Colin Hudd

The Love In Brief

My beginnings as a DJ started back in the early 70’s from my love affair for Black American Funk and Soul, this combining genre of music was at that time still findings its acceptance and gradual momentum, but for me It hit hard making such an impact that I decided to become a hand for hire mobile DJ, I worked solidly from 1971 to 1976 playing what I loved.

Over this period i continued to improve on my taste purchasing all the very best US imports from the early albums to the 12” nothing but the best in the sounds and played with such enthusiasm that I got recognised and offered my first residency at The Monico on Canvey Island, it was here I built the foundations through hard work adding to my career with another residency at Wings, Gravesend. I was making a name for myself because of what I was playing and how I’d put it together. I was asked to audition at the then very prestigious Goldmine Canvey Island a successful residency I happily kept until 1981. The Goldmine was recognised as one of the most prominent clubs for our music. For my taste and delivery on the floor I earned a reputation popular DJ from this i was offered the residency at legendary ‘Flicks’ in Dartford another prestigious club of its day where I also proudly won  ‘The Blues & Soul’ club DJ award, I remember thinking I had ‘arrived’ though for me it was purely about the love of the music and the , one of the bastion clubs at the height of Funk, Soul and Disco I was DJing my socks off from 1978 through to 1987 this was a glorious era of ‘Dance’ Music not just for playing Funk Soul and Disco but also being allowed by a very accepting crowd to play other individual styles that turned me on, such as the early Electro onto Washington Go-Go all totally different but so very Funky!

It was the later part of the 80’s that I was turned on by a new genre of ‘Dance’ music, it could combine the vocal elements of soul but also added new ones of drum machines and piano breaks it was Dance music but on such BPM which for me was unstoppable, a decade later this music genre would become a global phenomenon known as ‘House’ music

This music totally engrossing and brought me to a totally new scene, a new start.

From establishing and gaining the respect and taste in music among the Soul and Funk clubs of the time, I now focused on my new love of music, homing in on what it demanded to deliver a ‘good’ set, I worked solidly on my technical ability ‘spinning and ‘mixing’ my constant creative refining enabled me to again be recognised and accepted to headline at a host of landmark clubs of this genre such as Heaven, Legends, Ministry of Sound, World Dance, Pure Sex, and Spectrum/Land of Oz.

I was given one of the finest compliments from Derrick May one of the iconic Detroit Techno DJ’s saying

‘ Man, I had never seen a white man with such energy… No Lie!”

My music instincts in taste have always been to play what I like, what works, this approach and creative attitude made me one of the pioneers of this new dance revolution. 

During this time I was again elevated even higher being offered the residency at ‘Spectrum’ the most influential club of the time working alongside Paul Oakenfold ­playing to a floor of 2,000 every Monday night this was hedonism on the dance floor

Paul Oakenfold invited me to work with him again in 1993 supporting U2 on their massively successful Zooropa/ ZOOTV tour playing to 50,000 plus at every gig worldwide

From my experience Djing on such a level i found a new confidence in successfully producing my own music which felt a natural progression I worked under various titles as the Manic MCs and Audio Deluxe, whilst remixing PP Arnold, Billy Idol and a host of other well-respected artists.I wanted more challenges and a need to move forward I was asked to go to Singapore in 1994 to open the Velvet Underground at SE Asia’s most iconic dance club Zouk. Having played a number of gigs I decided on another change and headed for New York where I played the legendary The Palladium, twice.

After playing play Pacha, Ibiza, then onto a packed Olympic stadium, in Berlin and to Dublin’s amazing ‘Pod’.

I am Djing with the same passion however on selective gigs and when it suits me and am happily currently remixing and producing on my own projects with blend of dance from all my the various influences… My love affair goes on.