Soul Mekanik are house music legends and veterans Danny Spencer and Kelvin Andrews. Their career as DJs and producers has seen them cover some serious ground in the last 25 years. Starting right at the birth of house music, Danny made the UK’s first acid house record in This Ain’t Chicago’s, Ride the Rhythm and then went straight on to a little dose of pop stardom as Candy Flip. Kelvin, meanwhile, was DJing the world over, literally, and becoming resident at the Bomb in Nottingham when it was at the epicentre of the UK’s clubbing revolution. Their next step was as world leading super-remixers, Sure is Pure, in the 90’s when they mixed, well, ….everyone. They also ran a label at the time, called Pharm – a combination of their domestic countryside living arrangements and recreational pursuits – which spawned their Sure is Pure produced mega-hit, Blueboy’s Remember Me.
A period of indie song-writing as the lauded but underachieving Sound 5 followed, which in turn led to them helming some of Robbie William’s coolest moments, amongst them the Barry White sampling Rock DJ. They didn’t let go of their house roots though, morphing into Soul Mekanik and making their debut album 81 and a slew of singles for Rip. After a return match of four years writing pop music for Robbie and others , mid 2010 sees them back as Soul Mekanik, with a new label, Wonk, and a stampede of new material. House singles are coming thick and fast plus the first in a series of compilations of the most lovingly unearthed gems that they have curated with Balearic Mike.
Here's what happened when we challenged them to our hot 20 asks...
What’s the first thing you thought about when you woke up today?
Danny - House Music.
Kelvin – Why is Balearic Mike in my bed?
What keeps you awake at night?
Danny - House Music.
Kelvin – Balearic Mike.
What was the last thing you ate?
Danny – Cheese and mushroom oatcakes.
Kelvin – Porridge and blueberries with Manuka honey.
What was the last track that sent shivers up your spine?
Danny – Siopis - Really Love Ya
Kelvin – Nicolas Jaar - Mi Mujer
What was the last track that made you feel like ripping your own ears off?
Kelvin – That atrocious World Cup Song Wave Your Flag.
Danny - The West Coast main line.
Which celebrity would you like to bed?
Kelvin - I can’t remember her name!
Danny - None of them.
When was the last time you cried?
Kelvin – This morning, when I saw Mike.
What ethos / motto do you try to live your life by?
Kelvin – There’s them, there’s us, we’re better than them and they know it.
Danny – Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke.
What’s the best piece of advice anyone’s ever given you?
Danny – Don’t you think you’ve had enough?
Is there a God, and what’s your proof for your answer?
Danny – Yes, Robbie Fowler was his name.
What’s your poison?
Kelvin – Lilac Diamonds.
Danny – Iced Gems.
What’s the worst state you’ve ever been in?
Kelvin – Florida.
What’s your favourite swear word? English or otherwise?
Danny – Cuntybollocks.
What’s your favourite film quote?
Kelvin – ‘You lost me at hello’
Danny – ‘I’ll buy that for a dollar’
What are your guilty pleasures?
Kelvin – Middle Eastern Disco 7”s
Danny – Quarter Pounders with cheese.
Where is heaven on earth for you?
Kelvin – Amoeba, Hollywood
Danny – Our studio
What’s the best thing about your job?
Danny – Not having to work.
What’s the worst thing about your job?
Kelvin – Answering inane questions.
Who would you want to play you in film about your life?
Kelvin – Telly Savalas.
Danny – Brad Pitt.
Who let the dogs out?
Kelvin.