NICK LUSCOMBE – A PROFILE
March 24th, 2005 by rui
One of the UKs most influential radio DJs with his long running weekly Flo-Motion show on XFM. Since 2000 he has pioneered a compelling blend of deep club music incorporating elements of electronica, moody techno, jazz and downtempo soul, with his selections also journeying into the more experimental elements of modern music.
Nick is also the man behind the popular folk inspired ICA club night, Roots and Shoots.
“Peelie, Charlie, Gilles, Annie – Nick Luscombe has become one of those radio titans”. (Straight No Chaser)
He also plays regularly at The Big Chill Bar.
What’s your background?
“I’ve been working in radio for almost ten years, as a sound engineer and as a radio producer and presenter, making documentaries about international club and pop music. I’ve been DJing at clubs like Sprawl in Soho and Undersolo in Camden. In 2000 I put together a compilation CD of new Japanese club music, which was picked up for Japanese distribution. On the back of that I was invited to DJ in Kyoto, Japan. I played alongside one of my favourite DJ/producers, Yukihiro Fukutomi, and also with the Chillscape record label in a club called the Loft in Tokyo. Then here.”
What was the first record you bought?
“From Here to Eternity’ by Giorgio Moroder. It came out in 1977 – it’s an early techno record. I bought it when I was very young ’cause it sounded like a sci-fi movie on vinyl. It manages to combine robotic vocoder voices and techno sounds with the emotional warmth of a traditional love song. I am still totally into that record and appreciate Giorgio Moroder’s productions even more today.”
What was the first gig you went to?
“Haircut 100 in Plymouth. I went on my own as all my mates in school thought they were uncool, which was fair enough. I had a great time, but never did manage to acquire Nick Heyward’s fine dress sense.”
What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you do?
“The advice I would give to anyone who wants to DJ is to be as open minded as possible about music. Try to listen to as much stuff as you can. Root around and listen to old jazz records and rockabilly tunes. Explore the origins of house music and hip- hop. Check out the new stuff. Don’t cut yourself off from any musical adventures. And if you really want to do a job like this it’s so true that if you are into something enough your enthusiasm and hard work will get you there eventually.”
