Mark Radford_
Born in the sleepy market town of Bishops Stortford and growing up in Harlow, Mark Radford’s story will speak to many aspiring producers and DJs whose interest is piqued by a scene far-flung from their immediate surroundings. The pull of dark and sweaty rooms drawing them closer and closer to the nearest city where stacks of speakers and the siren’s call of undulating basslines seem almost irresistible. It’s in those rooms that Mark Radford found his path in life, enveloping himself in the music and culture at the beating heart of London’s electronic music scene.
Mark’s history stretches back to the early days of acid house, rave and jungle and he counts DJs like Randall, Grooverider and Jumping Jack Frost at the forefront of his musical stimuli. “Watching these guys create a new genre of music was amazing,” he explains, alluding to their experiments in music and willingness to push new boundaries, exposing the public to a dearth of home-grown talent, as a great inspiration to him.
A testament to that outlook is Mark’s record label, AudioRehab. Widely recognised as one of the world’s most influential underground labels with its own residency at the legendary Ministry of Sound, and a burgeoning roster of artists, AudioRehab was born from Mark Radford’s desire to harness and expose fresh talent. And that desire has undoubtedly been realised, with the labels dropping over 160 releases from some of the hottest underground talent around since 2012.
Mark Radford has garnered a reputation as one of London’s most cutting-edge selectors and an accomplished producer in his own right. Working with vocalists and expanding his musical horizons has become a point of focus for Mark over the past few years, and listeners to his Radio shows will undoubtedly have noticed how many new and unfinished tracks and collaborations he drops, using the shows as a sounding board and experimenting on air, with how these fit and blend with existing sounds.
This is Mark Radford’s strength, his passion for sharing new music and new sounds with people. Much like the acid house and rave pioneers he references as his earliest influences, Mark Radford is focused on evolution, not revolution.
With a weekly residency on House FM, regular bookings in the UK, Europe and beyond, including 51st State, B295 in London as well as his monthly residency at the infamous MOS, Mark Radford’s influence on the underground music scene is keenly felt and should not be underestimated.
