Kenny Ken is as old as Jungle music. Actually he’s older than that but the fact remains he’s been there from the start. From working on the London Underground, ‘meeting some funny characters’ and ‘learning how to interact with all sorts of people’ he then found himself at Buzbys, in London’s West End, given a chance to prove himself. On that one night fellow D&B dons Ray Keith and JJ Frost were up ahead of him and he knew he had to tear it up if he wanted a gig. “(Club owners) Carl and Dave decided that they would take the three of us as it was hard to decide who had played the best. Because of my residency at Crazy Club and the way I played my music which at that time was House, Techno and Garage I was asked if I’d like to be on the books of Dynamix DJ Agency.’
He did. And that was the start of a superstar DJ career that’s seen him travel the world, bringing jungle to the people. And it is jungle. “I’ve been there from day one and enjoyed being part of something that was new back in 93. It’s D&B now but to me its still jungle.”
“I got into DJing by watching other DJs and meeting some top promoters, practicing a lot and being in the right place at the right time. D&B hasn’t got any full backing by any major companies. All the people involved in D&B are home grown talent from the street that’s not to say they aint educated, it’s just a chance for the little man to be his own boss! In 97 I started Mix and Blen recordings which was a brand new direction for me cos I never had a clue about this side of things, all I knew was how to play music”
But now Kenny is leaving that home and coming to Melbourne for a night of old skool. I ask him why. “It’s the old skool vibe that every one likes, there’s a much larger age group and some of it still sounds fresh! I’m not surprised that old skool still rocks and it hasn’t faded away in the UK, especially old skool jungle.”
Melbourne is being treated to the only exclusively old skool night but the rest of his tour will be “a full mix up of beats. I have played all around the world in places that I never ever thought I would reach and met so many good people and all this is down to Jungle/Drum and Bass.”
“What still motivates me is the challenge of still being able to do my job successfully after so many years in the game. No one knows what the future holds but I’m doing a lot of studio work which I’m really starting to enjoy so whatever I do it will involve music.
“Everyone should know that Kenny Ken is still going strong after nearly 17 yrs of DJing and Australia is one of my favourite country’s to travel to.”
So what have Melbourne audiences got coming at them?
“Jungle and old skool of all sounds!!”
Get ready for a party Melbourne and Adelaide.
