While big name DJs come and go, producing both awe and ambivalence in equal measure, there are certain selectors that often go unnoticed, yet have a more lasting and consistent effect on the places they inhabit. Though they may not tour around the world or play in grandiose settings, their influence is felt from below your feet. Like a magician performing a card trick, they subtly construct a scene and a sound right under your nose. Their tools are simple, but the effort required to pull it off is great, and the end product is understatedly spellbinding.
This is the art of a local DJ and promoter such at Alex Theodossiadis. Having run many successful nights while at university in York, he moved to Leeds. Here, he co-runs the popular On Rotation parties. Their approach is typically self-effacing. A series of low-key, but incredibly strong, events at the 212 Bar & cafe have led them to a position of authority in the city. Not only are they throwing the occasional larger event in warehouse spaces, featuring bigger DJs such as Laurine and Steevio, but their crew of DJs are stretching their sonic tendrils throughout Leeds. You may have seen him play recently at Brotherhood, Brudenell Groove or Broken Mechanics, or on KMAH radio with Needle To The Groove. His next outing is at Wire with Pretty Pretty Good, where he will play alongside Byron the Aquarius and Al Zanders. On Rotation will also be hosting a pre-party with Zanders at the 212, if you want to make a night of it.
Clearly, party people and promoters alike have been impressed by the Alex’s musical jiggery-pokery. We asked if we could take a look up his sleeve ahead of the event…
Name(s): Alex Theodossiadis
DJ name: Alex T
Hometown: Manchester
First record ever bought?
I was going through old photos to delete on facebook the other day, and I found a picture of the first records I ever bought off discogs back in 2011. The records ranged from Benga & Coki – Night to Blawan – What You Do With What You Have. I’ve gotten into a wide range of stuff since then, so the only purchase from the order that still gets any airtime is one from Four Tet. Pyramid is definitely his finest dancefloor tune and a testament to how well it’s aged that it’s still never far from my bag these days.. the flip, Locked, is absolutely gorgeous as well.
Best floorfiller?
That would have to be ‘A Feeling’ by Japser Street Company. The 4 minute gospel buildup sends people loopy before it drops into the groove. EDM DJ’s could learn a thing or two from this record about how do a ‘drop’ properly. Pure euphoria.
Best crate dig?
Most of my best crate digs have come in Earworm Records. It’s a tiny shop in York that’s also one of the best in the North, way better than anything in Leeds funnily enough. I’ve had too many mint digs from there to pick a favorite but one I’ve been enjoying loads recently is a funky little number from Eddie Kendricks from his LP – Boogie Down. The guys who run the shop tirelessly head to car boots and scour the North for old collections to buy off retiring DJs, so big thanks to Rich and Paul for putting all this amazing music on a plate for me.
Sleaziest record?
Another Earworm Records dig this one! I popped into the shop one day and Rich excitedly told me he’d bought a collection containing 6 copies of a classic that Andrew Weatherhall used to play back in the day at Freakin (the night Rich has been running in York for 19 years). Apparently the whole crowd would be sliding round the dancefloor doing a horse dance whenever it got dropped. Rich put it on the shop stereo and it had me hooked. Wonky production, sleazy vocals and a very pervy bassline. Doesn’t get much dirtier than the White Horse.
Best warehouse/stadium filler?
R&S and CJ Bolland brought out some of the best big room warehouse rave techno to have ever been made, and there’s nothing that I’d like to do more than drop his stomper – ‘Ravesignal’ to a huge crowd in a dirty warehouse. Scroll through the YouTube comments for loads of nostalgic ravers reminiscing about this track ripping up raves back in the day.
Most nostalgic record?
That would probably be Leonard Cohen’s ‘So Long Marianne’. My mum used to sing that when I was little and it’s just a really beautiful tune. It’s been on a fair bit at home since his passing.
Most valuable record? (monetary or sentimental)
After the first DJ set I ever got paid for when I was 19, I bought Herbert’s ‘I Hadn’t Known’ with the money. It started my love affair with his music and is one of the dearest slabs of wax that I own. A truly special record, every track is a masterpiece.
Weirdest record?
I was almost going to sell Butric ‘Up’ cause I thought it was too weird. But then I heard Sonja Moonear drop it in Wire recently and saw how effective it can be on the dancefloor. It just keeps building! A very weird track that would definitely send people over the edge if they were under the influence.
Last record you bought?
https://youtu.be/BJuqxCr09Bk
The last record I bought was a great 12” spanning house, techno and ambient from an outfit called Digital Justice released back in 1994. So it’s as old as me! I thankfully managed to snag the last one on discogs too.
Record you wish you owned?
Without a doubt the record I want the most is The Other People Place’s seminal electro LP released on Warp. Second hand copies are going for £150+ and I just can’t justify spending that. There have even been petitions with huge numbers of signatures to get it repressed but I don’t think Warp will ever do it. We can only hope!
See Alex T play at Pretty Pretty Good alongside Byron the Aquarius and Al Zanders on 7th December. The event page is here.