Overview
Covert DnB presents Mampi Swift, MC IC3 & Nicky Blackmarket
Mampi Swift: The prolific “Mampi Swift” aka Phil Anim, formally known as Swift. The addition of “Mampi” to his name not being coincidental…the term meaning “big, strong and quick” depicts everything about him from his pure pyhsique to his amazing “double-dropping” djing skills.
Nicky Blackmarket: Nicky Blackmarket is one of the original pioneers of drum and bass, and he is still the most faithful soldier for the scene around the world. His early influences came from his mother's background in the jazz scene, and it is improvisation and variety that characterise his DJ performances throughout his career.
IC3: One of the scene's biggest characters: This hugely popular and versatile MC is equally respected and admired for his countless residencies around the globe at both liquid nights, breaks night and rave nights alike. Best seen alongside his good friend and partner in crime Mampi Swift, the 'awesome twosome' guarantee a high energy extravaganza. Always a compliment to the music… IC3 is a true showman.
Mampi Swift
The prolific "Mampi Swift" aka Phil Anim, formally known as Swift. The addition of "Mampi" to his name not being coincidental; the term meaning "big, strong and quick" depicts everything about him from his pure pyhsique to his amazing "double-dropping" djing skills. We are going to see a lot happening with Mampi Swift and Charge Recordings this year. He has spent the last 12 months working on his new album - to be released end of April - and if this album doesn't set a precedent - nothing will!!! Working heavily with Blame and 720 Recordings - this duo will certainly be suprising a lot of people over the next few months. With the current EP "Rainman" flying off the shelves and all his classic tunes regularly being played out around the world there is no stopping this guy. Being careful to not over expose his new tunes - they are rarely released prior to promo's - this guy is a very clever business man. He relentlessly still plays with dubplates/vinyl and refuses to use CD's when playing gigs - he is wisely attempting to keep the record industry alive for future generations.
It was in 1990 that Mampi Swift starting DJing and found himself behind the counter of the Lucky Spin record store, now defunct. With access to the studio next door and in-house engineer Pete Parsons (AKA Voyager) at the controls, Swift jumped at the valuable opportunity to learn new skills. 1992 saw the start of an 8 year DJ residency on Kool FM London, whilst at the same time he was regularly at events such as One Nation and TruePlayaz at 'The End' (a trendy London nightclub). He released tunes on other labels such as True Playaz, Frontline, Suburban Base, SOUR & K Power, before setting up his own label Charge Recordings.
Mampi Swift launched Charge Recordings with the release of 'Twisted' followed by 'Feel Good' in 1997. Both tracks were massive hits in the UK and rapidly spread worldwide. Swift enjoyed the success of his first two tracks but it was his third, 'The One' which dropped in the winter of '97 that earned him recognized fame throughout the world. You could not be in the scene and not know of Mampi Swift after that. To this day it is still being sampled and played by many DJs.
Despite his success Mampi Swift has not lost touch with the music. Swift describes his style as 'plain rolling' the catchy beats being a key element to his overall sound, it's the unique distorted basslines that people notice. Adjectives like 'nasty', 'dirty', 'raw', 'twisted' and even 'gut rumbling' have been used to describe his tracks in reviews (Knowledge, Atmosphere Magazine etc). When Swift makes music he finds it hard to get a vibe from just a straight 808 bass-line. So he gets noises, fucks with them and turns them into big bass-lines.
Another one of his trademarks comes at the mixing down stage. He masters his tracks so there's not heavy bass that way the engineer can get it sounding very loud therefore bringing everything out. His productions are dark with plenty energy and power to rock a dance floor but this isn¹t by accident His music is balanced and natural and consistent.
2001 saw the release of his EP, 'Resurrection', featuring the dance floor destroying anthem 'Trippin'. The four tunes made such an impact during their dub-plate life it left clubbers mouths watering for the release.
His second EP, 'Feedback' and debut album 'Mainframe', pushed Charge Recordings to it's 25th release by May 2004. Charge Recordings has, and will remain to be an established and consistent contender for accolades. With the New Year comes his third album, which will coincide with the Charge Recordings Label Tour that is taking place worldwide in 2005. What else can we expect from Charge Recordings?
Well, one thing's for sure, Mampi Swift's DJing and double dropping worldwide will continue, as Charge Recordings gathers more momentum this year. Driven by a powerful and forward thinking team whose main objective is to promote a diverse spectrum of quality sound.
View Full artist profile including songs & images
Go to official artist myspace
MC IC3
One of the scene's biggest characters: This hugely popular and versatile MC is equally respected and admired for his countless residencies around the globe at both liquid nights, breaks night and rave nights alike. Best seen alongside his good friend and partner in crime Mampi Swift, the 'awesome twosome' guarantee a high energy extravaganza.
IC3's musical influences stretch right across the genres… from old-skool Hip-Hop (Big Daddy Kane, N.W.A) to 80's pop (Duran Duran). Rapping from the age of eight, he quickly became known on the block as 'the little kid that can rap'. His journey to the top of his field began in and around 1994: based in West London he built his reputation through his use of the airwaves: most notably the infamous pirate Transition 1 (Ladbroke Grove) on which he built a huge fan base. Soon enough the phone was ringing with bookings and IC3 was performing at the infamous likes of Roast, Jungle Fever, Desert Storm and A.W.O.L.
Since then and for more than a decade IC3 has been working regularly alongside a whole variety of top DJs across London, Europe and the world. Securing residencies at a whole host of respected club-nights and raves including the likes of: Movement @ Bar Rumba, Ram Records @ The End, Slammin' Vinyl and One Nation to name a few.
It quickly becomes clear when watching IC3 and hearing him perform that there is something truly special about his performance: reason being that IC3 is a qualified actor having studied Theatre at both Drama College and university. In his formative years he was in a number of plays and theatre productions and although since the millennium due to the lack of hours in a day he was reluctantly forced to put that passion on hold. In 2005 his passion for acting could no longer be ignored and was indeed resurrect, resulting in IC3 starring in a number of movies and even putting the finishing touches to his very own 'IC3 Show' which is destined for global distribution on DVD before the end of the year.
Always a compliment to the music… IC3 is a true showman.
View Full artist profile including songs & images
Go to official artist myspace
Nicky Blackmarket
Nicky Blackmarket is one of the original pioneers of drum and bass, and he is still the most faithful soldier for the scene around the world. His early influences came from his mother's background in the jazz scene, and it is improvisation and variety that characterise his DJ performances throughout his career. At the start of the eighties, Nicky was 14 and playing electro at youth clubs in London. He played with long-time collaborator Clarky and began to mix all forms of dance music, at house parties and on the radio. Friends FM, run by Mad B, gave Nicky a good education and the momentum to start his own shop in London, the legendary Blackmarket Records. In 1992, as the house scene moved towards breakbeat, Nicky created a separate department downstairs to cater for the sound that would eventually be called Drum and Bass. In the mid-nineties Nicky pushed the hardcore scene with a regular show on Pulse FM and performances at the Roller Express. He moved into production, making his first record "Spam EP", along with various remixes and releases on his label Gyroscope, with artists like Ray Keith. This exposure fuelled his DJ career and Nicky decided to put all his efforts into playing his music around the world. "...first and foremost I am a DJ." As the jungle scene exploded Nicky formed his legendary partnership with the late Stevie Hyper D. These performances are still regarded as the standard by which all others are judged, and mp3s of those sets will probably be on the internet forever. Blackmarket Records supported the scene as a focus for the community, an essential component in an world without the internet. Nicky started another label "Kartoonz" featuring the anthem "Two Degrees", confirming his status as a central force in the scene. Unlike many superstars, Nicky still works in his shop and is a promoter of fresh talent and ideas, unafraid to help new artists and organisers push the artform forward. His love of drum and bass keeps him from descending into the mindless repetition and lazy performances characteristic of many in the scene. Nicky invites you to sample his philosophy at the shop in D'Arblay St, London, or at any of his shows around the world. Whooiiiiiiiiiiiikked!
View Full artist profile including songs & images
Go to official artist myspace
