Biografie
A phenomenally versatile DJ, Danny Howells is as renowned for his work in the studio as in the clubs. A masterful mixer with seven albums to his name, an equally noted remixer, and an innovative producer in his own right under the monikers Squelch and Science Deptartment, Danny Howells has stamped his own sound across the modern dance scene. Born in the small resort town of Hastings, on England's southern coast, Howells played his first party at the end of the '80s in celebration of his hero Prince's birthday. An avid record collector, after stepping behind the turntables, the DJ never looked back and he was soon spinning regularly around the local clubs.
In late 1991, a friend handed one of Howells' mix tapes to Bedrock founder John Digweed, who immediately enlisted the young DJ for his own parties. Howells accompanied Bedrock first up the road to Brighton, then further north to the pleasant suburb of Seven Oaks, and finally in the late '90s, to the capital, where the Bedrock crew settled in at Heaven.
Meanwhile, Howells grew interested in producing his own tracks and eventually hooked up with a local Hastings electronics veteran Tim Cross. Working out of Cross' home studio, in 1995 the pair released the experimental, abstract techno single "Darkhappy," under the name Squelch. They changed gears for the funky, hip-hop-flavored "Calmdown" and shifted once again for "Schmelch." The songs brought them to the attention of the Jackpot label, who quickly snapped up the DJs. In 1997, Squelch's final single, the driving "Crash," became an instant danceclub hit.
Still, 1997 was a great year for the DJ. Jackpot had bought up the seminal Guerilla label's back catalog and immediately handed the tracks to Howells to mix as the Jackpot Presents Guerilla album. The label also gave the DJ his first crack at remixing; he was paired with Rob Green, and the two set about working on React to Rhythm's "Intoxication." A headlining DJ tour followed. Suddenly Howells found himself with a new audience, and in the case of the Netherlands, a large and loyal fan base as well.
As the new millennium dawned, Howells' music littered the landscape. There were a clutch of remixes done in conjunction with Green and several on his own, including Robbie Williams' "South of the Border," Slide's "Confusional State," Astrax's "Kafka," and his own personal favorite, BT's "Dreaming." The DJ also mixed a collection of the UG label's tracks for the Danny Howells Presents UG album in 1999. For Nocturnal Frequencies, the first in a series of Howells' mix albums of the same title, he could choose his songs. Howells now began collaborating with Dick Trevor, initially on remixes, and the pair had a sizable hit with Moca/Morales' "Higher." For their own productions, the two took the moniker Science Department and their debut double A-sided single, 1999's "Repercussion"/"Persuasion," was highly lauded.
Howells' adventurous yet subtle style — trancy but with a funky edge, featuring a playful mixture of retro and recent sounds — was receiving ever more acclaim. He took residencies at Renaissance in Nottingham, Ministry of Sound in London, Cream in Liverpool, Lush in Ireland, Bedrock, and continued to spin regularly in the Netherlands.
Howells' new mix album, Nocturnal Frequencies 2, arrived in 2000. Later that year, the DJ made the difficult decision to finally leave Bedrock and Ministry of Sound, taking on a residency at New York City's Twilo club. Science Department finished a new track, "Breathe," which found a comfortable niche on Howells next mix album, the acclaimed Danny Howells -- Nu Breed, part of the Global Underground series.
