Mind If My Friend Joins In?

DMC Update Review:
“Strangely I know I shouldn’t fall into the trap – every red-blooded male’s fantasy, and yet I’m taken in by the lyric and won over regardless of what else the record might have to offer. To be fair the track itself is pretty kick-ass in its own right, riding dirty analogue beats and scratchy synths before a sexy female mutters those six words every man has dreamt of hearing – no, not “I’m pregnant and it’s not yours”! Okay it’s a cliché, one of the biggest in the book, but it worked on me, and I dare say every other man who comes into contact with it.” 4/5 Lewis Dene

Simons Saunders may seem new to the dance music scene, but his musical CV overshadows most of today’s most hyped producers.   At the age of just 16, he advertised in Record Mirror selling mix tapes from UK & European raves in the late 80’s and started his first successful mail order enterprise. One of his hobbies at the time was electronics; he built small FM transmitters, even a 2 deck DJ console made out of an old book shelf and 2 belt drive turntables bought at the local car boot stall! He made the circuit boards, built the electronics, the mixer, the case, everything, completely from scratch! Then began his passion for DJing and making his own mix tapes.

He has written a popular guide book, ‘Learn how to mix like a pro DJ’, which sold in DJ Mag, Tower Records & Black Market, and produced, edited & directed a video for it, which sold all over the world.  As a DJ, Simon has had numerous club residencies between England and Australia, guest-deeJayed on various radio stations in Sydney, set-up DJ Schools in both countries and started Australia’s first online record shop, providing dance radio station Bondi FM with the hottest new imports from the UK….  However, it was six years ago that Simon Saunders started producing his own music and he has since been quietly honing his skills in the studio.

In 2006, he digitally released his debut single, ‘10,000 Screaming Goldfish’, to high praise from such characters as Nic Fanciulli, Dave Clarke, Brendan Long, The Hacker, Rev Milo Speedwagon, Nico De Ceglia and Rocky (X-Press 2) – the track went straight to #1 in the DJDOWNLOAD.COM charts.  Shortly after, Simon was drafted in on remix duties for Kish Mauve’s ‘Modern Love’ 12″, where his spacey rework of their B-Side ‘I’m in Love With a German Film Star’ particularly caught the attention of Sunday Best head honcho, Rob da Bank.

Six months later, Simon’s first 12″ Vinyl is born and, in it, the fruits of a lifelong obsession with electronic music could not be clearer.  Technically, ‘Mind if My Friend Joins in?’ leaves no stone unturned, yet you’ll find no beat surplus to requirement.  The rhythm that drives the track is crisp, creative and perfect for peak-time play.  Occasionally Simon intersperses the track with expansive, prog synth pads and a vocal that tips its hat to Lil’ Louis’ seminal track, ‘French Kiss’.  Smartly sidestepping minimal dirge, Saunders has created a stereo, audio assault that will set dancefloors on fire…

The vinyl boasts not only a club and radio mix, but also a more stripped down, ‘Dark and Dirty’ mix for the more depraved of nightclub moments.  He’s even thrown in a raunchy a cappella to boot!  ‘Mind if My Friend Joins in?’ is one of the most distinctive records you will hear in 2007 and, whilst it is guaranteed to tear up clubs worldwide, it also manages to push the envelope in a time of exciting change for dance music…