DJ Spider

Name: DJ Spider

Show: Wax the Van

When are you on?
My show is on Monday nights from 8pm to 10pm. I do share the show with DJ Mustard but usually I do it!

What type of music can we expect to hear on your show?
If you tune into Wax the Van you can expect to hear plenty of soulful disco and electronica some of it from as far back as the early 70s.

How did you get into this type of music?
I’ve collected records since I was about 13; I have about 4,000 at home and I still play some records now that I brought back then! When I was younger I loved hearing some of the 80s soul DJs like Robbie Vincent and other dance music. And I did a lot of break dancing as a kid. I was pretty good at it and could do all that spinning around on your head stuff. Those things combined opened me up to a lot of music.

How long have you been DJing?
I’ve been DJing since 1993, and I have been doing a radio show since Vibraphonic FM started five years ago. I began DJing in 1993 at a night called Shakedown in Volts on the Quay playing jazz, funk and soul. It was held on a Thursday and was pretty successful. My DJing career started from there really.

How did you start DJing?
As I mentioned I began at Volts in 1993. Some friends of mine ran the Shakedown night and knew I collected records. One of them went on holiday and I was invited to fill in… after that I got asked to do more and more.

Can we find you DJing anywhere other than on Phonic FM?
I’m involved in quite a lot of stuff outside Phonic FM. I started a night called Wax the Van about three years ago because nobody else plays disco and I wanted to push disco sounds. It’s been going really well ever since.

Wax the Van holds events at Exeter Phoenix where I set up on the terrace and play some tunes. The night generally starts with some soul and reggae then as it gets darker we get more up tempo. By the end of the night people are usually dancing on the tables - it is a lot of fun.

I also DJ in the Timepiece on the last Thursday of every month, and regularly play at The Amber Rooms, The Angel and The Velvet Lounge.

What has been your most embarrassing DJing moment?
Recently I accidentally said I played funky house on air.. NOT true - that’s terrible music!

What has been your best DJing moment?
My best DJing moments are any time it clicks and sounds ‘right’. I’m happiest if I think the tunes I’m playing sound like something I would happily pay money to listen to.

I’ve also had some really good times with special guests at Wax the Van nights. Kelvin Andrews, formally of Candy Flip, appeared at one night. Kelvin now writes and produces for Robbie Williams among others! We also had the Unabomberswho founded the Electrik Chair night in Manchester and are now appearing/recording as the Elektrons.

Who is your favourite artist?
In disco terms we’re talking producers, re-editors, re-mixers and DJs. So I’d say, Tom Moulton, Todd Terje, Idjut Boys, Rahaan, DJ Harvey, Lindstrom and loads more. It’s impossible to name just one!

What is your all time favourite album?
Hmm, probably mixtapes from DJ’Rahann or Harvey.

Where do you shop for music?
It’s often difficult to find my kind of music. I get occasional bits from Reform Records and Rooster Records in Exeter. But mainly I shop online at Piccadilly Records (Manchester) and Discogs/Gemm.