Responsible for countless jump-up anthems—including the ever-present “Mr. Happy”—the legendary DJ Hazard is still bubbling off his latest contribution to the dancefloor in the form of “Roll On My Level,” a tune that has been crushing it all summer long. Essentially a “Bricks Don’t Roll” VIP mix, the cut features Summer Rayne dropping silky vocals over that instantly recognizable bass groove for a combination that is instantly addictive. To get a sense of where that inimitable Hazard style is born from, we thought we’d check in with the man for a glimpse into the tunes that have and continue to shape his sound.
“This was actually quite a hard task!” Hazard admits. “I’m not really a collector of music and I don’t keep a big collection of tunes. It’s so easy now just to listen to old stuff on YouTube or whatever so you don’t really need to keep hold of everything all the time. I suppose you could say I’m always looking for the next best thing.”
This is the first tune I ever bought! Actually it was the second tune I ever bought, but the first one was shit and I can’t remember what it was.
Gladys Knight and The Pips “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Buddah Records, 1973)
I remember hearing this track a lot at home when I was a kid. The song talks about a musician who was trying to make it in his career, so I guess that might have had an effect on me.
Shy FX “This Style” (SOUR, 1995)
This is the first tune I ever bought! Actually it was the second tune I ever bought, but the first one was shit and I can’t remember what it was.
Get it at Discogs
LTJ Bukem “Demon’s Theme” (Good Looking, 1992)|
This was before my time and was already considered a classic long before I’d even heard it! This was the tune that helped me start appreciating other genres of D&B.
Get it at Spotify | iTunes | Beatport
Krust “Warhead” (Steppa Mix) (V Recordings, 1997)
“Warhead” came out when I was starting to get serious about making music. It’s the one tune that I wish I could have stolen the idea, gone back in time, and made it a year before Krust. It taught me that simplicity is a powerful skill to have when making tunes.
Get it at Spotify | iTunes | Beatport
DJ Hazard “Busted” (Playaz, 2007)
I wouldn’t normally pick my own tunes for something like this, but this tune did change my life. It was the first track I made on a computer and I wasn’t really happy with how it sounded. From then on I started buying lots of hardware for the studio and now I have a lot of vintage studio gear. Changed my life, and my bank balance!