“To those involved deeply in UK Garage music since around its heyday in the early 2000’s, I will always be known as someone who has loyally and persistently championed the sound and much of what has come from it.”  —DJ Sushi

Though this statement is one that still holds true today, if you ask the typical question “what does he play?” among clubgoers (and sometimes even fellow industry-types) in Chicago, the answers tend to be inconsistent when it comes to DJ Sushi.  Embracing this mystique, he plays up the unpredictability factor throughout his performances, oftentimes surrendering his playlist to his crowd but never losing the plot.  With his progressive rejection of genre classification in favor of a broader view of track selection, focusing on similarities in composition and elements, he took a situation that could have potentially yielded a lump of muddled musical coal and turned it into a symphonic diamond.

Already recognized by the likes of URB Magazine early on in his career, Sushi came up in the Chicago rave scene as most did — a “mix ’n blend” DJ.  His love for Hip-Hop and R&B throughout childhood, coupled with his teenage love for sounds like Chicago House and assorted Breakbeat Rave music, made 2-Step Garage an obvious yet challenging genre to start with as an DJ.  However, it was his deep admiration of Hip-Hop culture as a whole, as well as DJ influences such as Qbert and Rossi B & Luca, that later motivated Sushi to incorporate turntablism elements into his live performances.

Armed with a brand new bag of tricks and an outright refusal to be silenced due to the limited reach of UK Grime in the States, Sushi soon began competing regularly in “quick-mix” competitions in the Midwest, placing in 1st or 2nd in the majority of them — even besting some “hometown heroes” with considerably larger, established fanbases — and often celebrating victories with his Brüt Force "partner-in-Grime," Whoa-B, with whom occasionally performed with as B. Raw.  Riding high on their growing recognition, Brüt Force (founded 2000 to push UK Urban and Dance music) became the go-to promoter for UK Grime in Chicago, giving way to an event partnership with Vice Records.  In the years to follow, Sushi continued to gain recognition as a DJ and grew Brüt Force’s name as Chicago’s promoter for niche UK Bass/Dance music through the Bassweight event series, but 2013 would finally be the year he established himself as an industry “triple-threat” — teaming up with young up-and-coming artist, The Magnum Carta, to form a unique production duo incorporating old and new elements of dance music, Rachét.

With his career spanning over a decade, Sushi’s role as a conduit for the freshest UK music carries firmly into the present, the labels supporting him a Who’s Who of UK dance music old and new — including the likes of Black Butter and Ice Cream Records, respectively — but never limiting his willingness to please his audience with some Chicago throwbacks, new EDM bangers, or even Top 40 tunes.  Although some claim the emergence of EDM has created a divide between underground and mainstream dance music, Sushi’s versatility and simple self-dedicated focus on the dance element of music have allowed him to ride the fine line in between — satisfying his calling as a trusted name to support niche UK acts in Dubstep and Bass music, while also affording him the opportunities to perform at epic music festivals and support internationally successful artists in EDM.

PRESS/FEATURES: URB Magazine (June 2003); Mixcrate "Pick of the Week" (October 8, 2012); UKGarage.org (October 2011 & August 2012); Columbia Chronicle (May 2007); Shepherd Express (June 2007); Skank The F**k Out! (April 2012)

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: North Coast Music Festival @ Union Park (Chicago, IL - 2012); Run The Road: Volume 2 Record Release Party (for Vice Records - Chicago, IL - 2006); The Streets "The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living" Record Release Party (for Vice Records - Chicago, IL - 2006); Stellar Spark 2 @ The Rave (Milwaukee, WI - 2003); Garage Conference (Dallas, TX - 2004); Transatlantic 4: The Garage Mashup (Miami, FL - WMC Week - 2005); Sonar (Baltimore, MD - 2005)

BILLED ALONGSIDE: Big Boi (from OutKast), Axwell, Steve Aoki, Steve Angello, Knife Party, Chuckie, Excision, Alesso, Paul Oakenfold, Tommy Trash, Yelawolf, Pretty Lights, Modestep, Mord Fustang, Girl Talk, DJ Autobot (from Flosstradamus), Felix Da Housecat, Digitalism, Atmosphere, STS9, Todd Edwards, Truth, Reid Speed, DJ Q (from BBC 1Xtra), DJ Dan, Danny the Wildchild, Paul Johnson, DJ Funk, DJG, Joe Nice, Freaky Flow & MC Flipside, Skylab 2000, DJ DB, Submerge 101, and many more.

COMPETITION RANKINGS: Midwest DJ Summit 3.0 - 1st Place (2006 - sponsored by Sam Ash); Chicago Northside vs. Southside DJ Competition - 1st Place (2006 - sponsored by Underground Semetry); Take the Decks - 2nd Place (2008 - sponsored by Sam Ash); Unititled DJ Battle - 2nd Place (2009 - sponsored by Untitled and Original Penguin Clothing)

Lokkenic is husband & wife, Spencer and Bethany Lokken of Chicago DJ collective, Orchard Lounge.

WORLDWIDE BOOKINGS: INFO@STYLEMATTERSDJS.COM

// FORMAT // LVLZ // XELIMA // 4TRK

Chicago, IL 

for bookings email: adampechomusic@gmail.com 

wooden wisdom is what happens when elijah wood and zach cowie play records together.

woodenwisdom at gmail dot com 
elijah: @woodelijah
zach: @turquoisewisdom 


Hey, Gareth here, I'm a graphic designer who start designing for clubs, parties, and labels in the late 90s. Back then, mix CDs were the holy grail of both design and music. I loved them.

But I wasn't the only one, mix cds were the soundtracks of our nights, our days, our afterparties and lives, for everyone. Yet in today's internet age, the art form has been lost (or just changed) to 2-3 hour online mixes and streaming videos, which just don't create the same magic your CD collection did. Just 60 minutes of music and incredible artwork.

The Classic Mix CD Series celebrates these discs, their soundtrack, their box art and your memories. We hope you enjoy it.

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Also, we try to help you find and buy them again by sharing Discogs links on all featured CDs and or direct links to labels where possible.

* We fully support labels and artists. If any disc creates a copyrighting issue let me know and it will be immediately removed. 

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About Gareth:
Digital creative type, gamer, music lover and occasional DJ. Currently living between Dubai & Seoul after setting sail from Sunderland in 2010. As a young designer, club and music culture was the driving force for his work, producing artwork for local club nights and record labels in the North East of England. In particular, DJ mix cds and their packaging were always his 'holy grail of design', especially those from Renaissance, Global Underground and Good Looking Records. It's a pleasure to share these discs back with people and they still influence our tastes to this day. 

For any CD recommendations, bookings, mixes or feedback you can catch me as @asapgareth on Instagram. Or you can check our my design work at www.acid.works

Vinyl addict, Bespoke Sound System Enthusiast, Party Curator. Follow @___headspace______ on IG to keep current with quality parties in the OHIO area. RED FLR on RA.CO

rawkshay is following