sTage Manager
Please introduce yourself..
I’m Stage Manager (an alias of Dan Proxy). I’m London-born and currently spending time living and working in Sri Lanka.
I blend musical genres from a sonic palette of trip hop, garage, breakbeat and house, showcasing a deep love for lower-end sub-bass frequencies. Soundtracking atmospheric drops with liberating contrasts, time stretches a selection of tempos and rhythms from dub reggae all the way up to jungle drum & bass.
What music initially inspired your creative journey?
I was born in North London but grew up in Milton Keynes, which was home to The Sanctuary, a legendary warehouse venue that hosted large scale raves in the early 90’s - Dreamscape, Helter Skelter, Slammin’ Vinyl and Godskitchen.
I was slightly too young to attend the early raves, but I had a mate who had an older brother, and he’d bought the tape packs, the recordings from the raves.
That was how it all started for me - Randall, Slipmatt, and Carl Cox cassettes.
Right now, what are you finding challenging?
Firstly, big up all the promoters who know the importance of programming!!! I am finding a lot of other DJs are really inexperienced. They aren’t really DJ’s, as they have never jockey’d a disc. I heard this new phrase the other day that describes them quite well – US-BJ’s. They turn up with their same set as everyone else, all the biggest tunes from this weeks Beatport, they make sure to setup their camera phone so that they are recording themselves playing their set, then they don’t look up again during their set.
They mix every 2 minutes, inappropriate banger to inappropriate banger. They have no musical knowledge beyond the genre they have chosen to mix. Haven’t taken the time to learn anything about engineering a good sound, or even have an understanding of the different type of sets that are required throughout the same night.
It’s becoming more and more common, and more and more upsetting to see that the entry level standard has dropped so significantly.
What artists do you feel a strong connection with - musically, spiritually or in terms of aspiration?
As a former manager of Fabric, Village Underground and The Cause and a familiar face on the UK and European festival circuit, I’ve enjoyed exclusive access to some of the world’s very best record collections.
Freerotation, Houghton, We Out Here, and Dimensions are my non-negotiables. They have become spiritual homes. These are my people. Favourite DJ, Ben UFO
How can the current scene and clubbing experience be improved or supported further?
I think it’s common knowledge amongst the more headsy members of the scene..
Getting rid of the mobile phones, living in the moment, consciously going offline for IRL adventures, and interacting with random strangers who share similar passions.
If I also think back to my early clubbing days, attending Passion, in Coalville, regularly in 1997 – The crowd then was multi-generational. We used to think it was really cool that there were a couple in their 50s or 60s who used to wear UV glow paint and go every weekend.
Elders in the rave meant that there is something to be learned, knowledge and wisdom to be passed down.
People looking out for each other, and looking after each other more. The shared experience.