Otis Roberts,[1] better known by his stage name DJ EZ (pronounced "DJ ee zed")[2] is a UK garage DJ from Tottenham, North London.[3][4] He was one of the earliest proponents of UK garage music, hosting a long-running Kiss 100 radio show and mixing the Pure Garage series of compilations.
DJ EZ | |
|---|---|
 DJ EZ in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 28 November 1975 London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Website | www |
Biography
editDJ EZ was born in London and raised in Tottenham, North London. His early discovery and love of house, hip hop and electro led to listening to pirate radio and recording early mixes in the hope to land a show on them.[5] He is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.[6] He's teetotal.[1]
Radio
editDJ EZ first started DJing on the pirate radio station Dance 93FM, playing house music. At this time, he was known as Easy O. When the station was shut down, EZ set up his own station based in North London called Dimension FM, which was short-lived.[4][5]
In 1994, EZ submitted a demo tape to then leading London house and garage pirate radio station Freek FM 101.8, which led to him hosting a 4-hour Saturday and Sunday mornings. It was also at this time that he changed his DJ name to EZ.[4][5][7]
EZ's first appearances on commercial radio were to cover for Steve Jackson and Bobby & Steve's shows on Kiss 100. He was then asked to cover for Tuff Jam when they were unable to make their show,[5] and in November 1999, this led to Kiss offering a permanent show on Tuesday mornings 2-4am. Shortly after, he was given a primetime show on Saturday nights 7-9pm called "Saturday Satisfaction", and then another show on Friday nights 10-11pm called "The Hour of Power".[4][5] The Friday night show would then become called "Destination Weekend" from 10pm-12am, and in 2002, the Saturday show moved to 5-7pm.[4]
From March to November 2008, EZ hosted a Saturday show called "The Bassline Mix" from 10-11pm across the Kiss Network. The show featured UK garage and bassline anthems in the mix.[4]
From March to September 2014, EZ hosted a 3-hour Thursday night show from 9pm-12am.[4] On 4 September 2014, he announced that his Kiss radio show had finally come to an end after 14 years on air.[8]
EZ is currently the host of Nuvolve Radio, a syndicated radio show heard in more than 30 countries that is named after the record label he founded in 2020 with his manager.[9]
Club career and awards
editDJ EZ started his own weekly club night called Club Z at the Gass Club in Leicester Square.[5]
As the UK garage scene broke mainstream, he has been synonymous with raves and nights such as Exposure, Twice As Nice, Garage Nation, Pure Silk, Sun City, Frisky and Club Sidewinder.
EZ has won many awards over the years, including 'Club DJ of the Year' at the 1998 Underground Garage Awards, 'Best DJ' at the 2000 and 2002 UK Garage Awards, and 'Best DJ', 'Best Old School DJ' and 'Best Radio Show' at the 2004 People's Choice Music Awards in London.[10][11]
24-hour charity set
editOn 10 February 2016, DJ EZ announced that he would be playing a 24-hour set, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.[12][13] This took place on 27–28 February 2016, and was live streamed on his website and Boiler Room.[14][15]
Production
editDJ EZ has released a number of his own productions, and is especially known for his remix of the B-15 Project track "Feels So Good".
He is also well known for compiling and mixing the long-running Pure Garage mixed compilation series.[16]
Discography
editSingles and EPs
edit- 4 Track E.P. (Undercover Kutz, 1998)
- The Next Chapter EP (Z Records, 2002)
- One for All EP (One Recordings, 2002)
- "Just Turn It Up"/"The Overground" (One Recordings, 2003)
Remixes
edit- B-15 Project (featuring Shola Ama and Ms Dynamite) – "Feels So Good" (Relentless, 2001)
Mixes/compilations
edit- Pure Garage I/II/III (Warner, 2000)
- Pure Garage IV/V (Warner, 2001)
- Pure Garage Presents Bass Breaks & Beats (Warner, 2001)
- Pure Garage Platinum: The Very Best of... (Warner, 2002)
- Bass Breaks & Beats 2003 (Warner, 2002)
- Pure Garage Classics (Warner, 2003)
- Pure Garage Presents Four to the Floor (Warner, 2003)
- Pure Garage Presents the Main Room Sessions (Warner, 2005)
- Pure Garage Rewind Back to the Old Skool (Warner, 2007)
- Pure Garage Presents Pure Bassline (Warner, 2008)
- Ministry of Sound Presents DJ EZ – Essential Garage Collection (Ministry of Sound, 2009)
- FabricLive.71 (Fabric, 2013)
References
edit- ^ a b "'There was three of them waiting, like: play this track or else': DJ EZ, the reality-bending maestro of the decks". The Guardian. 19 November 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "DJ EZ – Sundown Festival". Sundown Festival. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ "Pure Garage Legend – DJMag.com". DJMag. 11 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g "DJ EZ – Biography". Djez.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Joe Roberts (12 July 2016). "DJ EZ: Pure Garage Vibes". DJMag.
- ^ "Turning the tables for Cancer Research UK". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ Tomas Fraser (29 November 2011). "Garage Flower: DJ EZ – Features – Clash Magazine".
- ^ "DJ EZ leaves his 14 Year Kiss FM show – Get Darker". GetDarker. 4 September 2014.
- ^ "DJ EZ | Official Website". DJ EZ | Official Website. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "One Music Management – Radio & TV DJ's – DJ EZ". Archived from the original on 16 December 2014.
- ^ "BBC News – Entertainment – Music – Stars honoured at Garage awards". BBC News. 19 September 2004.
- ^ "DJ EZ is playing a live 24 hour garage set for Cancer Research – i-D". Vice. 10 February 2016.
- ^ "DJ EZ to play 24-hour set for charity". Resident Advisor. 10 February 2016.
- ^ "DJ EZ 24hr Set in Aid of Cancer Research UK – BOILER ROOM". boilerroom.tv. 27 February 2016.
- ^ Patrick Hinton (29 February 2016). "DJ EZ scoops nearly £60k for Cancer Research after 24-hour marathon set". MixMag.
- ^ Sam Diss (13 March 2017). "The Enduring Legacy of the 'Pure Garage' Compilation CD". Vice.