Rik Parkinson - Pioneer Pro Dj
Live @ MAINframe Radio - Episode 26 - 18/11/11 by Rik Parkinson
Born in 1983 and raised in the town of Chorley, Lancashire (UK), Rik has loved music deeply since he was a kid. Back then he would listen to all sorts of compositions and even learnt to play the drums, keys and trumpet. A devoted muso, it seemed. Then came electronic dance music, house parties and dancefloors. And for the first time Rik saw heavyweight DJs such as Sasha rule the earth. Aged 16, and listening to a mix tape in a friend’s car en-route to the Glastonbury festival, he experienced a ‘eureka’ moment and realised that that was it: he was hooked...
Finding the builds and breaks exhilarating and the flow of molten loops addictive, Rik started DJing in 1999. But although gigs were already bubbling nicely in his hometown, he was still hungry to discover more about the making and shaping of electronic music. So in 2003 the ginger ninja (Demi) upped sticks and decided to journey across the Pennines to seek further knowledge and fulfilment over in the City of Leeds (home to such DJ legends as Sir Jimmy Savile OBE and Dave Beer B2B). Continuing to DJ, and by then producing his own tracks as well, Rik went on to graduate from Leeds University with a degree in Creative Music and Sound Technology.
Armed with a new arsenal of techniques to supplement his musicality, Rik then produced, signed and released two tracks under the alias Jazz Sensation together with Jon Last. The cuts were called Just Like That and Anytime No More. And the names of the labels that snapped up these fledgling compositions – Sounds Like Soul and Soul Tonic – tell you all you need to know about his musical orientation at that point in time. Receiving plenty of radio plays from DJs at Radio 1, Galaxy and Ministry of Sound, plus airings at clubbing hot spots like Café Mambo, these emotional grooves were furthermore supported by tuned-in crews such as G-Club and Defected.
As sweet ‘n’ melodic as his early sounds were, though, as a forward-thinking 21st-century DJ Rik’s style and selection of music has definitely evolved. The Jazz Sensation alias later faded out as productions were stripped bare for a Generation Y crowd, and Rik turned to the ‘darker side’ of DJing under his own name. Consequently, these days, both his sets and productions are far grittier and much more versatile. Just check out RP’s viral This Is Robo Pop and Happy Robots DJ mixes of 2006/07; imaginative, energetic sets that apply mind-blowing technical savvy to the most potent of dancefloor charms.
As a DJ, over the years Rik has spun opening sets before the world’s best DJs, including Erick Morillo, Roger Sanchez and Jodi Wisternoff. And he’s ripped up a string of clubs, from various venues in Ireland to Turnmills (London), Honey Club (Brighton), Escape (Swansea) and Rapture (Loughborough). What’s more, if you are a gear head, then you may already know Rik from his Pro DJ video tutorials on YouTube, which have clocked up more hits than a popstar outta rehab. Likewise, through his cutting-edge work of introducing new Pioneer kit to the UK massive, the man-like-DJ-machine has enjoyed sharing his fast-fingered decks and EFX wizardry with world-renowned DJs such as Steve Lawler, X-Press 2, Demi, Yousef and Yoda, no less. So stay tuned. Riding high as one of clubland’s sharpest decknicians and presently based between Leeds and London, the future appears to hold much for this DJ wunderkind!
The extraordinary technical skills of Rik Parkinson have raised countless eyebrows in the DJ industry. However, that’s mainly because the organic-electro-tech selector doesn’t so much play music as remix it live – as only a musician can. Part DJ prodigy, part nuskool producer, and full-on party aficionado, Rik works out his music-driven passions by demonstrating DJ gear from top-flight manufacturer Pioneer by day and rocking dancefloors by night.
How did you first get into DJing?
I have always loved music, and even learned to play several instruments when I was a kid. However, after submerging myself in the whole electronic dance music scene, clubs, festivals and so on, I first started DJing in 1999, when I was 16 years old. Not officially old enough for clubs, but old enough to start learning the ropes! After leaving Leeds University with a degree in Creative Music and Sound Technology, I just knew whatever I did in the future would have to involve developing my passion for DJing – for playing, making and sharing music with others.
How has the world around you changed since you first got into DJing?
With regard to DJing, probably the most important changes are in the ways we perform live, which are linked to the rise and global impact of new digital DJ technologies. For example, we have the continued move away from the linear mixing of two vinyl analogue records to reconstructing digital music or remixing it live on the fly using CDJs, more effects on the mixers, and even software. By day I am a DJ product executive for Pioneer Great Britain, and this means I must be up to speed with new ideas and concepts in this field. So it’s just as well DJing is my main passion. I also get to travel around the UK demonstrating flash new kit to some top drawer DJs, as well as at schools and retailers. Then there are my DJ tutorial videos, which are enjoyed via the multitude of social networking sites out there these days!”
Where can people sample your talents?
My homepage is always a good start: www.rikparkinson.com. And my next DJ gig is in Glasgow, but you can see and hear me anytime, anywhere on-screen, online at YouTube (just search for ‘Rik Parkinson’) or at Pioneer’s vlog, DJsounds.com.
What is your favourite venue in the UK? Why?
Back to Basics in Leeds is one of the finest and most genuine clubbing institutions in the country, if not the world. With its great vibe, crowd, DJs and sound system, it’s an honour to play. The End (RIP) was also pretty cool, before it closed, but sadly I never got to play there.
What are your three essential tracks at the moment?
Mark Broom’s ‘Jackpot’ on Saved, Laurent Garnier’s ‘Gnanmankoudji’ (Horny Monster Mix) on Pias and Nôze’s ‘You Have To Dance’ (Mathias Kaden’s Beatpolka Remix) on Get Physical.