John Selekta is a multi-skilled DJ and Producer, playing house, techno, tech, breaks, hip hop, turntablism and a lot more. He is technically minded, so can pretty much get a good sound out of anything; early mixtapes were spliced together and mailed out – and scratching was learned on a hifi. These days, he prefers his trusty SL1210s and DVS/Phase, unless producing tracks in his home studio.
John has been DJing since 1985 and put out his first 12” vinyl release in 2000 with Richie Reed as Pleasureheads. Under his production name Sacred Science, John has worked with many labels to release music and remixes, most recently appearing alongside Humanoid, LFO, Altern8 and Steve Davis on the VA: Repeat 2xCD compilation.
As well as dance music events and radio, you can also find John scratching it up at Hip Hop nights with the Zip Tie Hi Fi Sound System, based in Devon, UK.
John Selekta on Mixcloud
John Selekta on YouTube
John Selekta – History
John started DJing at 10 years old, when he was heavily into UK and US Hip Hop acts such as Overlord X, Demon Boyz, Hijack, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B and Public Enemy. He used to send out mixtapes to pen pals via Hip Hop Connection magazine. 4 years later, after discovering techno and house, he was invited to mix up the new music every Saturday at the local record store, Powerhouse Records.
Thanks to these Saturdays, he gained his first residency in the legendary Ritzys Nightclub, Portsmouth, playing alongside names like Carl Cox and Colin Dale. From here illegal parties and house parties beckoned, where John played many many gigs on the South Coast. From this run, came bookings and residencies in London at various illegal parties and venues across the capital, including a residency at the Soundshaft in Charing Cross, plus regular gigs in Swansea and Portsmouth.
Having had a part in the promotion of many gigs by this point, a new night was hatched in Portsmouth, Dusted, which saw John and crew bringing in some big names, such as Red Jerry (Hooj), Lee Coombs (Finger Lickin), Hyper (Kilowatt) and Meat Katie (Lot49). Whilst still promoting, John moved to Manchester and started producing and co-producing music, which spawned Freeworld, an electronica band – and Pleasureheads, a dance music live PA playing at dance events, with co-producer Richie Reed (Sound engineer for Pete Waterman Limited).
Freeworld toured the United States as well as the UK, performing various live PAs in places like Manchester, London, Chicago and Miami at the Winter Music Conference, as well as many more festivals and clubs. John has held many radio residencies too, as well as many gigs over the years, which even took him to the Middle East to DJ alongside big names from London for a series of nights.
Dusted the club night became a record label – and John produced artwork for most releases, as well as providing mastering services for most of the label’s tracks, for legends such as Shut Up and Dance, The Ragga Twins, Zero B and Elite Force. Dusted went on to win Best New Label at the Breakspoll Awards, hosted at Fabric London in 2010. Whilst all this was going on, he also ran the website for Wiggle, the pioneering underground deep house events held in London and Ibiza.
Some of John Selekta’s live events
Miami WMC 2001, DJ set and live PA
Pure, RedNoFive, Chicago live PA and DJ set 2001
Sublet, Tel Aviv, Israel – MOTD DJ Set 2009
La Mer, Tel Aviv, Israel – MOTD DJ Set 2009
Dusted/Dusted Breaks, Portsmouth UK – various promotions, DJ set and live PA 1998-2010
Escape, Swansea, UK – various DJ sets
Justice, Swansea, UK – various DJ sets
The Dungeons, East London – DJ sets/Residency
Northern Green Gathering, UK – Wind powered DJ set and live PA
Dry Bar, Manchester UK various DJ sets and live PA
Roadhouse, Manchester UK various DJ sets and live PA
Ritzy (Dance City 91), Portsmouth UK – DJ sets/Residency
Level 2, Buxton – DJ Sets/Residency
Toast, Macclesfield – DJ Sets/Residency
Ronnies, Macclesfield – Turntablism sets/Residency
That Bar, Macclesfield – DJ Sets/Promotions/Residency
Reading Festival – Illegal party
In The City – truck based live impromptu PAs/DJ Sets around manchester
Palace Theatre, Stockport – YGG 2001 battle of the bands winner with live PA
Corn Exchange, Hertford – Promotion/DJ set
Rapture, Soundshaft, West End, London – DJ sets/Residency
Rapture Illegal parties – DJ sets/Residency
Unknown FM, London – Guest DJ sets
Egg Nightclub London – Club night promotions, DJ sets
Me On The Dancefloor Internet Radio – DJ sets/Residency
Dynamic Breaks Internet Radio – DJ sets/Residency
iBreaks Breakbeat Internet Radio – DJ sets/Residency
Mixmaster Radio/Mixmaster DJ Agency – DJ sets/Residency
Portsmouth Underground Radio – DJ sets/Residency