We caught up with DJ, producer, scratch master and SoundJam DJ website builder user Jimi Needles to find out how much the industry has changed, which tunes are smashing it, what was the sh**test job he ever had, plus a few other odd questions we threw his way…

What is the funniest thing you’ve seen while performing?

Happened pretty recently actually, some crazy lady got up on the stage and grabbed the DJ table to help herself up (I think to request a song) and I felt table move forward with all my gear on it, but luckily, at the same the head bouncer picked her up and carried her straight out the fire exit never to be seen again.

Favourite tune of the last decade?

Vulfpeck – Dean Town – the funkiest shit you’ve ever heard.

Worst job you ever had?

The up at 4.30am shift at Sainsbury’s. The manager was a moron too.

Favourite 90s tune?

Ghost Town DJs – My Boo – right in the feels.

Best club you’ve been to present or past?

Played in Moscow a few years back at this club called Gipsy. It was mental. Huge sound system, giant indoor swimming pool. Totally surreal, and it was snowing at the time.

Biggest change in the industry while you have been involved?

Streaming. Love it or hate it, I find a lot of music on streaming platforms that I add to my repertoire of Soundcloud scours, it’s a great way to find slept on music too. The only problem is finding digital copies of music sometimes. That, and probably everyone has stopped saying that using a laptop is ‘cheating’.

Tell us something that happened to you that is true but it sounds like a lie?

I met my wife in a club in London while I was DJing. We got chatting, and after both getting the same bus home, we quickly realised that she only lived seven doors down!

What made you want to become a DJ?

Public Enemy – Fight The Power was the catalyst. I must have been seven or eight years old, but it was on the first compilation CD I ever owned. I had no idea what hip hop was, but as I got older I started to understand the lyrics. There was something about the beats and scratching that I loved too.

And it wasn’t long before The Avalanches dropped ”Frontier Psychiatrist” which actually charted and I put two and two together; ”THIS is hip hop.”. I was hooked and longed for my first set of turntables shortly after. Simultaneously, this was while Fatboy Slim was dropping banger after banger too. I had an inspiring childhood when it came to music, that’s for sure. 

Who is your musical hero?

Mark Ronson. He’s an amazing producer who can turn his hand to any style. He’s also an incredible DJ.

If you could make a track with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be?

Sharon Jones, soul singer of Daptone Records fame. Sadly she passed away a few years ago. Some of my favourite modern soul music came from her.

Want to find out more about Jimi Needles? Click here to head over to his site