Ben Watt

DJ Profile

Musical style: House/Techno/Electro

End nights played at: Buzzin' Fly

Buzzin' Fly boss Ben Watt is half of multi-million selling duo Everything But The Girl, and has a career spanning more than 25 years from acclaimed early 80's folk-jazz solo recordings on London indie Cherry Red to a US Number One ('Missing') with EBTG in 1995. As a DJ, Ben Watt's relatively recent route to international DJ status came after his and partner Tracey Thorn's superb interpretations of electronica in the mid-nineties ('Walking Wounded', 'Protection' with Massive Attack, 'Temperamental'). Encouraged by DJ-producer Howie B to start spinning, he cut his teeth in London in 1995 mixing freestyle sets of Jazz, Drum n Bass and Deep

In 1998 Ben Watt established the seminal London Deep House Sunday club and compilation series, Lazy Dog, with Jay Hannan. Moving away from EBTG's mainstream eclecticism and effortlessly into club-oriented dance music production, he also turned out an accompanying string of acclaimed dance floor remixes including 5-star re-rubs for the likes of Sade and Sunshine Anderson. Lazy Dog folded at the top after five untouchable years of sell-out shows around the world and compilation sales of 100,000.

Unfailing in his energy and enthusiasm for music, in April 2003 Ben Watt launched his new independent record label and club night, Buzzin' Fly, a new benchmark on the club scene with a cluster of revered underground hits including his own 'Lone Cat', 'A Stronger Man' and 'Pop A Cap In Yo' Ass' and his brace of best-selling Buzzin' Fly mix CDs. Committed to new talent, the label has already unearthed Justin Martin and Lyon's groundbreaking Manoo and Francois A. The label won Best Breakthrough Label at the House Music Awards 2004.

From 2002-2005 as part-owner-founder of new West London nightclubs Neighbourhood and Cherry Jam, Ben Watt orchestrated the music policy and image of both venues, helping establish their reputation at the forefront of the capital's club scene.

Now a central figure on London's club scene Ben Watt DJs regularly in the capital as well as all over Europe, Australia and North. 2005 saw him tour extensively on the festival circuit, as well as launching his London residency, Buzzin' Fly at The End. In Sep 2005, Watt received two nominations in the House Music Awards 2005 - Most Innovative Producer, Outstanding A&R - as well as one for Label Of The Year for Buzzin' Fly. June 2007 saw the release of his fourth mix CD for Buzzin' Fly. Seamlessly combining emotive deep house melodies with dubby techy basslines, it again features tantalising glimpses of his long-running 'Outspoken' project, a series of evocative spoken word narratives that he has been writing since 2002 with narrators as diverse as Estelle, art-rock Australian Robert Forster, New York Japanese dancer Miho and Grenadan-Brixton poet Malika Booker.

Wirh Buzzin' Fly celebrating its 5th Birthday, Ben Watt joins The End on Saturday nights, and brings the best deep house guests with him.

> Ben Watt Live At The End podcast
> Ben Watt DJ Mix to download
> Ben Watt and Tracy Thorn interview