DJing as a hobby since 1979, Andy Smith became a professional DJ in 1995 when he was asked to be the DJ and sample-producer for the band Portishead. He was the first DJ to release a multi-genre mix album on a major label. His seminal mix-CD The Document hit the streets back in 1998 and became the soundtrack for a generation who’d heard Coldcut's Journeys By DJs but needed to hear more – The Document filled the void.

It segued tracks from artists such as Tom Jones (way before Reload, top ten hit Stoned in Love and The Voice (BBC)); Peggy Lee (sample source for Beastie Boys single Ch-Check It Out); The Jungle Brothers and even The Spencer Davis Group. This was new to music lovers but for Smith a mixed bag of treasures has always been at the centre of his sets.

This appreciation of different genres made Smith the ideal person to provide samples for Portishead’s first two albums. He went on to make his name as their international tour DJ – reflecting their respect for both digging and hip-hop scratch DJ-ing. Hip-hop elements formed the basis of Portishead’s unique sound.

Since the Portishead tours he has established himself as an underground producer, working with Scott Hendy (Boca 45) under the name Dynamo Productions. Their album Analogue, which notched up a top-ranking five out of five in Mojo magazine, featured San Diego-based MC Profile from the much respected Sound Providers Crew. He has also provided samples for Prodigy hits and Lack of Afro.

Andy regularly appears in clubs across the world and his strong cult keeps him in demand at weekly DJ residencies including Smith’s ‘Friday Fish Fry’ at Joe’s bar in Camden Town, and his ‘Reach UP – Disco Wonderland’ night at The Bussey Building in Peckham every second Saturday of the month.

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