DJ Krust - Subotron - Oct 2003 - Part 1

Biography of DJ Krust

Krust got his hands into his big brother's record bag at an early age, by 14 he was playing hip hop, soul and funk in youth centres all over Bristol. Influenced by everything from two tone and ska to pop music, Krust and his friends started setting up their own PAs at school parties.

Restricted by other people's time schedules Krust and his crew, including childhood buddy Suv, found freedom in a mate's room in a squat - here they could make noise 24/7.

In an old scout hut at the end of the garden aided by some spray paint and a homemade tarpaulin roof, they started to put on their own parties. The crew became known as 'Fresh Four' and soon started to experiment with musical production.

'Back then production was different there were no computer programs for making music - it was all drum machines. Things took a lot longer.'

Fresh Four went into the studio with fellow Bristolian's Smith and Mighty and a year later they had produced 'Wishing On A Star'.

A major record label picked them up and in 1989 'Wishing On A Star' made the number 10 in the charts. Although the big signing didn't lead to much Krust's musical career had begun.

In 1990 the musical minds of Krust and Roni Size came together. Krust used to hire his PA from Roni and his friends so their paths had already crossed. But this year they met up at Glastonbury and creative sparks began to fly.

Krust knew Die from the warehouse parties and they'd been hanging out together making music at Smith and Mighty's studio.

After three years of developing their musical relationships Full Cycle was officially established in 1993

'Register' was Krust's first release on Full Cycle in 1993 and that year marked his first remix, 'Resister Soul' for Sub Base.

In 1994 came his legendary 'Jazz Note' and alongside Roni's 'It's a Jazz thing' this track was integral in attracting the Talkin' Loud interest. That year Krust also did a host of remixes for the likes of Goldie, DJ Krush to name a few.

By 1995 Krust was an established name working with the best in the business like Shy FX and Adam F.

The success of Reprazent's New Forms in 1997 opened up the gates for the individual producers to follow solo projects. Krust wasted no time and Coded Language came out in the same year.

He then worked hard in the studio remixing and creating his own stuff to be released on the Through the Eyes album, July 2000.

In 2003 came Krust and Die's I- Kamanchi album. Kamanchi meaning warrior or fighter was reflective of Krust and Die's ideas at the time.

'It means basically a straight shooter, someone who stands by what they believe in. this name reflects how we were feeling musically at the time.'

Krust hid himself away in the studio for most of 2005 working on his solo album entitled 'Hidden Knowledge' which was released in June 2006 to high critical acclaim.

Here's a few reviews:

'well produced and diverse music that will show longevity' ATM 8/10
'amidst the rattling beats and twisted bass Krust is still the thinking man's junglist' KNOWLEDGE
'this is Drum & Bass as you should be hearing it today' UPDATE 6/5 Album of the Week
'listen and learn' Touch - Album of the Month 5/5
'experimental future funk' iDJ 5/5
'if Mozart made Jungle, this is what it would sound like' RWD
'This is one for the box!' M8 - 8 out of 8
'the most satisfying challenging LP to come out of drum n bass since Goldie's Timeless' METRO 4/5

He has now formed a band called 'The Rules' which includes members from Reprazent, Soul Coughing and Breakbeat Era. They have started doing some shows around the UK and will be touring extensively in 2007.