sinny: The ‘Shine a Light On’ Mix

This mixtape demonstrates their versatility as a DJ – at times incredibly hard hitting the music itself is rooted in the very undercurrents of what has made electronic music in the UK great these past thirty odd years. Breaks, Trap, Bass, Techno, Jungle and beyond are all weaved together in some sort of mutant hybrid to create a whirlwind journey through sounds and sonics.

Listen below:

Please introduce yourself…Who are you, where are you and what are you?

Hello! I’m sinny, I’m a DJ from Manchester currently based in London.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

Where was the mix recorded?

The mix was recorded at home in East London.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Somewhere you’re feeling safe.

What should we be wearing?

Loads of Palace and Arcteryx, hopefully a pair of Salomons, oversized Cav Empt sweater or mesh jumper and some miscellaneous Balenciaga/Carhartt bum bag cap combo. Utility vest as well if you’re feeling really spicy.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Somewhere warm in nature with a gorgeous view like Banff in Canada or the Southwestern coast of Turkey overlooking the sea. Surrounded by friends on hopefully one of their systems (preferably Rosses and not Seans).

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Even though it features for a very short amount of time, probably Clown by Jana Rush off her 2022 release Dark Humour. She consistently creates some of the most brilliant, rhythmically interesting and unique footwork and footwork-inspired tracks that can be dark, raw, menacing and murky but also playful like this track.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I’m going to pick one but mention a few others because I have so many.

Gigsta’s Dekmantel mix. Can’t remember how many times I listened to this when it first came out but it was in the tens. Could go on about it endlessly but I’m going to stop there so I don’t waffle on. Just go listen to it if you haven’t, Giggy’s the best. (And have to mention MSJY’s Patterns of Perception mix, Kiernan Laveaux’s pipipi mix and Evan Baggs’ Rinse FM Garage Hour mix too)

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

My favourite DJs are all my friends so would choose to play with them any day of the week but them aside, probably the late Alex T. Alex was a huge inspiration to me and was one of the reasons I became interested in electronic music in the first place along with some other close school friends.

He was absolutely committed and was so vocal about his thoughts on any and every aspect of the scene which I feel desperately need people like him.

He had incredible skill, always had complete control of a room and always tore it up (from a really young age). Impeccable selection and range and he played whatever the fuck he wanted. To top it off, he did it all with unmatched warmth and humour. It would have been a dream to play with him.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I’ve tried to engineer getting my setup so that it’s my last (we’ll see how that goes). Xone 96, pair of XDJ-1000MK2s and a pair of Reloop RP-7000MK2s.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

For a recorded mix I’d say the track you start on. Peoples’ attention spans are so short these days, there’s no way they’re getting to the end, grab their interest from the start if you can.

For a live set, although I do love a good intro, I’d probably say the track you end on. You can really affect people if you manage to find something impactful that works in the moment. Although also depends where you’re playing in the night.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First one was either Sur Le Nid D’Oiseau Aussi by Charles Noel (En Manque De Cannelle is a lovely housey techno track) or Steda by Lowshore (Ensemble off the record is a stunner).

The last records I bought were at the same time from a record store in Berlin I can’t remember for the life of me with my good friend Sangre Voss. Skutnik by Preed (for Ultrawhore on the B side) and The Serpent And The Rainbow EP by Etch (absolute love the eerie/sultry female vocal sample in The Scientists)

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Brotisg Coal

If it was an animal what would it be?

Fred Dibnah if he was stuck in mine shaft.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Roll With The Pun- no memeplates already solved that one. Shit And Shine or Rian Treanor’s tunes are always an absolute treat to try and mix.

Upcoming in the world of…

I think by the time this comes out it will have passed, but I would have been plugging the hell out of GATE festival.

GATE is a Hackney Wick based collective I’m a part of with some very good friends. We’ve been putting on events for the last couple of years in the area that focus on live music and performance, DJs and art instillations and are putting on our annual festival for the second time this year.

The festival is a volunteer-led labour of love that aims to bring friends together through music, art, food, workshops and good company in a beautiful setting, so keep an eye out for it next year if that sounds like your kind of thing.

My radio shows are also very dear to my heart. I’m taking a break over the summer but hopefully will resume when I’m ready and Loose FM is up and running again (out to Mark). Usually involves me bringing on a friend and doing a fun b2b with them for a couple of hours, go check them out if you fancy.

Anything else we need to discuss?

I can’t remember where I heard this or who said it but you can be a mentor to someone without realising and this is very true of a lot of my friends who have unknowingly helped in shaping my sound, approach and ethos towards music and have been unwavering in providing endless motivation, support and inspiration so I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to them.

Also please stop standing around chatting and recording everything on your phone on the dance floor. Nobody cares about the other occasion you saw the performing DJ play at where you preferred their set. Put it away and dance.