Rob Smiley is a promoter, DJ and part of ‘Shut That Sh*t Down’. Their next event at Brixton Jamm is happening this Saturday with a line up that can’t be missed! With names like Fabio, Grooverider, Randall, Jumpin’ Jack Frost, Ray Keith, Bryan Gee, Rob Smiley, Candon Rush, Cold Fusion, Dexta, Philth, Agman Gora, Voice and more, this night will go down in the history books…
We wanted to know a bit more about the forthcoming event, and of course a little bit about Rob himself. He kindly agreed to answer our questions and to do a guest mix for us. Enjoy!
Hello Rob Smiley and thank you for answering my questions!
Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little about your musical journey.
My name’s Rob, I’m 176 years old and I have almost all of my own teeth. The first piece of vinyl I ever played was Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. The second was Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley. It’s been downhill ever since.
You are a part of Shut That Sh*t Down – who are you guys?
There’s me, there’s Treble Clef – who is a grime legend – and then there’s Grooverider on Godfather duties. Surely three of the most cynical people in dance music, and proud of it haha. There’s also Alex from Library UK who helps us out a lot. He’s not as cynical as us, but we’re working on it.
What’s the reason behind the name?
My old friend Nunu and I were discussing names you could never use for a party. It was 5am and we were 3/4 of our way into a bottle of Bacardi after a heavy night. It seemed like the right thing to do.
You are a DJ but also a promoter – what’s the biggest challenge?
When you are a DJ, someone is supposed to pay you. When you are a promoter, you are supposed to pay everyone else. Not all DJs understand that pain.
Would you say you are all about drum&bass, or are there other genres as well?
I’m all about rivers and trees and mountains and big landscapes. Any music that looks like that, I will probably get into.
Great line up on Saturday with some big, big names – what can you tell us about the line up and what can we expect?
This line up is the shizz. It is the creme de la creme of mixing, track selection and set building. It will be really good. You can expect to hear music with soul and feeling, rather than a meaningless toxic dirge.
Who will enjoy coming down?
People who know the difference between music made with love, and music made for profit.
Who are you looking forward to see on Saturday?
I’m a misanthropist. I’m looking forward to seeing my front door at the end of the night, and sleeping for 2 days. I will actually hide during the night to avoid talking with people.
Any forthcoming events we can’t miss?
The apocalypse looks like it’s unavoidable. Still, in the meantime, you should definitely check out Rhythm Factory on 21st November and on New Year’s Day, and Brixton Jamm on Boxing Day for an old school special.
You’ve won a million pounds that can only be spent on hosting a night – how would you spend it?
I would get the O2 Arena, book David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Paris Hilton, and then deliberately sell absolutely no tickets whatsoever. I would then film their resulting embarrassment and put it on YouTube. I would not actually pay them, and would instead go bankrupt in the resulting litigation. It would be worth it just to see the look on their stupid faces.
You’ve also done a guest mix for us – what can you tell us about it?
I was in quite a bad mood when I made it. It’s not my usual thing, but I thought I’d give it to you anyway. I made it at home on Ableton because I had to sell all my proper equipment to keep the parties going. Hate on me if you want. I mixed vinyl for over 20 years. I have nothing to prove, God dammit.
And finally, any famous last words?
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” – Matthew 21:12-13I’m not a religious guy by the way, but if you’re an atheist, and my use of this quote offends you, then good. Also, if you’d like to send money to help me build a new Jacuzzi extension for my damp-infested north London studio flat, then I’m all about that. Don’t get it twisted. Hare Krishna.
Check out Rob Smiley’s guest mix here.
Drum+Basics guest mix: Rob Smiley by Drumandbasics on Mixcloud
Thank you Rob!
You can catch Rob Smiley every Friday from 12pm to 2pm on Flex.
