SoundOf focuses on the DJs and producers who are making waves in the dance music underground.

Each edition features an exclusive mix and interview with an artist who has been handpicked by the team at Ministry Magazine.

This week we have SE7EN making his Spotlight debut, a club favourite who’s been making his rounds at EXIT Festival, Secret Garden Party and Sonar Festival to name a few.

He has an unmistakably solid house sound but isn’t afraid to dip a toe into the garage pool while dabbling in bassier sounds. Drawing influence from the likes of Carl Cox, Eats Everything and Doorly, he pulls together a high energy and well crafted mix.

 

Listen to his mix and read our exclusive interview below.

 

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MoS: First of all thanks for doing an exclusive mix for us, what did you go for in the mix? Is this a representation of what you play out now or more what you listen to at home?

Se7en: Thanks for having me, its an honour to featured on the Spotlight mixes. My mix goes on a bit of a journey, perhaps an insight into how my mind is working. Starts off a bit darker and a bit bassier and then goes all the way through to finish on some old school house and disco. I would like to think that this perfectly captures what I play out and in the fashion that I do and amongst other things it is what I listen to at home. Having been DJing for a number of years and playing a wide variety of gigs iTunes shuffle often produces a couple of shockers!

 

For those who may be new to your music, how would you describe your sound?

I always find this really hard to describe as there are so many genres and sub genres nowadays. If I am brutal about it I would say I play good solid house music but will stray out to some garage and bassier stuff once in a while

 

How did you first get in to music, when did you know you wanted to be DJ?

At school I was absolutely rubbish at music… I got the lowest mark in year 9 that my school had ever seen! I then gave it up and turned my attention to more boring avenues like politics… however I always remained in touch with music and really enjoyed mixing things together. This lead me to download a copy of Traktor on my laptop and teach myself what to do, think my first mix was Mylo - "Drop the Pressure" and Coldplay - "Clocks" … oh how far I’ve come.

 

What have you got coming up on the horizon?

At the moment I’m mainly gigging around London in the lead up to Christmas. I have just had one hectic summer which involved about 9 festivals and saw me play EXIT Festival's Dance Arena, The Pagoda Stage at Secret Garden Party, The Get Physical vs Circus Pool Party at Sonar Festival and a lot more! To be honest I’m quite happy for some rest…

 

What’s your favourite thing about playing at Ministry of Sound?

Ministry is a very special place. I first moved down to London 2 years ago and actually worked in the office and always used to come down and look at the DJs playing on a Saturday night and just be so envious - all of the rooms are great with my favourite being the 103. I have just had some of the best DJing moments here and have in my own personal opinion really got to grips with it as a room and now know how to really work it. My preferences are either the first or the last set in there as at first you get to open things up and set the tone for the evening, whilst last is always a bit of madness with bar staff on the bar, people dancing like crazy and the imminent sunshine beginning to shine at the entrance! Everyone at Ministry has always got some awesome energy and to date I’ve never had a bad crowd.

 

What can the Ministry of Sound crowd expect from your set?

The crowd can expect what they hear in my mix, as I said the mix is a perfect representation of music I’m loving and playing out.

 

What do you think of the state of dance music at the minute?

Its very interesting - the charts and clubbers are just crazy (in a good way of course!) One week you have a solid house tune from clubland in at number one and the next Bieber is there.

 

Who are the most exciting underground artists that our readers might not have heard of, but who you think will be big names to come?

For me at the moment Glimpse (one half of Dense and Pika) is one of my favourite rising stars. I actually put one of his remixes in my mix - he has got this really unique sound that I’ve just not heard anywhere else. On top of this, although it has become a little bit Radio 1 friendly, I believe Ten Walls (aka Mario Basanov) has got a lot more to offer to the underground and I’m excited to hear from him. Finally, I'm really liking what I’m hearing from Sonny Fodera - the track I featured in my mix of his is awesome, great energy and unique sounding.

 

Who are your biggest influences?

This is a difficult one - if it is right now I would say Carl Cox is one as he has been around for so long and yet remains so in demand and current. On top of this people like Eats Everything, Jackmaster and Doorly all remain influences on my DJ style as they always produce high energy and well crafted sets, keeping the crowd excited and dancing for hours and hours!

 

Tell us where the name SE7EN came from?

Its a lucky number. Truthfully though I had started a small t shirt line and it was surrounding the seven deadly sins - that failed but the name stuck and I also needed a new name as I had previously been known as Martisau. This represents a DnB, Garage and Student side of me that often comes out but it needed to be put to bed!

 

What do you like to do on your day off, what’s a typical Sunday like for you?

Hungover from Saturday. Most likely be rolling in early doors from a set or a party, sleep a little and then go and order a takeaway before vegetating out in front of a box set or two (I’m on Orange is the New Black  at the moment).

 

Who are your dream collaborators, past or present?

Would love a B2B with Carl Cox - saw him over at EXIT this year and the guy just has an unparalleled presence on stage. Only he could say oh yes, oh yes to such a reception.

 

Tell us something that we don’t know about SE7EN?

I’m actually born and bread in Newcastle upon Tyne but don’t have a geordie accent.

 

Tracklist

Walter Ego – "Project"

Sinden presents The Crystal System – "Got Me Moving Ft. SYF" (Sonny Fodera Remix)

Hot Natured Ft. Ali Love – "Benediction"

Tensnake – "Feel of Love" (Joe Goddard Remix)

Duke Dumont – "Won’t Look Back" (Dub)

Billon – "Special" (Glimpse Remix)

Milk and Sugar – "Needin U" (Doorly Remix)

Groove Armada – "You Got To"

Ten Walls – "Walking With Elephants"

Kolsch – "Bappedekkel"

Beesmunt Soundsystem – "How I Wish"

Matrix, Kerri Chandler – "Get Out" (Kerri Chandler Remix)

X-Press 2 – "Muzik Xpress"

JV – "Edit Channel XXX"