JIM REISS

JIM REISS

At the end of the 70s, aged 7, I was one of the geeky kids who would record my favourite songs from the top 40 and then use “dubbing” on my ghetto blaster to make mixes. I was just trying to get the music I wanted, in the order I wanted, with none of the boring bits. This is still basically my policy when I DJ now.

After messing with all kinds of home-made and second-hand audio equipment, by the end of the 80s I was able to get my hands on a pair of actual turntables.

Pretty much from then, I've been a gigging DJ earning some or all of my living from music.

I've never had a DJ name or style that I stuck with. I'll play anything if I think people will enjoy it.

I like the techniques of HipHop DJing, like scratching and juggling, but also love a smooth well-transitioned bit of House or Techno. Sometimes I still just drop a huge tune without mixing it at all, just because I know it will go down well.

DJ Residences:

• The Wardrobe (Funk and Soul),

• The Warehouse (Breaks and DnB main room, Reggae and Dub upstairs room),

• Milo (Indie Rock),

• Normans (Hip Hop and RnB).

Turntablist recording artist, band member and composer including multiple releases, Radio 1 play, European tours and large festival stages (Glastonbury Glade and Lost Stage etc).

On the roster at Hi Life Entertainment Agency for functions and corporate gigs.

Favourite gigs: House parties and small festivals that have the spirit of 1990/91.

Other music industry experience:

Studio Manager at Sponge Studios, Recording and Rehearsal Spaces.

Retail equipment demonstrator for Sound Control.

Roadie/DJ Tech at Limetree, Moor Music and Beacons Festivals.

Teaching experience:

I started sharing DJ skills with young offenders in 2000 after my demonstrating skills were recognised in my role in retail.

I have delivered one-to-one private tuition from 2000.

I was a workshop facilitator and lead artist for North Yorkshire County Council’s “Connecting Youth Culture” department 2004 – 2013 where I was trained in behaviour management, planning and evaluating youth arts projects.

I established DJ School UK in 2013.

I developed the scheme of work, curricula and standards of evaluation for DJ School UK for group, primary, secondary and one-to-one education.

As the representative of DJ School UK, I became a partner with the Dept of Education Music Hub for Leeds (The Leeds Music Education Partnership) in 2014.

Using funding from the Leeds Music Education Partnership, I developed teacher training which has been delivered and is still available as CPD nationwide in the UK.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, I developed and managed the production of an online course for beginner DJs to engage with at home.

I developed the Beat Team concept of DJs working in ensemble using Arts Council funding. This has since been developed to include the world’s first notated educational resources for turntablist DJs in a team.

I was one of the consultants to AQA exam board during the development of the specification for using DJing at GCSE level.

I developed a range of Unit Award Scheme accreditations in DJ skills with the AQA board.

I have specific training in understanding and working with young people with epilepsy, who are on the autistic spectrum, or who have ADHD.

I am a trained first aider.

My most recent qualification is the Trinity College London Level 4 Certificate of Music Education (March 2020)

I am industry consultant for the foundation degree in DJ skills at Leeds Conservatoire.

I am a panel member for MUSIC:Leeds launchpad funding applications.

I am a member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded network called Contemporary Urban Music for Inclusion Network.

I am on the round table for the UK Government Department of Culture, Media and Sport