Having been a huge fan of dance music since the age of 16, it wasn’t long before Mark O’Grady’s (a.k.a. DJ Class-A) collection of nearly 200 mixtapes of DJ’s of all styles of dance music had inspired him into getting decks of his own at the age of 18 in 1993.
Within a few years of moving from Derry to Manchester to go to University, DJ Class-A had played at most of the main clubs in Manchester such as The Music Box (Champion Sounds), Phoenix, Paradise Factory (Storm Fm Launch Party), Joshua Brooks, Generation X/Club Code (Relish), Time (The Brain) / Jam (Homegrown Talent), The Park, The Shed and others. During this time he was also invited to play guest slots on Frontline Fm, a well-known Manchester Pirate Station. He was also involved in the launch of Storm FM - Manchester Student Radio.
In 1997 he was beaten by one point by Si "S-man" Smith, the winner, in the 1997 DJ Culture UK Mixing Championships - held at the G-MEX in Manchester.
He was then awarded the position of Manager of The Bassment Nightclub in Manchester in 1999, where he was also resident DJ, for a year, playing alongside some the finest DJing & MCing talent from Manchester and the UK.
DJ Class-A’s main assets are his ability to read crowd and his versatility as a DJ. Whilst specialising in Drum and Bass & Jungle, he has also been known for playing sets of old skool hardcore and classic house, trance & techno. His passion for drum and bass music especially however, is clearly evident in his energydriven dancefloor orientated sets, in which he likes to incorporate all styles from Liquid to Neurofunk.
DJ Class A has played alongside many top artists in the scene including, Noisia (Vision, Subtitles), Jumpin Jack Frost (Movement), Apex (Lifted etc), Drumsound (Technique rec's), Futurebound (Viper, Metro), Marcus Intalex (Soul R), Calibre (Signature), DJ Flight (1xtra, Play:music), Sappo (1xtra, Advisory Rec's), Muffler (Urban Takeover, Levitated, Sighco Rec's), Zero Tolerance (V Rec's, Bassbin), Beta 2 (Metalheadz, Bassbin), Rohan (Bassbin), [genetix] (Basic Rec's, Secure Rec's) and MC Tonn Piper (Daywalkers, Metropolis) to name a few.
After moving to Dublin, in 2002 DJ Class-A came Runner-Up in a Smirnoff DJ Competition at Solas in Dublin, which was judged by Johnny Moy (Spirit, Spin 1038), DJ Krime (2002 ITF European Scratch Champion, Poland), and Ireland’s own 3 times DMC Champion & World Finalist DJ Tu-ki.
After having played in several Dublin venues, in April 2004 DJ Class-A was given his own weekly Radio Show, [b]E.S.P. – every Wednesday live from 10.30pm-12.00midnight GMT[/b] on Dublin’s Raidio Na Life 106.4FM and worldwide on the internet at LISTEN HERE. Show Info: HERE. On E.S.P. every week you will hear the most upfront drum and bass, with some dubplates, unreleased material and classic old skool thrown in. With updates on gigs going on around the country, and featured guest mixes this is one of Irelands longest running & best FM & Internet Drum and Bass shows.
On this show he has showcased guest mixes from some of the finest Irish, UK & International DJ’s, such as DJ Shortee (Playboy’s official tour DJ, USA), HedCase (USA), Mark S (Elevation, Grimetime, Deadly Fusion), Arveene (Nylon, Dublin), Syringe (Resonance, Dublin), Chill (Step DnB, Belfast), Hago (Global Virus, Derry), DJ BPM (Amorphous, London), Bane (Eastern Bloc, Manchester), Xample & Sol (Ram Rec's, L plates, Flex, Metropolis), Affray (L Plates, Gutterfunk, Manchester) and many more. For radio show archives, catch me on Virb here: www.virb.com/djclassa
In 2005 he started his own drum'n'bass event in Dublin, "Resonance", where he is also resident dj playing alongside some of the finest DJ's from Ireland, the U.K & beyond.
In Ireland he has also played and headlined at events from Belfast to Cork, for promoters such as Frequency(Remedy, Dublin), DNB Impact(Cork), Reach (Dublin), Remedy(Soul Food World Beats, Dublin), Going Underground (Killarney), Vertigo(Dublin), Mantua Festival 2007 & 2009(Roscommon), Urban Central(Dublin), Bassick/Sound Koalition(Belfast), Life Festival 2008 & 2009, United Drumz(Dublin), Ignition(Cork), Rebirth(Cork), and Syndrome(Dublin) to name a few. In recent years he has also been booked to play at clubs in the UK & London (The Jamm, Brixton), Spain (Al Final & El Divino) and Canada (Intense NYE, Quebec 2007/08).
DJ Class-A is now taking a short break from promotion to concentrate on production and is working on a few tracks of his own.
Bookings: Email / Msgr Please feel free to send me any tunes: +AIM+ djclassajunglist Email/Msgr: djclassa@hotmail.co.uk
Also for mixes & radio show archives, catch me on Virb here: www.virb.com/djclassa
Who I'd like to meet: Other DJ's, Promoter's, Producers, and anyone interesting really, always enjoy meetin new people.
Check out this cool map & feel free to add a pic & a comment:
Black Seeds Recordings present its first vinyl release featuring Rregula & Dementia with a smashing dancefloor tune called "With the animals" and "Raygun" by Flame & Kano on the flip side which brings you the finest deep vibes of their brand new sound. So finally a record who pleases everyone's tastes.
BSR001 is ditributed by L.O.A.D. MEDIA (UK) and it is available in the best record stores all around the world.
BSR001 A) Rregula & Dementia - With the animals B) Flame & Kano - Raygun
Hear is An Early Chrismastmas Gift....Downlaod for Free Let me know what you think. Thanks for being a friend.....Hope to See everyone in 2010..Enjoy Djnv - Bangin the booth vol 1 by djnv
Wayside Recordings brings to you vTech's Inertia Ep. Four offerings of powerful DnB Variety from one of Finland's Finest up and rising artists. vTech shows us just how versitle of a producer he is this release. With the classic vibes of golden era Neurofunk on 'Black Ice' and tech-step's origins can be surely felt on the ultra dark roller 'Demise'. His liquid styles can be felt on the dancefloor oriented 'The World Is A Ghetto' Ft. Mc Jahvice pristine vocal
talents sealing the deal for a perfect dancefloor dnb smasher. 'Gangsters Anthem' is remnant of the perfect warehouse dub, Dark hard swirling bass and stomping drums, making this EP a solid addition to any DJ's Crate's.
Letting all the bass-heads know we've just dropped a MASSIVE DnB album. With tunes from NOAH D, GREMLINZ, THE RIOT, CASTOR & ILL-ESHA, VECTOR BURN, AFLAME, GLITCH, PATTERN RECOGITION and more... it's ALL FIRE!
You can grab the 14 track download format at beatport, junodownload & beatsdigital - OR you can get the SPECIAL EDITION 2xCD hardcopy version from the FORCE Recordings website that includes the original 14 album tunes PLUS GLITCH's Worth Going To Hell VIP bonus track, AND a copy of the album promo mix by CLRH2O in a beautiful double CD jewel case package delivered right to your door.
This album has been 3 years in the making - we hope you enjoy!