Author: danocdj

The Brit Awards 2019

I’m dead chuffed to be back on the Brits Academy for next year. The Academy is made up of lots of people from across the music industry. The Academy are the people who vote for the winners each and every year. Blame us when Little Mix don’t win, sure. It’s a tough year this year. Voting takes place in December. The Brits are back at the O2 in London on Wednesday 20th February 2019.

The Beatles:White Album

I’ve just been picked to voice the new ad campaign for the White Album reissue. On November 9, The Beatles will release a suite of lavish ‘White Album’ packages including a super deluxe 7-disc set, featuring 50 mostly previously unreleased recordings, all newly mixed with 5.1 surround audio, as well as the much-sought after Esher Demos. Pre-order it now!

Street Circuit Weekender with Avis & Mercedes

In October I’ll be heading off to Europe to drive some of the best roads in the world. We’ll be driving through France and Italy, telling the stories of a few incredible road races – La Turbie in France, and the Mille Miglia in Italy. The films are being made with Avis and Mercedes and I can’t wait to get out there and get going. I’ll post the videos when we’re done! Keep checking back.

Blog 50 – So long big man…

So long big man…

I’m ready. I’ve been ready since i was 9 years old. Big man culture is dying, and i’m ready to carry the coffin right into the incinerator. It’s poisonous domination has lived among us for too long, and every single time I see someone go against it’s abrasive, brash grain, I celebrate. James Blake, i’m looking at you this week. Thanks.

Every time someone speaks up about their mental and emotional state, or not fitting in, or their imposter syndrome, or whatever else they’re using to beat themselves up with, we’re one step closer.

Life as a man is not sports cars, watches and shredding. It’s not sleeping with hundreds of women you met on Tinder, or talking about football, boxing and cricket. Not that there’s anything wrong with ANY of the above. And this certainly isn’t a dig at the material success we’re sold every day. I’ve had some of it, and I like it. Life as a man is YOUR experience. It’s how you choose to live your life, not what the world tells you.

Should I just pipe down with my Yorkie, and a bag of McCoys. Probably. It’s a lot easier to say nothing. To go under the radar. But stealth doesn’t work anymore. How you implant yourself in the minds of people is the important thing.

Am I less of a man because i’ve always had a fascination with flowers over football? Or candles over cricket? I think not. But it took me years to accept and understand that. To find out who I am. Not the pretend version of me I give to the world sometimes. We all have that side. But the only thing that really matters, the one thing that’s been the best part of my life, is finding out who I really am. And accepting that for all that it is. All that I am.

Sometimes that’s a struggle. I’d love to care about Liverpool not winning the Champions league. Or that really sick new watch people are posting about on Instagram. Why? Because I want to be a MAN. I want to talk about the stuff the big boys are chatting about. Believe me, in a commercial sense it would do me a lot more good. But I cant fake it. In fact, I won’t fake it anymore. It’s not worth it. The pretence is exhausting.

Like pretending you don’t have a problem. Or thinking “you got this!” when you clearly, DON’T got this. But you just listened to Tony Robbins on Youtube?! Being the Big Man is tiresome. And it’s literally killing us.

This, what I’m doing now, is the enemy of Big Man culture. I’m being honest. I guarantee the minute you try it, your life will change. Those secret struggles that you’re lugging around, those pains and hurts you just need to suck up, could all be gone, if you let someone else help you along the way. None of us have to do this by ourselves.

BMW X2 Launch

We’re going out on the road over the next few weeks to launch the BMW X2. I’ll be djing, and hosting events in Newcastle, Sheffield, Bristol, Edinburgh and London. The New X2 combines the crossover vibe of the X-range, with the sleekness of the BMW coupe. I’ll be posting set times and locations on my socials. Just an fyi, this is an electronic set. Not rock/indie/mashups. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram – @danocdj

Warchild 2018

As some of you know, one of the main charities i’ve worked with over the last 10 years has been Warchild. They do incredible work around the world with kids in conflict zones. 1 in 6 children now live in a war zone based on stats from Save The Children…which is a tragedy. This makes Warchild’s work even more important than ever. Every year i host some gigs for them during Brits Week. We take big bands and artists and stick them in tiny venues & try and raise as much cash as possible. 2018 is looking huge with Ed Sheeran, Alt J, Nathaniel Rateliff and loads more all lined up to play. Be nice to see you there! And thanks for the support as always. More info on Warchild here: https://www.warchild.org.uk