Rinse FM stalwart Oneman has blessed Complex Sessions with a mix of his favourite UK garage anthems and slept-on gems. His Solitaire mix series stands as one of the most impressive and well-thought-out series to this day, slashing through genre boundaries and stacked with dubplates and exclusive. This new mix takes things back to his roots somewhat and, as he explains below, features a lot of the tracks that first sparked his passion for music and DJing way back when.
This weekend, starting from 2pm on Saturday and running until 2am that night, Rinse FM will be throwing a massive all day and night party at Studio 338, that will see them host sets from an unbelievable array of UK legends and underground royalty; including, of course, Mr. Oneman. For tickets and more info, head here.
Tell us a bit about your selections in this mix.
I wanted to create a mix that would sound typical of the UK pirate radio sound I was exposed to around 1998/99, so I've selected a few darker, soulful UKG bubblers, like Greg Stainer's recently re-released "Turbo", alongside some newer unreleased 2-step like Chavinski's "In The City".
What was the one track you absolutely had to include?
"Epic" by Groove Chronicles.
Any tracks that narrowly missed the cut?
"Shattered" by Groove Chronicles. It's the B-side to "Epic", which features in the mix. There's always been an unwritten rule about playing two sides of the same vinyl in a mix and this is what ultimately stopped me including this track in the mix.
What's the first single or album you ever bought?
First album I ever bought was DMX's It's Dark And Hell Is Hot, when I was about 13/14. My first record when I got decks age 15 was DND's remix EP of Pick Me Up featuring a Ghost mix from El-B.
What's the last physical record you bought?
The new DJ Tabledance edit of Blaze's "Lovlee Dae", which is out on Warning! Records from Berlin. I'm yet to get to one of their 36-hour raves, but from what I've seen they're one of the most progressive parties in the city.
What do you want to see happen musically over the next 12 months?
A return of some kind of organic music scenes. The last one in London that was true in all its forms, from production, DJs, club nights and ravers—down to what they wore, dressing up nice—was UK funky.
What trend or scene absolutely needs to die right now?
The trend of rapping or singing live at your show over the studio vocal of your track. Why this is even a thing still baffles me. It's just fucking lazy!
Tracklist
01. Second Protocol - More Amoure
02. Greg Stainer - Turbo
03. DJ Devices Devibes - Down On My Knees
04. Benny Ill - Triple S
05. Chavinsky - In The City
06. Scott Garcia - Music Takes You
07. Nu Birth - Anytime
08. Madagascar - I Never Thought (Homegrown Dub)
09. Greg Stainer - My Mind
10. Ray Hurley - Believe In Me
11. Groove Chronicles - Epic
12. Chavinsky - Colours Of You
