DJ Sharkey
| Jonathan Kneath | |
|---|---|
 DJ Sharkey performing at Vibealite 9th birthday on Friday 4th, October 2002 at The Emporium, Leicester. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jonathan Kneath |
| Also known as | DJ Sharkey |
| Born | July 25, 1974 |
| Origin | Plymouth, England |
| Genres | Hardcore Techno, Freeform |
| Instruments | Decks |
| Years active | 1992- 2011 |
| Notable instruments | |
| Turntables | |
DJ Sharkey (born Jonathan Kneath[1]) is a British record producer, disc jockey and rapper who, as of September 2011, is retired from music production and performance. Sharkey is known to have co-created a style of "hardcore techno" known as "freeform" or "freeform hardcore".[citation needed]
Biography
Sharkey was born on 25 July 1974 in Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Career
Sharkey initially became known as an MC at "hardcore rave" events in Great Britain in 1993. In 1995, he moved into music production, teaming up with DJ Hixxy to release the track "Toytown", which proved one of the most significant signature tunes of the UK's happy hardcore style 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.[2]
In 2001 Sharkey made his first appearance on the eurodance compilation Dancemania series, at Speed 6, along with Hixxy.[1] He was also invited to mix on BBC Radio 1 in 2003, performing John Peel's Essential Mix.
Nu Energy Collective
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 happy hardcore to a faster, and more layered and 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, as the freeform sound played a lead role in the renaissance of the hardcore sound in the early 2000s.
Touring
Sharkey has performed in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada,[3] and Japan.
Retirement
In January 2011, Sharkey announced his retirement from Hardcore and Freeform. He completed a final tour, playing in various countries around the world,[3] and then officially retired in September 2011. The artist expressed an aspiration to pass his knowledge and skills onto those involved in the future of music, with this occurring following his completion of a teacher's qualification.[citation needed]
Sharkey currently works on various projects and, most notably, runs a self-devised music technology course for unknown musicians that is eighteen months in length. Periodically, Sharkey announces that he is looking for a new studio trainee and then undertakes a selection process to find the most promising applicant.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Unknown. "Sharkey". Discogs. Discogs. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ↑ Staff (1999-2012). "Bonkers 3 goes gold (100,000 copies)". HappyHardcore.com. HappyHardcore.com. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 amwise (28 March 2011). "Dj Sharkey (uk) & Lenny Dee (usa) @ Heroes Vs. Villains!! - July 22nd" (Forum thread). Ravesound. Rave.ca. Retrieved 10 June 2012.