N-TYPE
You couldn’t ask for a more enthusiastic and charismatic DJ than N-Type. Hailing from dubstep’s birthplace in Croydon, he’s a veteran dubplate selector of the UK underground dance music scene. Having hosted shows on London’s pirate radio stations since he was a young teen, he’s always been an entertainer first and foremost, notorious for his hilarious antics on the mic and the seamless energy flow he delivers in his music selection. He’s also well known for his brooding dubstep classic “Way of the Dub,” released on Caspa’s Dub Police label back in 2006. Today N-Type hosts his radio show on Rinse.FM, London’s premier source for UK underground music. He’s also the mastermind of his record label, Wheel & Deal, named after the trademark radio phrase exclaimed whenever a big tune gets rewound on his show. The passion and excitement for music radiating from him is nothing short of astounding.
After calling Mark at our scheduled time and catching him in the pub, I rang him back later that day to find him about to doze off, whispering to me from his bed so as to not wake up the missus. I tried again the next morning and caught N-Type in his studio, where we chatted UK garage, London pirate radio, sick tunes, big raves, and positive vibes.
Interview by Alex Incyde
You must be very busy these days with everything you’re doing?
Yeah, there’s a lot of label stuff that goes on in the background that needs to be done. Especially if you want your label to run right, there’s a lot of work that comes with it. I’ve got two labels now and I’m bringing back a third one. You know Terrain Records? I did a couple releases on that back in the day. I’m bringing that one back soon, so that’ll be running as well.
You’re also running Sin City with Hatcha, right? How did that start?
For Sin City, the idea is to show producers repping their own ends. The original Sin City was based on the Croydon lot, like all the sinners from Croydon. But we want everyone to rep their city or the area that they’re from. So you’ve got us lot from Croydon, and then we’ll get everyone from Bristol to do one, and we’ll do a West London one with Caspa, Rusko, Quest and Silkie and D1 and everyone. Everyone’s basically just said, “yeah, I’ve got a tune!” It kind of gives a snapshot of different areas where people are from and where people brought their sound.
We’re gonna do the UK first and then hopefully do America next, because America’s got a big scene. So there’ll be a tune from basically everyone in the scene who’s doing good stuff. It’ll be a sampler of everyone getting together to rep their ends. You can hear influences and see how things grow and where they come from.
