This site has info on Ben Wijay and the labels he is involved with : Phreakin Recordings, Canute Music, Justmuzik and other releases.
See the Justmuzik release section for our digital provider.
This site also contains mixes from Ben Wijay and track-listings where possible. These are regularly updated.
News
- New label starting in Jan: Canute Music
- New player in 'Music' section.
- Phreakin Recordings new Ep by Brett Johnson 'Oram Daze' out now through Cyber Distribution (France)
- We are now up on myspace
- Jan '08 Chart
- Sascha Dive (Samuel Davis rmx) – Deep (Drumpoet Community)
- Dennis Ferrer (Locodice Remix) - Son Of Raw (Objectivity)
- Various – After Dark (Italians Do It Better)
- Ifran – Red Giants – Still Music
- Radioslave – Dedication Part Three’ (Rekids)
- J Mowbray & D Ramiez (Stefanik Rmx) – Time Fades Away (Four:Twenty)
- Dirtbombs – King fu (Mahogani)
- Chow Daddy – Dismembered (Moxie)
- Force Of Nature Straight Ahead (Traderoute)
- Mike Huckaby & Pacou - Sessions (Cache)
- Green Velvet ‘Flash’ - Carl Craig Mix Velvet (White re-release)
- Wild Rumpus (Rub N Tug Rmx – Musical Blaze-Up (Bitches Brew)
- Unknown ‘Do Me Right/Drfftin’ (JM Limited Promo)
- Theo Parrish - Sound Sculptures Volume 1 (Sound Signature)
Biography
The Justmuzik record label was originally conceived in 1998 by Ben Wijay and Leon Hindle. Influenced by the sounds of Detroit and Chicago the first EP was co-produced by the pair and titled "Just Music". From the outset this EP, a varied 4 tracker that nodded its head to the likes of Robert Hood, Moodymann & DJ Sneak set the tone for Ben's production work. Combining jazz, slightly syncopated keyboard stabs and twisted hats over deep bass lines, "Just Music" the EP and subsequent releases on Drop and Tangent Beats drew inspiration from Detroit - the melting pot of Soul, Jazz, House and Techno. Interest in Ben's works spread further a field than just Detroit purists though, appealing to the burgeoning late 90's tech-house scene as well.
When Leon departed for Asia in 1999, Wijay turned his attentions more to deejaying. After winning MUZIK Magazine's Bedroom Bedlam DJ competition in 2003, he received considerable support from MUZIK and DJ's from Ashley Beedle to Inland Knights. Renaissance quickly established him as one of their new faces at legendary clubs Pacha, The Cross and The Bomb. It was here he began to rub shoulders with DJs as diverse as Sasha to Charles Webster. With international appearances in Europe, Asia and Australia, including the Space Terrace (Ibiza), Wijay fast established his reputation on the international scene.
While house music is the backbone of a typical Wijay set, you can also expect to hear disco, techno, soul, electro, jazz-funk, soul, punk-funk, latin/world music plus his own re-edits and tracks woven into the mix. Today's resurgence of interest in past legends such as Ron Hardy, Larry Levan & David Mancuso has led many DJ's to step out of the safety zone and experimenting with their sound; not an approach Wijay has adopted for the sake of trend - he's been playing with this so called 'eclecticism' since day one. Indeed, back in the days when it had become unthinkable to play anything outside your chosen pigeon hole, Wijay was ignoring protocol and mixing Roy Ayres with Derrick May or Metro Area with the B-52's underground classic "Mesopotamia".
His own club night Chameleon galvanised this style and has gathered a cult following since starting in 2003. Past guests have included Bill Brewster (Faith), The Unabombers (Electric Chair) and Schmoov! In 2004 Chameleon was named one of Mixmag's club nights of the year.
Since his early releases on Justmuzik, Drop Music and DiY Discs, Ben has developed a diverse production style. Evidenced by the difference between "Wait", one of Ben's quirky electro-influenced numbers, used as the opening track on Steve Lawler's Global Underground 'Light's Out 3' mix and "IOU" his uplifting house track used by Groove Armada for their 'Summer Groove' compilation in 2004.
Phreakin Recordings have recently released the first of 3 EP's by Ben for this year and an album is due in early 2007. The Phreakin Recordings release schedule also includes Wijay's remixes of the likes of Brett Johnson, Fred Everything, Gene Farris, Andre Bonsor (Schmoov!) and Jeff Tyler.
The Justmuzik label is re-launched this year for digital download. It will primarily release Wijay's output (new and old), but will also feature collaborations and remixes. The first release 'Black Rose' EP on Beatport is a 4 track deep house affair that has caused some ripples with in the underground. With praise from Kenny Larkin and other Detroit producers this fits well alongside Carl Craig and Theo Parrish productions.
Press Quotes
"Forward thinking house music and we like it" - iDJ Magazine - 2006
"Ben Wijay is the most exciting open minded upcoming DJ around" - Mixmag Ralph Moore. Senior editor - 2004
"Expect to see Wijay at cutting edge holes very soon" - Muzik Magazine - 2003
"Love his production style - an old school vibe with a new twist" - Steve Lawler - 2005
"Expect to hear a lot more from Ben Wijay in the future" - Renaissance - Ones to Watch - 2003
"This guy's knowledge of quality music goes a long way - the best mix of music I have heard since Harvey did a 10hr set at Wobble in 96" - Phil Gifford - Ultra DJ Management and Renegade Robot.
