STILL HOT Mix Series: Watching Edition by James Dexter

Still Hot Berlin is a Berlin based electronic music record label and booking agency, established in 2017. Its regular artists include Mihai Popoviciu, Markus Homm, Gorge, Der Dritte Raum, Martin Eyerer, Benny Grauer, Martin Landsky, Guido Schneider and Alex Flatner.

Hailing from Wakefield, England, Earl's journey into dance music began at an early age. Thanks to his father's passion as a soul DJ, Earl grew up surrounded by the sounds of Motown and Soul, developing a deep-rooted love for the genre. These early influences continue to shape his musical style and selections today.

Earl's passion for DJing ignited in 1990 amidst the thriving UK rave scene. Captivated by Italian House music, he began honing his skills at 17 in his hometown. Exploring the vibrant club scene in Northern England, he discovered his true musical calling: Deep and Tech House at the legendary Back to Basics in Leeds.

"I vividly remember hearing those deep, emotive sounds on the top floor of Basics," Earl recalls. "It was a stark contrast to the music I was playing then, and from that moment on, I was completely hooked." 

The DJ behind those captivating sounds was Ralph Lawson (20:20 Vision Records), a Deep House maestro and longtime resident at the club. Earl spent his formative years at Back to Basics, soaking up the sounds and techniques of Lawson and other influential guest DJs like Jamie Anderson, Derrick Carter, Peace Division, and Kevin Yost. He fondly reflects on the 90s as the "golden era of House music," a time that profoundly shaped his musical identity.

He quickly secured residencies across Northern England, notably at the acclaimed Hedonism events at the Think Tank & Café Mex. Earl has always prioritised sharing his music over seeking fame, a refreshing contrast to today's DJ landscape, where social media presence often takes precedence.

As the Tech House sound emerged from the West Coast of America on labels like Tango, Siesta, and Doubledown, Earl's style evolved alongside it. His sets became increasingly drum-driven, often starting deep and building to a Tech House or Techno climax. This dynamic approach remains a hallmark of his style, evident in his recently released Rebirth Sessions.

In 2004, with the rise of CDJs, Earl relocated to Thailand, leaving his cherished vinyl collection behind in the UK. Initially resistant to the shift towards digital mixing, he took a hiatus from DJing. However, his love for music endured, and he began building a digital collection. A visit to the GLOW club in Bangkok, with its impressive Funktion One sound system, reawakened his passion for DJing.

Encouraged by friends in the industry, he embraced the digital era, acquiring a Pioneer controller and reigniting his DJ career. This seasoned veteran, with roots in the influential 90s rave scene of Leeds, UK, has an exciting future ahead, with upcoming collaborations with longtime friend Jamie Anderson (Artform Records) and Greek deep house producer Ilias Katelanos (i-records).

Earl's DJ sets are immersive experiences, seamlessly blending Deep, Minimal, and Tech House, often culminating in electrifying Techno as the night unfolds. He thrives in intimate settings, where he can connect with the crowd and channel their energy to create unforgettable nights on the dance floor.

Grooveholics Records is a digital record label founded in the city of Miami Fl by international Dj and Producer Julio San Juan opening the doors to amazing talented artists from different parts of the world.
Grooveholics Records takes pleasure to push forward the latest exotic clubbing sounds of house music.   
Please send your demos to: grooveholicsrecords@live.com