Andy Norman

Now seen as the elder statesman of Hed Kandi, DJ Andy Norman was part of the founding line-up of one the UK?s biggest dance record labels. He started working with label founder Mark Doyle back in 1989; around the time when they held small local club events for a number of years. It was during this period that Hed Kandi was born.

Andy worked in the London club circuit for some years, working with The Crazy Club & Black And White Productions alongside the likes of Alex P, Smokin Joe and Fat Tony. Well-respected for playing numerous dance music styles over the years, he has played for a number of UK recording artists too, like The Pet Shop Boys and Jamiroquai.

Currently part of Team Kandi and a main resident for six years now, Andy continues to grace some of the world?s greatest nightclubs across all continents. He?s still a part of the Kandi radio team too presenting a regular weekly show. He based his DJ style as something of a party crowd pleaser, ?If you play to the ladies, you are all guaranteed to have one really great party!?

?I simply love to see people smiling and having a lot of fun?

Jamie Richards

Jamie?s musical preference of soulful, funky house was originally influenced by the sounds coming from the big house producers in America, particularly New York and Chicago. The likes of Masters at Work, Jazz and Groove, Tony Humphries and Florida based Brian Tappert.

By the mid '90s Jamie had a number of residencies in London and was promoting his own club nights. Also spending more time in the studio producing his own tracks, one of which featured on a Stereo Sushi album and entered the DJ mag hype chart at number one. The Hed Kandi brand was starting to grow and after playing at the Back to Love parties in those early days, on Christmas night with John Jones and Andy Norman in a small night club in Ealing, Jamie?s connection with Hed Kandi had begun. It wasn?t until a few years later that he would feature as a regular Hed Kandi resident.

During his time with Kandi Jamie has travelled the world representing the famous brand from; Australia, Dubai, the Philippines, America, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ibiza and many other cities across Europe. ?I have to say I really am having the time of my life djing right now, being able to see the world and to work with such a close and professional team at Hed Kandi is something I will never take for granted?. It still amazes me now that the identity of this brand can be recognised so far from home and long may that continue? adds Jamie.

Anton Ramos

Anton Ramos started The Chillout Project as a radio program back in 1997 on local radio station 99.5 RT. It introduced what was then the cutting edge sound of deep house, downtempo and trip hop. That enjoyed an unprecedented run as the lone electronica/dance music show on air until 2002. The Chillout Project has spawned various compilations and residencies through the years. In the Philippines, the series has produced the largest selling albums in its genre. The "House Sessions 2" album in particular has been certified gold. Anton is also a much sought after DJ. He has been featured and has opened for some of Manila's biggest parties including Miss Moneypenny's, Defected, Hed Kendi and Tokyo Project events. Currently, he is a resident DJ for Embassy Superclub at The Fort, Taguig.

Erwin Edralin

The metro?s senior DJs and critiques hailed him as the most promising talent to hit the club circuit. The Philippine Daily Inquirer listed him as the newest entry in the DJ Honor Roll of 1999. This lead guitarist started to DJ at the early age of 16 at his brother?s club, the unforgettable ABG?s along Pasong Tamo. Within a decade of being the toast of Manila?s music connoisseurs and club scene aficionados, he already performed for numerous major events such as Sundance ?99 (the Philippines? grandest sunset-to-sunrise summer rave to date). He opened for Matt Hardwick and Ashley Casselle of Gatecrasher in December of the same year and co-billed with Ferry Corsten and Bruno of Ibiza?s Café Del Mar in October and December of the following year.

In 2001 and in what was said to be the best party Boracay Island ever had, he rocked a full house of thousands at the Beachcomber. He played for the launch of ABSOLUT MANDARIN at the NBC Tent, which was remembered as one of the country?s biggest and best launch party, and in the much talked about ABSOLUT MANILA launch at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

During his Singapore gigs as DJ EE in 2004, he guested at the Attica Bar in Clarke Quay in August and was featured with DJ Small at the ?Corona 100 Degree-Celsius Vacation in the City? party at the Fullerton Water Boat House in September. Most recent of his major gigs, as the Team Bigfish rep, took place in Boracay Island this summer of 2005: He made waves by opening for Flipside at the Sunset Sessions, for Solarstone and Scott Mac at the Slinky World Tour, in addition to creating quite a stir by playing for the Beach House Hed Kandi Tour with Andy Norman.

Unique and often described as classy and subdued, his music never fails to be playful, funky, soulful and deep..a quality of musical taste that is solely his own.

Following his residency at Absinthe Bar and Acquario Liquid Lounge, he has been touring major cities in the Philippines as a featured artist for major music and arts festivals. Erwin is currently doing regular stints for CURVentertainment, Hey Jude! Bar in Boracay Island including Hed Kandi and Slinky for Bigfish.

Blake Jarrell

Aged just 23, Blake Jarrell has had a rollercoaster of a ride to date. Tipped by John Digweed as ?definitely someone to look out for in the future," Blake carved himself a niche in the underground dance music scene in his hometown of New Orleans. At 16, he started to DJ and became a resident at local clubs like Ampersand, 735, and the House of Blues where he crafted his progressive house sound. Not satisfied with only DJing, Blake soon began to produce, releasing singles and remixes on various progressive labels co-produced with the late Adam "Starkid" Spears.

But in August 2005, disaster struck ? Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans, turning Blake?s life upside down. Packing his car with whatever he could, Blake wound up in Chicago where he fell in love with the booming house, techno and trance scene, which further helped shape his sound. It also brought a chance meeting with legendary DJ Armin van Buuren, who Blake passed along a CD of his productions. "It's bittersweet that I had to lose my hometown to Hurricane Katrina to find such a musically nurturing city as Chicago," says Blake who claims the storm as "simultaneously the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me."

Armin soon contacted Blake and invited him on tour as an opener. Now, following a slew of successful gigs, production work, and remixes (winning him fans in the form of Tiesto, Pete Tong, and Gabriel & Dresden among others) Blake has compiled this debut mix CD for Armada. ?It?s a CD that you can listen to in the car or at home ? it?s laid back enough to relax on the couch with but still has its pumping moments to listen to on the way out to the club,? says Blake. ?It comprises of tracks of producers I?ve loved and labels I?ve been into over the past year shaped into 2 CDs that both progress and intensify in their own unique way."

As well as Blake?s worldwide DJing schedule, you can also catch a slew of his new production work out this year on Armada. But for now, kick back with what Blake feels is his own "personal time capsule of the sound I'm into at the moment and programming that is an allegorical snapshot of how my personal and professional life has grown over the past few years.?