John Rolodex

"Music was a main feature of the household growing up. I was right into all kinds of music throughout my life, but nothing compares to the first moment I heard those rolling amens." John describes a turning point in late 1995 when he first discovered jungle/drum and bass on a late night radio show. "It was Dillinja's 'Ja Know Ya Big' followed by Source Direct 'Snake Style'. I just knew. I had this feeling deep inside.

I still get it to this day when I hear a really fresh sound." From that moment he was hooked. Taking up Djing shortly after, John took the name 'Rolodex' from the rolling beats that began to consume him. "In those days there was nowhere to buy the records so I had to arrange for the distributor to put my local shop on their fax list." John soon began ordering records for the local shop. Combined with his influential sets, John Rolodex was an early pioneer for several generations of Djs in Western Canada. "To this day I get people coming up to me to tell about some set they heard me play back '96 or '97. It's a bit of a rush."

After years of dedication to the local Dj scene, John entered the realm of music production. "The years of Djing taught me all kinds of lessons about what works and what doesn't. At the end of the day it's about the beat. To me, it's that simple." Joining forces with Scott Cartridge, an old friend from public school, the pair began work on what would be some of their first Jungle/Drum and Bass experiments.

These early studio efforts met with success on dubplate throughout Western Canada and The US. However, it wasn't until 2001 when John's 'Dragon' caught the ear of legendary Dj and producer Ray Keith. "I spoke to him right after he'd listened to the tune. He was like 'Fucking hell, John. That tune is HEAVY.'" John's 'Dragon EP' (Dread Recordings 039) met audiences head-on with a heavyweight approach to rhythm. Receiving radio play on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1xtra in the UK in addition to being charted by Djs across the Globe, the success of 'Dragon EP' was a surprise. As one reviewer put it "When 'The Dragon' drops, it drops, and no mistake - just check where he chops the drums up like great crashing sledgehammers… 5/5" (Seven Magazine, November, 2002).

'The Soldiers EP' was released in March 2003 following the success of his debut on Dread. 'The Soldiers EP' treats audiences to the Dread flavour they enjoyed in 'Dragon EP' with more elements of twisted funk. 'Rinse It' was the anthem track of this EP and still played on the circuit today also used in Kenny Kens mix CD in August edition of ATM Magazine UK!

What's next for John Rolodex? 'The Industries' EP will be out at the end of October promising dark dirty sounds with a hyped techno edge to it, not for the fainthearted.
In addition John has remixed the 'No No' vocal track by Ray Keith and a couple of unnamed back catalogue tunes on Dread Recordings all to be disclosed soon. Other projects include remixing 'Cold Ways' by long-time friend and now-legendary electro producer Sneak Thief for his Gingerbread House label. Also watch for more John Rolodex material in the near future on Dread. STAY TUNED.