Ali Jawando

Northwest 10's founder and in-house producer Ali Jawando kicked off his dance music career as a DJ spinning on London's more commercial club scene, while hankering to become involved in the capital's then-elite but burgeoning underground garage movement. Spying a route in through production, Ali hired a studio for five days and emerged with his first tune in late '94 under the artist name F&A. Meanwhile, Ali met engineer / programmer Van Vardoen at the same studio, whilst the latter was moonlighting from his in-house job at Chrysalis Music Publishing. Ali recalls "I was toying with the label idea at the time and remember promising myself that I would poach him when I got started." Originally from Norway, Van had come over to the UK in the late 80's to "have a go in the music industry as some sort of mad challenge". A classically trained pianist, guitarist and record fanatic, Van found his break on the ragga scene, contributing to more than one reggae chart-topper before moving on to work within hip hop, drum n bass and R&B;. In March '95 Ali set up Northwest 10 (initially sharing offices with 4 Liberty Records, then home to the Dreem Teem) and brought in Van as the label's in-house engineer / programmer. The label hit the ground running with its debut release 'Mercy' which was licensed to Dino Entertainment.