profiles

DJ Frend

DJ Frend (real name Dan Hellen), based in Gloucestershire, is a young talented, all-round DJ/Turntablist/Party rocker who has been rocking parties and schooling people in the art since he first started playing in 1998.

Initially a drum n bass DJ, he moved into the field of grass roots hiphop (Not the gangsta foolishness!) as it enabled a much more creative use of the decks with the addition of mixing and scratching techniques that are collectively known as Turntablism. As his scratching skills progressed, he began playing turntables in a local funk/jazz combo ‘The Tensquareturtles’ at the amazing Peakflow nights in Stroud and DJ’d in clubs in Bristol and Gloucestershire.

Once at university, he set up and ran the most critically acclaimed hiphop night in Hull. KoRockinIt was a success story based on its fun-focussed ethic that incorporated as many creative and enjoyable elements of hiphop into one room as was possible.

This multi-element approach continued in his progression as he also began beatboxing and rhyming. He is now a widely respected member of the underground south-west hiphop movement who is in demand for his skills by many artists.

Dan running workshops as part of World Jungle's Parklife events in Summer 2007

Frustrated at the rising amounts of negativity in the local youth and wishing to put his skills to better use than just showing off, he began working with the Gloucestershire Youth Service, running DJ/Beatbox workshops at his local youth centre. His skill at teaching and ability to connect with the young people led to him being taken on as a youthworker in training at Dursley youth centre and is now helping to run both Cam and Dursley’s youth sessions.

Being a keen Skateboarder, he devised and help set-up and run 'Scratch&Skate'. This is a local youth music festival/extreme sports jam held every year in Cam that has become the flagship youth event for the Stroud area. Click here to view photos from 2007's event...

He is a resident DJ at RIGA in Stroud and can be found rocking parties and jams in hard to find places. He plays Hiphop, Funk, Soul, Reggae, Drum n Bass, Dubstep and anything that rocks the party/occasion.

DJ-wise he has warmed up for/worked with: The Scratch Perverts, Foreign Beggars, Andy C, Type & JB, Heyoke, Double E, DBL Collective, Sir Beans OBE, Chalk MC, Nate Seacourt, C-Froo, E.L.F, The Leano, Mr Mus and many more who aren’t well known but damn well should be.

Contact

Email: djfrend@hotmail.co.uk

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World Jungle Limited, 18 Second Avenue, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 4PD, England.
World Jungle Limited, 46C City Road, Bristol, BS2 8TX
Email: info@worldjungle.org.uk or Telephone: 01453 548189 / 078788 65297.
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