DJ Sharkey
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Sharkey (real name: Jonathan Kneath, born ~1975, Plymouth) is a popular British DJ/MC/producer, and one of the key originators of the freeform genre of hardcore dance music.
Sharkey initially became well known as an MC at hardcore rave events in the UK in 1993, with a popular and charismatic style. In 1995, he moved into music production, teaming up with DJ Hixxy to release the track "Toytown", which proved one of the biggest signature tunes of the UK's happy hardcore scene in the 1990s. This led both Sharkey and Hixxy to being signed by the UK's leading dance music label, React Music, and the pair released "Bonkers", the first in a series of albums which has become the best-selling hardcore compilation series of all time. "Revolutions", a release on React, reached 53 in the UK charts, and Sharkey consequently released the album "Hard Life" in 1998.
Sharkey also produced mixes for Bonkers 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. Volumes 4 and 5 achieved silver sales status in the UK with Bonkers 3 reaching gold status (Ref)
He established a relationship with the up-and-coming DJ Kevin Energy in 1998, and the pair were, with several other DJs, instrumental in the creation of the freeform genre of hardcore (a term which was coined by Sharkey himself). This moved the sound away from cheesier sounds of happy hardcore to a faster, more layered, technically more complex sound. A major keystone of the freeform movement is The Nu Energy Collective, of which Sharkey and Kevin Energy are the best-known faces, and the freeform sound played a lead role in the renaissance of the hardcore sound in the early 2000s.
As well as that, Sharkey also makes time for various projects, most notably, putting a number unknown, but talented musicians through a self devised music technology course some 18 months in length. Periodically, Sharkey announces he is looking for a new studio trainee and then picks the most promising from the applications he receives. The winning applicant is then comprehensively schooled. During that time, his students receive one to one training on every aspect of music technology needed to succeed in the field of Hard Dance music production and engineering.
Sharkey continues to be much in demand as a DJ and MC, and has played at a number of hardcore events over the last ten years, including most major United Kingdom rave festivals as well as many events in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
DJ Sharkey was invited to mix on BBC Radio 1 in 2003, performing John Peel's Essential Mix (Peel was a noted admirer of hardcore).
Kneath comes from the south of England, and his formal training is as a chef.
