As overused as the term ‘legend’ is in dance music, it’s worthy in the case of Phil K. The quintessential DJ’s DJ, Phil manages to balance technical dexterity (and he is a whiz) with what the dancefloor wants, a double threat that has set him apart all these years.

On Friday 20 August, he’s set to headline the Darkbeat Local Sessions in Melbourne and inthemix was thrilled when he agreed to follow Gavin Keitel in sharing some of his influences with us. So here are ten records that have defined Phil K’s illustrious career so far.

Kool and the Gang – Get Down On It

“The year was 1981. I was very young and impressionable. I went to a 21st birthday party for the first time with my parents. There was a DJ. He was doing this really peculiar thing which amazed me and I had never seen or heard before. He was touching the records and then towards the end of one record he would start another and without knowing what happened and without any gaps the next record was playing!

“He was playing all this amazing music I had never heard before and when he played Kool and the Gang for the second time, I had to ask what he was playing. He told me what it was and about 12” singles and imports from Central Station. I knew I wanted this music and had to learn how to ‘mix’. I never looked back.”

Madonna – Burning Up

“The year is 1983. I pick up an import 12” by a singer I’ve never heard of called Madonna. I find out this record was made by a DJ from the Funhouse club in NYC called Jellybean where she was a dancer. DJs making records – now that was exciting and something to think about!”

Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round

“DJ Stan Michael at the Chevron 1984 spins this brand new 12” for almost half an hour. It’s the brand new sound of Hi NRG. Got taught a massive lesson about the creative possibilities of remixing and re-editing two copies of a 12” and about pushing the envelope as far as what an audience expects and making a musical statement.”

“There were many other points in the ‘80s that were memorable but I think these three records really had an impact on me; not just for their musical content, but also the thoughts they inspired and the possibilities of what I could do as a DJ.”

React 2 Rhythm – I Know You Like It

“The year is 1992. I had been exposed to acid house and all the Italo piano anthems by this point and was into it, but it was not until I heard this record that I really got fired up that I was listening to something truly new. I was getting mixtapes from Stuart at DMC. Lots of Oakenfold, Park, Weatherall. All were good, but mixing on all was quite ordinary. Then I got a Sasha tape with this tune. This was mixed incredibly and in key. The music was dubbed out, long mixes, almost classical in arrangement and dark at times, but I loved it. Apparently it was called progressive house. I was an instant fan of the music and the DJ.”

BT – Embracing the Sunshine

“1995. The culmination and peak of progressive house. It was all downhill and predictable after this one. It marks the end of my unfaltering love affair with progressive.”

Spooky – Relief

“From the Clank EP in 1995. My love for breakbeat begins here. I was beginning to tire of house music at over 130 BPM, as it was not funky anymore. No funk equals not for me. With breakbeat, the energy was implied and the music did not feel as rushed, but if you had rhythm you could dance to it. There were a few other breakbeat tunes at this time but it was not a formal genre. It was quite challenging to find records that had that exact sound so it was quite challenging to play a set of it.”

Shara Nelson & Kasha – U

“1999. Covent Garden, London. Plastic Fantastic Record store. I put this record on in the headphones. Had to listen to it three times to grasp what I was hearing. Soul, funk vocal with a grimy bassline and an outro composed by what sounded like Metallica. Perfect! I remember playing this at Sunny Billboards as the last record of the night and the looks on people’s faces as the lights came on was priceless. They did not really know what had just happened or if they loved or hated it, but they did know something had just happened and their life was never gonna be the same again.”

Luke Chable and Nubreed – One Day

“2004. This is probably my favourite Australian dance record of all time. If I ever could write a tune like this, I would retire. This record was played by me more than any other record I’ve ever owned. I created so many versions of this live it was a game I played with the boys. It culminated at Renaissance at the Cross in London where I played it as the last record of the set for about 20 minutes. Thanks Stan!”

Phonique featuring Die Elfin – The Red Dress

“2004 again. Quite simply this record reinstated my faith in house music. It was quirky melodic and simply huge! After this I was back on the 4/4 path.”

Marshall Mandroid featuring Jeff Spooner – Be The One (Jeff Spooner remix)

“One of my current faves.”

Phil K heads up the Darkbeat Local Sessions at Brown Alley on Friday 20 August, presented by the inthemix50. Entry is free to ITMers who RSVP, so add yourself to the list here.