Music
 

 

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The international stage

1 minute read

I’ve had a few adventures in music over the years. Finding myself on stages in front of audiences at well-known dance music venues in several countries including long-standing residencies in France and Belgium.

My DJ appearances on the Balearic Island of Ibiza have included some of the most famous spots on the island. I first played at the famous Fiesta del Agua parties at the amazing Es Paradis back in 2002.

Another legendary venue, Amnesia, with its two huge rooms, opened in 1976 and has won Best Global Club numerous times. It’s considered the international home of electronic music. I opened the immense Terrace for the world-famous club brand Cream whilst Tiesto was on in the main room. That was the same year I made it to the final few of the Cream residency DJ competition sponsored by Sony and Mixmag.

Bar Manumission and Savannah were among the coastline venues I’ve played. Another memorable one was Café Mambo, the home of BBC Radio One live broadcasts when I supported Roger Sanchez.

I’m also proud to be one of only a handful of DJs in the world to have been invited to play to sunset at the iconic Café del Mar on San Antonio Bay in Ibiza.

The name Café del Mar is synonymous with the genre-defining series of chill-out compilation albums. The first was compiled by Café Del Mar resident DJ and producer, the late José Padilla. It was released by React Records in 1994. The collection of albums that followed was to garner an international fanbase and brought Ambient / Balearic / Downtempo / Chillout music squarely into the mainstream. These recordings brought the blissful escapism and warmth of an Ibizan evening into homes around the world. Walking into any bustling music shop like an HMV on a British high street in the 1990s or 2000s, there was a good chance that the latest Café Del Mar compilation on CD and vinyl would be prominently displayed near the entrance.

Playing a set on the same turntables used by the late DJ José Padilla, and his successors like resident Valentín Huedo, was a real honour. (see photos above.) The original DJ booth at Café Del Mar is modestly located over to the side of the venue. The look and feel of the place is as unmistakable as the sound. Terracotta floors, white stone pillars and ornate tiling in rich navy and ochre tones. White canopies and drapes sway in the breeze from the Balearic Sea and the ceiling fans take the edge off the heat of the day.

I’ve played to audiences in some memorable locations but to be there, at the controls of Café Del Mar, was quite a moment. Looking out across these turntables and the bustling terrace of the most iconic sunset venue in the world, with a thousand people on the beach... I was able to bring my own interpretation of the Café Del Mar sunset, right back, full circle, to the very spot known to millions of people around the world - from the same mixing desk that inspired me to journey into this amazing genre all those years earlier.

 
 
 
 
 
 

World-class private events

2 minute read

Away from the club scene, there’s always been the “other side” of my work in music programming. I’ve curated the audio experience at numerous lavish private events abroad and in some of London’s most exclusive venues. Crafting journeys into sound - influenced by classical, ambient, film scores, contemporary and Mediterranean music. A space I really love for the freedom to push my musical knowledge and to be creatively bold.

Often, my creative vision has helped steer brand identities: Tailoring customers’ first impressions and experiences. Carefully programmed soundscapes that have set the tone for many product and business launches, restaurant openings and fashion events.

Amongst these, I designed the soundtracks that played in the London restaurant of Antony Worrall Thompson. Antony commented that I’d delivered “confident choices, engaging and captivating music with some truly exquisite gems” which he went on to say “contributed well to our customers’ experience of my restaurant”. I also provided musical direction for the Soho House group for two years, amongst other notable clients.

I’ve often been called on to entertain personalities from the international film, TV and music industries. One memorable event was for the pioneering singer, multi-instrumentalist and Grammy Award-winner, Imogen Heap. We met back around the time she was working on her Ellipse album. Imogen subsequently invited me to provide the musical soundtrack at a special record launch event for invited international guests that took place in her home. (last photo in the set above)

Whatever the size of the event, it’s an exhilarating live art form that calls on musical expertise, theory and technical agility. I love it. Curating the shared experience and having the confidence to change direction on the journey. I’ve created soundtracks for private dinner parties for as few as ten guests – right up to peak-time main room sets for over a thousand people at superclubs like Pacha London or Amnesia Ibiza.

John Charles Media played an integral role in the development of the Nobu Global Private Dining brand. Alongside a suite of other creative services, I was the resident DJ providing musical direction for events at Nobu London on Old Park Lane from 2006 until 2015. We progressed this to include regular private events hosted by Nobu London at The Penthouse of The May Fair Hotel on Stratton Street.

Ex-Private Dining manager at Nobu London, Amir Jati, explains: “Nobu Private Dining started in London and has grown to become a key asset in the company’s ongoing worldwide success. John's been on board with me from day one and has been absolutely central to this accomplishment. Business partners Nobu Matsuhisa and Robert De Niro have both approved John’s work to represent the brand globally. John has drawn on his musical talents to design the exquisite soundtracks for the many prestigious events we’ve hosted, attended by Royalty, dignitaries and celebrities”.

Nobu was in the epicentre of London’s celebrity scene at the time and I was always meeting a lot of interesting people. One evening, my phone randomly rang about 11.30pm and it was my client, Amir at Nobu. He asked if I could quickly identify a song from one of the playlists I’d created for Park Lane. “Sorry for calling so late” he said… “Cheryl (Cole) was just asking me what that track is. John, she loves your music”. Shortly after, in 2011, I produced the official launch film for Cheryl’s jewellery collaboration with De Grisogono Geneva. It was a time of spontaneity and creativity.

My work in video production and editing has almost always involved working with music. The marriage of sound and image has a power to move people like nothing else. It calls for confident decisions and editorial timing. I’ve rearranged classical and contemporary recordings for use online. I’ve had directorial collaborations with composers, foley artists and audio engineers on both sides of the Atlantic. I also have a working understanding of the licensing process with major labels.

Music’s always been a huge part of my life. Alongside the popular music of the time, early years were spent discovering Big Band, Jazz, Classical and Standards from the Great American Songbook. I studied Cello and Piano, later specialising in electronic keyboard instruments with the Yamaha Music School. At sixteen, I represented Scotland in the National Yamaha Electone Festival. I also started getting into stage productions and was part of two musical theatre companies during Uni-years. I performed several seasons on stage at The Fringe, notably with Edinburgh Youth Music Theatre. After graduation, my first proper job was directing and marketing events in the University sector. I had the chance to put my creative stamp on events up to 4000-capacity as well as meeting and working with scores of big names from the ever-changing worlds of dance, pop, rock and indie music. It’s a hugely varied background that’s provided a wealth of unique experience I love to share through my work.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The creation of a music brand

1 minute read

Alongside building John Charles Media into a small creative production agency, I founded a dance music event brand which went on to tour in several countries. One half of a creative partnership with my friend of many years, Ryan, we developed the brand at a time just before social media had reached the UK. Our live sets on stage featured both of us DJing together. Behind the scenes, I steered the creative direction, content production and business strategy whilst Ryan specialised in the digital marketing and web development. The launch weekend was hosted in the upstairs room of a famous pub in Notting Hill and a bar in Covent Garden in February 2004. A portfolio of residencies across London followed. For over ten years, we ranked number 1 on Google for the search term "House music London".

At its peak, our brand toured the French Alpine ski resorts during Winter and Ibiza in the Summer. We pioneered the “river cruise to major club” event format, creating innovative new partnerships with world-famous brands Ministry of Sound and Pacha. This format became a staple feature in London’s dance music listings in the 2000s. Ryan and I hosted eight sell-out river cruises taking thousands of discerning music fans under London’s Tower Bridge at sunset. We played peak-time main room sets at the world-famous Pacha alongside DJs like Pete Tong, and hosted rooms at Ministry of Sound in collaboration with the likes of Defected, Roger Sanchez and Mark Knight. Our flagship events were featured on Ministry of Sound TV, awarded Critics Choice in London Evening Standard and ranked a number one recommended event in Time Out Magazine. The brand celebrates its 21th anniversary in 2025.



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