Fabio

With the music industry evolving so rapidly these days, and the whole world locked in a race to find the newest artists of the moment, it is refreshing to come across someone who has been a part of something since the very beginning. Meet Fitzroy Heslop, better known as DJ Fabio, one of the original founders of the movement now known to so many of us as drum n bass. Having been a fundamental part of the scene for over two decades now, there are very few people who can claim to have had such a long-lasting impact on this now internationally renowned form of music. Still going strong in what has already been an illustrious career, the man himself is now ready to rock the Cardiff Summer Ball with his own unique brand of deep and soulful beats, breaks and basslines – we cannot wait.
Growing up in Brixton, South London, Fabio started out life as a DJ playing on local pirate radio stations like Kiss FM (way before the days of the Matt & Caroline breakfast show). Coming up as part of the acid house explosion of the late eighties and early nineties, he began his career playing old funk records alongside long-time DJing partner Grooverider. As the house scene spread and grew, the duo began to experiment with the darker, more bass-heavy sounds that started to emerge, sounds that would later go on to become jungle and drum n bass. While other artists pursued this darker edge, Fabio always sought to retain the soulful essence of the house music that he grew up with. The result was a style of music that carried with it his own distinct past and personal flavour, one that he himself gave the title of ‘Liquid Funk’.
Despite having only ever produced a handful of his own tracks, Fabio is widely considered to be the godfather of the Liquid movement. Fusing a mixture of deep basslines, jazzy hooks, tuneful melodies and an ever-present sense of soul, Fabio’s choice of music treads the careful line between a number of different styles, coming together in one inimitable package. Since first championing the Liquid sub-genre, acts as wide-ranging as DJ Marky, Calibre, LTJ Bukem and even Cardiff’s own High Contrast have all followed in his wake. The sound they all share is one that floats seamlessly between laid-back lounge grooves, sun-kissed carnival beats, beach party anthems and prime-time dancefloor classics. Whatever the situation, it’s guaranteed to bring a nod to your head, a tap to your feet and a great big smile to your face.
As if this pioneering role in the formation of one of the most recognisable styles of drum n bass was not enough, Fabio’s influence in the growth of the scene can also be traced to a far greater extent. Alongside the aforementioned Grooverider, the two have hosted a show on Radio One for over ten years now, continually bringing fresh new music to the masses on a weekly basis. Whilst this is a big enough achievement in itself, the pair were also the very first artists to broadcast drum n bass to a nationwide mainstream audience. The show in question has won them countless awards over the years, and was recently voted ‘Best Radio Show’ at the 2009 Drum n Bass Awards in Birmingham. Nowadays drum n bass is considered to be a household name, with tracks even managing to break into the top 40 charts. However, without the prominent and dedicated exposure given to the genre by artists like Fabio and Grooverider it is difficult to see how this style of music would have grown to become the worldwide phenomenon that it is today.
In between DJing around the world and presenting his show on the radio, Fabio also runs the regular club night Swerve in London. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious, genuine and authentic drum n bass nights in the country, it has attracted some of the biggest names in the business down to play. Famous for it’s no-nonsense MC-free policy, the emphasis at Swerve is on enjoying the music rather than dancing yourself into a sweaty mess. The message behind the night is one of good music, good vibes, and good times, and we expect a highly similar offering when he turns up to play for us this June.
ALEX GWILLIAM