My Passion with Phil Rose: Double buzz from work and play makes for happy DJ

Phil Rose, national contracts manager at shower tray manufacturer JT in Leeds, talks about his passion for DJing.

All my life, I have always had a love for music. As a youngster, I was a regular attendee of club nights and a big collector of vinyl records, which I still buy today.

I began by listening to very early house music in the late 1980s and I have been hooked every since. I'm inspired by the likes of Frankie Knuckles and Inner City and very early hip hop like De La Soul.

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My first DJ set was in 1989 at the grand age of 16, from which I spent a number of years playing at local parties and bars across the North West and Yorkshire. Since then, I have managed to work my way up the ladder playing with artists like Faithless, Full Intention and Joey Negro. I was also fortunate enough to play on the Radio 1 tour with Chicane in 2002.

My ultimate experience was playing with, in my opinion, the best true house music DJ in the UK, Buckley (Back to Basics). I was fortunate to play with him in Harrogate a few years ago and he told me he was very impressed with my work. To me, that was the best compliment you can be paid, knowing that someone of his standard rates your music felt like a real achievement.

To be a good DJ, the essentials are to have a love and knowledge of music. That's the basics. After that, you must have confidence in your own ability and be able to stand out from the crowd, which is something that comes naturally.

I have been lucky to tour around the UK, playing at some fantastic locations. Playing in the North always has a special atmosphere, in particular in Harrogate and Leeds. The crowds here in Yorkshire are always up for a good night and I'm pleased to say I have never experienced a bad crowd in the region. I always look forward to playing in Yorkshire and next time, I will be sure to invite my JT colleagues along.

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I have residency at the Area51 in Manchester, where I played on the Circa Loco Tour alongside Smokin Jo and Tania Volcano.

I love every minute of DJing, from the adrenaline rush of performing in front of hundreds of people, to knowing that your music is making everyone hit the dance floor.

As I have got a little older, I have realised the decks aren't the only place for me. My job as national contracts manager for JT couldn't be more different from my DJ work. Nevertheless, I do get a buzz when I sign a long-term agreement with a house builder, similar to the feeling to making people dance all night. Despite each role being completely different, I love them both.

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