DJ Tunxy

Mark Tunks, but known to most as Tunxy, was born in Ashby de la Zouch on the 4th March 1971. It doesn't take much guess work to see where his nickname and DJ name came from.

 Mark started DJing after having a go on a pair of decks round at a mates house in 1986, and bought a pair of his own very soon after, mixing hip hop. This carried on until 1990 when his brother dragged him along to a small rave club called 'Rumours' in Evesham. 'This was a major turning point in my life.. It was the complete opposite to the hip hop clubs, for the simple reason that there was no bad atmosphere!'

 Rumours was soon to be where Mark would be found every Friday and Saturday night listening to the likes of Carl Cox, Simon 'Bassline' Smith, Easygroove etc.. Larger events soon beckoned like Obsession, Amnesia House and Fantazia. As far as DJing went, his first play out on the rave scene was in a squat in the Cotswolds in 1990, this then carried on to playing hardcore at illegal raves.

 But it wasn't until 1997 that Tunxy got the break he needed, when he was approached by Mike from Obsessed, who asked him to become 1 of Obsessed's residents along with Easygroove and Robbie D. Mark is still a resident for Obsessed which has enabled him to play all around the UK alongside the best in the Old Skool/Hardcore scene, and also DJ's for smaller promoters, playing Old Skool, Hardcore, Old Skool House (like early Sasha music), Drum and Bass and Techno.
 

Interview:

Hi Mark to kick off the interview can we start with some basic information and a short bio as an introduction for our readers, such as age, location, job etc. Then we can flow in to some DJ specific questions and answers.

Name: Mark Tunks, DJ name: Tunxy, Age: 33, Location: In-between Stratford on Avon and Moreton in the Marsh (south midlands-edge of the Cotswold's)

Mark can you explain how you became involved in the music business as a DJ? Your musical upbringing and personal preferences, and how they have led to your current role?

I started listening to Hip Hop and Electro in 1982. I was brought up around classical, rock, soul, blues and pop music.

Tunes with a harder edge had always appealed to me more, so from hardcore rave I then went into a more acid techno style in late '92. By late '94 I started DJing happy hardcore and Jungle, then in late '95 had decided to concentrate on the happy hardcore style, which I have kept playing out to present day. .

A lot of my friends were pushing me further in 1999, so I entered Helter Skelters 'breaking new talent', of which I got booked for, along with the Fast Car show at Santa Pod raceway.

What was it exactly that attracted you to the DJ lifestyle? Did you set out with the specific aim of becoming a DJ or was the direction more one of, right time, right place and nothing better to do, so to speak?

I first started DJing in 1986 for my own enjoyment, playing Hip Hop. Then, while on a visit to London, I heard Acid House for the first time and came back with a few tunes! Then in 1990, I turned my attention to rave music, after being dragged along to a small club in Evesham called Rumours.

It was such a breath of fresh air for me personally, because of there being no attitude in the rave scene. Later, in late summer of 1990, I DJ'ed at an illegal rave in the Cotswold's, this being the first time I had played at a rave.

I was more interested in playing at illegal raves during the early '90s, as most of my friends were DJ's or ran sound systems.

You must have seen a lot of music come and go, come back again and be replaced with something else. Over those years of music experience what types of music have you played around with, which have you stayed with and are there any styles of music you would like to have a go at?

I have played around with most styles of dance music throughout my career mixing trance to techno, house to hardcore etc! But it was in 1997 that I started getting booking for old skool, as it was starting to become popular with the younger clubbers and being great memories for the older ravers!

During all those years of playing at events all over the place are there any specific times that stick out in your mind as being groundbreaking for your career as a DJ? Can you pinpoint that moment in history where you thought it really couldn't get any better?

1997 was a ground breaking year for me as a DJ as I was approached by Mike from Obsessed/Obsession who asked me to be their resident along with Easygroove and Robbie Dee.

How would you best describe your qualities as a DJ? What do you bring to the mix that you think could be seen as a trademark?

I try to be as eclectic as possible, playing as many styles of dance music as possible, as this I find more of a challenge.

Being a DJ takes skill, judgment, perseverance, dedication and lots of time. Are you a professional DJ living an income solely from the mixing or do you have to hold down a regular job to pay for all that vinyl and all those stylus?

Away from DJing, I hold down a full time job, working 53 hours a week as a plant hire technician. Luckily my boss is very understanding when I need to leave work early if I have a booking that's some distance away!

There are a lot of DJ's who come and go but few remain. Who have you looked up to and admired in your career as a DJ? Which fellow DJ's do you have the utmost respect for, and why?

3 DJ's I looked up to in the early 90's were Carl Cox for his 3 deck mixing of hardcore and techno. Then there's Easygroove, taking a steady beat of a trance track and building the BPM's to head twisting techno! He, like Carl Cox, was, and is, very eclectic in his music styles. Thirdly its Ratty, the way he brought in a Hip Hop style of mixing was technical for its time... cutting, scratching and always working on the mix!

What is it exactly that you enjoy about music that keeps you in the business?

What keeps me going throughout all these years has been my love for the music and being able to share it with other likeminded people.

You must have spun a lot of vinyl in your time at the decks, and have probably accumulated quite a collection? How much vinyl do you own?

I've never sold any of my vinyl and have around 3,000 to 4,000 records.

What was your worst moment on stage?

My worst moment as a DJ was when I was booked to play just outside Birmingham. At this time I was living in North Devon, I was very ill with the flu, and had to drive for 2 and a half hours to get their. I got to the party on time for my set, played my hour and a half slot, put my last record back in my box and collapsed! But still managed to get back home that night.

Which PA/tune stands out as the best tune you have ever heard live?

Best tune I have heard live has got to have been Baby D doing a live PA at Flashback; I was just blown away by the power of her voice, and gave me goose bumps!

Please let us know where we can see you play in 2005? Can you provide us with some details on venues and dates?

You can catch me at Obsession/Obsessed parties around the UK as well as other events throughout the year.

Anyone you would like to give a shout out to Mark?

Shout outs go out to Mike and Vicky @ Obsession/Obsessed, MC Scratchy (who has been my MC for nearly 10 years. Cheers Mark!), Easygroove, Robbie Dee, DJ Sycotic (You're a top man Deekin!), The Double Vision Crew (Paul and Dan), All the people out there that have supported me past, present and future... Thank you!

Conducted by: Dave (thanks!)