feel like taking out a second mortgage or are married to a Coca Cola league footballer then these Louboutins are a pretty dope shoe. FYI: Primark have done a copy in black & grey, in stores now for £19.

I also want these heart tights, so cute and will go with everything. £10 at Urban Outfitters

Here are some more super- fly items I love this week:
Shakuhachi Fringe Dress £165 Urban Outfitters

and something for the boys & girls..the Adidas Metro Attitude. Did you ever see such beautiful colours on a shoe? They make me happy just looking at them.

My Thursday night out cont....Mariah Carey's Party at Jalouse, London, Nov 2009

After I went to the Reebok Pump Party on Thursday I went off into the West End to spin for Mariah's Party at Jalouse nightclub on Hanover Square, London.
There were about 400 people outside trying to get in alongside press & pappz & some of my fabulous friends who had really dressed up for the occassion.



Statis and I had a bit of cheek from the jumped up guest lists girls who were getting their knickers in a twist busy doing nothing (seriously, if you cant handle your job of ticking people's names off a list- dont do it! :) until one very charming door guy let us through the rope chain- it was another matter trying to get my fabulous friends in, but thats a whole different story.
















As I walked into the club, I could barely move to get my reocrds to the DJ booth it was so busy. The crowd varied from UK artists to choice fm & kiss radio dj's to chelsea bankers, tv presenters and Mariah fans. I kinda like a mixture of people, I think it makes a party more interesting, but one thing we all had in common was we were jammed in like sardines.


I bagsy'd myslef the step into the DJ booth (not even the actual booth!) and plotted there.
The Dj's were given exacting instructions as to what records to play and what not to play- which is always the way with artist parties (no other female artists in competition with said artist etc, stick to hip hop and Rnb we were told, no house- apparently Mariah hates house) but I have never been one to stick to the rules, so I wanted to play for the crowd so that they enjoyed themselves.

Most people were there just to catch a glimpse of Mariah or to do business, ei: be seen in the right places by the music industry, but there were some people who were just there to go to a cool party and have fun. Like the owner of Jalouse who wanted his members and crowd to have a great night.
When I got there the resident DJ Hery Reph had already played and Shortee Blitz was already in full swing.
Then the shouts from the door 'Mariah's coming Mariah's coming' were heard from the DJ booth and Shortee put on Mariah's 'Fantasy' remix.

Here is the video of Mariah coming into Jalouse- sorry about the quality, I was so squashed in the DJ booth! The funniest party of the night for me was Alan Carr girating on a table with his shirt undone to the waist:) love it



Mariah was coming...
and so was her whole entourage, I didnt really recognise any of them except I saw my old friend Idris Elba in her section after they had all settled down- oh and Louis Walsh heh heh..

I have spun at a few things for Mariah and I think she seems like a very nice lady, I think the hype is all created by her PR, record companies & everyone else. But it seems to work- people love it.
Mariah stayed around 45 minutes and was swept out as quickly as she came in and then off into a Rolls Royce Phantom and off home- I bet she stopped for a kebab on the way though :)

The club was actually more fun after all the commotion had calmed down and everyone else started to enjoy themselves. I span everything from Jay Z to Prince, Depeche Mode, New Young Pony Club, vinez Cartel & lots in beteween.
I had a fun night.
Shouts to Lance Lewis, Freddie & Anthony, the resident DJ's at Jalouse and all the people who came and showed me love.
DJ NIKKI Beatnik xx












Photos: Lance Lewis- party organiser, Stylist Natasha Chang Lewis, Anthony- looking dapper & Beth riding home in the Mariah Bentley!