DJ Twista (Dean Willson) has been involved in the underground dance music scene for just over 14 years, working as a graphic designer, DJ, producer and raver amongst some of the biggest promotions & artists spanning a wide variety of rave music.
Background
Growing up in North West London through the 80’s Dean was heavily into rap music like Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions and Ice Cube which was a result of watching far too much MTV. His first encounter with rave music was from a mates older sister listening to the "Deep Heat" albums throughout ’89-’90, at the time he was too young to know about the actual rave scene itself.
It wasn’t until about the end of the summer ’91 that a driver who worked for his Dad heard him playing a Deep Heat album, lent him a Carl Cox tape and basically explained about raves, from then on Dean was hooked.
His first rave was when he was 16yrs old - Ravelation NYE ’95-’96 at Wembley Arena and pretty much straight after that he became a weekly Labrynth regular as well as attending legendary raves like Helter Skelter, Slammin Vinyl, Dreamscape, United Dance and Hardcore Heaven to name a few.
Graphic Design
Over the past 14 years Dean has established himself as one of the UK's leading graphic designers within the dance music industry. Originally inspired by the early airbrush works of Pez and Junior Tomlin Dean has built a strong reputation for being able to design high quality artwork for dance music events as he was so in tuned to each style of music he designed for.
Dean has worked for some of the UK’s major promotions, festivals and record labels and is responsible for the look of many leading brands in todays rave scene.
His work has been used not only in the UK but in Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Greece and the USA.
His client list has included: Accelerated Culture, Awol, Back 2 Basics, Best of British, Breakin Science, Coloursfest, Desire, DJ Ez, Digital Circus, Epidemik, Fantazia, Fantasylands, Funkin You, Fusion, Garage Nation, Global Energy, Global Gathering, Hardcore Til I Die, Helter Skelter, Innovation, Kiss 100, Labrynth, Liberty, Ministry of Sound, Metal Headz, Moondance, New State Music, One Love, One Nation, Pure Old Skool, Pure Silk, Raindance, Raverbaby, Renegade Hardware, Sidewinder, Sun City, Sundissential, Tasty, Trouble On Vinyl, Uproar, Vibealite plus many more.
DJing
After learning to mix throughout the mid 90's, DJ Twista worked his way through the ever popular London pirate radio scene, playing on various stations...from South Londons legendary Upfront 99.3fm & North London’s Passion 91.8fm (both under the house & garage alias Mr Willson), then onto original old skool station Eruption 101.3fm. After the Millennium, dj twista joined londons longest running 24/7 underground station Origin fm, and still holds 2 weekly shows on there. Throughout 2002 - 2008 you could have also caught him on Essex's Charge 90.8fm (rip). Most recently Twista has joined 97.8fm (the original) a new station from some of the members behind the original Cyndicut fm (Essex's longest running pirate) which is broadcasting to kent and essex 24/7.
His styles are very versatile ranging from the from his 1st love; Old Skool Hardcore & breakbeat to Upfront Drum & Bass, Classic Jungle, dubtep and has also been known to play classic house and club classics sets.
DJ Twista has always had a good sense of playing the right tunes at the right time, keeping the crowd on their toes and making his sets as exciting as possible which has gained him no less than 7 UK residencies with events : Hardcore Til I die, Moondance, Uproar, The Vinyl Touch, Fusion, Destiny & Rave Utopia.
DJing has taking him all over the UK and Europe playing to crowds as large as 4600 people for some of the scenes longest standing events such as Awol, Desire, Fantazia, Fusion, Helter Skelter, Labrynth, Moondance, One Nation, Raindance and Slammin Vinyl to name a few.
Highlights of his career include playing the midnight set in the main arena of Seone (London) at Moondance NYE for the las 3 consecutive years alongside DJ Squirrel
Residencies
Hardcore Til I Die / Old Skool Til I Die - old skool hardcore, breaks & drum & bass
Moondance - old skool hardcore & breaks
Uproar - old skool hardcore & breaks
Fusion - old skool hardcore & breaks
Destiny - Drum & Bass
The Vinyl Touch - old skool hardcore, breaks & Drum & Bass
Rave Utopia- old skool jungle & Drum & Bass
Previous 5 year Residency with Pure Old Skool (2001 - 2006)
and also has regular sets at events up and down the country such as;
Slammin Vinyl
Fantazia
Innovation
Random Concept
Raverbaby
Hardcore Heaven
Beyond Reality
Slip Back In Time
plus many more.
Production
DJ Twista has been producing for around 4 years, supporting breakbeat, drum & bass, fidget house & dubstep.
He has established his sound as fast paced, energetic breakbeat rave music which has had heavy support from DJ’s like Kiss 100's Jay Cunning, BBC Radio Ones Kutski , Slipmatt, SY, Ratpack, Ellis Dee, Shut Up and Dance, Sonz of Mecha & many DJ’s within the pirate / internet radio circuit.
In 2005 his 1st release was signed by Slipmatt, which lead onto remixing some of the old skool scenes biggest anthems as well as producing his own fresh material and had many of his tracks released on various albums including the Helter Skelter album series (Ministry of Sound), No.1 Old Skool & Rave Breaks Album (Deca Dance) and the Moondance Rave Anthems Album (CYFI media) which have jointly sold well over half a million copies worldwide.
At the end of 2008 he released his debut mix compilation "Future Rave Anthems" on CYFI Media, which hit 18th on the top 20 dance albums chart on itunes in jan 2009.
At present Twista is hard at work in the studio so watch out for loads of new material across the breakbeat, dubstep and drum & bass genres
Discography
Forthcoming
DJ Twista - Moogy
DJ Twista - Warlord
Riot Act - untitled
plus more.
2009
Rhythm Section - Atomic bass (Ellis Dee & Twista Remix)
Billy Daniel Bunter, Jon Doe & Leah Symons - Round & Round (DJ Twista Breaks MIx)
Hardcore Underground 4
2008
Future Rave Anthems Mix Compilation - CYFI Media
Robo-Chop - CYFI Media
Heat of the Moment feat Taya - CYFI Media
So Free feat Nikki Mak 2008 remix - CYFI Media
Twice As Nice - CYFI Media
Sensation - 12" Junki Munki Records 004
Billy Daniel Bunter & CLSM feat. Leah Symons - My Desire (DJ Twista Remix)
The No 1 Old Skool And Rave Breaks Album
Top Buzz - Living in Darkness (DJ Twista & Sparky Remix)
Helter Skelter vs Raindance : Rave Nation Album
12" Uppacuts vol 3
2006-7
So Free feat Nikki Mak
Helter Skelter : Nu Generation Album
& The No 1 Old Skool And Rave Breaks Album
Electric feat Nikki Mak
Helter Skelter : Nu Generation Album
The No 1 Old Skool And Rave Breaks Album
Moondance Rave Anthems Album
Sy-Kick - Nasty (DJ Twista Remix)
Helter Skelter meets Raindance : Hardcore 2007 Album
Manix - Feel Real Good (DJ Twista Remix)
Helter Skelter meets Raindance : Hardcore 2007 Album
One More - 12" Sharkfin Records 006
Story Teller - 12" Sharkfin Records 004
Sold Out
Somewhere at an undisclosed location, evil scientists have been developing a serum of broken beats, basslines, Digital visual and spray-can art, so potent it will raise the dead. After what has seemed like an age Graffiti Breakz is proud to present the effects of our serum...
.....We give you Graffiti Breakz – The Resurrection.! Sat 31st Oct ’09 (Halloween)
Graffiti Breakz has gained the reputation of being one of the only events in London to successfully combine Breaks, Hardcore Breaks, Drum and Bass’ Live music and Live Graffiti art all under one roof
Now with a larger venue and longer opening hours we will be adding to the mix Dubstep’ Electro/Dubstep, Live Breaks acts, Full Graff art Instillations, Full Graff Art Galleries, More Giveaways, Brighter Lights, and Louder bass to create a vibe re-born; stronger and more electric than any Graffiti Breakz so far..
All 3 rooms will be in session to their full potential. As you enter the rhythm factory you‘ll be met by the artwork of some of London’s leading artists showcasing at the Graffiti Gallery.
As you pass the gallery instillation, and live 6’x4’ Artwork being created in the front bar you arrive in the main room bursting with Live Acts’ DJ Teams, visual displays and much more.
Drifting further into the East London venue, you will find dirty dubstep, kick driven breaks, and the addictive rumble of dark and dirty bass.
Gracing the stages of the 2 Dance floors we have a line up that includes award winning Djs; Apply The Breaks, pioneering producers; Ctrl-z, inspiring funk soul band; Junkyard scientists, and leading the way in the live breaks scene; Diverted. With Duel Calibre’s tear-out sound belting through the 7k rig there’s be something to wake every corpse
easy dean great hanging out with you the other day !i have been licking windows lately its my new hobbie ! i found a mutant seagul and took it home haven't thought of a name for it yet might call it funk-stain ! pier-step coming along really well been writhing a song about loving love and the sun rising ? hope to see ya soon come out to the studio if you want were in chicwick west london !
hahahahahahahahahaha fucking classics dave fucking classics!!! used to love all dem ruffneck donovan badboys from way back when,i even sat crossed legged in front of the screen to get the real feel hahahaha,you fucking kill me dave,its how i picture you searching for madness hahahaha what i imagine is your like the bad bloke out of inspector gadget hahahahaha sitting in front of your computer stroking a cat and saying "i'll get you next time spider,club cobra will be mine, all mine hahahaha".
Friday 30th January is the first DC Label Tour of 2009!!! Early drink promos before midnight!! Keep the dancefloor on final with our wicked Jump Up & Jungle Night!!! Click Here To View Event
Friday 28th November is the DC BIRTHDAY BASH!!! Come celebrate our ‘9th‘, early with drink promos before midnight!! It’s the History of DnB special with extra attention being paid to years 2000-2006!!! Wicked Jump Up & Jungle Night!!! Click Here To View Event
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