We've all had a sliding door moment - but how many have led to almost two decades of production and DJ brilliance?
Darren Clark's came as a teenager, when he went shopping for a keyboard with his Dad in Auckland, New Zealand.
Had they not wandered into the shop where Paul Radley was working, Clark might not have made the connection that kickstarted a lifelong love of deep house - and drove him to become a perfection-crazed studio scientist seeking the ultimate formula for smooth, deep, soulful grooves.
With Radley as mentor, Clark set about discovering the galaxy of star producers dominating the crates of discerning DJs in the early years of the 21st century.
Schooled up on the likes of Ron Trent, Charles Webster, Moodymann, Playin 4 the City and Franck Roger, Clark developed a distinctive style - on the decks and at the mixing desk.
His debut EP was on Omi Tutu, the New Jersey label run by Lou Gorbea and part of the legendary Louie Vega's family of imprints.
Back home, Clark was one of the foundation artists on Auckland's Grass Green Recordings and contributed multiple releases to fellow Kiwi label Them On The Hill.
He's continued to hone his style - and geek out over analogue gear - favouring sample-based work characterised by impeccable production and a very specific sense of space and sound.
Clark's DJ sets, meanwhile, have become refreshingly eclectic - with the ultra-underground house sounds that became his trademark at Auckland's respected Mum's The Word parties growing to include something of a Balearic flavour.

Future Bound Ep

Future Bound

Auckland-based Black Sands is a showcase for the deep tech movement bringing the underground vibes to New Zealand’s never-hotter electronic music production scene.

A platform for established producers and rising stars, the label is part of the Natural Rhythms family of imprints that also includes Grass Green and Electric Orange.

Its mission is heady, smooth minimal grooves - shimmering synths riding precision-tooled bottom ends. Ride the wave!

New Zealand music label-House/Jackin House & Nu Disco
electricorangenz@gmail.com

We are based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Crossing the divide between Disco and Groove based Deep House . Lots of new and interesting tunes coming from us.

AKA Leon D. Producer, Musician, DJ. Auckland, Aotearoa - New Zealand.

Leon Dahl DJs regularly around NZ playing original disco, funk, soul, boogie & house music and being a vinyl junkie prefers to play vinyl-only sets.

Production credits include remixes for Little Bark, and release on Fingerman's Hot Digits Eight digital compilation.
Keep an eye our for upcoming releases on Kiwi label Grass Green.

Leon Dahl cut his musical teeth playing guitar in rock band Fat Mannequin, which introduced him to both the live stage and studio environment from age 16.
In '98, frustrated by the lack of tonal variety in guitars, Leon D swapped his for a collection of keyboards and samplers, and the rest is history. As a natural progression from producing dance music, Leon D started DJing late 1998.

Leon Dahl has clocked up DJ support slots for many international acts including Ian Pooley, Eddie Matos, FC Kahuna, DJ Joshua, Dano, Miles Hollway and Jonathan Yeo.

Part of the Cuffy & Leon D production team.

Cuffy and Leon teamed up in 1999 combining their gear and knowledge in pursuit of creating their own sound. With a number of vinyl and CD releases in the golden era of NZ dance music they crafted their sound from electronica to disco.

By day, Leon is Product Manager for the Recording, Synth, DJ & Livesound brands at Rockshop, New Zealand's largest musical instrument retailer.