Jun 11 2008 3:04 pm,
Andy Smith was the first DJ to release a multi-genre mix album on a major label. When his mix-CD The Document hit the streets back in 1998, it became the soundtrack for a generation who had heard Coldcut's Journeys By DJs but needed to hear more - The Document filled the void.
It segued tracks from artists such as Tom Jones (way before he came back in vogue with Reload and newer tracks such as recent top ten hit Stoned in Love); Peggy Lee (sample source for the Beastie Boys single Ch-Check It Out); The Jungle Brothers and even The Spencer Davis Group. This was new to record buyers but for Smith a mixed bag of treasures has always formed the typical contents of his DJ set.
This appreciation of different genres made Smith the ideal person to provide sample material for Portishead on their first two albums. He went on to make his name as the band's international tour DJ – reflecting their respect for both the art of digging for breaks and hip-hop scratch DJ-ing. Hip-hop elements formed the basis of the unique Portishead sound.
Production
Since the Portishead tours he has established himself as an underground producer of some of the most irresistible hip-hop breaks-based music around, working with Scott Hendy (Boca 45) under the name Dynamo Productions. Their album Analogue, which notched up a top-ranking five out of five in Mojo magazine, featured San Diego-based MC Profile from the much respected Sound Providers Crew.
London and international Residencies
Smith regularly appears in clubs across the world and his strong cult following has secured him constant DJ bookings including several residencies at:
Cargo (London) – Andy Smith presents The Document Live Sessions
Jazz Café (London) – Andy Smith's Northern Soul
Madame Jo Jos (London) – Lost and Found (with Keb Darge)
Tamla Tuesdays (London) – The Big Chill Bar
The Ri Ra (Dublin)
