Jon Dasilva

Cited as an innovator and influence by DJs as diverse as The Midfield General, Sasha, and Rob Bright (Bugged Out / Electric Chair), Dasilva’s reputation as a seminal DJ is secure. Following teenage stints in Punk-Funk bands playing guitar and occasionally drums, Dasilva was inspired by the wacked out disco of 80’s New York and sonic experiments of the likes of Can, Suicide and Adrian Sherwood of On-U Sound, and started DJing back in ‘86. Soon enthralled by the dark sound of Chicago House he moved to Manchester, England his heart set on DJing at the pre-E Haçienda. His mixing skills and innovative style were so impressive that Dasilva was quickly invited to become one of the club’s resident DJ’s on what was to become the legendary HOT night (88). Legend days they certainly were, The Hacienda (88-91) later being honoured as the “No.1 Club of All Time” by DJ Magazine. Also, look out for his DJ appearance in the Hacienda scenes of the film “24 Hour Party People”! As the U.K scene shifted up a gear Dasilva has found himself in great demand, playing every major club from coast to coast. This has included all the major Super-clubs as well the more cutting edge nights like Slam, Back-to-Basics and Planet K. Outside of the flourishing U.K club scene Dasilva has taken his individual style all over the world. From an I.D. Magazine and New Order/Hacienda tours of the States, several tours of Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, West and Eastern Europe, Moscow, Israel and four recent tours of China… to memorable shows at Amnesia and Manumission. Style wise Dasilva manages muscular beats and the dark twisted magic that is at that heart of great House/Electronica and is remarkably still true to the original, open minded House ideal – mixing tempos and styles right across the spectrum. Described by I.D Magazine as “one of the finest mixers in the country”, Jon Dasilva, “the acid house legend” (Jockey Slut Magazine), proves himself ever relevant in his own mercurial way. Some things said about Jon Dasilva: “And then the bomb dropped with no warning that I can remember, apart from maybe DJ Jon Dasilva’s siren sound effects. HOT didn’t last long – from the summer until Christmas ’88 – but it is perhaps the best remembered night in the club’s history. Jon Dasilva and Mike Pickering soundtracked the madness. Dasilva got himself a rep for using sound effects of thunderstorms and rain to underline the insanity…Minus the tales of chemical excess, these were the times you might want to tell your grandchildren about…” The Face Magazine (1997). “I heard Jon Dasilva playing a cappella first, he was the master of that stuff and I ripped his style. He was the one DJ at the Hacienda who really constructed a set and used a cappella and sound effects, mixed in key, built a set into a soundscape. He was the person who influenced me more than any other DJ.” Sasha (Interview in Jockey Slut Magazine, 2002). "Jon Dasilva is the Eric Cantona of House music!" Mark Rae (Rae and Christian, 1998).