Slow Down

161 are a brand new Disco / House band from Manchester, formed by house music veteran Jason Herd. Their debut single, ‘I Love Your Love’, is shimmering, booty shaking Disco house jam packed with all the essential credentials to elevate the vibe, from impassioned sing-a-long vocals, uplifting pianos and live strings to Chic-esque guitar licks and a funky bass groove. Also on the package Jason turns out one of his signature 'Fat Arse Dub’s', amping up the energy, injecting a thundering bass, distorted toms and atmospheric rolls that rumble under old school piano melodies and playfully chopped vocals. 

“It has taken almost two years for everyone to complete 'I Love Your Love’ and the care and detail we’ve all put into the track makes is sound as dynamic live as it does in a DJ set.” - Jason Herd

161 (named after the Manchester dialing code) first came together whilst Weirdo Recordings boss Jason Herd was running a live music venue, where he booked all the artists and formed a Motown Disco Band with some of the best musicians from Manchester and North West. Jason invited Benjamin Smith (Keys) and Jonathon Towers (Bass) to his studio above Sankeys to make some music. A year later with eight instrumentals in the bag, Jason and vocalist Nicole Battick penned 'I Love Your Love whilst sat in a Manchester beer garden downing cold ones in the sunshine, which was later vocalled by Lyndsay Davidson. Now armed with a catalogue of finished original songs primed for release on Weirdo, 161 are ready to unleash their Disco vibes on to the dance floor and will also be performing live as a full 6-14 piece band or a semi live set up.

Jason Herd Presents 161 - I Love Your Love (Original Mix)

Jason Herd (aka Juan Kidd) is no stranger to House Music.  He has gained worldwide acclaim with numerous releases on Defected, Subliminal, Circus and Toolroom alongside a whole string of soulful and underground labels. 
With his feet firmly rooted in the Manchester soulful and vocal house scene he’s the first to say it was hard whilst the next generation of clubber delved straight into the underground or “EDM scene. “I had to keep making Soulful, vocal and piano house even though I wasn’t releasing it”.
This is the reason for releasing and re-mastering those tracks in his “From The Vault” series on his label Weirdo Recordings. Going over these tracks re inspired him to just make the music he loves for himself and there is a whole new set of soulful and piano tracks coming this year.
“I went back to my roots and hooked up with Andy Hickey who has done a lot of my keys over the years and did some of the tracks with him so they have the original magic from my early soulful house days. I’m not trying to get signed to any labels just finish a record I know I would like to dance to. My reasons for making house music have returned to the original ones that got me here and that is for the love, not the money or the gigs”.
“I’ve had a Beatport No1 for weeks with Juan Kidd & Felix Baumgartner “Now Your Gone” on Defected, a global hit with Herd & Fitz Feat Abigail Bailey “I Just Can’t Get Enough” on the mighty Subliminal alongside many more records that stand the test of time, all these were made from the love of that music, not trying to get gigs or pay the bills. This is why I am going back to my roots and put some of what I call the magic back in my music.”
He has DJ’d at the world’s finest clubs and festivals including Global Gathering, Creamfields, Space Ibiza, Pacha Ibiza, Amnesia Ibiza, Stereosonic Festivals Australia, One Love Australia, Redlight Paris, Space, Toolroom Knights and Pacha Brazil and many others. He was famous for his warm up sets back in the day for the like of David Morales, Frankie Knuckles, Erick Morillo and Joey Negro to name a few and to this day believes it should always be a journey which is why you will hear soulful to uplifting piano releases from him which represent the journey from the beginning to the end of the night.
Jason adapts his sets to the crowds but expect lots of his own personal edits, loops, mash ups, Acapella’s and fx, but most of all expect a set full of energy, soul and hands in the air.


Jason Herd Presents 161 - I Love Your Love (Original Mix)

Jason Herd Music

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