About
In a clubbing climate where many DJs elect to make their mark by focusing on one particular sound, the capacity to casually drop a set that feels like you’ve soaked up every decade since the 70s sets you apart. This is a hallmark of Rory Phillips’ DJing, and one that he’s successfully been finessing since the days of Trash. Anyone with a grip on clubbing history in London will be fully aware of Rory’s role in that legendary club night alongside Erol Alkan, and it’s an experience that has served him well, with a succession of inter-continental DJing gigs over the last decade.
Phillips tutelage at the reins of Trash’s spiritual successor Durrr steered the club night through its initial, and much missed, home, The End to it’s tenure as a roving party in various East London venues. Operating on a more irregular basis allowed Durrr to become even more ambitious, with parties in Miami and Paris before ending with a final blow out at London’s XOYO with guest spots from Todd Terje, Erol Alkan and the debut of Rory’s own live show featuring a full band.
That line up possibly encapsulates what you’d hear now in a Rory Phillips DJ set, and this all encompassing approach certainly filters through to the barrage of critically acclaimed remixes Rory has in his armoury. You could easily get away with playing a DJ set purely formed of his remixes, which span big names such as The xx, Gossip, Scissor Sisters, cult acts both old (The Units, Alexander Robotnik) and new (Little Boots, This Soft Machine). This range is matched by the long list of DJs that have played them, from festival heavyweights Soulwax, The Chemical Brothers and A-Trak to disco deviants Harvey, Weatherall and Prins Thomas.
Residencies have played a big part in Rory’s story. He played The End more than any other DJ, held down a 4 year stint playing every Friday night at the much missed Plastic People and since it’s opening in 2013, Rory has been holding down down a vinyl only residency at London’s Chiltern Firehouse, digging deep from his extensive collection for 5 hour excursions through soul, funk and his true love disco, which features heavily in his joyful extended sets for Rhonda in Los Angeles, Primavera Sound in Barcelona and his recent back to back session with Erol Alkan at London’s XOYO.
Having offered a glimpse at his style with “Solar Breakfast”, a contribution to In Flagranti’s Codek label a few years back, Phillips has made good on years of amassing vintage synth gear with the five 12” releases on Mixed Fortunes thus far. Established in earnest at the start of 2012, Mixed Fortunes is Phillips outlet for original productions free of the constraints of label interference, and granted full creative freedom they convey a diversity in production that matches the ethos of his DJ style.