Bridging the gap
SF: He's been nominated for an Ivor Novello award, toured the world, and set alight the charts; The Skinny chats to Nick Bridges from Bodyrox<br/><br/>PQ: ""DJing has always been number one for me. Producing is also great but there's nothing like a buzzing club.""
| 08 Sep 2007
So, how does a former Cambridge Law & Economics student and software company Marketing Manager become an electronic music star?
It seems a gradual process is the answer, and it's certainly one that Nick Bridges has stuck to. After DJing for a number of years he was taken on as a Ministry of Sound resident in 1999. Shortly after, his disc jockeying commitments "went crazy" to the point that he could escape the marketing world. "I couldn't hack the whole nine to five thing so I'm glad it's turned out okay."
Turned out okay indeed; if he hadn't stuck at it, today he could have been staring at a computer screen as part of the shirts, shiny shoes and tie brigade, instead of enjoying the fruits of a solo career and partnership with Jon Pearn as Bodyrox.
After being signed up to Ministry, more offers of residencies further afield rolled in, and it was at Pacha (Ibiza) five years ago that he met Pearn, who suggested they make a track together. Little did they know at the time that this collaboration would lead to an Ivor Novello nomination, previously won by musicians such as Neil Tennant, Elton John and Sir John Taverner.
They might have lost out in the Best Contemporary Song category to Amy Winehouse, but the fact they were shortlisted at all, as Nick tells us, was nevertheless "amazing." Particularly because "it's rare that dance music producers are nominated."
The song in question was Yeah Yeah, featuring vocals from Luciana, which hit the number two spot in the national chart in November last year. Luci, as she is affectionately known, wrote the lyrics with partner Nick Clow ("they are possibly the best writers in the world right now") while Pearn and Bridges composed the music. Luci had also worked with Pearn under the name Full Intention, and both producers realised she could bring something magic to their track. The result was an addictive blend of filthy electronics which some journalists swiftly deposited into the 'nu rave' genre. "Journalists love tags! It makes it easy to slate when it goes out of fashion. Nu rave is cool, but it seems to be used on everything now."
So how else has working together with Pearn helped Nick's career? "Jon has obviously been directly instrumental in my production career. He has a vast experience behind him." The duo have been taking the global house scene by storm, launching Juki Records and releasing $treet Price to critical acclaim and five star reviews.
Bridges currently rocks out two residencies ("DJing has always been number one for me. Producing is also great but there's nothing like a buzzing club"): DTPM at Fabric in London, and Glasshouse at the Mission in Leeds. "I don't think I have time for any other residencies as our diaries are so busy following the track's global success," he notes.
He has certainly put in the hard graft over the years, including a mammoth three year tour across Spain for Bacardi, something Bridges is proud of given that he reckons some of the best clubs in the world reside in the "great territory". Bodyrox are taking things a little more slowly, going on tour for weeks at a time. Indeed, another three week tour of Australia is due this month, which Bridges is excited about. If you happen to be down under, check it out.
Although Bodyrox has brought Bridges and Pearn a wealth of success that facilitates their incessant touring, Nick still cherishes his early work: "The first compilation I mixed for Ministry of Sound in 2000 was a milestone in my career. Yeah Yeah was my first chart success so I'm obviously proud of that. Oh, and I love Put Your Hands Up For Detroit...urm, no, that wasn't us!"
Next in the pipeline is a new Bodyrox single which follows the "same ingredients" as Yeah Yeah, and you can hear advance previews on Bridges' Myspace. He is a little cagey about further details, but also on the schedule are numerous major label releases later this year (Positiva, Data, Phonetic & Eye Industries/Universal), under various pseudonyms, including Another Chance and R.A.W. Plus, they're even finding the time to produce a new girl band. From all directions, then, Bodyrox are coming at you.
It seems a gradual process is the answer, and it's certainly one that Nick Bridges has stuck to. After DJing for a number of years he was taken on as a Ministry of Sound resident in 1999. Shortly after, his disc jockeying commitments "went crazy" to the point that he could escape the marketing world. "I couldn't hack the whole nine to five thing so I'm glad it's turned out okay."
Turned out okay indeed; if he hadn't stuck at it, today he could have been staring at a computer screen as part of the shirts, shiny shoes and tie brigade, instead of enjoying the fruits of a solo career and partnership with Jon Pearn as Bodyrox.
After being signed up to Ministry, more offers of residencies further afield rolled in, and it was at Pacha (Ibiza) five years ago that he met Pearn, who suggested they make a track together. Little did they know at the time that this collaboration would lead to an Ivor Novello nomination, previously won by musicians such as Neil Tennant, Elton John and Sir John Taverner.
They might have lost out in the Best Contemporary Song category to Amy Winehouse, but the fact they were shortlisted at all, as Nick tells us, was nevertheless "amazing." Particularly because "it's rare that dance music producers are nominated."
The song in question was Yeah Yeah, featuring vocals from Luciana, which hit the number two spot in the national chart in November last year. Luci, as she is affectionately known, wrote the lyrics with partner Nick Clow ("they are possibly the best writers in the world right now") while Pearn and Bridges composed the music. Luci had also worked with Pearn under the name Full Intention, and both producers realised she could bring something magic to their track. The result was an addictive blend of filthy electronics which some journalists swiftly deposited into the 'nu rave' genre. "Journalists love tags! It makes it easy to slate when it goes out of fashion. Nu rave is cool, but it seems to be used on everything now."
So how else has working together with Pearn helped Nick's career? "Jon has obviously been directly instrumental in my production career. He has a vast experience behind him." The duo have been taking the global house scene by storm, launching Juki Records and releasing $treet Price to critical acclaim and five star reviews.
Bridges currently rocks out two residencies ("DJing has always been number one for me. Producing is also great but there's nothing like a buzzing club"): DTPM at Fabric in London, and Glasshouse at the Mission in Leeds. "I don't think I have time for any other residencies as our diaries are so busy following the track's global success," he notes.
He has certainly put in the hard graft over the years, including a mammoth three year tour across Spain for Bacardi, something Bridges is proud of given that he reckons some of the best clubs in the world reside in the "great territory". Bodyrox are taking things a little more slowly, going on tour for weeks at a time. Indeed, another three week tour of Australia is due this month, which Bridges is excited about. If you happen to be down under, check it out.
Although Bodyrox has brought Bridges and Pearn a wealth of success that facilitates their incessant touring, Nick still cherishes his early work: "The first compilation I mixed for Ministry of Sound in 2000 was a milestone in my career. Yeah Yeah was my first chart success so I'm obviously proud of that. Oh, and I love Put Your Hands Up For Detroit...urm, no, that wasn't us!"
Next in the pipeline is a new Bodyrox single which follows the "same ingredients" as Yeah Yeah, and you can hear advance previews on Bridges' Myspace. He is a little cagey about further details, but also on the schedule are numerous major label releases later this year (Positiva, Data, Phonetic & Eye Industries/Universal), under various pseudonyms, including Another Chance and R.A.W. Plus, they're even finding the time to produce a new girl band. From all directions, then, Bodyrox are coming at you.