Date:03/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/03/stories/2008020357510200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Pied piper of the party circuit

Electronic music is catching up everywhere , Jimmy Bells reveals to Abhijit Dev Kumar

DJ Jimmy Bell

He has been all over the globe. A pied piper of the party circuit where the turntables is his flute and the club is his city. Meet DJ Jimmy Bell, a world class DJ from Manchester, U.K., was in town “I used to listen to music in the car and I always knew the next song that would be aired,” says James Bell, a.k.a. DJ Jimmy Bell. It was not long when 16-year-old Jimmy got working on music after his dad bought him his first set of turn tables. From then on, he neve r looked back. “I just kept playing and experimenting with music. It was all about getting it right. I used to practise and make tapes in which there would be 40 to 50 minutes of continuous music.”

While pursuing a course in design from Eccles College in Manchester, Jimmy eventually became one of the most sought after DJ’s in his hometown where he played at clubs like Venus and Ultima. What did it take to become famous? “It is very difficult being a DJ. You have to keep on experimenting all the time. There were a lot of hurdles, but in the long run, I ended up playing at the Supper Club at Amsterdam,” he explains.

About trends, he says music is more electronic when compared to what was played five years ago.

“Electronic music is catching up everywhere. But then there is no trend. Even if there is, it goes around in circles,” he maintains.

Piece of advice to upcoming DJ’s?

“Most important of all, you have to be addicted to music. You have to keep motivating and push yourself to do better. One will face a lot of rejection but then, one has to keep trying. At some point or the other, you will find a way”.