From Belvedere to Dreamstate

I grew up in Belvedere, South East London, and left school with one GCSE. More than 35 years on, I’ve played clubs and festivals around the world, released music that’s found millions of listeners and stood behind the decks at Dreamstate in Southern California.

That’s a long way from Belvedere. Not just in miles, either. My original roots are in hardcore, house, hard trance and hard house, and my path through dance music has changed shape more than once. I’m still finding new ways to move forward.

Finding my way into trance

The track that opened the door for me was Jam & Spoon’s Right in the Night. Discovering it pointed me towards trance, and that sound became a big part of what I wanted to make and play.

Later, I made my own Nicholson Remix of the track. It came out on Black Hole Recordings and has reached 2.5 million streams on Spotify. I’m proud of that, of course. But there’s something especially satisfying about being able to make your own version of a record that first drew you into a world of music.

It also reminds me that a career doesn’t have to move in a straight line. You can start as a listener, take a different turn, and come back to an early inspiration with your own sound and experience behind you.

From club rooms to the other side of the world

Over the years, I’ve played rooms that mean a lot to people who grew up with UK dance music: The Sanctuary, Fevah, The Matrix, Fabric, Turnmills, Ministry of Sound and Trade.

I’ve also travelled to play in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Argentina and the USA. Every place has its own character, but the simple thing at the heart of it is the same: music, a room full of people and the moment you share when a tune connects.

Dreamstate in Southern California stands out for another reason. My mate Mike and I travelled roughly 24 hours to get there. It’s quite a distance to go for a DJ set, though, as journeys go, it was a good one to make. Being there put years of making and playing trance into perspective, without making it feel like a full stop. There was still more to do.

Making records, and making room for others

The studio has been another place to keep changing direction. Storybook, ART, Glorious and Reverent each reached number one on the Beatport album charts. Reverent also reached number 36 on the UK Official Album Chart. ART was funded through Kickstarter: a reminder that listeners can be part of a record’s story before it’s even finished.

You can explore the music catalogue and find Nicholson on Spotify.

I also founded Presence Recordings to give lesser-known producers opportunities. I know how important it is for music to find a way out into the world, and I wanted the label to help more artists get that chance. Supporting new producers is part of how I want to contribute to a scene that’s given me so much.

Still looking ahead

When I think about the route from Belvedere to Dreamstate, I don’t see a neat plan that was mapped out from the beginning. I see different chapters: the music that first caught my ear, the clubs I played, the records I made and the people who listened along the way. I’m grateful for all of it, and curious about what comes next.

I’ve been writing MANIFEST, too. It’s another way of looking at the past while continuing to think about the future. For me, moving forward doesn’t mean leaving every earlier version of myself behind. It means taking what I’ve learned and staying open to what I might do with it next.

After more than 35 years in dance music, I’m still making, still playing and still discovering where the next idea might lead. Belvedere was where my story began. Dreamstate was one remarkable point along the way. The best part is that the story is still being written.

Pull-quote for socials:

“Belvedere was where my story began. Dreamstate was one remarkable point along the way. The best part is that the story is still being written.”